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Health and Oral Wellness
Unfortunately, Dentistry and Dentists get a bad rap. People make jokes about something being about as much fun as a root canal and we wince and our palms sweat every time we even think about going to the dentist. But here is the truth: Going to the Dentist on a regular basis is just as important as your yearly visit to your physician and you don't have to dread it because even if you have something that needs cared for, modern dentistry is primarily painless! Think of it this way: You take your automobile in every 3,000 miles for preventative maintenance. You don't wait to care for your vehicle until it leaves you stranded on the road or a warning light indicator comes on. The same should be true for your mouth.
Typically, people wait to go to the dentist until they are in pain and then there is this mad scramble to find someone in the yellow pages or we call someone we trust and get a referral. However, choosing a dentist you can build a relationship with is important because he or she can assist you in making sure you meet your short and long-term goals. Your long-term goal should be to keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. No one wants to end up in dentures. Having dentures means you can't eat what you want to, it means bone loss, it means being uncomfortable and it means having a sunken in face and looking older than you are! Unfortunately, people believe that they don't necessarily need to take care of their teeth and gums if their parents lost their teeth because they think it is inevitable that they will as well. Not so! Keeping your teeth for a lifetime is a very real probability for most with the proper care regardless of heredity.
Your mouth is the window to the rest of your body.
Oral disease raises your risk for heart disease. The bacteria that are associated with gum disease (periodontal disease) are in your bloodstream and travel to your heart. Science is linking gum disease and heart disease due to those bacteria. No one really knows what the exact link is because research is on-going, but what is definite is patients with periodontal disease do have a much higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. Periodontal disease has also been linked to a higher incidence of stroke and an increased risk of diabetes. Ongoing modern medical research has established links between periodontal disease and other conditions including pancreatic cancer.
Several recent studies published in the American Dental Association and British Medical Journals have shown a link between dental disease and coronary heart disease. Oral conditions such as missing teeth, periodontal, gum disease, and plaque confirm that a statistically significant association exists between those conditions and diagnoses of coronary heart disease. Some studies show the oral parameters in these patients were independent of and more strongly associated with coronary heart disease than were recognized risk factors such as cholesterol levels, body mass index, diabetes, and smoking status. There was an unexpected correlation between dental disease and systemic disease such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes. After correcting the study for age, exercise, diet, smoking, weight, blood cholesterol level, alcohol use and health care, people who had periodontal disease had a significantly higher incidence of heart disease, stroke and premature death.
So you might ask, what can I do?
 Regular visits to the Dentist and proper home care work together to create your best prevention towards reducing all of the harmful levels of bacteria in your mouth. Tooth brushing and regular visits to your dentist radically reduce bacteria called Streptococcus sanguis, which has been shown to induce blood clots and hardening of the arteries.
Dentists are not only able to keep your teeth and gums healthy for your lifetime, they also can dramatically change the way you look in as little as one or two office visits. Invisalign is a service that is offered to straighten your teeth without traditional orthodontia. Cosmetic dentistry is a booming field due to all of the advances in teeth whitening, straightening and veneers which literally change your bite, your smile and your entire appearance.
How do you choose a Dentist?
Just like choosing a physician, you want to choose someone who is excellent in their field and someone you can build a relationship with. You want to be able to ask questions and not feel badly about doing so. You want someone who takes the time to explain things to you and have your best interest at heart. You want someone who is technically superior, and demands superior results from the products, labs and equipment that support their work.
That is why Dr. Tracy Brigden at Legacy Dental is your only option for your Dentist. Dr. Brigden had considered going to medical school because he began his career as a radiologic technologist specializing in CAT scans and MRI's. However, Dr. Brigden enjoyed and took great pride in his ability to help patients. In radiology, he never saw the patient again and was not part of the ultimate outcome. Wanting to make a difference, he felt dentistry would provide him the opportunity to establish long-term relationships with exceptional dental care. He appreciates being able to help his patients maintain healthy teeth and gums over their lifetime and receives a great deal of satisfaction from seeing the results! Dr. Brigden has established a practice that provides excellent service with a dedication towards patient education and comfort. His practice has become known and referred to as a place of solace for people who have had negative experiences in the past, which left them fearful of visiting the Dentist. Dr. Brigden's practice includes family and general dentistry, but his reputation has been built by his excellence in cosmetic dentistry. |
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