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Reed King, DDS   Chris Planer, DDS
1011 Tunnel Road Suite #140 Asheville, NC 28805 (828) 299-4455
655 Brevard Road Asheville, NC 28806  (828) 670-9394
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Posts for: February, 2019

Legal or Not, Marijuana Poses a Health Risk to Your Gums

By Asheville Family Dentistry
February 23, 2019
Category: Oral Health
Tags: marijuana   oral-health  
LegalorNotMarijuanaPosesaHealthRisktoYourGums

Proponents of legalized marijuana have won phenomenal gains over the last decade. Despite the federal government's continuing criminalization of the drug, several states including California, Colorado and Massachusetts, have voted to legalize its recreational use.

Most people are aware of the social and political controversies the marijuana legalization movement stirs. But there's another side to this roiling issue: the health effects of marijuana, particularly for your teeth and gums. What may be lost beneath the more exciting headlines about ballot initiatives is the growing evidence that habitual marijuana use may increase the risk and severity of periodontal (gum) disease.

Gum disease is a bacterial infection caused by dental plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles that accumulates on teeth. The spreading infection triggers inflammation, a normal bodily response to disease that's ordinarily beneficial. But if the inflammation becomes chronic it weakens the gums' attachment to the teeth. This can create voids or periodontal pockets of infection around the teeth. The disease can eventually damage the underlying bone, which could accelerate tooth loss.

Poor oral hygiene is the biggest factor for an increased risk of gum disease; thinner gum tissue (an inherited condition or related to poor tooth position) is another factor, as well as lifestyle habits like tobacco use or excessive alcohol consumption. Add marijuana to the list: there's now some evidence that its use increases the risk for more severe periodontal pockets if the disease occurs.

In a recent study, researchers with the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine reviewed statistics on the care for nearly 2,000 adult patients; a quarter of those in the study were frequent marijuana users. The marijuana users proportionately had deeper periodontal pocket occurrences than the rest of the patients in the study that didn't use the drug.

The study doesn't say that marijuana causes periodontal (gum) disease. But it does suggest that marijuana use might increase its severity. As with other substances and practices in our society, marijuana use comes with a caveat: it may be legal where you live, but it may not necessarily be good for your health.

If you would like more information on the effects of marijuana use on your oral health, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “As More States Legalize Marijuana, Link to Gum Disease is a Concern.”


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Dental Amalgam Continues to be a Durable and Safe Tooth Filling

By Asheville Family Dentistry
February 13, 2019
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: fillings  
DentalAmalgamContinuestobeaDurableandSafeToothFilling

Recently, a number of new filling materials that mimic tooth color have come into popular use and, so far, have proven more durable than past versions. Even so, the traditional metal-based dental amalgam remains a viable choice, especially for less visible back teeth and their higher biting forces.

Used for more than a century, dental amalgam is a metal alloy composed of silver, mercury, tin and copper. The mixture is carefully proportioned so that potentially hazardous mercury is kept to a minimum and bonded with the other metals. Amalgam in its initial form is quite pliable so that it can be molded into the tooth structure under repair. Afterward it sets hard to form a durable filling that can withstand the daily force generated when we bite and chew food.

Besides durability, dental amalgam rarely causes an allergic reaction in a patient, and it’s easy for trained dentists to apply. On the downside, however, it can cause temporary temperature sensitivity in the tooth just after filling, and the tooth itself may require some removal of healthy structure to help keep the filling in place. And from an aesthetic point of view, its metallic appearance is considered unattractive especially for front teeth.

The presence of mercury in amalgam has also raised concerns over the years. “Free” mercury — atoms that escape through vapor emitted by the metal — can enter the bloodstream and potentially harm the nervous system. But after extensive study and research, U.S. and international health bodies including the American Dental Association have concluded any free mercury released during chewing is extremely low and well below any harmful levels. These studies have also found no ill effects in either children or adults with dental amalgam fillings.

Deciding on the type of filling material to use — dental amalgam or a newer composite resin, resin ionomer or glass ionomer — depends on a number of factors including the location of the teeth to be filled, the extent of decay and your personal preferences. Taking these into account, we’ll be happy to discuss which type of filling will suit you best for repairing decayed teeth.

If you would like more information on filling material options including dental amalgam, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Silver Fillings — Safe or Unsafe?”


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3 Reasons Why Your New Dentist Needs Your Treatment Records

By Asheville Family Dentistry
February 03, 2019
Category: Oral Health
Tags: dental records  
3ReasonsWhyYourNewDentistNeedsYourTreatmentRecords

Like other healthcare providers, your dentist keeps records of your ongoing care. These include not only their written notes but also x-ray imaging, frequency of visits and cleanings, and any medical information that could affect your care. What’s more, they have a legal obligation to maintain these records.

Your dental records help guide decisions about your care. In that regard, you should consider something else—you may need to change providers: your dentist retires or you move; your dentist isn’t in your new insurance network; or, unfortunately, you have an “irreconcilable” difference with your provider.

If that happens, it’s very important your dental records find their way to your new provider. Here are 3 reasons why.

Your individual dental history. Each person’s dental situation and needs are unique. Your past records help clue in your new dentist about your past history and current needs, which will help guide how they treat you.

Time and money. Your dental records contain x-rays or other diagnostic information about your oral condition, including preparations for any upcoming dental work. If you change dentists before completing that treatment, your new dentist may have to start over with new diagnostic tests if they don’t have this previous data. It could cost you more money and make you wait longer for a needed procedure.

Coordinating dental care with your general health. Your mouth isn’t isolated from the rest of your body, and some dental treatment measures could affect other health conditions (and vice-versa). If your new dentist knows other health issues you may have from your previous records, it can help ensure you’re getting dental treatment appropriate to your overall health.

For the most streamlined transition between providers, it’s important your dental records follow you. You’re entitled to having those records transferred, and, if you’re uncomfortable asking yourself, your new provider can obtain them for you. Just be sure to ask.

If you would like more information on your rights regarding your dental care records, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Why Your Dental Records Should Follow You.”


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        • How Veneers Restored Howie Mandel's Winning Smile
      • November (3)
        • Eating the Right Carbs Helps Keep Your Gums Healthy
        • Vaping Could Be Just as Harmful to Your Teeth and Gums as Smoking
        • Clean Your Implants Just Like Your Other Teeth
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        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
        • Why Smoking and Dental Implants Don't Mix
        • It Takes Both You and Your Hygienist to Keep Your Smile Healthy and Beautiful
        • New Minimally Invasive Techniques are Improving Tooth Decay Treatment
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        • Staining Within a Tooth Requires a Clinical Whitening Approach
        • Dental Implants and Smoking - Cause for Concern?
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        • See Your Dentist if You Have one of these Top 3 Oral Problems
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        • Keep a Lookout for These Soft Tissue Conditions in the Mouth
        • There are Various Ways to Treat Sensitivity - Depending on its Cause
        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
      • February (3)
        • Legal or Not, Marijuana Poses a Health Risk to Your Gums
        • Dental Amalgam Continues to be a Durable and Safe Tooth Filling
        • 3 Reasons Why Your New Dentist Needs Your Treatment Records
      • January (3)
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
        • Dental Implants Better than Ever thanks to Ongoing Tech Advances
        • Dental Implants Could be Your Best Option to Replace Lost Teeth
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      • December (3)
        • Manage Your Osteoporosis Medication to Avoid Jawbone Problems
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • Bitewing X-Rays Safely 'Reveal all' About Back Teeth to Prevent Tooth Decay
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        • Bonding with Composite Resins Ideal for Restoring Chipped Teeth
        • Immediate Dentures Provide You With Teeth While Your Gums Heal
        • Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
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        • Try the Conservative Path to Jaw Pain Relief First
        • How to Keep the Cavity Monster Away this Halloween
        • Eat the Right Kind of Carbs to Protect Yourself from Gum Disease
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        • A New School Year, A New Beginning
        • See Your Dentist if You're Having one of These 3 Dental Problems
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        • Avoid Permanent Tooth Alteration with No-Prep Veneers
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • Take Years off Your Smile by Treating Age-Related Dental Problems
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        • Don't Take a Vacation From Oral Hygiene This Summer!
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
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        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
        • Teenagers May Need a Temporary Tooth Replacement
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        • Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
        • Getting Dental Implants Requires Minor Surgery
        • Having Trouble Flossing? Try Using an Oral Irrigator
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      • February (1)
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        • 4 Reasons why Quitting Chewing Tobacco is Good for Your Oral Health
        • Partial Dentures: an Affordable Alternative to More Expensive Restorations
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Living with HIV includes Keeping a Close Watch on Your Oral Health
        • Have a Loose Tooth? You'll Need This Two-Phase Treatment to Save It
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        • How to Lessen the Effects of Chronic Dry Mouth
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
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        • The Secret to Preventing Gum Disease - Control Bacterial Plaque
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        • Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
        • 4 Situations Where a Crown Could Improve an Existing Tooth
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(828) 299-4455
655 Brevard Road
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(828) 670-9394

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