Bad Breath

The topic of bad breath can be tough to confront, whether it’s yours or someone else’s. And, whether or not you know you have it, it’s always a good idea to take steps against bad breath—as they are often one in the same with good dental hygiene.

 

Most bad breath can be traced to a source in the oral cavity, whether it’s trapped food particles or potent beverage residue, bacterial and plaque buildup, unclean dental prosthetics, gum disease, or even cavities. Many of our patients here at Southern Cross Dental regularly ask us what they can do to prevent bad breath.  Besides completing all necessary dental work and consistently undergoing regular exams, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce bad breath on your own.

• Drink plenty of water: Drinking water helps flush away food and beverage residue. It also keeps your teeth and gums hydrated, which inhibits bacteria growth.
• Reduce intake of coffee and alcohol: Both substances can contribute to suborn breath and dehydration.
• Abstain from all tobacco products: Cigarettes, pipes and chewing tobacco all contribute to fouls breath and other periodontal issues that feed into the problem.
• Brush, floss and use alcohol-free mouthwash every day: Good oral hygiene controls bacteria and prevents a number of dental problems. Your at-home hygiene efforts are extremely important in keeping your smile beautiful and fresh.  

Periodontal Health

Caring for your teeth is an essential part of maintaining good oral health, but your gums also play an important role in your health, and proper care is crucial. Gum disease can be a serious detriment to your oral health and overall wellness, and at our office, Dr. Navid Rahimpour and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour provides the type of regular periodontal care and checkups you need to maintain peak health and prevent gum disease.

 

With periodontal disease responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis. Periodontis can destroy your gum tissue and lead to tooth loss. Periodontis can even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone, and heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

 

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, so come to Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO to receive periodontal cleanings and treatment. It is easier to prevent gum disease or treat it early on than to reverse the effects of periodontis. Call (719)471-1717 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visitwww.southercrossfamilydentistry.com. 

Inlays and Onlays

If you have heard someone use the term partial crown, they are talking about inlays and onlays, which our dentists, Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour provide. Inlays and onlays are a dental procedure performed to strengthen a tooth and prevent damage if it is weakened and at risk of breaking. It is a less invasive procedure than covering a tooth with a crown completely. An inlay is used when there is a damage and it must be placed partially inside the tooth, while an onlay goes right on top of a tooth that doesn’t have as much damage to the cusps of the tooth.

 

Before placing inlays and onlays, we must first remove any decayed portions of the tooth. Then, an impression is made and sent to a lab where the inlay or onlay is made. In approximately 2-3 weeks, the restoration is complete and can be bonded to the tooth. We do this with very strong cement for a stable hold. Inlays and onlays last about the same time as crowns, which is approximately 10-15 years. The better a patient takes care of their teeth, the longer it lasts.

 

To learn more about getting inlays and onlays from Southern Cross Dental, call us at (719)471-1717.

Digital X-Rays

In many instances, x-rays are needed to confirm a diagnosis. X-rays may also be a standard part of an annual dental exam to determine if any problem exists. At Southern Cross Dental, we offer the latest technology to make the x-ray process safer, easier and more efficient.

 

Pictures of the gums, teeth and jaw, can be taken using digital x-rays. The images are taken by using an electrical sensor, which is placed in the mouth. The pictures are then processed through an imaging computer program, and can be displayed on a screen for you to view. Digital x-rays are considered advantageous over using traditional dental x-rays for many reasons. The digital x-rays can be enlarged in order to get detailed images of a problem area. They also often provide clearer and more accurate images of a person’s mouth than conventional x-rays. This helps us identify problem areas sooner and prevent complications from developing.

 

Our team at Southern Cross Dental is committed to providing you with excellent customer service and the latest technology. We offer a variety of dental services including periodontics, endodontics and cosmetic dentistry.

 

For more information on digital x-rays or in order to schedule an appointment, please visit our website www.southercrossfamilydentistry.com or call (719) 471-1717 for more information.

Proper Oral Hygiene

Here at Southern Cross Dental, our mission is to help you protect your oral health through comprehensive dental hygiene services.  Besides keeping all our patients informed on the significance of diligent brushing and flossing and a healthy diet, we offer complete dental exam services and periodontal care procedures to keep your mouth free of cavities, decay, infection and periodontal disease. We also offer a full selection of restoration services to correct issues that may be interfering with your ability to perform good dental hygiene.

 

If it’s been a while since your last dental exam and you’re in need of a checkup on the effectiveness of your dental hygiene practices, please arrange an appointment with us Southern Cross Dental. You can visit our website,www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information about our practice or you can call 719-471-1717 to set up an appointment!  

Root Canal Therapy

Endodontics is the dental specialty that deals with the nerves of the teeth, and root canal therapy is the most common procedure within endodontics. Dr. Navid Rahimpour and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour offer root canal therapy to patients with a deep infection in the nerves of their teeth, as an alternative to tooth extraction. During a root canal, the nerves of the teeth are removed, as well as any other infected tissue. Here is a breakdown of the procedure:

 

1. The patient receives local anesthesia so they don’t experience any pain.

2. We drill a small hole into the tooth to reach the canal.

3. Infected tissue and nerves are removed using a special tool.

4. Once the infection is gone, the hole is filled with gutta percha.

5. The patient returns to our office in two weeks to be fitted with a crown.

 

It is important that patients not skip the process of getting a crown, because without nerves, the tooth becomes dead. This makes it susceptible to breaking off, and requiring a bridge or dental implant to replace it. Visit Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO to schedule your root canal therapy appointment.

Dentures and Partials

Dentures are an option that many of our patients choose at Southern Cross Dental. Available in both full and partial, dentures serve as a removable replacement for missing teeth.

 

If providing patients with conventional full dentures, either Dr. Navid Rahimpour or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour will remove all the teeth from the patient’s mouth. Afterwards, the gums are given time to heal before dentures are placed. The patient would be without teeth during this healing process, which can take a couple months.

 

Immediate full dentures forgo this healing process with no teeth. Prior to having their teeth removed, the dentist takes measurements of the patient’s mouth, so that dentures are ready after teeth have been removed. This type of full denture requires a follow-up visit to refit the dentures wince the jaw bone will slightly change shape as the mouth heals.

 

Partial dentures are another option for those who do not need all their teeth to be removed. This makes them similar to bridges, but partial dentures are not permanent fixtures.

 

Whichever dentures our patients choose, they take time getting used to, and even though they are not real teeth, they should still be cared for as if they were. They should be brushed before removal and should be placed in room temperature water or cleaning solution overnight.