Importance of Healthy Gums

By taking care of your oral health, you are doing your oral cavity the ultimate favor. Having a healthy mouth means that teeth are clean and free of debris, your gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss, and bad breath is not a constant problem. Our doctors at Southern Cross Dental are here to help you maintain healthy gums with routine cleanings.

When you have healthy gums, your teeth are well supported by the tissue in your gums and your chances for long-term oral health are significantly increased. Because periodontal disease is linked to an increased susceptibility to systemic disease (bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), it is important to prevent it as well as control it. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is important and helps remove the thin film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth each day and contributes to tooth decay. If you need assistance maintaining a daily oral hygiene routine, give our office a call today.

If you have further questions regarding dental health or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Oral Cancer

Southern Cross Dental takes a lot of pride in serving the families from our community.  We want your smiles to look great, but we also screen for oral cancer and it is important that you and your family are aware of oral cancer and how to prevent it.  Oral cancer screening may not be the most common reason you’ve visited a dentist, but regular screenings are the best way to protect yourself.

Heavy smoking and drinking do increase the risk of oral cancer, but oral cancer can still occur if someone never smokes.  The human papilloma virus (HPV) was recently found to be responsible for most oral cancers that originated in the back of the mouth.  Because there is no way to predict cancer, you should ask about an oral cancer screening with each dental checkup.  Your dentist will conduct a visual exam to see any irregularities inside the mouth. Always contact us if you notice any inexplicable pain, swelling, or numbness in your throat or jaw.

To learn more about oral cancer screening and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Importance of Regular Cleanings

At Southern Cross Dental we want patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, but it is still important to come into the office for regular professional cleanings.  The Academy of General Dentistry recommends you have a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months.  However much you brush and floss your own teeth, some harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that cause gum disease and can only be removed by a dental professional.

It’s important to see a professional regularly to locate and monitor areas in the mouth that may need special attention, and a dentist can tell you if you may be missing a spot or skipping an important step in your regular oral care routine.  During a teeth cleaning, a hygienist thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. After the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned, the hygienist flosses between every one of your teeth and may apply fluoride if recommended by the dentist.

To learn more about teeth cleanings and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

There are many risks associated with impacted wisdom teeth, which are the last set of molars to develop as adults. When wisdom teeth are impacted, this simply means that they are lying dormant beneath the gum and they are not going to erupt anytime soon. When wisdom teeth are impacted, our doctors at Southern Cross Dental recommended extraction to protect the surrounding teeth and avoid infection.

Impacted wisdom teeth don’t always show symptoms, so it’s important to diligently visit our office twice a year for oral exams and dental X-rays. Doing so, allows our doctors to determine how the wisdom teeth are growing. Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to surrounding teeth, as well as other dental problems like periodontal disease or gum infection. Extraction is best to avoid these complications.

If you have further questions regarding wisdom teeth or wisdom teeth extraction, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Medicaid in Colorado Springs, CO

At Southern Cross Dental, we offer Medicaid to patients who struggle to afford the dental care that they need. Also known as Health First Colorado, Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including seniors, pregnant women, and children, as well as individuals with disabilities. You may qualify for this type of coverage if you fall under one of the previous categories and meet the income guidelines.

We fully comprehend that maintaining a healthy community begins with providing affordable care to those who need it most.  If you have any questions, call us today.

To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Reasons for Filling Failure

At Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, we supply fillings that are long-lasting and naturally-colored to give patients the smiles they deserve. However, it is possible in some circumstances for fillings to fail prematurely, and scientists have recently released a new study that determines why.

The expected lifespan of a filling is about ten years. But the study found that in smokers and people who heavily drank alcohol, fillings were significantly likelier to fail after just two years. The study also found that filling failure tends to run in families. Scientists speculated about which genes might be responsible for this, but the lesson is that people from families with a history of bad dental health need to be especially attentive to their oral hygiene and to maintaining regular dental check-ups.

Each time our patients see us, we assess the durability of their fillings so they can be removed and replaced before any problems arise. One piece of good news from the study is that white fillings attached with bonding are just as effective as the old amalgam ones made of mercury and silver. This means that patients are sacrificing anything by going with the better-looking option.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

National Children's Dental Health Month

We treat patients of all ages at Southern Cross Dental and are proud members of the American Dental Association (ADA). Each year, the ADA designates February as National Children’s Dental Health Month. This year’s theme is the proper use of fluoridated toothpaste, so we wanted to help educate our patients about it.

Fluoridated toothpaste provides additional protection against tooth decay. It works according to the same principle as water fluoridation and the fluoride topical treatments we provide pediatric patients. It is essential for children to brush their teeth properly, or else the pain from tooth decay can disrupt their sleep and eating habits and cause speech development delays. When children do brush their teeth, they are learning to take responsibility for their own health, which will bring a lifetime of benefits.

Brushing should be done with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Each session should last for two minutes, during which the brusher covers each tooth surface, as well as their tongue. The toothpaste should be spat out afterward since excessive fluoride intake can discolor the teeth. Fluoride toothpaste should also not be used on mouth guards or other oral appliances.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.