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Please take comfort in knowing that at North Creek Dental Care we have always strictly adhered to CDC infection control standards and have implemented additional protocols to ensure patient and staff safety.

For more details please visit these links from the CDC:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html and
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/cleaning-disinfection.html


North Creek Dental Care Tinley Park IL

18425 West Creek Drive Suite I
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 532-4131

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Dentistry Tinley Park IL

Gum Health

The Main Reason for Lost Teeth

People often assume that tooth loss is due to decay. It’s not. It’s the result of gum disease. And it might be completely unnoticeable right up until you have lost teeth. Symptoms include bleeding gums when brushing or flossing and loose or shifting teeth. If you’ve been advised to get gum surgery, you will be glad to know that it’s possible to control gum disease with a variety of non-surgical techniques.

Gum Disease Treatment Tinley Park ILGum Disease and the Connection to Heart Disease and Even Stroke

Recent medical research has led many doctors to reach a shocking conclusion: gum disease, stroke, and heart disease are linked. Because heart disease is usually fatal, it is clear that gum disease is a very serious matter. The American Dental Association has estimated 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. If this were some other affliction, such as AIDS or tuberculosis, it would be considered of epidemic proportions. Many dentists think it is just that. They also knew gum disease wouldn’t be labeled epidemic because “no one ever dies from it.” The worst-case scenario is that you lose teeth. Not pleasant – but certainly not life threatening. However, that has all changed.

The American Academy of Periodontology states that “Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.” Periodontal disease is characterized by bacterial infection of the gums. These bacteria can move through the bloodstream – directly to the heart.

For Some Good News

With advanced gum disease, the treatment is generally surgical. Dr. Ryan is trained to use the FDA-approved PerioLase™ laser for treatment without scalpels or sutures. See our Dental Laser page for more details. With mild periodontal disease, there are effective non-surgical procedures that, coupled with improved dental hygiene, can halt the spread of the disease. Both treatments may be covered under your dental insurance plan.

Preventive Dentistry Tinley Park ILWhat’s So Bad About Losing a Tooth?

Is it a big problem to lose a tooth? I mean nobody dies from it, right? Right, but losing even one tooth can cause the adjacent teeth to shift and move – not good. This can impact chewing and the ability to absorb proper nutrition from food. Other bad things can happen. Your face will change shape, combining with bone loss over time to give a “sunken” look. This can make you appear older than you really are. The way you talk can be affected. Because it’s harder to chew with missing teeth, you may lean towards softer foods and more carbohydrates, which can result in weight gain. The best method to treat a missing tooth (or missing teeth) is with dental implants. An implant can replace one tooth or several. They can be constructed to look so natural that even dentists have to look hard to see the difference.

We can help arrest your gum disease and bring your smile back to health. Give us a call today at (708) 532-4131.