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Did you know that gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults? Properly caring for your gums is essential for having strong, healthy teeth. ThinkstockPhotos-459567327Pennington dentist Dr. Vagnozzi-Bucci and her staff keep this fact in mind with every routine dental visit and are committed to making sure that your gums stay as healthy as possible with a periodontal screening. In order to avoid periodontal (gum) problems, it is important to know a little bit about gum disease and its presentations. Stages of Gum Disease Early stage gum disease is called gingivitis and is fairly common, even in younger patients. Gingivitis can cause red, swollen gums that are painful to brush and floss and often bleed during dental visits. The inflammation in gingivitis is caused by plaque and calculus that build up under the gums. Thankfully, early stage gum disease is reversible and can be treated through routine dental visits and diligent brushing and flossing at home. However, once gingivitis progresses into late-stage periodontitis, the effects are no longer reversible. Late-stage gum disease, or periodontitis, occurs when plaque bacteria progress deep into the gums and cause resorption of bone in your jaws. This bone resorption, if left untreated, can cause loss of tooth attachment and thus, tooth loss. Periodontitis can occur in addition to red, swollen gums or can occur with seemingly healthy gums. Late-stage gum disease with attachment loss also occurs without pain; for this reason, it is important to follow up with your dentist regularly and be screened for periodontitis. Periodontal screening is a simple procedure in which a dentist or hygienist uses a probing instrument to measure the distance between the bone of your jaw and your gums. A measurement of 3 mm or less is considered healthy, whereas a measurement greater than 4mm signifies bone loss and may require more rigorous treatment with our periodontist, Dr. David Heering. Tooth loss due to gum disease is a scary thought, but luckily, it can be completely avoided through proper dental hygiene. If you have any questions about periodontal disease, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist at Family and Spa Dentistry in Pennington during your next visit!

When it comes to maintaining a healthy, comfortable and functional smile, many patients become frustrated or avoid the dentistry they need when referred to another specialist for a procedure or treatment. At Family and Spa Dentistry in Pennington, NJ, we understand the challenge today’s busy families and patients face when trying to keep up with their health care, but emphasize the overall importance of a healthy smile. Dr. Vagnozzi-Bucci has assembled a team of educated and experienced practitioners under one roof to meet all of your dental health needs. Family and Spa Dentistry offers comprehensive general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry for patients of ALL ages in a warm, compassionate environment designed to put you at ease while we maintain, restore or enhance your natural smile. Our staff have been voted top dentists in their respective fields by NJ Monthly Magazine and Philadelphia area publications. As a team dedicated to the oral health of you and your family, the staff of Family and Spa Dentistry seeks to provide patient focused, personalized dental care. Our goal is to help you achieve your goal!

Playing sports can put you at risk for tooth damage- even tooth loss! One collision can result in a lifelong change to your smile which can often be avoided by wearing a custom fit sports mouthguard. custom sports mouthguard pennington NJ family dentistDamaged and lost teeth often require extensive dentistry to restore a healthy and functional smile- keep your athlete’s smile safe with a mouthguard that is custom fit for superior comfort and protection. Studies on athletic performance have also shown that a custom fit mouthguard reduces both stress on jaw joints and energy lost to teeth clenching: the mouthguard holds the teeth in a neutral position that enables the jaw to relax. This may not hold true for many over the counter options which typically require the wearer to bite down in order to avoid having the device fall out during play. Family and Spa Dentistry in Pennington offers custom fit mouth guards for sports to protect your teeth as well as any oral appliances, such as orthodontics. Dr. Vagnozzi-Bucci or an associate will take impressions of your teeth to create a mouth guard that will fit snugly over your teeth and stay in place. They can be ordered in a variety of fun colors for your young athlete to make it fun to wear- you can even match it to your team uniform. A secure fitting mouthguard also protects the soft tissues of the mouth during impact, preventing damage that can be caused if the sharp edges of the teeth are forced into the cheeks, lips, etc.