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Bleeding gums: Causes and treatment options in Dolton, IL

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

A young Dentist treating a female Patient in a dental practice

When you brush your teeth, do you see blood in the sink? This may seem normal, especially if it is a small amount, but it is actually a sign of trouble. If you are brushing and flossing correctly, healthy gums should not bleed. It is advisable to see your dentist for a periodontal evaluation. Causes of bleeding gums Several factors can cause your gums to bleed easily, including: Periodontal disease (most likely cause) Sores on the gum tissue Poorly fitting dentures Blood thinning medications Vitamin deficiencies Aggressive brushing, especially with a hard-bristled toothbrush Medical problems such as bleeding disorders, diabetes, … Continue reading

Dolton dentist explains how eating disorders can impact a patient’s dental health

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia have serious implications on a person’s wellness and their oral health. Unfortunately millions of people across the United States are battling eating disorders. Whether triggered by the desire to be thinner or by other stress factors, eating disorders can be hard for patients and their families and friends to diagnose, treat, or provide support to. Bulimia is an eating disorder in which patients binge eat and then cause themselves to vomit while patients with anorexia cause themselves to enter a state of starvation through not eating. Both types of eating disorders prevent the … Continue reading

Caring for primary teeth helps ensure a happy permanent smile in Illinois

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

Teeth are a critical part of the body. From the time a “baby tooth” erupts, parents must consider oral health care as an important part of the child’s overall health. While the primary teeth will fall out during a child’s elementary school years, they are still important to a child’s health and development. The primary teeth help a child chew, eat, and receive proper nutrition, they help kids learn to speak clearly, they boost self-esteem with a beautiful smile, and they provide a place for the permanent teeth to erupt. That’s why even primary teeth require a great deal of … Continue reading

How to prevent and treat early childhood cavities in IL

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

Women with open mouth during oral checkup at the dentist

“Do I really need to brush my child’s tooth? He only has one.” “Should I allow my kids to have the lollipops that the tellers at the bank give to them?” “How can I help my first grader learn to floss her own teeth?” Parents of young children have plenty of questions about oral health care. They certainly want to prevent cavities, but aren’t sure of the best approach. Dr. Dean Dietrich of Pleasant Dental has been helping parents in the Dolton, Riverdale and Chicago, IL areas learn what they need to know about proper oral health care for children. … Continue reading

How to treat recurring mouth ulcers in IL

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

Dentist waiting to be checked up with the woman

Mouth ulcers, canker sores, cold sores. The words are often used interchangeably to describe the painful lesions on the inside of the mouth or on the lips. They can range in severity from uncomfortable to annoying to downright painful. Often certain foods or beverages or teeth brushing can exacerbate the pain. While mouth ulcers are typically harmless and clear up without medical or dental intervention, patients often look for ways to get rid of them faster or to prevent them in the first place. No one knows for sure what causes most mouth ulcers and every patient can have different … Continue reading

Keeping your mouth free from dental plaque and tartar in Illinois

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

When talking about oral health care, the words “plaque” and “tartar” often come up. In fact, they’re often used almost interchangeably. However, they are actually different things. Plaque is a tacky and colorless deposit of bacteria on the tooth. Produced from saliva, food particles, and fluids, plaque is always on the teeth. Brushing removes it for several hours but eventually it begins to come back. When plaque remains on the teeth, it causes discoloration and the beginning stages of gum disease. Tartar is a crusty deposit, unlike the sticky formulation of plaque. While it also causes staining and discoloration, it … Continue reading

Dolton dentist urges parents to instill good brushing and flossing habits in young children

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

Parents of young children have a lot to do in the mornings and at night. Getting children dressed, fed, and out the door to school in the mornings and into pajamas, with a story read, and to bed at night can seem like a never-ending task. However, it’s critical that along with all the other items on the must-do checklist, parents remember that brushing and flossing are critical to their child’s oral health. It can be challenging to teach toddlers and preschool-aged children the proper brushing technique, but Dr. Dean Dietrich offers a few tips and items for consideration: Start … Continue reading

Specific Procedures Covered by Your Insurance Policy

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

Happy patient checking her teeth in mirror at dental clinic

Everything seems expensive these days. Nothing more so than any medical treatment. Dentistry is not immune from this trend. After all as our expenses go up so must our fees. I remember when charging a hundred dollars for the most expensive crown seemed ridiculous. (OK I’m dating myself.) Now you can drop a thousand or more for the same crown! Ouch! To make matters even worse, dental insurance, which was started in the mid 1950s, has on average not increased the level of coverage since then. Yep that $1000 or $1500 annual maximum you might have on your insurance is … Continue reading

Check Your Dental Insurance Policy

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

Most people with dental insurance today have either a PPO or HMO type of coverage. With both of these there are what is called a “network of providers.” HMOs REQUIRE you to go to a doctor in their network in order to get any coverage for anything beyond an emergency. Most PPOs on the other hand allow you to go to either an in-network dentist OR an out-of-network dentist. So whats the difference with a PPO between the in-network dentists and the out-of-network ones? Just to give you my point of reference, we have not joined any networks, with the … Continue reading

You do not have to have dental insurance to have a healthy, beautiful smile

Posted By Dr. Dean Dietrich

Serious dentist sitting in semi position while examining his patient

Dental care is an important aspect of oral health. This is just as true for a person or family without dental insurance as those covered by a specific plan. There is a common misconception that it is more cost effective to go without preventive dental care than to visit the dentist regularly, as recommended. After all, when there is no insurance to pay for such visits, how can they possibly be worth it? It really goes without saying that forgoing dental care can lead to bigger problems and, thus, higher cost, in the long run. It is through preventive dental … Continue reading