Dental Hygiene Haven

Learn about Vicky’s gum disease exam explanation in this short video.

Hi, Friends!

A New Year is upon us — a time for setting goals and making resolutions. How many times have we heard about the importance of writing our goals down? Do you have a system for this?

Each New Year’s Eve, my husband and I have the tradition of making a “Mind Map” — this is our system for goal setting for the year. I’ve had several ask me about it — how it works, and how we do it. You asked and you shall receive! Mind Maps can be done electronically or manually. We prefer to do ours manually. And we s p r e a d o u t! We get an end-roll from our local newspaper and unroll about a four-foot length on our table.

We put a catchy label in the middle, usually in a heart. Our label is our declaration of the kind of year we want to have. Then we put the main categories in various places around the center: Physical, Spiritual, Social, Financial, Business/Career, Family, etc. Then we fill in sub-categories, then whatever detail we want. When we’re all done, we color it to be able to see it better at a glance.

This would be a good place to mention that the main “rule” for Mind Maps is: There are no rules. The intent is to get your ideas, thoughts, goals, and dreams down on paper. We do ours on a long sheet of paper, others do it on lined paper, others do it in their computers. Your main categories will likely be different from mine — make them whatever you want. Some years we put one main category down and fill in all the details we want to capture for that one category before moving on to the next. Other years, we jump all around — what I call the “brain dump” technique. There’s no “right” way.

On the right is a simple mind map for you. You’ll notice that the main category labeled “FUN” has some example detail around it. Put in as much or as little detail as you want. (Click to enlarge)

In closing, I’d like to tell you something amazing that happened. The first year Bill and I did this, we rolled up our Mind Map, put a rubber band around it and stored it in the basement. The following New Year’s Eve, we started the evening by unrolling our Mind Map to look at it. We were amazed to discover that everything on it except one thing had been accomplished (the new house we bought wasn’t on a lake). Wow! Now we hang it on a wall where we see it more often. Just walking by it and seeing it there is good. Plus, our Mind Maps have more categories now and it’s fun to make notes on it throughout the year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and remember to keep flossing!!!!

Health. . .it starts in your mouth!

A Reader (and new client) asked: “I’ve been going to the dentist every 6 months faithfully. I just moved here and now I’m being told I have gum disease. They say I need some sort of super-deep cleaning with shots to numb me up. It’s very expensive, about $1200! How can this be?”

Sadly, there are 2 ways you can be “scammed” by gum disease. One is to not have it but be told that you do. This creates about $1200 of unnecessary expense for you, not to mention the 4 hours of unnecessary time in the dental chair.

The second way to be “scammed” by gum disease is to have it and not be told that you do. Missing this diagnosis can be very costly to your health later, as bacteria from gum disease has   link to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and possibly obesity — according to research.

So how do you know if you have gum disease or not?

Before I start cleaning your teeth, I take a “Perio Probe” (a tiny ruler), which may feel “pokey,” and take measurements around each tooth under your gums. Some people tell me they  “know” they have gum disease because their previous hygienist said they have “fours.” I don’t buy it. I look at more information than only that number.

And what’s a “four” anyway? What does that mean? I’ve put together a short and simple video that demonstrates where those numbers come from and what they mean. See it by clicking on the Post “Tools of the Trade” on the left.

The following little flowchart will empower you to participate in the co-diagnosis of what’s happening in your mouth. It will take the mystery out of the “Do I have gum disease?” question.

Quick Lesson

A very quick dental lesson: “Probing depths” are the numbers I get from measuring with a tiny ruler. The ideal numbers are 1, 2, and 3. The depths are measured in millimeters.
1. Do I have any probing depths greater than 3mm?
If YES – go to #2. If NO – go to #8.

2. Do they bleed when Vicky takes the measurement?
If YES – go to #3. If NO – go to #7.

3. Is there any puss in that bleeding, deep, greater-than-3mm pocket?
If YES – go to #4. If NO – go to #6

4. To answer this question fully requires an x-ray of the tooth and another question: Is the bone support around the tooth disintegrating and going away?
If YES – go to #5. If NO – go to #6

5. The answer is YES – you have all the symptoms of gum disease, also called periodontal disease.
TAKE ACTION NOW, CALL ME RIGHT AWAY! I will show you how to get it under control or potentially even REVERSE it!

6. The answer is PROBABLY. Depths greater than 3mm, plus bleeding is a sign of GINGIVITIS – the first step in the gum disease process – or early gum disease. There may be some  beginning bone loss (an x-ray would be needed). If puss is present but the bone support is still good, you have an active infection. Take action now — CALL ME for an appointment.  You don’t want to mess with this!

7. The answer is NO, you most likely don’t have gum disease. It’s not unusual to have 4- or 5mm measurements (called “pockets”) that don’t bleed and the gums are tight against the  teeth. These may be caused by your bite, or grinding or clenching your teeth.  These are healthy gums that simply have less-than-ideal numbers. An assessment of the effectiveness of your homecare  routine will ensure that gingivitis or gum disease doesn’t get a foot hold! This less-than-ideal situation makes you susceptible for gum problems and bone loss.

8. If your probing depths are NOT greater than 3mm, you do not have gum disease. If your gums are “snug” against the teeth, pink, and don’t bleed, you have great, healthy gums. If  your probing depths are NOT greater than 3mm, but you DO HAVE red, puffy gums and bleeding, you have GINGIVITIS. Gingivitis can be quickly reversed back to health. It can also  take off into the next level of gum disease. Don’t mess with it! Get it under control right away!

With this basic information with you, there’s no reason why you should ever be scammed by inaccurate diagnosis of gum disease.

Download

This article is available for download on Vicky’s Past Issues page»

Contact

Call me for an appointment today! 970-481-8752.
I’ll give you a mirror so you can see EXACTLY what I’m doing.
You’ll see for yourself!

(c) 2008 by Victoria J. Flint, RDH, Dental Hygiene Haven