There are many different types of lasers. Some are used to treat soft tissue, like the gums (gingiva), and others can treat hard tissue such as the teeth. On soft tissue, lasers are much kinder to the gums allowing for less postoperative pain and faster healing. We use these lasers for procedures such as frenectomies (eliminating being tongue tied for example), gingivectomies (changing the shape of the gums), tissue grafting for recession and treating gum disease. Hard tissue lasers can be used for preparing fillings, root canals, dental extractions (having a tooth “pulled”), and dental implants. Again, it creates less sensitivity for the patient and promotes faster healing. Lasers have been around in dentistry for over thirty years and allow us to use technology to provide better care for our patients. Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Posts Tagged ‘gum disease’
What can lasers do in dentistry?
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010Haven’t been to the dentist in a while?
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010Life happens and people move, change careers, simply forget, or have more pressing issues and don’t get their teeth cleaned for while. It’s never too late to work on having great oral health and we have dental appointments specifically designed in order to get patients back on track with their oral health. Sometimes, it is little more than just getting a dental cleaning, x rays, and an exam to get back to healthy. However, just like your car, the longer you wait between getting it serviced can also create a little more work to get it where you want it to be. Don’t be embarrassed or feel guilty, we are here to help you achieve your dental goals and get you back on track with what you want. Dentistry is a life long process and can go in many different directions depending upon the patient. If you have questions or want us to take a look, check out our website at www.drkutsch.com Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist
Don’t be embarrassed about your mouth
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010It is never too late to do something positive for your oral health. Our dental team is very competent in working with patients who are just looking to get back into an oral health routine or who haven’t been to the dentist in a very long time. Having dental problems can be embarrassing and they always seem to happen at the most inopportune time. We are here to help anyone who is interested in taking a step in the direction of better oral health. Whether you just want an exam or have problems with things like gum disease (periodontitis), dental cavities (caries), missing teeth, cosmetics, or simply want a cleaning, we are here to help. Your oral health plays a crucial role in your overall health, especially your cardiovascular system. Dr. Carson Kutsch DDS Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Keeping your teeth clean may just save your life
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010One of the best investments in life is in your own health. How much would any of us give to be in optimal health until the day we cease to exist? With heart disease being the number one cause of death in the United States, there are ways to decrease your risk with your oral health. Did you know that periodontal disease (gum disease) is directly related to health problems such as heart disease, strokes, and diabetes? It can also adversely affect people that are pregnant, immuno-compromised, or those with cancer. Keeping your teeth clean is important in decreasing the amount of inflammation and infection in the gum tissue, thus, putting less stress on the rest of the body. There is never a better time than now to get your teeth cleaned and work toward optimal oral health. You deserve it! Dr. Carson Kutsch DDS Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Pregnancy and oral health
Monday, May 10th, 2010Having a baby is one of the most exciting times in life but also puts a lot of stress on your body including your mouth. Research has shown that mothers with better oral hygiene have better pregnancies and healthier babies. It is very common for women to experience soreness in the gum tissue (gingivitis and periodontitis) and even pathologies such as pyogenic granulomas during their pregnancies. We routinely have our pregnang patients increase the frequency of their dental cleanings during their pregnancy to insure optimum oral health. If you have questions about dental treatment during your prenancy, please feel free to ask. Dr. Carson Kutsch DDS Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
How often should you get your teeth cleaned?
Monday, May 3rd, 2010Most patients get their teeth cleaned two to three times per year. However, there are numerous types of “teeth cleaning.” Patients with mild gingivitis get a different type of treatment (prophy) than those with periodontitis (gum disease). The primary reason for having your teeth cleaned is to decrease your risk of gum disease, thus also reducing your risk for other systemic problems such as heart disease, diabetes and various forms of cancer. So, how many times per year should you get them cleaned? This depends upon the patient’s long term goal for their teeth and their overall health. Some patients do just fine with having their teeth cleaned twice per year while others prefer to be seen four times per year. If it has been quite a while between cleanings, this is not to worry but it can take a little extra work to get everything back to healthy. It is not uncommon to fall out of routine cleanings with changes that happen in life such as moving, changing jobs, etc. We are here to help you achieve great oral health not to lecture people about missing their cleanings! Dr. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Laser Dentistry
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010Did you know that lasers have been in dentistry for over twenty years? Lasers can be used to help with a variety of procedures. There are primarily two major types of lasers. There are soft tissue lasers, or lasers used to work with gum tissue, and hard tissue lasers, or lasers intended for use on teeth. We have both of these lasers in our office and they can be used for everything from treating periodontal disease (gum disease), preparing cavities, eliminating ankyloglossia (being tongue tied), extracting teeth, cosmetically re-contouring gum tissue, teeth whitening, and tissue grafting. The benefit of lasers is that they are very kind to the tissue and provide better healing. In many cases, it is possible to perform a procedure without having anesthetic………no shot!! Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
How often should you get your teeth cleaned?
Monday, April 12th, 2010Not every patient has the same requirements to maintain optimum oral health, thus, some patients have their teeth cleaned twice per year, four times per year, once per month, and once every five years. However, most patients typically fall within two to four times per year. Many things can affect how often you may want to get your teeth cleaned including gum disease, genetics, diet, home oral hygiene, and the patients goals for their teeth. The basis for determining a healthy maintenance schedule is determined by the patient based on the information found at each cleaning appointment. The better a patient gets with their home oral care, diet, etc. can often lead to a decrease in the frequency of professional dental cleanings. Whether a patient’s risk be to gum disease (periodontal disease), dental decay (caries), oral cancer, or TMJ pain, each of these conditions can be assessed on a regular basis to determine the best routine for having an exam and a professional cleaning. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
What can you do if you hate dental floss?
Monday, April 5th, 2010There is nothing that works more effectively than good old, waxed dental floss. However, not everyone enjoys using floss or can make it part of their regular routine. There are a few other options that will help keep the areas between your teeth clean including brushes (interproximal), water pics, and Carifree anticavity treatments. The interproximal brushes are shaped in such a way that allow you to easily clean between teeth after meals or before bedtime. In fact, these are also a great supplement to dental floss for those really hard to reach areas. Any type of water cleaning device is going to help with removing food particles but these are less effective on tartar. The Carifree treatment system helps keep the pH in the mouth at a level that is less conducive for the bacteria that cause cavities. There is no complete substitute for dental floss but using something that can be done consistently is more effective than irregular flossing in preventing dental cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Thursday, April 1st, 2010Although we focus our practice on family dentistry, we provide several other types of services that most people may not know about. I work very hard to have the best technology available in dentistry and have put together a team of individuals who pride themselves in providing great customer service. We don’t have the largest, fanciest building, we have the best technology, materials, and educated dental team in Albany. We are also proud of the fact that we have a small practice setting so that patients see the same people every time they come to our practice and we treat one patient at a time. So, what types of services do we offer? Cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, laser gum treatment (Lanap), Velscope oral cancer screening, Carifree cavity testing, mercury free fillings, single appointment Cerec crowns, laser fillings, digital x-rays, intra-oral digital photos, laser whitening, root canals, extractions (tooth removal), micro airabrasion, and much more. Carson Kutsch Albany Oregon dentist www.drkutsch.com