Dr. Anne A. Nicholas

Important news for you to start 2012!

ScienceDaily (May 27, 2010) — Individuals who have poor oral hygiene have an increased risk of heart disease compared to those who brush their teeth twice a day, finds research published on the British Medical Journal website.

(If You Don’t Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day, You’re More Likely to Develop Heart Disease, Study Finds)!

The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry wishes a Happy and Healthily New Year to all, and encourage all our dental patients and friends to brush twice daily since it may help lower their risk of heart disease. California scientists, dentists, and cardiologists have known for many years that there is a link between inflammation in the mouth (gum disease) and heart problems.

The Science Daily article provides information about the team at the University College in London, how they analyzed data from over 11,000 adults who took part in a Scottish Health Survey. The research team analyzed data about lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, physical activity, and oral health routines. The team concluded:

“Once the data was adjusted for established cardio risk factors, the researchers found that participants who reported less frequent tooth brushing had a 70 percent extra risk of heart disease compared to individuals who brushed their teeth twice a day.”

This Scottish survey is one of many that confirm the link between oral health and overall health. Simply put: you aren’t healthy unless your gums and teeth are healthy.

Our friendly team at The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry will help keep your oral health and overall health beautiful for 2012 and for the rest of your life. It starts with just a call to 760-340-1030 or a stop at our office at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2 here in Palm Desert.

To read the entire Science Daily article, click on the link below:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100527204227.htm

Again, we wish you a Happy New Year!

Dr. Anne A. Nicholas

Hello Coachella Valley dental blog visitors. Whether you stumbled upon this blog by mistake, or clicked here on purpose, welcome!

I am Dr. Anne A. Nicholas. My Cosmetic, Periodontal and Implant dental practice is called The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry . We are located at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2   Palm Desert, California. You can find information about my practice, services, and professional Palm Springs, CA dental team at http://palmdesertimplantdentist.com.

In my The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry dental blog, I post informative articles about dentistry including new Palm Desert cosmetic dental treatments, preventative Rancho Mirage, CA dental care, and news about my dental practice. Many of my patients visit my blog regularly and I hope you will also find useful dental information here.

Do you currently have a Palm Desert dentist? If you are in need of a dentist or are not happy with your current dentist, I invite you to visit my office, meet my friendly staff, and discuss your dental needs with me.

My approach to my profession emphasizes you, the patient.

My first priority is exceeding my patient’s expectations. Before I can provide dental treatment, however, I must become familiar with each patient. That is why your first consultation will take some time. We can’t get to know each other in five minutes.

How are you doing? What is the current condition of your teeth and gums? What are your fears and expectations about Palm Springs dental treatment? Do you have financial concerns regarding your dental needs? I recognize that each one of my patients has a unique set of circumstances.

At The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, we emphasize preventative dental care. When restorative dental treatment is necessary, I recommend the most conservative procedures. If you have pressing dental needs, let’s talk about your options and consider the long term consequences of each treatment. If I believe it is best to refer you to another specialist, I’ll do so without hesitation. I am committed to your well-being and want you to receive the best possible care.

If you are interested in Palm Desert cosmetic dentistry, I can also help you. I pursue continual training in the latest cosmetic treatments and have extensive experience performing individual tooth restorations, complete smile makeovers and everything in between. Did you know that I can completely redesign your smile if that is what you desire? Miracles are possible with cosmetic dentistry.

Please call us at (760) 340-1030 to book a consultation. I am confident you will feel good about choosing The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry for your dental care.

This recession has really changed the way people do things.
Folks are saving more and charging less. They’re worrying
about the future, eating more dinners at home and putting
off purchases they once would have made without a thought.

There’s one place, though, where tons of people – maybe even
you — are leaving literally MILLIONS of dollars on the table,
and that’s their dental insurance.

How can that be?

My guess is that it’s because dental insurance isn’t like the
other kinds of insurance you buy.

You buy car insurance to cover you if you’re in an accident
or your car is damaged, and health insurance primarily to
insulate yourself from the high cost of treating a
serious illness or injury.

Dental insurance is different, though. It’s meant to
cover the ROUTINE and PREVENTIVE care you need
to protect your smile and your health — as well as contribute
a portion of the cost of more extensive treatment.

That makes dental insurance VERY valuable – if you
understand how it works and how to get the most out of it.

Use it or LOSE it

You see, there’s something else you need to remember
about dental insurance. It comes with an annual maximum
benefit (the top amount it will cover in a calendar year)
– and if you don’t use all of it by the end of that year
whatever is left simply disappears. NO ROLLOVER.

So if, for example, your annual maximum benefit is
$1,000 and you use just $200 of it, you’re leaving
$800 of YOUR money on the table.

That’s something you just can’t afford to do in times
like these.

Beat the System in Palm Desert; Call “The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry” today… 760-340-1030

Definition of EDUCATION: the action or process of educating or of being educated; also: a stage of such a process; b: the knowledge and development results. [1]

At The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry, every member of our staff is here to help patients understand what is required to maintain good oral health. We are committed to the education process, by providing our patients information and imparting knowledge about dental science that results in effective dental care.

Today, we would like to inform our readers about the importance of good dental hygiene, by providing information about dental caries and how to avoid them and maintain good oral health. You may be wondering what are dental caries? The MedlinePlus Encyclopedia provides the answer to this question.

Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or a cavity, is a disease where bacterial processes change carbohydrate like sugar in food left on teeth to acid that demineralises hard tooth structure (enamel, dentin, and cementum).[1]

If demineralisation exceeds saliva and other remineralisation like from fluoride, these tissues progressively break down, producing dental caries (cavities, holes in the teeth). Two groups of bacteria are responsible for initiating caries: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. If left untreated, the disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection, and, in severe cases, death.[2]

Dental caries is a disease that is found in people around throughout the world. The presentation of caries is highly variable; however, the risk factors and stages of development are similar. Initially, it may appear as a small chalky area that may eventually develop into a large cavitation. Sometimes caries may be directly visible; however other methods of detection such as radiographs are used for less visible areas of teeth and to judge the extent of destruction.

Dr. Anne A. Nicholas and her hygiene staff advocate preventive and prophylactic measures, such as regular oral hygiene, including two yearly visits to The Palm Desert Center For Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry to have your teeth cleaned and learn more about dietary modifications, to avoid dental caries.

Acquiring a personal hygiene care process that consists of proper brushing and flossing daily is necessary. The purpose of oral hygiene is to minimize any etiologic agents of disease in the mouth. The primary focus of brushing and flossing is to remove and prevent the formation of plaque. Plaque consists mostly of bacteria which you can help control.

For more information about dental caries and to learn more about how to properly brush and flossing techniques, contact The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry by calling 760-340-1030 or stopping by the office which is located at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2 Palm Desert, California.

[1] www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/education
[2]Cavities/tooth decay, hosted on the Mayo Clinic website. Page accessed May 25, 2008.
[3] MedlinePlus Encyclopedia Dental Cavities

“A smile costs nothing, but gives much.  It enriches those who receive it, without making poorer those who give.  It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is to poor but that he can be made rich by it.  A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship.  It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble.  Yet, it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.  Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile as much as he who has no more to give.”

-Anonymous Author

( SMILE)

“The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry” is sure you realize the importance of a simple smile and the impact it has on your success and happiness. Your smile should be inviting, calming, reassuring and positive. Those of you who are in business or are entrepreneurs work diligently toward your goals, looking for opportunities and taking risk to succeed. We are confident and positive a smile will encourage your contacts to take a chance on you if you are confident about your teeth and your smile. Of course, your success can’t be directly correlated to a smile, but the positive attitude that comes along with a healthy, genuine smile just might play a bigger role than you ever imagined.

To help improve your smile, Dr. Anne A. Nicholas offers dental bleaching, also known as tooth whitening, and Zoom, a bleaching process that lightens discoloration of enamel and dentin. The Zoom light activated whitening gel’s active ingredient is Hydrogen Peroxide. As the Hydrogen Peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, bleaching colored substances while the structure of the tooth is unchanged. The Zoom light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth. A study has shown that use of the Zoom lamp increases the effectiveness of the Zoom gel by 26% or more, giving an average improvement of eight shades’. Factors that decrease whitening include smoking and the ingestion of dark colored liquids like coffee, tea and red wine.

The ADA recommends that you have your teeth checked by a dentist before undergoing any whitening method. At “The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry”, Dr. Nicholas will examine you thoroughly and take a health and dental history (including allergies and sensitivities), observe hard and soft tissues, placement and conditions of restorations, and sometimes x-rays to determine the nature and depth of possible irregularities. She will then make recommendations on which tooth whitening proceedure is right for you.

Contact “The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry” by calling 760-340-1030 or stop by our office at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2, Palm Desert, California to schedule a tooth whitening consultation.

Periodontal diseases can start with gum inflammation and if not treated it can progress and cause major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. In serious cases, teeth can be lost. Once diagnosed with periodontal disease, its control depends on how well teeth and gums are cared for daily.

What causes gum disease?

Bacteria populate and find a home in the mouth and along with mucus and other particles forms plaque that sticks to the teeth. When plaque is not removed daily, it has a tendency to stick to the teeth and harden.  It is therefore important to brush and floss to get rid of plaque.  The plaque that becomes hard forms “tarter” and will require professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist to be removed.

What is Gingivitis?

The longer plaque and tartar are on teeth, the more harmful they become. The bacteria cause inflammation of the gums that is called “gingivitis.”  In gingivitis, the gums become red, swollen and can bleed easily.  Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that can usually be reversed with daily brushing and flossing, and regular cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist. This form of gum disease does not include any loss of bone and tissue that hold teeth in place.

Periodontitis

When gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to “periodontitis” (which means “inflammation around the tooth.”)  In periodontitis, gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces (called “pockets”) that become infected. The body’s immune system fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line. Bacterial toxins and the body’s natural response to infection start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. If not treated, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed.  The teeth may eventually become loose and have to be removed.   

Risk Factors
 
• Smoking.  Need another reason to quit smoking?  Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors associated with the development of gum disease.  Additionally, smoking can lower the chances for successful treatment.
• Hormonal changes in girls/women.  These changes can make gums more sensitive and make it easier for gingivitis to develop.
• Diabetes.  People with diabetes are at higher risk for developing infections, including gum disease.
• Medications.  There are hundreds of prescription and over the counter medications that can reduce the flow of saliva, which has a protective effect on the mouth.  Without enough saliva, the mouth is vulnerable to infections such as gum disease.  And some medications can cause abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue; this can make it difficult to keep gums clean.
• Illnesses.  Diseases like cancer or AIDS and their treatments can also negatively affect the health of gums.
• Genetic susceptibility.  Some people are more prone to severe gum disease than others.

Who gets gum disease?

People usually don’t show signs of gum disease until they are in their 30s or 40s.  Men are more likely to have gum disease than women.  Although teenagers rarely develop periodontitis, they can develop gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease.  Most commonly, gum disease develops when plaque is allowed to build up along and under the gum line.

What can I do to prevent gum disease?

• Brush your teeth twice a day (with a fluoride toothpaste)
• Floss every day
• Visit the dentist routinely for a check-up and professional cleaning
• Don’t smoke

How do I know if I have gum disease?

Symptoms of gum disease include:

• Bad breath that won’t go away
• Red or swollen gums
• Tender or bleeding gums
• Painful chewing
• Loose teeth
• Sensitive teeth
• Receding gums or longer appearing teeth

Any of these symptoms may be a sign of a serious problem, which should be checked by a dentist.  At your dental visit the dentist or hygienist should:

• Ask about your medical history to identify underlying conditions or risk factors (such as smoking) that may contribute to gum disease. 
• Examine your gums and note any signs of inflammation.
• Use a tiny ruler called a ‘probe’ to check for and measure any pockets.  In a healthy mouth, the depth of these pockets is usually between 1 and 3 millimeters.  This test for pocket depth is usually painless.
• The dentist or hygienist may also
 - Take an x-ray to see whether there is any bone loss.
 - Refer you to a periodontist like Dr. Anne A. Nicholas.  Dr. Nicholas is an experts in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease and may provide you with treatment options that are not offered by your dentist.

How is gum disease treated?

The main goal of treatment is to control the infection.  Dr. Anne A. Nicholas is a Periodontist and can help you control and treat gum disease.  If you are concerned that you might have this disease, don’t wait, call Dr. Nicholas today to schedule an appoint to determine what treatment will be required to maintain your good oral health.  Dr. Nicholas is located in Palm Desert at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2.  You can also call and schedule an appointment by calling 760-340-1030.

The number and types of treatment will vary, depending on the extent of the gum disease.  Any type of treatment requires that the patient keep up good daily care at home. Dr. Nicholas may also suggest changing certain behaviors, such as quitting smoking, as a way to improve treatment outcome.

Dr. Anne A. Nicholas is a periodontist who has experience and training dealing with the treatment and maintenance of the structure that supports your teeth – namely, the gums and bone matter.

Did you know that gingivitis is an early form of periodontitis, or gum disease?  Dr. Nicholas treats many patients who experience an occasional swelling of the gums, gums, that bleed after brushing or flossing, itchy gums, or bright red or purple gums.  These symptoms are signs of gingivitis and with preventive treatments from Dr. Nicholas and her hygiene department that include regular teeth cleanings, followed by a strict oral hygiene regimen, including anti-bacterial rinses, you can control the progression of gingivitis which if left untreated, gingivitis can escalate into periodontitis.

There are other factors that can contribute to the disease of periodontitis, including smoking, genetic tendencies, and unchecked diabetes.  However, with regular visits to a periodontist like Dr. Anne A. Nicholas, you can rid your mouth of periodontitis.  Dr. Nicholas will remove the buildup of bacterial plaque through scraping or sonic vibration.  She may place small pads treated with antibiotic solutions which will be placed between the teeth and gums, which also help to reduce plaque and combat the disease.

If you feel you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this blog posting, please feel free to contact Dr. Nicholas at her office by calling 760-340-1030 or stop by at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2, Palm Desert, California and she will be more than pleased to help you.

Fight antiplaque and antigingivitis agents with mouthwash! 

Dental plaque is the primary etiologic factor of the two most prevalent oral diseases: dental caries (cavities) and periodontal disease. Numerous studies have concluded and demonstrated that the ability to control the onset or progression of periodontal diseases is improved by regular plaque-control practices.

The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, Sedation and Implant Dentistry knows that oral health can be improved through effective plaque control, and that mechanical means of cleaning teeth are failing to deliver optimal levels of oral health because the techniques are not done consistently or thoroughly. In other words, people can do a better job of cleaning their teeth.  Oral hygiene routines (daily tooth brushing and flossing) are neither practiced consistently nor are they done for an adequate amount of time to thoroughly remove plaque.

Due to these limitations on home oral care practices, Dr. Anne A. Nicholas suggests that other strategies are required. Many of the strategies or other mechanical oral hygiene methods of plaque removal require time, motivation, and manual dexterity. Dr. Nicholas knows that people are busy and most likely will not take time for some of these procedures. However, using chemotherapeutics agents to help control plaque is another story.

She recommends along with multiple daily brushing that as an adjunct the use of an antimicrobial agent for reducing plaque and gingivitis, as an adjunctive therapy. Using a recommended mouthwash will have inhibitory effects on plaque and gingivitis compared to negative controls in the absence of tooth brushing and flossing.

Call and talk to Dr. Nicholas about which mouthwash is right for you.  She will be happy to talk with you and make recommendations that will help you maintain good oral health.

Call today;  The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry at 760-340-1030. Dr. Nicholas’s office is conveniently located at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2,   Palm Desert, California. She provides advanced dentistry for patients in Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and the surrounding areas.

Congratulations!  If you are reading this blog post you’ve already taken the first steps towards good oral health.  Now that you’ve made the commitment to good oral health, it’s important for you to protect it.  When was the last time you had a check-up with a dentist?  To protect your oral health you need professional help to determine if anything is wrong or needs attention.  Once you’ve been diagnosed, you will know what to do.  When you visit a dentist like Dr. Anne A. Nicholas, she will keep updates on your dental histories to note any factors that may influence your oral health and she may suggest a treatment program for you.

Once you are informed of your oral health, you are now ready to ask questions and seek solutions that will help you protect your oral health.  Your dentist or periodontist will tailor a schedule that best helps to protect your oral health.

As always, periodontist like Dr. Ann A. Nicholas will be happy to answer any questions you may have about maintenance procedures to protect your oral health.  She is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology and is a dental specialist in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and bone that support your teeth; and she has been trained at the prestigious Misch Institute of Implantology.

Dr. Nicholas and her staff are committed to excellent patient service; and they will do everything they can to help you achieve that beautiful smile and optimal oral health.  They would like to hear from you this coming year about how they can provide better service and information to help you.  Please feel free to email them at, exquisitedentistry@yahoo.com or contact them by telephone at 760-340-1030. Feel free to fill out the (Contact Information form) on their website http://www.palmdesertimplantdentist.com, or stop by the office at: 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2, Palm Desert, California.

When considering A Dentist In Palm Desert, sometimes its just a simple matter of getting a referral from a friend. The most common way for people to find a dentist in a new area such as Palm Desert is to ask a friend or neighbor. ‘Who is your dentist?’ is a common question. The answer is usually followed up with an explanation about whether or not your friend likes their dentist or not, and whether they would recommend their Palm Desert dentist to a friend.

Hello, I am Dr. Anne A. Nicholas and I am a Periodontist serving the entire Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indio, and the Coachella Valley in Southern California community as a licensed Doctor. We call our practice ‘The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry’, and we welcome new patients from the all of  Southern California area.

If you are new to the Palm Desert area and are looking for a Palm Desert dentist, please come by my dentist office in Palm Desert California. I will be happy to spend some time with you to get to know you, and to introduce you to our friendly office staff.

I realize that most of our new patients will come to us by word-of-mouth referrals and our patient testimonials. It is our goal to deliver such a positive dental experience that you will be compelled to tell your friends about how happy you are with our dental service.

I look forward to meeting you.

Dr. Anne A. Nicholas