COVID-19 And Your Dental Health

March 25th, 2020

Hey everyone!  I hope everyone is staying healthy during these crazy times we live in.  The COVID-19 virus has definitely affected everyone around the country, so there is some solace that we are ALL in this together!

According to the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS), the American Dental Association (ADA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and many other national health-related organizations, Lovda Family Dental has decided to close for non-emergency treatment, and scheduled to re-open by April 13th.  However, our office will be open for EMERGENCY TREATMENT ONLY.

Rest assured, the team at Lovda Family Dental is committed to your oral health despite the ongoing public health concerns.  Your oral health has a direct impact on your overall health, so if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please do not hesitate to call our office and request emergency care.

And lastly, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE follow CDC COVID-19 guidelines for hygiene and "social distancing".  Only together, as a community, are we able to fight this pandemic from spreading.

If you have any questions, please dont hesitate to call our Hoffman Estates, IL office at (847) 991-0790.

-Dr Lovda

ADA Seal of Acceptance - Your Key to Effective Dental Products

February 26th, 2020

Hello everyone!

After enjoying a wonderful weekend of mild temperatures, Mother Nature gifts us with another week of snowy, blustery weather and reminds us to remain vigilant during cold and flu season.  Similar to wearing winter hats and gloves to avoid getting sick, a good quality toothbrush (and floss!) is essential to maintain excellent oral health.  But with so many products available in the dental aisle... how do I know what to buy?

Easy!  Look for the ADA-Seal of Acceptance!

Toothbrushes, toothpastes, mouthrinses, toothache medicine... you name it, and it has been tested and verified by the ADA to see if it works or not.  Look for products that display the seal of acceptance, as well as benefits that are supported by science.  More than 200 oral health products have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance, including water filters, sports mouthguards, and even sugar-free chewing gum!

So how does a toothbrush or mouthrinse earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance?  Great question... with scientific evidence.  In addition to research by the manufacturing company, rigorous independent testing by the ADA Council of Scientific Affairs ensures the American public receives the very best in oral health products.  So next time you are walking down the dental aisle at WalMart or Target, make sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance when deciding which toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthrinse, etc... is best for you and your family.

At Lovda Family Dental, we understand that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of gold.  Contact our Hoffman Estates, IL office today and my team will be happy to go over excellent oral hygiene habits to ensure your smile lasts a lifetime!

'Till next time... keep brushing and smile on!

-Dr Lovda

Caring For Your New (or old) Dental Implants

February 12th, 2020

Dental implants are a wonderful means to replace missing teeth, and have numerous advantages over more traditional options, such as fixed bridges and dentures.  However, like anything else related to the human body, they require constant attention when maintaining your oral health.  Brushing and flossing twice a day are still the gold-standard in preventing gum disease and tooth decay, but I have had numerous patients ask me the following questions...

"Dr Lovda, can dental implants get cavities?"

"If my dental implant is made of metal and porcelain, why do I need to brush it?"

"Can dental implants fail?"

All great questions so far.  The answer is YES!  While dental implants are made of metal and porcelain (both prosthetic materials), your body is still the "host" and must be maintained in a healthy manner.  A great analogy would be comparing a well-built house located on top of a sink-hole... causing the house to fall apart as it tragically falls into the developing sinkhole.  Your alveolar bone (i.e. jaw bone) and the supporting gingival (i.e. gums) tissue are still affected by bacteria and infections.  While it is true that bacteria cannot cause porcelain or metal to decay, the bone and gums around the implant certainly can, leading to an infection that can cause an dental implant to fail.

"Dr. Lovda, how do I prevent my dental implant from failing"?  Another great question.  For the vast majority of patients, dental implants fail due to lack of good home care.  Brushing, flossing twice a day are the gold standard and should never be put off.  Avoid drug use and consuming tobacco in all forms.  Maintain a healthy diet with minimal refined sugar consumption.  And lastly, visiting Lovda Family Dental every 6 months for a professional cleaning and check-up will put you at huge advantage in maintaining excellent health.

"What can break a natural tooth, can break a fake tooth."  There is immense truth in this statement.

 

Do you have dental implants?  Have you had a dental cleaning and check-up recently?  At Lovda Family Dental, my team and I take pride to explain, and if necessary, demonstrate the necessary oral hygiene skills needed to maintain excellent oral health.  Contact our Hoffman Estates, IL office today for a fresher, brighter smile tomorrow!

Till next time, keep brushing and smile on!

-Dr Lovda

 

Marijuana and Dental Health

January 30th, 2020

As of January 1st, 2020, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.  While the long-term effects of marijuana consumption is unknown at this time, I have instructed my team at Lovda Family Dental to take the appropriate steps in recognizing and understanding the known effects on an individual's oral health, as well as overall well-being.  I would like to share some information below that I feel will help our patients and local community of what I will be looking for when I perform various dental procedures and check-ups.

First, marijuana is most commonly consumed via smoking.  Smoking, whatever the substance may be, is very detrimental to the oral mucosa and salivary flow within the oral cavity.  Inhaling marijuana smoke results in high intraoral temperatures that can lead to damage on the cellular and molecular level.  Similar to tobacco, these changes can result in the abnormal tissue growth and cause delayed healing to an injured area of the mouth due to a lack of subsequent blood-flow.  For example, a patient undergoing a tooth extraction may experience a "dry socket" and/or an infection.

Secondly, the strength of marijuana is very hard to standardize.  According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, marijuana can be up to 30x stronger than just 20 years ago, and the degree of potency can vary between cultivators.  As a healthcare practitioner, this concerns me deeply in regards to informed consent, which I require before various dental procedures.  It is important that my patients understand the benefits and potential complications when I ask for their consent to start a procedure.  Therefore, if I feel a patient who is under the influence of marijuana cannot fully understand a procedure that is about to be performed, I will ask that the appointment be re-scheduled out of concern for patient safety.

To all my patients, both current and future, please don't hesitate to ask myself or my team at Lovda Family Dental at our Hoffman Estates, IL location any questions you may have regarding marijuana and its effect on dentistry.

Sincerely,

Dr Lovda Jr

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