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Palos Dental Center
Leslie A McKane DDS  | Richard J McKane DDS | Joseph Mardjetko DDS


12721 South Harlem Avenue Palos Heights, IL 60463
Phone: (708) 448-9416  Fax: (708) 448-9423
Email: [email protected]ail.com

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Posts for: November, 2018

4 Things to Know About Diabetes and Gum Health

By Palos Dental Center
November 21, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: oral health   diabetes  
4ThingstoKnowAboutDiabetesandGumHealth

The American Diabetes Association has declared November National Diabetes Month. If you or a loved one has diabetes, you may already know that diabetes puts you at greater risk for gum disease. Let's look at four must-know facts about diabetes and gum disease.

#1. Gum disease is an acknowledged complication of diabetes.
High levels of blood sugar can interfere with your mouth's ability to fight infection, making you more susceptible to gum disease. People with poorly controlled diabetes may have more severe gum disease and may ultimately lose more teeth due to gum disease—in fact, one in five people who have lost all their teeth have diabetes.

#2. Gum disease makes diabetes harder to control.
Diabetes and gum disease are a two-way street when it comes to adverse health effects. Not only does diabetes increase the risk of gum disease, but gum disease can make diabetes harder to manage. Infections such as gum disease can cause blood sugar levels to rise. This is because chronic inflammation can throw the body's immune system into overdrive, which affects blood sugar levels. Since higher blood sugar weakens the body's ability to fight infection, untreated gum disease may raise the risk of complications from diabetes.

#3. You can do a lot to take charge of your health.
If you have diabetes and gum disease, you may feel as if you've been hit with a double whammy. While it's true that having both conditions means you are tasked with managing two chronic diseases, there is a lot you can do to take care of your health. Do your best to control blood sugar by taking prescribed medications, following a balanced diet, and exercising. In addition, pay special attention to your oral healthcare routine at home: Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day can go a long way in preserving good oral health.

#4. Preventing and managing gum disease should be a team effort.
We can work together to prevent, treat, and control periodontal disease. Come in for regular professional dental cleanings and checkups so we can monitor the health of your teeth and gums and provide specialized treatment such as deep cleanings when necessary. Diligent dental care can improve your oral health and help control your diabetes.

Remember, we're on your team. Let us know if there have been changes in your diabetes, your medication, or your oral health. If you have questions about diabetes and your oral health, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. To learn more, read the Dear Doctor magazine article “Good Oral Health Leads to Better Health Overall.”


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Singer Dua Lipa Sees the Wisdom in Postponing Tour Dates

By Palos Dental Center
November 11, 2018
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: celebrity smiles   wisdom teeth  
SingerDuaLipaSeestheWisdominPostponingTourDates

When die-hard music fans hear that their favorite performer is canceling a gig, it’s a big disappointment—especially if the excuse seems less than earth-shaking. Recently, British pop sensation Dua Lipa needed to drop two dates from her world tour with Bruno Mars. However, she had a very good reason.

“I’ve been performing with an awful pain due to my wisdom teeth,” the singer tweeted, “and as advised by my dentist and oral surgeon I have had to have them imminently removed.”

The dental problem Lipa had to deal with, impacted wisdom teeth, is not uncommon in young adults. Also called third molars, wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt (emerge from beneath the gums), generally making their appearance between the ages of 18-24. But their debut can cause trouble: Many times, these teeth develop in a way that makes it impossible for them to erupt without negatively affecting the healthy teeth nearby. In this situation, the teeth are called “impacted.”

A number of issues can cause impacted wisdom teeth, including a tooth in an abnormal position, a lack of sufficient space in the jaw, or an obstruction that prevents proper emergence. The most common treatment for impaction is to extract (remove) one or more of the wisdom teeth. This is a routine in-office procedure that may be performed by general dentists or dental specialists.

It’s thought that perhaps 7 out of 10 people ages 20-30 have at least one impacted wisdom tooth. Some cause pain and need to be removed right away; however, this is not always the case. If a wisdom tooth is found to be impacted and is likely to result in future problems, it may be best to have it extracted before symptoms appear. Unfortunately, even with x-rays and other diagnostic tests, it isn’t always possible to predict exactly when—or if—the tooth will actually begin causing trouble. In some situations, the best option may be to carefully monitor the tooth at regular intervals and wait for a clearer sign of whether extraction is necessary.

So if you’re around the age when wisdom teeth are beginning to appear, make sure not to skip your routine dental appointments. That way, you might avoid emergency surgery when you’ve got other plans—like maybe your own world tour!

If you would like more information about wisdom tooth extraction, please call our office to arrange a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Wisdom Teeth” and “Removing Wisdom Teeth.”


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Effective Dental Care Depends First on Getting the Big Picture

By Palos Dental Center
November 01, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: dental care  
EffectiveDentalCareDependsFirstonGettingtheBigPicture

You might see your teeth and gums as separate parts of your mouth. But we dentists see them as a unified biological system, each of them contributing to your mouth's various functions: eating, speaking and, of course, smiling.

The teeth-gum-mouth relationship is also a factor when things aren't going well. Tooth decay, for example, doesn't suddenly appear — conditions have to be present in the mouth to cause it. The same can be said for periodontal (gum) disease or bite problems.

So the best approach in dental care is to consider the whole — to first learn all we can about your mouth. We need to understand not only your current problems but also your health history and the unique features of your mouth. With this deeper understanding we can formulate a long-term plan that addresses all your individual needs.

We specifically want to identify your individual oral health risks, from your genetic makeup to any past problems with dental disease or the bite. We then want to assess your current state of health: do you have any presence of dental disease? Is any past dental work failing or in need of updating? Are there any biomechanical issues with the bite or bone loss that need to be addressed?

With this more complete picture, we can then prioritize your care and treatment. Some things like gum disease require immediate attention. Other areas such as bite problems or cosmetic issues may require planning and time to fully address. Our aim, though, is to eventually bring you to as high a level of health as your individual situation will permit.

Once we've achieved an acceptable level of health, our aim is to then maintain that level. This includes monitoring for changes in your oral health and intervening when necessary.

As you can see, establishing a care strategy is only the beginning — and care will always be ongoing. In fact, we'll need to modify your care as new issues arise or you experience the effects of aging. Our end goal, however, always remains the same — to help you achieve and keep the most healthy and attractive mouth possible.

If you would like more information on getting the most from your dental care, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Successful Dental Treatment: Getting the Best Possible Results.”


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        • 5 Tips to Keeping a Healthy Mouth During Your College Years
        • Eating the Right Carbs Helps Keep Your Gums Healthy
        • Why Alfonso Ribeiro Is Grateful for Root Canal Treatment
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        • There Are a Lot of Bacteria in Your Mouth but Only a Few Mean You Harm
        • Don't Panic Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding but Do Keep an Eye on It
        • Improving Hygiene Skills Maximizes Removal of Disease-Causing Plaque
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        • Here are the Facts on the Impact of Metal Allergies on Dental Work
        • Bobby Bones Dances His Way to Dental Damage
        • Dental Visits are Key to Detecting Early Developing Tooth Decay
        • Stop Root Cavities with Prevention and Prompt Treatment
      • November (3)
        • 4 Things to Know About Diabetes and Gum Health
        • Singer Dua Lipa Sees the Wisdom in Postponing Tour Dates
        • Effective Dental Care Depends First on Getting the Big Picture
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        • Some Blood Pressure Medications May Affect Your Oral Health
        • Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
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        • A Teen's Missing Tooth May Require a Temporary Replacement
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        • Dentures Still an Effective Restoration for Total Tooth Loss
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        • Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
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        • Avoid These 4 Health Problems with One Simple Denture Practice
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        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
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        • Use These Techniques to Enjoy Healthy Foods Even with a Jaw Joint Disorder
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        • RPDs Offer Another Tooth Replacement Option for those on a Tight Budget
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
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        • The Secret to Preventing Gum Disease - Control Bacterial Plaque
        • Keep Your Saliva Flowing - Your Oral Health Depends on it
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        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
        • Regular Flossing not Your Thing? Try an Oral Irrigator
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        • Stop Gum Disease Before it Threatens Your Dental Implant
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        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
        • Not All Bacteria are Harmful to Oral Health
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        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
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        • Plagued by Mysterious Mouth Ulcers?
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        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
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      • December (2)
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        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
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        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
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        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
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        • Diet and Lifestyle Choices Key to Dental Health During College Years
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