2015

by drrapisarda
Many essential habits for adulthood are formed during the teenage years, and that includes dental habits. If you have a teenager, then you know very well how difficult it can be to motivate your child to care about oral hygiene, even if he or she cares a lot about his or her appearance. But if you want your teenager to avoid extensive and costly restorative dentistry treatments down the road, it is important that he or she develop a healthy relationship with a dentist right now. This includes visiting the dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and thorough oral exams as recommended by the American Dental Association.

At the dental practice of Dr. Robert Rapisarda, we offer a comprehensive range of cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry treatments for patients of all needs, including teenagers. We are pleased to cater to the special needs of your teenaged child by offering dental care for teens at our Barre, MA practice. By entrusting your child’s oral health to our care now, you are taking a proactive step toward ensuring that they will have healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime. He or she may not appreciate that now, but the day will come when you see the lessons you impart now passed on to your grandchildren, and you will know that you did precisely the right thing.

We can’t promise that we’ll make dentistry cool, but we can promise that we’ll provide your teenager with the best possible dental care – and that’s something that he or she will smile about. We urge you and your child to visit our practice at your earliest convenience and find out more about how we can serve your teenager’s special needs.

Popular Dental Treatments for Teens

We offer numerous treatments that are appropriate for patients of all ages, including dental crowns, tooth-colored fillings, and state-of-the-art diagnostics. However, there are certain treatments that are available at our practice that are particularly popular among teens. These include:

• Invisalign®: The revolutionary Invisalign® system uses a series of clear, custom-crafted aligners to gradually guide the teeth into their proper positions in the mouth, providing a comfortable and cosmetically appealing alternative to cumbersome, conspicuous metal braces. Best of all, the aligners can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing.
• Cavity treatment: We can treat cavities before they have a chance to spread and threaten the tooth. Thanks to our tooth-colored fillings, we can restore the tooth without compromising its appearance.
• Athletic mouthguards: If your child is participating in football, basketball, or another team sport, we can provide him or her with a custom mouthguard that will protect his or her teeth and gums from damage in the event of trauma to the mouth.
• Periodontal care: Regular periodontal treatments will help to guard your teenager’s mouth against gum disease, the most common disease among American adults.

Learn More about Dental Care for Teens

To learn more about our exemplary dental care for teens, please contact our dental practice today.

by Robert Rapisarda

Patients throughout the greater Boston area can count on Dr. Robert Rapisarda to provide exceptional dental care, with a focus on advanced general dentistry for total wellness. This means treating all problems great and small, because as you’re about to read, your dental health can have a major impact on your general health.

Your General Wellness and Dental Health Are Interlinked

It seems like a truism, but it’s worth repeating: your dental health can affect your general health and vice versa. The whole body is a system, and it’s important that you’re fully healthy and that everything is in proper working order. Issues with the health of your teeth or gums can lead to a number of health issues or might be the sign of a serious health issue.

This is why it’s always worthwhile to visit your dentist and your general practitioner for regular checkups. Any health issues you are facing can be addressed in a timely manner to prevent major problems down the road.

A Correlation Between Gum Disease and Heart Disease

Studies have found that there is a link between gum disease and cardiovascular issues, including increased risks of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and blood clots.

This isn’t to say that your gum disease means you’ll be suffering from a heart attack or a serious cardiovascular issue, but it does mean there is a greater potential for your heart health to be negatively impacted in some way.

Why are periodontal and cardiovascular health linked?

There are many reasons why this may be true, though researchers have yet to identify a single prevailing cause of this link.

For one, many people who smoke and use tobacco products have a tendency to suffer from gum disease as well as cardiovascular disease, which is why smoking is such a bad thing for your overall wellness.

Another possibility has to do with the oral bacteria that cause gum disease and how it leads to serious inflammation, which may increase a person’s risk of suffering from heart disease.

As more research is done and better info becomes available, we will be sure to share these matters on our blog.

Oral Hygiene Tips to Have the Healthiest Smile Possible

In order to prevent gum disease and keep your smile stay its healthiest, we recommend the following:

• Stop using tobacco products or don’t start in the first place
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day
• Floss your teeth at least once a night
• Drink water to stay well hydrated
• Visit your dentist twice a year for checkups

General Wellness Tips to Stay Fit Well Into the Future

If you want to stay healthy for the years ahead, keep these tips in mind:

• Stop using tobacco products or don’t start in the first place (it’s so important it’s worth repeating)
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables
• Visit your doctor for your annual checkup

Learn More About Your Options for Advanced Dental Care

If you would like to find out how you can improve your dental health and enhance your general wellness in the process, we encourage you to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. Dr. Rapisarda and the entire dental care team looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters with you in much greater detail.