If you’re one of the 34 million and rising number of Americans living with diabetes, your physician has likely encouraged you to be diligent in maintaining the best in oral health. If not, then be sure to inform your dentist about your condition. Likewise, if you are one of the 75 million or so Americans affected by periodontal (gum) disease—especially if you have been diagnosed with severe periodontitis—inform your primary care doctor and be aware of diabetes symptoms. Why, you ask? Because there is a distinct link between the two diseases, if you are affected by one, you are at increased ris ..read more

If your Southwest Florida-area dentist suggests that you might have xerostomia, it might not be cause for alarm, as up to 22% of the global population is affected to some degree by the condition, according to the American Dental Association. However, if your xerostomia is persistent and potentially compromising other elements of your oral health, your dentist will undoubtedly recommend treatment. “What is xerostomia?” you ask. Derived from the Greek words “xeros,” for “dry,” and “stoma,” meaning mouth, xerostomia is the medical term for dry mouth, which isn’t a disease per se but more of a sym ..read more

Twice-daily brushing and flossing go a long way in preserving the pearly white beauty of your smile. It’s also instrumental in helping prevent periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss. Despite the dual aesthetic and health benefits role that brushing and flossing provide, more than 60% of U.S. adults over age 35 are living with some form of periodontal disease. Marco Island dentists Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Brian Garcia address periodontal disease daily with their southwest Florida area patients. Periodontal treatment is a core focus of their clinic’s practice, and they strive t ..read more

Patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease tend to dread the discomfort and pain associated with traditional treatment, whether scaling and root planing or more invasive procedures like gingival flap surgery and gum grafting. Such treatments are usually critical for halting the progression of gum disease to prevent further damage and potential tooth loss. However, there is another periodontal treatment you can turn to that effectively treats the underlying causes of the disease and promotes the regeneration of damaged tissues. Available to Southwest Florida-area patients at Island To ..read more

If someone were to tell you that you have “fetor oris,” you’d probably react by saying, “What?” On the other hand, if someone tells you that you have “halitosis,” you’d probably understand what they are saying but perhaps not know how to respond to the somewhat embarrassing declaration. If you’re not familiar with either term, know that both refer to bad breath, which is certainly something that no one wants to have but that everyone experiences on occasion. As an occasional minor condition, bad breath is typically caused by the food and drinks we’ve consumed, temporary dry mouth, and/or forge ..read more

Success in one’s personal and professional life is often driven by confidence, which in turn tends to be influenced by one’s self-esteem. However, confidence-spurring self-esteem can be compromised by one’s self-image, particularly over concerns about their smile. As noted, 17th-century naturalist John Ray said, “Beauty is power; a smile its sword.” Southwest Florida dentists Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Brian Garcia of Island Tower Dentistry understand how one’s smile can impact confidence and self-esteem. And the cosmetic dentistry they provide at their Marco Island, Florida practice has he ..read more

You might be surprised to learn that dental anxiety is more common than you might think, especially if you are one of the millions of Americans who avoid going to the dentist due to odontophobia. Even those apparently in need of the “Hollywood smile” can be averse to dentistry. Consider that Jennifer Aniston, Kristen Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, Kate Beckinsale, Emma Watson, and other celebrities have publicly admitted that they fear dentists and have sometimes gone years without a dental appointment. Some further acknowledge that they must be sedated or take other medications to get them through ..read more

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that people have sought ways to whiten their teeth since ancient times. Ancient Egyptians used a whitening paste of ground pumice and wine vinegar, while ancient Romans whitened their teeth by rinsing with urine, with its ammonia serving as a bleaching agent. Along with these tried and surprisingly true teeth whitening efforts, the ancients probably experimented with other whitening methodologies that weren’t passed down through history due to their lack of success. Not much has changed since then as people continue to seek out novel ways to whiten thei ..read more

More than 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers yearly, and over 11,500 die from the disease, according to the latest American Cancer Society (ACS) data. With a lifetime risk of developing oral cancer at about one in 60 for men and one in 141 for women, you’re much more likely to experience gum disease or other oral health concerns than oral cancer. Still, you do not want to risk becoming an American Cancer Society statistic. For this reason, Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Brian Garcia of Island Tower Dentistry offer their Southwest Florida patients oral canc ..read more