Juno Beach Smiles Blog

What You Should Know About Diabetes and Gum Disease

July 31, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: diabetes, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, general dentistry, gum disease, gum disease therapy, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:19 am

As we’ve mentioned on this blog before, gum disease doesn’t just affect your oral health—it’s also been linked to a wide array of health problems in the rest of the body, and that includes diabetes.

For a while, researchers weren’t sure what the exact nature of that relationship was, but we have a better understanding of it today. It turns out the relationship goes two ways. Gum disease raises the body’s blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diabetic complications. Meanwhile, because of how diabetes affects blood sugar levels, diabetics have an increased risk of developing the disease in the first place.

All of which means that if you have diabetes, seeing Dr. Duane Keuning or Dr. Greg Riley twice a year for checkups is important—and not just if you have diabetes. Every patient can benefit from seeing a dentist twice a year. That’s because a majority of Americans have some form of gum disease, even if it’s very mild.

During your visit with our Juno Beach dental team, we can offer you home care tips to keep in mind, or we can put together a more advanced therapy plan if we need to. Some of the most common treatments for gum disease include scaling, root planing, antibiotics, and surgery.

Are you a diabetic with concerns about gum disease? Call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry today for an appointment with Dr. Riley or Dr. Keuning. We offer effective cosmetic and restorative care to Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, and Jupiter.

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Decrease Your Risk for Cavities by Knowing the Risk Factors

July 25, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: cavities, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, general dentistry, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 3:17 pm

general dentistry Not everyone has the same level of risk when it comes to developing cavities. Knowing what risk factors are associated with them can help you protect your smile and improve your oral health. That’s what today’s post is all about. If you have any questions afterwards, feel free to call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry to let us know.

Having a cavity already increases your risk of developing new cavities

If you think you might have a cavity, or a doctor has diagnosed one, have it treated as soon as possible with a filling or crown. This will help you support your oral health and prevent the spread of decay

Watch what you eat

Foods and drinks that are sugary or acidic will increase your risk of decay by spurring the production of bacteria and acid in your mouth. This, in turn, can weaken your tooth enamel and lead to cavities.

Poor oral hygiene

Are you brushing and flossing enough? We recommend brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once a day. This will protect your smile from the acid and bacteria that comes from sugary or acidic foods and drinks. Getting enough fluoride is especially important because it helps to strengthen your enamel.

Poorly done fillings or crowns

When a filling or crown isn’t done the way it should be, your smile may be especially vulnerable to bacteria, as you may have bacteria deposits in a hard-to-brush area. Give our Juno Beach office a call if you’ve had a negative experience with another doctor.

Family history

Sometimes a patient’s increased risk of cavities is due to genetics, but in other cases, it may just be that good oral health habits weren’t taught at home. Remember to brush and floss regularly, and make an antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash a regular part of your regimen.

Not seeing your dentist enough

Dr. Duane Keuning and Dr. Greg Riley recommend coming in for regular visits twice a year. Why? So we can watch for changes in your smile. Cavities need to be treated as soon as possible, and with a visit every six months, we can provide early care that will help you support your oral and overall health.

Do you need to schedule your next visit with Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley? Give us a call today. Our Juno Beach dental office is happy to provide general, cosmetic, and restorative care to patients from North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Tequesta, and surrounding areas.

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The History of Dental Implants

July 16, 2013

Filed under: Implant Dentistry,Restorative Dentistry — Tags: dental implants, implant dentistry, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, restorative dentistry, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:23 am

In , we talked about the history of teeth whitening. Today, we’d like to focus on another popular service—dental implants.

As with whitening, people have always been looking for a way to replace missing teeth. Scientists have found evidence that the Mayans implanted tooth-shaped shells into the jaw 1,300 years ago to replace missing teeth. Going back even further, the Romans may have used cast-iron, while the Egyptians used gold wires. Other materials that have been used throughout history include rubber, ivory, copper, semi-precious stones, and oxen bone.

And then there are dental implants as we now know them. These date from around 1965. Scientist Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered that titanium would fuse with bone tissue, leading eventually to the placement of the first dental implant in a human skull.

Why are modern-day dental implants so effective? Because they mimic nature’s design, with a crown on top and a titanium root underneath to act as a prosthetic root. What’s more, they’re versatile enough to replace a single tooth or a full row of teeth.

Not every patient is a candidate for dental implants, though. To find out if dental implants might be right for you, call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry for a consultation. During your visit with us, Dr. Greg Riley and Dr. Duane Keuning will help you decide if dental implants will help you meet your needs, or if another service might be better.

We’re proud to provide cosmetic and restorative care to Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Tequesta.

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Patients Have Always Wanted a Whiter Smile

July 2, 2013

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, teeth whitening, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 8:22 pm

teeth whitening results2 We think of teeth whitening as something that only patients today are worried about. But the truth is that people have been looking for whitening solutions since as far back as ancient Egypt, around 4,000 years ago. Back then, wine vinegar and ground pumice stone were mixed together and brushed on with sticks to achieve a more dazzling look. The whiter your teeth, the more well-off you were perceived to be.

As uncomfortable as that might sound though, it doesn’t compare to the ancient Romans did. They used their own urine! That practice was eventually abandoned, and who can blame them?

Moving through history a little more, patients often went to barbers for dental care. During that era, most dental problems were treated by pulling teeth. They did provide care for teeth whitening, though. To whiten teeth, they would use metal files on the patient’s teeth and then apply nitric acid to get rid of stains. This was not only uncomfortable but also didn’t do any favors for the protective layer of enamel on the teeth on the patient’s teeth. Teeth with a damaged layer of enamel are more vulnerable to decay.

Today, dentists like Dr. Duane Keuning and Dr. Greg Riley use professional whitening systems that are designed to create whiter smiles without negatively affecting oral health.

To find out how contemporary teeth whitening works, call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry for a consultation. We can explain how teeth whitening works and what you can expect from your care. Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic serves patients from Juno Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, and beyond.

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Stress, Inflammation, and Your Oral Health

June 18, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, gum disease, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, periodontal therapy, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:43 am

periodontal therapy As we mentioned in our last post, oral and overall health are tied together in ways most patients never think about. That also extends to the topic of inflammation and stress.

As a society, we seem more stressed now than ever before. For some that’s because of finances while for others it comes from pressure of always being connected through one social media platform or another. But wherever your stress comes, it’s having an impact on your body, including your oral health.

Inflammation if part of the body’s immune response. When it works the way it should, it can be beneficial. Someone who is under a lot of stress, though, may find that his or her body can’t regulate stress properly. That’s when inflammation—which is one of the many symptoms of gum disease—can almost become like a weapon the body uses against itself. In fact, the ADG reported in 2012 that there is indeed a connection between stress and dental health, with the immune system contributing.

What does this mean for patients of Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic?

Just as with the hormone situation, it means that regular appointments are important. During a regular visit, Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley will carefully examine your teeth and gums to look for signs of inflammation or decay. If anything is found, a treatment plan can be put together immediately.

Is it time to schedule your next appointment with our Juno Beach team? Call us today to reserve an appointment. We serve patients from Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Tequesta, and beyond.

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Hormones Levels and Your Oral Health

June 4, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, general dentistry, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 8:42 pm

Oral Health small Your oral and overall health are much more connected than most people realize. For example, gum disease doesn’t just have an impact on your smile’s wellbeing; it’s also been connected to other health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s and preterm birth.

But even patients who were aware of this connection might not have realized there’s also a connection between oral health and hormone levels. In that case, the truth is surprising. As it turns out, the rise or fall of hormone levels in the body has an effect on one’s vulnerability to gum disease. Women will experience this more than men because of the hormone changes they experience throughout life. Some of the biggest cases include puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. But those aren’t the only times when hormone levels will change. Women taking birth control may be more susceptible, as are women who are about to begin their period.

So, what does that mean for patients of Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic?

It means that regular exams and checkups should be a priority. The whole point of regular visits is to catch gum disease before it has a chance to become more serious. During your visit, if Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley finds anything, a treatment plan can be put together immediately.

Are you a woman who is pregnant or taking birth control? Let us know, and be sure you make regular care a priority. Also, remember to brush at least twice a day, floss once, and rinse with a fluoride or antibacterial mouthwash.

Call us today to schedule your next appointment. Dr. Keuning and Dr. Riley serve patients from Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Tequesta, and beyond.

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A Shapelier Smile with Laser Gum Contouring

May 13, 2013

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, laser gum contouring, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:01 am

Laser gum contouring If someone asked you to describe your smile, what words would come to mind first? Would you call it beautiful and shapely, or would you be more inclined to think of it as gummy or stubby? At Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, we can help. Using a service called laser gum contouring, Dr. Duane Keuning and Dr. Greg Riley can help you unveil the rest of your smile and enjoy a newfound sense of confidence.

What Is Laser Gum Contouring?

Laser gum contouring uses a soft tissue laser to help you reduce the size of your gums. With careful precision, Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley will trim back your gum line, resulting in a shapelier, fuller smile. This great service is even versatile enough to help patients who want to reduce the appearance of receding gums. That’s because soft tissue lasers give doctors like Dr. Keuning and Dr. Riley enormous control over the final results.

What’s more, treatment with laser gum contouring takes little time to complete. Prior to your appointment, we’ll talk about your options and what to expect during the procedure. Then, on the day of procedure, your doctor will mark your gums, make sure that you’re completely comfortable, and then begin. Because of how soft tissue lasers work, you can look forward to a quick visit and a quick recovery.

Find out more about laser gum contouring by calling our Juno Beach dental office. Our team would be happy to help you set up an appointment with Dr. Keuning or Dr. Riley. We serve patients from North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Tequesta, and beyond.

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A Two-Step Smile Makeover with Porcelain Veneers

April 29, 2013

Have you lost confidence in your smile because of cracked, chipped, stained, or misaligned teeth? With porcelain veneers from Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic, you can reclaim the confidence you’ve lost and enjoy a smile that looks naturally beautiful.

Porcelain veneers are made from thin pieces of high quality dental porcelain. Each one is custom made for the patient’s particular needs and will be shaped and shaded to match the appearance of surrounding teeth. When attached to the front of the patient’s teeth, porcelain veneers blend in, resulting in a smile that looks naturally beautiful.

Transforming a smile with porcelain veneers typically takes two visits to complete. In the first, Dr. Duane Keuning or Dr. Greg Riley will complete a tooth-by-tooth exam to determine your needs and will then put your treatment plan together. If we need to prep your teeth at all, our Juno Beach team will also take the time to do that. Then, when our lab has finished crafting your custom made veneers, you’ll come back to our office to have them put in place.

With your finished veneers in place, caring for them is easy. You’ll just brush and floss as thoroughly as you always would. You’ll also want to make sure you keep up your regular visits to Dr. Keuning and Dr. Riley. Regular visits give our Juno Beach team a chance to get teeth extra clean, plus they let us look for changes in your oral health—changes that might signal the need for extra care.

Smile with Confidence Again

Feel confident about your smile again with porcelain veneers. Call us today to reserve an appointment. We serve patients from Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Tequesta, and all surrounding areas.

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Cosmetic Care for Spring and Summer

April 10, 2013

Filed under: Implant Dentistry — Tags: cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, Invisalign, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, laser gum recontouring, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:19 am

cosmetic dentistry Spring is here and summer’s not far behind. That means spending more time outdoors with friends and family, especially for upcoming holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Why not make sure you’re ready for those moments with a cosmetic dentistry service from Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry. With one or more of our cosmetic services, we can help you create a whiter, straighter smile you’ll want to share with those you love.

Our cosmetic dentistry services include:

With these services, we can eliminate yellowing or stains, straighten misaligned teeth, and repair cracked or chipped teeth.

But which service is right for you?

That’s a question Dr. Duane Keuning and Dr. Greg Riley would be happy to answer during a routine consultation visit. They’ll start with a thorough oral exam to see how your smile is doing and what your needs are. If any care is need beforehand, we can talk to you about treatment solutions. We can also answer questions you might have about the cosmetic services we recommend. Then, when you’re completely certain about the plan we’ve suggested, we can start putting it into action.

Call us today to reserve an appointment with us. We provide care to patients from Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, or Tequesta.

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The Health Benefits of Invisalign

March 29, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: Dr. Duane E. Keuning, Dr. Greg K. Riley, Invisalign, Juno Beach, Juno Beach Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta — Greg Riley @ 7:30 am

In our last post, we talked about some of the most convenient benefits of straightening your smile with Invisalign, the first being that Invisalign is clear and the second being that Invisalign is removable. But the second benefit isn’t just about convenience; it also benefits your oral health.

With traditional braces, food can become trapped around the brackets and wires that move teeth into their ideal alignment. If these bits of food aren’t cleaned away through brushing and flossing, they can make patients more vulnerable to common oral health conditions, like tooth decay and gum disease. What’s more, some foods can actually damage braces, requiring extra office visits.

With Invisalign, our Juno Beach patients don’t have to worry about either of these. Because Invisalign uses removable aligners, you can enjoy the same foods you always have. You don’t have to worry about hurting your braces, because you take them out for meals. Plus, because you’ll also take your aligners out for brushing and flossing, you can clean your smile as thoroughly as you would without braces.

Both of these benefits translate into a potentially healthier treatment time. Because you’re not limited in what you can eat, you can enjoy a balanced, nutritious diet that includes healthy but hard-to-eat foods. You can also take better care of your smile with regular at-home care and professional cleanings.

Do you want to know if Invisalign is right for you? Call Juno Beach Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry. Drs. Duane Keuning and Greg Riley are happy to provide care to patients from Juno Beach, North Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Tequesta, and beyond.

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