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Blog Archive

If My Wisdom Teeth Aren't Bothering Me, Why Do They Need To Be Removed? Mar 1st, 2024

Wisdom teeth, the hallmarks of dental maturity, don’t always announce their arrival with pain, but their presence can forecast a storm of dental issues.  If you’re wondering why your dentist recommends removing those late arrivals even though they’re not causing problems right now, you’re not alone. It’s one of the...

What Happens During Gum Graft Treatment? Feb 8th, 2024

If your teeth look longer than they once did, it’s not because they’re growing. It’s because your gums are receding. What makes gums recede? Brushing your teeth too hard, wearing braces, having periodontal disease, and suffering direct trauma are the top culprits, but genetics also play a role.  Whatever the...

Should I Be Screened for Oral Cancer? Jan 12th, 2024

Your mouth may not come to mind when you think about cancer, but it should. Over 54,500 Americans get oral cancer every year and more than 11,500 die from it.  Cancer can attack any tissue in your oral cavity or throat, including your tongue, tonsils, gums, mouth floor, lips, mouth...

Understanding the Link Between Diabetes and Periodontal Disease Dec 8th, 2023

It may seem odd to read a dental blog about diabetes, but it makes sense when you consider the connection between diabetes and oral health.  Researchers have long known about the link between diabetes and periodontitis, and one study estimates that over 95% of people with diabetes have some degree...

Create the Smile of Your Dreams with RAYFace: The 3D Face Scanner Nov 2nd, 2023

Dental technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and leading the charge in this revolution is RAYFace, a groundbreaking 3D face scanner.  You can be one of the first to benefit from this new technology, because it’s now available in Covington and Slidell, Louisiana, at St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants. ...

Your Complete Guide to Getting Dental Implants Oct 2nd, 2023

When a tooth goes missing, whether due to decay, trauma, or extraction, the vacancy causes several problems.  One or more missing teeth allow the neighboring teeth to shift. The misalignment leads to bite issues, which leads to chewing, speaking, and digestive problems.  The loss of a tooth or teeth also...

5 Reasons to Consider Laser Dentistry Sep 1st, 2023

“Laser” has become a household word, but it’s more than a handy pointer during your business presentation or an entertaining cat toy. The word is an acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,” meaning that lasers emit powerful light beams that can cut through all kinds of materials...

The Truth About How Sugar Impacts Your Teeth Aug 1st, 2023

Sugar gets a bad rap. It takes the blame for everything from obesity and diabetes to acne and hyperactivity. How can something that tastes so good be so bad for you? Sadly, the verdict is in, and sugar is guilty on all counts, including tooth decay. But to be fair,...

Why Am I So Nervous About Going to the Dentist? Jul 5th, 2023

You’re not alone in your fear of the dentist. Dental anxiety or dentophobia affects more than 75% of adults in the United States.  When asked why, most people can name a few reasons they don’t enjoy visiting the dentist, but many simply experience generalized anxiety and can’t pinpoint exactly what...

Reasons You Shouldn't Neglect Your Gums Jun 5th, 2023

You might think good oral hygiene is about keeping your teeth clean, and you’d be right, but your gums shouldn’t take a back seat. Your gums play a bigger role in your oral health than you may realize — in fact, they affect your overall health.  Our gum experts at...

Why You Shouldn't Go Without a Missing Tooth May 1st, 2023

Maybe you knocked your tooth out in an accident or lost it to infection and decay, but whatever caused the vacancy, you’re not alone. Missing teeth are more common than you might think. By age 65, about 26% of American adults have only eight or fewer natural teeth and 17% have lost...

Meet Our Newest Provider: Dr. Laura Smith Apr 4th, 2023

With Dr. Caesar Sweidan at the helm, St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants has built a reputation throughout Covington, Slidell, and the neighboring South Louisiana communities as a caring, highly skilled team of qualified professionals who keep our patients the focus of everything we do.  That’s why we’re very picky about who we include on...

Signs You're Brushing Too Hard Mar 13th, 2023

You can file money, love, and friends under the more-is-better category, but does the same hold true for brushing your teeth? Dr. Caesar Sweidan, Dr. Laura Smith, and our experienced dental team at St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants weigh in on this common question.  Keep reading as we explain the potential dangers of overbrushing and...

The Link Between Your Heart and Gum Disease Feb 6th, 2023

Your gums and heart are about a foot apart and perform very different jobs, so how can a problem in your mouth affect your most vital organ?  Researchers have investigated this question for years and have discovered some alarming information that links the two body parts.  Here, Dr. Caesar Sweidan and Dr. Laura...

When to Choose a Dental Implant Over a Bridge Jan 1st, 2023

Tooth loss is fairly common in the United States due to tooth decay, gum disease, and traumatic accidents involving a blow to the mouth.  Researchers estimate that about 120 million Americans have a missing tooth, and about 36 million have no natural teeth left. And the longer you live, the more...

5 Reasons to Get Treatment for Your Receding Gums Dec 16th, 2022

“Long in the tooth” is an old saying to describe someone who’s gotten along in years. It refers to the practice of determining a horse’s age by measuring the visible length of the teeth as the gums shrink back over time.  But gum recession is neither normal nor healthy for...

What to Expect From Periodontal Maintenance Nov 8th, 2022

Have you had trouble in the past maintaining your periodontal health? Maybe you’ve even had to get one or more dental implants because of periodontitis-related tooth decay. If so, periodontal maintenance can be an effective choice for your long-term oral health. But what can you expect from periodontal maintenance, and how can it help you?...

How To Prevent Dry Sockets After Tooth Extraction Oct 1st, 2022

Tooth extractions are sometimes necessary. Severe decay, injury, gum disease, and overcrowding may necessitate tooth removal, but the most common reason is wisdom tooth impaction.  When your third set of molars, or wisdom teeth, emerges, the teeth may get stuck under the surface of your gums, a painful condition called impaction...

How Not Flossing Affects Your Teeth and Gums Sep 1st, 2022

You may know that you’re supposed to floss daily, but that doesn’t mean you do it. In fact, if you don’t floss, you’re in the majority. Studies show that only 32% of American adults floss at least once a day, and 20% admit to never flossing. That’s about half of...

How Bone Grafting Can Enhance Your Dental Implant Process Aug 1st, 2022

When you lose a permanent tooth, whether to injury or disease, replacing it as soon as possible is essential to your oral health because the open space can lead to shifting teeth, bite problems, gum disease, and bone loss. You have the option of closing the gap with dentures or...

4 Important Benefits of Crown Lengthening Jul 6th, 2022

If you weren’t born with perfect teeth, there are several dental and orthodontic procedures that can create the ideal look you want. One little-known treatment solves several different cosmetic and oral health problems at once — crown lengthening.  Dr. Caesar Sweidan and our experienced team here at St. Tammany Periodontics...

5 Reasons To Consider a Sinus Lift Jun 1st, 2022

You probably don’t think about your sinuses very often until they get clogged with mucus during cold and allergy season. But these meandering canals behind your nose, eyes, and cheeks may also come into play when you’re getting ready for certain dental procedures. Dr. Caesar Sweidan and our expert team at St. Tammany Periodontics...

Benefits of Wisdom Tooth Extraction May 4th, 2022

Your third molars are the last teeth to arrive on the scene. They typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 21, when you’re presumably more savvy, which is how they got their nickname “wisdom teeth.”  But many jaws are too small to accommodate four more teeth, so this new...

8 Causes of Gum Recession Apr 14th, 2022

Your teeth rely on your gums to keep them firmly in place, so if the gums recede, your teeth become loose and may eventually fall out. Gum recession also creates gaps between your teeth and gums, which is a gathering place for bacteria to build up and cause infections and disease.  Gum...

Is Periodontal Disease Serious? Mar 30th, 2022

Healthy gums are light pink and firm. If yours have a bright pink or reddish hue, that may be a cause for concern. Gum disease starts out mild, as a condition called gingivitis. In this early stage, we can treat it and reverse it before it does too much damage....

Dental Implants: Why They Are the Gold Standard for Replacing Missing Teeth Mar 8th, 2022

Losing a tooth is an incredibly common occurrence, whether it’s due to decay, trauma, or other issues. However, being common doesn’t make it comfortable. If you’ve lost a tooth, getting it replaced should be a priority.  Dr. Caesar Sweidan and Dr. Maryam Habibzadeh at St. Tammany Periodontics and Implants encourage...

Should You See a Dentist or Periodontist? Mar 15th, 2021

According to research by the American Dental Association, 95 percent of the American population considers oral hygiene essential to their overall health and well-being. However, even with this widely held opinion, many Americans fail to practice proper habits such as brushing twice a day and flossing daily. Consequently, almost half of the...

What Are the 4 Stages of Periodontal Disease? Mar 15th, 2021

Periodontal disease or periodontitis is a condition that occurs when bacteria found in plaque build up around teeth and gums, causing inflammation. Without treatment, this inflammation can cause the gums and supporting bone structure to deteriorate, leading to pocketing, receding gums, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss. There are a few factors that...

The Removal of Wisdom Teeth is One of The Most Common Dental Procedures in Slidell Dec 17th, 2020

This type of procedure is usually not as scary as many people think. In fact, recovery time depends on your general oral hygiene, your body’s ability to heal, your age and the length of time the extraction itself took. Although there might be some discomfort for the first few days after...

Dental Implants Surgery: Everything you need to know Apr 13th, 2020

There are few things as impactful as losing your teeth and not having an option for replacement. Fortunately, if you lost teeth in an accident, because of an uncontrolled systemic disease or any other unfavourable situation, you may be a candidate for dental implants. What are dental implants? Dental implants are...