Can Dietary Changes Reverse Periodontal Disease?

If you've been told you have inflammation of the gums or even periodontal disease, we have some good news for you.  Simple dietary changes may help to reverse this disease.

A little background first:  there are two types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.  Gingivitis is the swelling of the gums that is caused by the accumulation of bacteria along the gum line. If the gingivitis is left untreated, it leads to periodontitis. Symptoms of periodontal disease include receding gums, inflammation along the gum line, pain, and sensitivity to changes in temperature.  Eventually this disease can lead to bone and tooth loss.  Almost 50 percent of adults over age 30 in the United States have some form of periodontal (gum) disease based on findings by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention.

It's clear that that sugar leads to tooth decay, and that a healthful diet supports oral and systemic health alike.   What's new is that research is has demonstrated that eating certain foods can actually reverse conditions like periodontal (gum) disease.   It makes sense - a periodontal lesion is essentially a wound, and certain nutrients must be available for optimal wound healing.   Further,  periodontal disease, like heart disease or rheumatoid arthritis, is an inflammatory condition and some food studies have shown that certain foods decrease inflammation.  Here's what two recent studies on oral inflammation have shown: 

Just this past July, BMC Oral Health published a small study demonstrating the impact of diet on periodontal inflammation – a hallmark of gum disease – where the gums appear red and puffy.  For four weeks, test group participants followed a diet that was low in carbs and rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and D, and fiber.  A control group followed their normal eating habits.   By the end, those who ate the “oral health optimized diet” improved greatly with respect to inflammation.  In fact, the inflammation in the experimental group decreased to approximately half that of the baseline values.  These changes were not noted in the control group, which did not follow the "oral health optimized diet."

This builds on a 2009 study in the Journal of Periodontology, which looked at “The impact of the Stone Age diet on gingival condition in the absence of oral hygiene.” “Gingiva” is the clinical term for the gums.  Here, participants followed a "paleo"-type diet for four weeks and didn’t brush their teeth or otherwise follow normal hygiene habits.  A paleo-type diet includes anything we could hunt or find – meats, fish, nuts, leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and seeds. The results showed that those following the paleo-type diet had a decrease in tongue bacteria and gum disease symptoms improved. What made the difference?  In both studies, the researchers believe the lack of refined sugar and hyper-processed foods led to the decreased inflammation.

These are just the latest in a growing body of research connecting the dots between our oral health and diet.  Our message to our patients with periodontal disease is that eating healthier may, in a relatively short amount of time, lead to a decrease in gum inflammation and a slowing or even stopping of the progression of the disease.   Because many people with periodontal disease may be at risk for other inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease, these simple dietary changes may have an even greater impact on their overall health.   

Just to be perfectly clear - dietary changes are NOT an alternative to the ongoing treatment of periodontal disease.    It's vital that we continue to monitor and provide you with care.   If you have periodontal disease, we invite you consider these dietary changes as a complement to the oral therapy that you receive in the dental office and the recommended oral hygiene regiment we advise you follow at home.    Questions?  Concerns?  Give our friendly staff a call at 919 755 3450 or schedule online.   

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Gum Disease Bacteria Triggers Joint Inflammation, Latest Research Suggests

     Your mouth is a busy place, with millions of bacteria constantly on the move. While some bacteria are harmless, other bacteria multiply and produce toxins that can sneak in beneath the gumline, breaking down the bone and connective tissue in and around the teeth leading to periodontal (gum) disease. Left unchecked, gum disease can progress to the point where bone and connective tissue are destroyed, and teeth become loose and may have to be removed.

     This bacterial inflammatory process may play a key role in the onset and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune condition affecting about 1% of the population. Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating, joint destroying condition where the body's immune cells attack the joints, causing chronic inflammation, swelling, pain and stiffness. Patients with RA are eight times more likely to have periodontal disease. For years, doctors and dentists have observed that people with RA tended to have more periodontal disease, and people with periodontal disease tended to have more RA. It was assumed that periodontal disease was a result of RA itself (stiff, painful hands made oral hygiene difficult) or the medications to treat RA (drugs that suppressed the immune system inhibited the body’s ability to fight harmful bacteria in the mouth). Furthermore, some people with RA have diminished production of the mouth’s protective saliva, leaving it vulnerable to periodontal disease.

     Recent research suggests the connection is much more complicated.  More and more, scientists are finding that the accumulation of mouth bacteria may trigger the development, or influence the progression, of RA. Here is a summary of some of these studies:

• At least two studies found that tooth loss, a marker for gum disease, may actually predict RA and its severity, with the more teeth lost, the greater their risk for joint inflammation. 
• Several recent studies reported the presence of high levels of antibodies to oral bacteria as well as the presence of virulent perio pathogens in the synovial (joint) fluid of people with RA. The authors concluded that the perio pathogens were directly associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Another interesting study found that a specific perio pathogen is the only microbe known to produce an enzyme capable of modifying specific proteins resulting in an autoimmune response to these proteins. This culminates in the joint destruction typically seen in RA patients. 
• Other researchers have examined the possibility that treating periodontal disease in patients with RA could alleviate RA symptoms. They found that study participants who had a professional "deep" non-surgical cleaning at the dental office had significantly less pain and morning stiffness and fewer swollen and painful joints than the group that simply cleaned their teeth at home. Even more impressive, researchers found that the deep cleaning actually decreased levels of an inflammatory protein in the blood that triggers inflammation. 

     There are still many unanswered questions. Not everyone with gum disease develops RA, and not everyone with RA had previous gum disease. However, with such a high prevalence of periodontal disease in patients with RA, a highly plausible biological connection between these two inflammatory disease processes, and evidence of a link between RA and gum disease, we strongly suggest that people who have RA, periodontal disease, or both be diligent in taking care of their oral health.

     If you have RA or periodontal disease we encourage you to do everything possible to improve and maintain your oral health. Schedule regular dental exams and cleanings, eat healthfully, brush and floss and, if you have trouble taking care of your teeth due to stiff, painful hands or jaws, speak us about ways to make dental care easier, including the use of special assistive devices. Prevention and early treatment of periodontal disease is our goal.

     Do you know someone with RA or periodontal disease? We invite you to share this article with them. The team at Jeff M. Morrison & Assoc. DDS has expertise in successfully treating periodontal disease and, as always, we  welcome new patients. Questions?  Would you like to make an appointment?  We invite you to get in touch!  

Sources:

Konig MF, Abusleme L, Reinholdt J et al. Aggregatibacteractinomycetemcomitans–induced hypercitrullination links periodontal infection to autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis. Science Translational Medicine . 2016.

Research suggests that taking care of your teeth may be a good way to take care of your joints. Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/comorbidities/gum-disease/ra-and-gum-disease.php

http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/comorbidities/gum-disease/dental-care-relieves-ra-pain.php.  Treat Gum Disease to Relieve RA Pain and Stiffness:  A thorough dental cleaning can control symptoms.

http://www.dentaleconomics.com/articles/print/volume-100/issue-11/for-your_practice/periodontal-disease-and-rheumatoid-arthritis.html

Your New Year’s Dental Resolutions

These five resolutions could make a real difference for your oral - and overall - health.

Your dental health is an important part of your overall wellness, and the New Year is a great time to create resolutions for improving your health. Here are five resolutions that the dental office of Jeff M. Morrison & Assoc., DDS recommends for a healthier 2017.

1) Resolve to brush twice per day for at least two full minutes

Brushing your teeth - and doing it correctly - is important to your dental health as it removes bacterial plaque that adheres to your teeth. For successful plaque removal brush at least twice a day for a full two minutes. Use an appropriately sized, soft-bristle, manual or electric toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste. Also, don’t forget to change your toothbrush every three months. Using a frayed, worn toothbrush is less effective at removing plaque – it’s basically just pushing paste around.  A good idea is to change your toothbrush with the change in season, and after an illness.

Make sure that one of the times you brush is before going to bed. Not brushing at night allows bacteria to sit undisturbed, on your teeth and gums for 8 or 9 hours. Saliva flow, which protects your teeth from acidic, bacterial bi-products, decreases at night leaving your teeth defenseless. Give your mouth a fighting chance to be healthy by brushing at night!

2) Resolve to Floss Daily

Brushing alone usually only reaches about two thirds of your tooth surface.  That means that no matter how well you brush, one third of your tooth surface is not cleaned.  This is the area in between your teeth, and below your gum line where cavities and gum disease often start. Taking a minute or two to floss your teeth each day will help get rid of this bacteria decreasing the likelihood of developing these oral health problems.

The bacteria which accumulates in these areas can also lead to diseases beyond your mouth. Research has shown that bacteria and inflammation in the mouth, and gum disease, are linked to heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, difficulty controlling blood sugar levels in diabetes, low birth weight/pre-term births and even Alzheimer’s disease. Put floss by your bed or even floss while watching TV, just don’t forget to do it once per day!

3) Resolve to stop drinking sugary and acidic beverages

The disease-causing bacteria in your mouth thrive off sugar you consume – the more sugar you eat, the more sugar bacteria eat. These bacteria deposit acid on your teeth. This acid weakens, or decalcifies, your teeth – which is how cavities begin. If your drink of choice is acidic and sugary - such as a soft drink or energy drink, your teeth are not only being weakened by the acid from bacteria, but getting a double-dose of acid from the drink itself.

If you are going to have that Coke or Gatorade, use a straw so your teeth aren’t being bathed in as much sugar and acid. Don’t sip either; drink it and be done with it so your mouth has a chance to recover from the acid attack. Along the same lines, drink water after a sugary and/or acidic beverage, to help wash away the sugar and help bring your mouth back to being pH balanced.

4) Resolve to Quit Smoking or Using Other Tobacco Products

If you use tobacco, you  hear this all the time! However, it's a message that needs repeating. Using tobacco can harm your mouth in a number of ways, increasing your risk for tooth discoloration, cavities, gum recession, gum disease and throat, lung and oral cancer. Smokers are about twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers. It’s not just smoking tobacco that has negative effects on your oral health: use of smokeless tobacco can be just as harmful to your oral health. The good news is that the risk of tooth loss decreases after you quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco.

5) Resolve to keep regular and recommended dental appointments

Regular dental appointments allow our team to monitor the health of your entire oral cavity. Many oral health problems, such as chronic gum disease and cavities, don’t hurt in the beginning stages. It’s only when they have progressed to a point where treatment is quite extensive (not to mention expensive) that you actually feel any discomfort. For instance, a cavity tends to only hurt once it has reached the center of the tooth where the nerves are located. At this point, a filling may not take care of the problem. A root canal and a crown may be required, if the tooth can be saved at all. For something like oral cancer - you may not feel any pain or see evidence of a problem until it has significantly progressed. This is why detecting problems early is so important.

Hygiene appointments are more than “just a teeth cleaning.” Remember how oral bacteria from gum disease has been linked to diseases in the body? Our hygienists remove this disease-causing plaque full of bacteria, and the hardened/calcified plaque (tarter or calculus) during your regular cleaning. I also evaluate your head, neck, and tissue in the mouth for any indication of abnormalities, such as cancer. Some diseases and disorders show symptoms in your mouth before your body; like diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, and autoimmune disorders. During your exam we will notice any changes and alert you to underlying issues that may be present.

Let us know how you are doing with your New Year's dental resolutions at your next visit. If there is any way we can help you achieve your goals for this year get in touch!

Michael Anne, our Scheduling Coordinator and an avid runner, will be stepping it up this year.

Warning Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth — or third molars — are our final set of molars and usually start to emerge between the ages of 16 and 25. They are known as “wisdom” teeth in most cultures because of their late arrival compared to other molars.  Like getting your braces off, the removal of wisdom teeth has become a dental “rite of passage” for many teens and young adults.

When your wisdom teeth start to emerge it can be painful - you may have pain towards the back of your jaw and inflammation.  However, it can be even worse if your wisdom teeth become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth are trying to erupt but are unable to because there is not sufficient room for them to emerge.  This usually means they are painfully lodged in your jawbone and removal is necessary.

There are few oral health issues that can be as painful or disruptive to daily life as impacted wisdom teeth so its important that you are able to identify the issue as early as possible and receive the necessary care.  Some of the indicators include:

• Throbbing pain in the back of the mouth. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a great deal of pain, particularly as the condition worsens. The pain may radiate from the back of the mouth, particularly focused on the area around the wisdom teeth and other molars and will worsen as the surrounding teeth begin to become affected.
• Swollen, tender and bleeding gums.  Impacted wisdom teeth can cause the gums to become swollen and tender to the touch. They may start to bleed when pressure is applied, making flossing and brushing both painful and difficult.
• Swelling around the jaw.  Impacted wisdom teeth are often accompanied by swelling of both the gums and jaw. It can be subtle at first, but can worsen quickly to the point that it can become painful or difficult to open your mouth, talk or chew.
• Swollen glands in the shoulder and neck. Impacted wisdom teeth are often accompanied by swollen glands in the shoulder and neck.
• Headaches.  Impacted wisdom teeth can cause headaches of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jaw and skull. This pain may radiate to other areas of the head and face as well.

Any of these symptoms are a good reason to call your dentist or doctor.  At the Raleigh dental practice of Jeff M. Morrison& Associates, we will conduct a thorough exam, including taking x-rays, and will rule out other issues such as gum disease, infection, decay or temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.  If you, (or your teen's) wisdom teeth are impacted we will want to remove them.  This can usually be done in our office or we can refer you to an oral surgeon.

A great way to prevent the pain of impacted wisdom teeth is to continue your routine preventive care as you get older.  As part of your dental exams, we will monitor the development of your wisdom teeth by taking X-rays periodically to track their position and movement.  If we believe they are likely to cause problems down the road we may suggest you have them removed as a preventive measure.  This is often done long before the teeth emerge because the longer wisdom teeth remain in the mouth the more developed their roots become, making their removal more complicated and the recovery time longer.  Since wisdom teeth will try to make room for themselves in a tightly packed jaw, they may also shift teeth that have been previously straightened with braces or other orthodontic devices, ruining the investment you made in your orthodontics. 

If you (or your teen) still have wisdom teeth, don't wait for complications to occur before talking with Dr. Morrison about your options.   Make an appointment with us today or call us at 919 755 3450.

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How To Handle Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can occur at any time - but don't they always seem to happen over a holiday weekend, or the day your're leaving for vacation? When problems arise, at Jeff M Morrison & Associates, DDS, we are here for our patients - including weekends and holidays. If a dental emergency occurs during our regular work week we will fit you in as soon as possible - usually with a same day appointment. If it's the weekend or a holiday, we will do what is needed to save your tooth, reduce your pain, stabilize the injury, and help you to feel comfortable with your appearance. If you need to see us right away contact our Raleigh dental practice for an emergency appointment. We only see current patients of record after regular office hours for emergency care. However, we welcome all emergency cases - new and current patients - during regular hours.

Here are some tips on how to handle the most common dental emergencies until you can get to our office:

Toothaches

If you are experiencing continuous, severe tooth pain or ache, this is a common symptom of an abscessed tooth. An abscess is an infection at the root of the tooth caused by pulp decay, and usually calls for a root canal. We recommend contacting our office immediately to examine the tooth and start treatment. If you do have an abscessed tooth it will only get worse without care.  Take these initial steps:  Rinse mouth with warm water and use dental floss to remove any lodged food. If swelling appears, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek. Never put aspirin against the gums or on the sore tooth, because it may burn the gum tissue.

Chipped or broken tooth

Chipped or broken teeth put you at-risk for an infection to the tooth pulp. Rinse mouth and any broken pieces with warm water. If bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek to reduce swelling and ease pain.  Take pain medication as needed.

Knocked-out tooth

When a tooth has been knocked out, the nerves, blood vessels and supporting tissues are irreparably damaged.  That is why all avulsed teeth will need a root canal. However, the bone can reattach to the root of the tooth once it's put back into place. The odds of saving a tooth are highest in young children, but adult teeth can be saved as well so always keep the tooth if it's a permanent one. A tooth has the highest chance of being saved when it is returned to the socket within one hour. 

Follow these suggestions to improve the chances of saving your tooth:

• Handle the tooth carefully. Try not to touch the root (the part of the tooth that was under the gum). It can be damaged easily. 
• If the tooth is dirty, hold it by the upper part (the crown) and rinse it with milk. If you don't have any milk, rinse it with water. Don't wipe it off with a washcloth, shirt or other fabric. This could damage the tooth. 
• Keep the tooth moist. Drop it into a glass of milk. If you can't do this, place the tooth in your mouth, between the cheek and gum. A young child may not be able to safely "store" the tooth in his or her mouth without swallowing it. Instead, have the child spit into a cup. Place the tooth in the cup with the saliva. If nothing else is available, place the tooth in a cup of water. 
• If it's a permanent tooth, try slipping the tooth back into its socket. Make sure it's facing the right way. Don't try to force it into the socket. If it doesn't go back into place easily and without pressure, then just keep it moist (in milk, saliva or water) and get to the office as soon as you can.

Extruded (partially dislodged) tooth

Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek to ease pain. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Object caught between teeth

Use dental floss to gently and carefully remove the object. Never use a sharp instrument, because you risk cutting your gums or scratching the tooth surface.

Lost filling or crown

It important to see Dr. Morrison as soon as you can if you lose a filling or crown. The exposed tooth is sensitive to pressure and temperature, and can become more damaged without the protection of the restoration. If a crown is missing for a long time, your teeth may move and the crown will no longer fit. Here's what you can do before you get to the office:

• If you still have the crown and can place back over the tooth, make sure to clean the inside as thoroughly as possible.  If it is painful, use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the tooth.
• Try to slip the crown back over the tooth. Before putting the crown back in place, coat the inner surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste or denture adhesive to help hold it in place. Never use super glue!
• If you’ve lost the crown or filling entirely, place the over-the-counter dental cement over the tooth surface to protect and seal the area until you get to our office.  No dental cement?  Use a piece of sugarless chewing gum over the tooth until you can get in. 

Broken braces wire

If a wire breaks or sticks out and is poking you, use the eraser end of a pencil to move the wire. If that is not working, use orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball or a piece of gauze to cover the wire tip. Don’t cut the wire, because you risk swallowing it.

Loose braces bracket or band

Use orthodontic wax to reattach a loose bracket or place the wax over the braces for cushioning. If a band is loose, save it until you see the orthodontist.

Abscess

These are painful infections that sometimes look like a swollen pimple on the gum, usually at the tooth’s root or in the space between the teeth and gum. Rinse mouth with a mild salt-water solution (one half-teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) several times a day, which will help ease any pain. It is critical to have this emergency attended to immediately to avoid the infection traveling through your system.

Soft-tissue injuries

Injuries to the tongue, cheeks, gums and lips can bleed easily. Rinse mouth with a mild salt-water solution. Hold a damp piece of gauze or a teabag to the site that is bleeding for about 15 minutes. Also hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek for 10 minutes. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, see your dentist right away or go to a hospital emergency room.

Many of the dental emergencies we treat at our Raleigh dental practice can be avoided with simple steps like wearing a mouth guard, getting routine preventive care, and following up on recommended treatment plans. We do our part to keep your teeth and mouth healthy and encourage you to do the same. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have a dental emergency - even if it's over the weekend.

For more information about Jeff M. Morrison & Associates, or to schedule an emergency dental visit please call 919.755.3450 or visit our website.

TMD Pain and What You Can Do

Like many of our other body parts, we don’t realize how important the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is until it stops working properly.  This unique joint allows your jaw to open and close and to move back and forth and side to side.  When problems with the TMJ arise, called Temporomandibular  joint disorder - or TMD[i], symptoms can range from being a simple nuisance to incapacitating, affecting your ability to speak, eat, chew and sleep.  Here is some information that may help if you are experiencing TMD:

Symptoms of TMD

Pain, particularly in the jaw joint, is the most common symptom of TMD.  People with TMD may also experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Unusual sounds — Clicking, grinding or popping sounds when you open your mouth are common in people with TMD. The sounds may or may not be accompanied by pain.
• Locking or limited movement —The jaw joint sometimes may lock in an open or closed position. You may have difficulty opening your mouth either because the joint is locked or because of pain.
• "Ear" pain — You may think you have an ear infection, but ear pain may be related to jaw joint inflammation or muscle tenderness. Pain from TMD is usually felt in front of or below the ear.
• Headaches — People with TMD often report headaches, especially headaches when they first wake up.
• Morning stiffness or soreness — If your jaw muscles are stiff and sore when you wake up, it may by a sign that you are clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth in your sleep.
• Difficulty chewing — You may have difficulty chewing as a result of a change in your bite, or the way your upper and lower teeth fit together. 

Who Gets TMD and Why?

If you have TMD you are not alone - this disorder occurs in 10-12% of the population, and twice as often in women as men.  The cause is not always clear.  One factor may be physical stress on your TMJ from teeth grinding or clenching.  A recent injury to the jaw joint, or one from many years past, can lead to TMD symptoms.   Other conditions that affect joints in the body, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause TMD pain.   

What Can You Do if you Have TMD?

Most people with TMD have relatively mild or periodic symptoms which quickly improve with simple home therapies, such as avoiding hard, crunchy and chewy foods, applying heat or ice packs to the jaw, and avoiding extreme jaw movements.  You may want to invest in a headset for your phone or work on your posture, especially if you find yourself hunching over your computer.  We also suggest that you consider the level of stress in your life - and do what is needed to reduce it.  If these home remedies are not enough, some of the effective, conservative treatments we use include medication to help with the pain and reduce inflammation, mild muscle relaxants to alleviate jaw clenching and grinding, and fitting our patients with oral appliances. 

If these symptoms sound familiar, contact Raleigh dentist Jeff M. Morrison & Associates DDS at (919) 755 3450 for a consultation.  

 

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[i] TMD is an umbrella term covering pain and dysfunction of the muscles that move the jaw and the temporomandibular joints (TMJ).  Many people refer to the jaw pain or discomfort they are experiencing as "TMJ" which is a misnomer.  TMJ simply refers to the joint.  Any disorders involving this joint are considered TMD.  

Millenials Face Unexpected Dental Problems

Do you think it's just little children chomping on sticky candy or older people struggling with tooth loss that are filling up dental chairs?

Think again. More and more young adults, age 18-34 years, are being seen for dental problems. If some millennials aren’t smiling, there’s good reason. A recent study by the American Dental Association (ADA) found they’re in a world of hurt – from tooth pain, trouble biting and chewing, and anxiety about the poor condition of their teeth.

Decaying teeth and gum problems make one in three young adults aged 18 to 34 (33%) reluctant to smile, the ADA found. About one in five have cut back on socializing as a result of dental problems. And one in three say the appearance of their teeth and mouth undermines their ability to interview for a job.  This study also found:

• More than 30% of young adults have untreated tooth decay (the highest of any age group)
• 35% have trouble biting and chewing
• They are three times more likely than children to lack dental care due to financial reasons, with only 30% of millennials visiting the dentist each year.
• Tooth pain was the most common dental complaint.

If tooth pain and anxiety surrounding poor dental conditions aren’t bad enough, attaining affordable dental insurance is viewed as difficult for much of this generation, who are often struggling to find jobs and pay off student loans. A large segment of millennials work part-time or as freelancers, which means they do not have access to employer-sponsored dental plans.

A visit to the dentist is not always a top priority, but here's why you shouldn't let this preventive measure slide:

• Most dental problems, such as decay or periodontal disease, will just get worse if left untreated.
• When a dental emergency occurs, being established with a dentist really helps you save money and often results in better care. 
• Dental procedures, even common ones, take time away from work, and sometimes require multiple visits, while a routine cleaning and exam takes about 30 minutes each six months.
• What you spend on a crown for a decayed tooth, or treatment for periodontal disease, probably could have paid for several years of preventive care (and you would have avoided the problem altogether).
• Research is clear about the connection between oral health and your overall health. Dental problems can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, dementia, Alzheimer's diabetic complications and respiratory problems. Oral HPV is seen more and more in young adults and is a primary risk factor of cancer. It just makes sense to maintain your oral health.

At Jeff M. Morrison & Associates, DDS, we want you to have a confident, healthy smile. We offer flexible - and often same day - scheduling for preventive and urgent care and a convenient downtown location.  Do you have an urgent, or emergency dental concern?  We see our established patients on weekends and holidays.

If you have insurance, we are “in network” provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina, CIGNA and Delta Dental Premier, and will conveniently file all other insurances for you. For our uninsured patients, we offer the St. Mary’s Street Dental Savings Plan, an in-office discounted plan to make regular preventive care and treatment more affordable.  We also participate in Care Credit dental financing, which offers a low monthly payment plan for dental treatments.

Don't neglect your dental health.  Call us today at 919 755 3450 to schedule an appointment.