Toggle navigation
William C Strutz DDS

Practice Limited to Periodontics
7070 Renner Road Shawnee, KS 66217
(913) 268-0808

  • blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ's
  • Patient Education

My Blog

Posts for: November, 2018

Keeping Gum Disease at Bay Could Help Your Overall Health

By William C Strutz DDS Practice limited to Periodontics
November 29, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: gum disease  
KeepingGumDiseaseatBayCouldHelpYourOverallHealth

It’s bad enough the diseases caused by poor dental hygiene or lack of dental checkups could be leaving your teeth and gums more at risk. But current scientific research seems to indicate those same dental diseases may also cause you problems in other parts of your body.

The connection is especially pronounced with periodontal (gum) disease, a family of disorders that can eventually lead to tooth loss. Gum disease is caused by plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles that builds up on tooth surfaces due to a lack of daily brushing and flossing. Even skipping one day of hygiene increases the level of oral bacteria that cause these infections.

As it spreads, the infection causes the gum tissues to become inflamed and ulcerated. The gums weaken to the point where they easily bleed even when mildly brushed. This allows access for bacteria and other toxins to enter the bloodstream where they may eventually affect other organ systems. We’re now finding that conditions as varied as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis (which all share a common thread with inflammation) may be affected by gum disease — and vice-versa.

If you have any of these or similar conditions, it’s important for you to stay vigilant in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. It's necessary to brush and floss daily to remove plaque buildup as well as dental checkups at least twice a year. You should also keep a close eye out for early signs of gum disease, like bleeding, swollen or reddened gums. If so, call us for an appointment as soon as possible.

Keeping your teeth and gums disease-free and healthy could have a positive impact on your treatment for other health conditions. You’ll be doing your mouth and the rest of your health a favor.

If you would like more information on how periodontal (gum) disease affects the body, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Good Oral Health Leads to Better Health Overall.”


0 Comment(s) Permalink

NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile

By William C Strutz DDS Practice limited to Periodontics
November 19, 2018
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: celebrity smiles   orthodontics  
NBCStarDeliversaMessageaboutthePerfectSmile

Sometimes it seems that appearances count for everything—especially in Hollywood. But just recently, Lonnie Chaviz, the 10-year-old actor who plays young Randall on the hit TV show This Is Us, delivered a powerful message about accepting differences in body image. And the whole issue was triggered by negative social media comments about his smile.

Lonnie has a noticeable diastema—that is, a gap between his two front teeth; this condition is commonly seen in children, but is less common in adults. There are plenty of celebrities who aren’t bothered by the excess space between their front teeth, such as Michael Strahan, Lauren Hutton and Vanessa Paradis. However, there are also many people who choose to close the gap for cosmetic or functional reasons.

Unfortunately, Lonnie had been on the receiving end of unkind comments about the appearance of his smile. But instead of getting angry, the young actor posted a thoughtful reply via Instagram video, in which he said: “I could get my gap fixed. Braces can fix this, but like, can you fix your heart, though?”

Lonnie is raising an important point: Making fun of how someone looks shows a terrible lack of compassion. Besides, each person’s smile is uniquely their own, and getting it “fixed” is a matter of personal choice. It’s true that in most circumstances, if the gap between the front teeth doesn’t shrink as you age and you decide you want to close it, orthodontic appliances like braces can do the job. Sometimes, a too-big gap can make it more difficult to eat and to pronounce some words. In other situations, it’s simply a question of aesthetics—some like it; others would prefer to live without it.

There’s a flip side to this issue as well. When teeth need to be replaced, many people opt to have their smile restored just the way it was, rather than in some “ideal” manner. That could mean that their dentures are specially fabricated with a space between the front teeth, or the crowns of their dental implants are spaced farther apart than they normally would be. For these folks, the “imperfection” is so much a part of their unique identity that changing it just seems wrong.

So if you’re satisfied with the way your smile looks, all you need to do is keep up with daily brushing and flossing, and come in for regular checkups and cleanings to keep it healthy and bright. If you’re unsatisfied, ask us how we could help make it better. And if you need tooth replacement, be sure to talk to us about all of your options—teeth that are regular and “Hollywood white;” teeth that are natural-looking, with minor variations in color and spacing; and teeth that look just like the smile you’ve always had.

Because when it comes to your smile, we couldn’t agree more with what Lonnie Chaviz said at the end of his video: “Be who you want to be. Do what you want to do. Do you. Be you. Believe in yourself.”

If you have questions about cosmetic dentistry, please contact our office or schedule a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Beautiful Smiles by Design” and “The Magic of Orthodontics.”


0 Comment(s) Permalink

Regardless of What You've Seen Online, Don't Fear a Root Canal Treatment

By William C Strutz DDS Practice limited to Periodontics
November 09, 2018
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: root canal treatment  
RegardlessofWhatYouveSeenOnlineDontFearaRootCanalTreatment

With smart phone in hand, you can instantaneously find out just about anything. Unfortunately, online search results aren’t always accurate. Case in point: there’s an idea floating on the World Wide Web that root canal treatments cause cancer.

Sounds ludicrous? Yes, but like other strange ideas this one has historical roots (pardon the pun). In the early 20th Century, a dentist named Weston Price propagated the idea that leaving a “dead” organ in the body caused health problems. By his view, a root canal-treated tooth fell into this category and could potentially cause, among other things, cancer.

But concern over root canal treatment safety is on shaky ground: dentistry examined Dr. Price’s ideas over sixty years ago and found them wanting. But first, let’s look at what a root canal treatment can actually do for your health.

Tooth decay is an infection that first attacks the outer tooth enamel and then continues to advance until it infects the inner pulp. It can then travel through the root canals to the roots and bone. Without intervention, the infection will result in tooth loss.

We use a root canal treatment to save the tooth from this fate. During the procedure we remove and disinfect all of the diseased or dead tissue within the pulp and root canals. We then fill the empty chamber and canals with a special filling and seal the tooth to prevent any further infection. And while technically the procedure renders a tooth unable to respond to thermal sensitivity or tooth decay, the tooth is still alive as it is attached to the periodontal ligament and its blood supply and nerve tissue. The tooth can still “feel” if you bite on something too hard and it doesn’t affect the tooth’s function or health, or a patient’s overall health for that matter.

As to Dr. Price’s theory, extensive studies beginning in the 1950s have examined the potential health risk of root canal treatments. The latest, a 2013 patient survey study published in a journal of the American Medical Association, not only found no evidence linking root canal treatment to cancer, but a lower risk of oral cancer in 45% of patients who had undergone multiple root canal treatments.

While root canal treatments do have potential side effects, none are remotely as serious as this online “factoid” about cancer. It’s far more likely to benefit your health by saving your tooth.

If you would like more information on root canal treatment, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Root Canal Safety.”


0 Comment(s) Permalink


December (3) October (3)
Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2019
      • January (2)
        • You may Need Orthodontic Treatment Before Obtaining Implants
        • Dental Implants Better than Ever thanks to Ongoing Tech Advances
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
        • Keeping Your Smile Healthy Through the Holidays
        • Even if a Root Canal Won't Work, This Procedure Could Save your Tooth
      • November (3)
        • Keeping Gum Disease at Bay Could Help Your Overall Health
        • NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
        • Regardless of What You've Seen Online, Don't Fear a Root Canal Treatment
      • October (3)
        • Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
        • Guide Your Older Children or Teens through These 3 Oral Health Areas
        • Janet Jackson: Even pop stars get insecure about their smiles!
      • September (3)
        • Bone Loss at the Roots can Put Your Tooth in Danger of Loss
        • Grafting can Help Regenerate Gum Tissue Lost Through Recession
        • Periodontal Surgery Allows us to Access Deep Surfaces for Plaque Removal
      • August (4)
        • 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
        • 10 Tips to Tame Bad Breath
        • Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
        • Severe Dental Injuries May Require Endodontic Treatment
      • July (3)
        • Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
        • Surgically Accessing Sinuses can Help Grow New Bone for Implants
        • Make Dental Care a Priority When You're Pregnant
      • June (3)
        • 3 Areas to Watch to Avoid Excessive Tooth Wear
        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
        • 4 Causes for Gum Recession and What We Can Do About It
      • May (3)
        • Get an Early Start Treating Root Resorption Before it's Too Late
        • Don't let Periodontal Disease Cause Your Gums to Recede
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
      • April (2)
        • Root Planing Cleans Plaque from Tooth Roots Without Surgery
        • Managing Diabetes and Gum Disease Together will Lessen the Effect of Both
      • March (2)
        • Bone Loss: the Hidden Consequence of Your Missing Teeth
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
      • February (3)
        • Difficult or Not, Plaque Removal is Necessary for Stopping Gum Disease
        • Gum Recession Could Shorten the Life of Your Teeth
        • Early Action Needed to Save Your Tooth from Root Resorption
      • January (2)
        • Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
        • Why You Should Still Floss with an Implant-Supported Bridge
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Treating Gum Disease may Require Invasive Procedures
        • Living with HIV includes Keeping a Close Watch on Your Oral Health
      • November (2)
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • Replacing a Missing Tooth isn't Just About Improving Your Smile
      • October (2)
        • Lasers Beginning to Change Some Root Canal Procedures
        • There may be more to that Toothache that Suddenly Stops Aching
      • September (2)
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
        • Take Proactive Steps to Protect Your Oral Health During Cancer Treatment
      • August (3)
        • Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
        • Instill in Your Child the Daily Habit of Brushing and Flossing
        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
      • July (2)
        • Practice Proactive Prevention to Enhance Your Child's Dental Development
        • How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
      • June (2)
        • Don't Wait - Seek Out Treatment for Gum Recession Now
        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
      • May (2)
        • We can Fix a Smile Marred by Absent Front Teeth
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
      • April (2)
        • There's Still Hope for a Re-Infected Tooth After Root Canal Treatment
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
      • March (3)
        • Consider Saving a Tooth Before you Decide to Replace it
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
        • Daily Hygiene Tasks Performed Properly Help Ensure Good Oral Health
      • February (1)
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
      • January (3)
        • Stay Ahead of Gum Disease Re-Infection with Periodontal Maintenance
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
        • Success with Dental Implants Depends on Attention to Detail
  • 2016
      • December (2)
        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
        • Dental Implants can Replace Your Whole Tooth, Not Just What You See
      • November (2)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
        • Attention to Detail Crucial to a Beautiful Smile Supported by Dental Implants
      • October (3)
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
        • Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
      • September (2)
        • You May Need Surgery to Repair the Damage of Gum Recession
        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
      • August (2)
        • A Child's Damaged Tooth may require a Different Approach than an Adult's
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
      • July (3)
        • Cosmetic Gum Surgery Can Restore Health as Well as Appearance to Gums
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • The Risk for Gum Disease Increases While Wearing Braces
      • June (2)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
        • Implant-Supported Dentures Provide Better Fit and may Stop Bone Loss
      • May (2)
        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
        • Word Quiz on Oral Hygiene
      • April (2)
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
        • Complex Mouth Conditions Call for Dental Specialties
      • March (2)
        • Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
        • Issues to Consider Before Dental Implants
      • February (2)
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
        • Root Resorption in Adult Teeth is a Cause for Concern
      • January (2)
        • Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
        • Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
  • 2015
      • December (2)
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
        • The Implant Process can be Shortened, Depending on the Tooth Type
      • November (2)
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • Ultrasonic Plaque Removal an Effective Alternative to Manual Scaling
      • October (2)
        • Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair
        • Timing is Everything When Replacing a Teenager's Missing Tooth
      • September (2)
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
        • Improving a 'Gummy Smile' Depends on its Cause
      • August (2)
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
        • 4 Tips for Instilling Good Family Hygiene Habits
      • July (2)
        • Chrissy Teigen's Teeth-Grinding Troubles
        • Treating Gum Abscesses and the Underlying Gum Disease
      • June (2)
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
        • The Many Advantages of Dental Implants
      • May (2)
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
        • Regular Cleanings Benefit Both Your Dental Health and Your Smile
      • April (2)
        • A Toothless Tiger?
        • Welcome to Our Blog

Tags

  • dental implants (18)
  • crowns (3)
  • celebrity smiles (42)
  • dental cleanings (1)
  • oral hygiene (17)
  • athletic mouthguards (1)
  • gum disease (13)
  • teeth wear (1)
  • braces (5)
  • gummy smile (1)
  • wisdom teeth (2)
  • missing tooth (1)
  • orthodontics (3)
  • dentures (1)
  • cosmetic dentistry (2)
  • root resorption (2)
  • root canal (3)
  • pediatric care (1)
  • dental specialists (1)
  • mouthguards (1)
  • implant overdentures (1)
  • mouthguard (1)
  • cosmetic gum surgery (1)
  • dental injury (5)
  • gum recession (5)
  • abscessed tooth (1)
  • oral health (7)
  • dental emergency (1)
  • pediatric dentistry (4)
  • tooth decay (1)
  • dental cleaning (1)
  • periodontal disease (3)
  • porcelain veneers (1)
  • bad breath (2)
  • root canal treatment (4)
  • orthodontic treatment (4)
  • chipped teeth (1)
  • chipped tooth (2)
  • tooth grinding (1)
  • tooth pain (2)
  • laser dentistry (1)
  • teeth grinding (1)
  • hiv (1)
  • bone grafting (1)
  • retainers (1)
  • bone loss (2)
  • missing teeth (1)
  • diabetes (1)
  • root planing (1)
  • teeth whitening (1)
  • tooth wear (1)
  • pregnancy (1)
  • sinus surgery (1)
  • oral cancer (1)
  • dental injuries (1)
  • periodontal surgery (1)
  • smile makeover (1)
  • apioectomy (1)

Categories:

  • None (1)
  • Dental Procedures (59)
  • Oral Health (45)


Leave us a Review!

 

 

 

Top 10 dentistry clinics in Shawnee 2015
A Shawnee Dentist winner of the 2015 Patients' Choice Awards.
Verified by Opencare.com

 

Our Location

7070 Renner Road
Shawnee, KS 66217
(913) 268-0808

Map & directions

Office Hours
Monday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Dentist Web Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map