http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/This is the Joseph P. Richardson, D.M.D., M.S., P.A. BlogCopyright (c) 2026 Thu, 21 May 2026 01:22:09 ESTThu, 21 May 2026 01:22:09 EST5 According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69% of Americans aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, tooth decay, gum disease or a failed root canal. However, losing a tooth or multiple teeth can leave you feeling self-conscious about your smile. It used to be that bridges were the solution for a gap in your smile, but with advances in periodontics, dental implants may be the best solution. Bridges For a long time, bridges were the best option for people with missing teeth. Bridges are non-removable prostheses attached to remaining natural teeth. The false tooth or teeth literally bridge the gap between natural teeth....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/bridges-vs-dental-implants.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/bridges-vs-dental-implants.htmlSun, 20 Mar 2016 12:00:00 EST While crown lengthening’s primary function is not to treat a condition, affectionately referred to as ‘gummy smile’, the procedure can be a solution to the problem if someone is not happy with their smile due to excess gum tissue around their upper teeth. Primarily, crown lengthening, which is a small surgical procedure performed by a periodontist, is performed when a tooth needs to be fixed. Sometimes, not enough of the tooth sticks out above the gum to support a filling or crown. This can happen when a tooth breaks off at the gum line. It also can happen when a crown or filling falls out of a tooth and there is decay underneath....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/how-to-fix-a-gummy-smile-crown-lengthening.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/how-to-fix-a-gummy-smile-crown-lengthening.htmlMon, 14 Mar 2016 12:00:00 EST Gum disease is often attributed to lack of adequate oral care; however there are other reasons someone may suffer from gum disease, or periodontal disease, such as genetics, environmental and hormonal components.  No matter what the cause, gum disease always requires treatment. Gum disease starts with gingivitis. Gingivitis is a reversible disease that involves the soft gum tissues and if left untreated, can progress to periodontitis. This stage is where the disease has broken down the supporting structures for the teeth as well as the bone that surrounds the teeth....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/how-is-gum-disease-dangerous.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/how-is-gum-disease-dangerous.htmlFri, 11 Mar 2016 12:00:00 EST There are many reasons that oral surgery could be necessary when caring for your teeth and gums. There could be a need to extract a tooth, insert dental implants, treat gum disease, or from other issues. No matter what the case, the recovery period after oral surgery is very important to reduce the risk of infection or complications. Bleeding After surgery it is quite normal to experience light bleeding. Apply pressure with some clean gauze or a damp teabag to help with clotting. If bleeding persists or worsens, call our office for further instructions....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/caring-for-your-mouth-after-oral-surgery.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/caring-for-your-mouth-after-oral-surgery.htmlWed, 09 Mar 2016 12:00:00 ESTAccording to the American Dental Association, some of the largest technological advances in dentistry in the past 40 years have been related to dental implants. Removable appliances, such as complete and partial dentures can take time to adjust to, and for some may never be comfortable. Dental implants can help improve both your dental health and overall quality of life when missing one or several teeth.   In this article we’ll explain what dental implants are, how they can be used, and what the benefits for using them are over other options....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/missing-teeth-how-dental-implants-can-help.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/missing-teeth-how-dental-implants-can-help.htmlWed, 18 Nov 2015 12:00:00 EST If you are experiencing receding gums, jaw pain, or loose teeth, you could be one of the many Americans living with gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Beware that by the time symptoms are showing, your gum disease is probably pretty far along, so be sure to get into our Eustis periodontist office as soon as you can! Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that damages the bone, soft tissue, and gums supporting the teeth. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and even missing teeth. Depending on the severity of your periodontal disease, one or maybe all three of these treatments might be used:  1....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/the-steps-of-treating-periodontal-disease.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/the-steps-of-treating-periodontal-disease.htmlMon, 14 Sep 2015 12:00:00 ESTReceding gums are usually associated with periodontal disease, an advanced form of gum disease. While gum disease affects nearly half of adult Americans between the ages of 3-65, it is often untreated until more serious symptoms present themselves. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent gum disease and treat it if symptoms have set in. Learn what your Eustis, FL periodontist Dr. Joseph P. Richardson can do to treat, heal and restore receding gums. What are Receding Gums? When your gums recede, they pull back away from the teeth.  Over time your gums can pull back to the point where the roots of the teeth are exposed....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/what-to-do-about-receding-gums.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/what-to-do-about-receding-gums.htmlTue, 25 Aug 2015 12:00:00 ESTDid you know that more than 35 million Americans have no teeth? In addition to that, the American College of Prosthodontists claims that 12 million more Americans have no teeth in one arch. For a lot of these people, that means having dentures. However, many denture wearers are not happy with their dentures. What can be done to make having dentures easier and more enjoyable? The answer just may be dental implants.   Common Denture Complaints There are a number of common complaints about dentures. When a patient has their teeth removed, they are replaced with acrylic denture teeth as well as acrylic support for those teeth....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/how-dental-implants-can-help-with-dentures.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/how-dental-implants-can-help-with-dentures.htmlWed, 22 Jul 2015 12:00:00 ESTPeriodontal disease, also known as gum disease is a serious condition that could eventually lead to tooth or bone loss. Many people in America don’t even realize they have it during the early stages. However, if you know what to look for, a few signs can let you know that something isn’t right. Bleeding Gums If your gums bleed after brushing, for example, it is likely that your gum tissue is inflamed due to an infection caused by bacterial plaque. Coupled with chronic inflammation from the body’s response to the infection, the unhealthy tissues bleed easily. Gum Appearance Changes As the disease progresses, you might notice changes in your gums’ appearance....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/watch-out-for-the-subtle-signs-of-gum-disease.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/watch-out-for-the-subtle-signs-of-gum-disease.htmlMon, 15 Jun 2015 12:00:00 ESTIn the past, there were a couple methods for replacing missing teeth; both with their drawbacks. This included bridges and dentures. Dentures can be partial or complete depending on the amount of missing teeth. Complete dentures can slip, slide, or irritate the soft tissues inside of the mouth. Partial dentures rely on existing teeth to keep them in place but can still slip and slide. Bridges require adjacent to be prepared and can significantly reduce the prognosis of the teeth. Dental implants can be the solution to many of these problems. What are Dental Implants? Dental implants are essentially artificial root replacements....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/the-future-of-tooth-replacement-dental-implants-7.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/the-future-of-tooth-replacement-dental-implants-7.htmlFri, 15 May 2015 12:00:00 ESTCreating and maintaining a beautiful, healthy smile isn’t something that takes incredible work or money. With the help of your dentist or Eustis periodontist, along with some at home lifestyle changes, you can avoid tooth pain and gum disease, as well as correct previous damage. Here are some tips to improve your oral health today:   1. Learn to brush properly. Most people learn to brush their teeth as a child, and their brushing techniques have not changed since. Often, these are not the optimal techniques. Brushing your teeth correctly not only protects your teeth and gums from damage, but proper technique allows for greater plaque and debris removal....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/5-tips-for-healthier-teeth-and-gums.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/5-tips-for-healthier-teeth-and-gums.htmlMon, 27 Apr 2015 12:00:00 ESTGrowing up and going to the dentist, it is almost guaranteed you have heard of gingivitis, but what exactly is it and how do you know if you have it? Gingivitis is the beginning stages of gum disease and if not treated can advance into periodontitis. Knowing how to prevent gingivitis and how to identify symptoms of it can help keep your mouth healthy. What Are Signs of Gingivitis? Gingivitis can have a few different symptoms depending on the severity. In the early stages, it appears as redness of the gums just adjacent to where it meets the tooth. Plaque accumulation will lead to this type of symptom as your body responds to its current environment....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/healthy-gums-how-to-prevent-gum-disease.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/healthy-gums-how-to-prevent-gum-disease.htmlTue, 24 Mar 2015 12:00:00 ESTAccording to a recent study done by the Center for Disease Control, just short of 50% of American adults have some form of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Many of those with gum disease aren’t even aware that they have it. In this article, we hope to educate our patients on periodontal disease and how we can help them attain better oral health.   What is Gingivitis and Periodontitis? Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two most prevalent forms of gum disease. Gingivitis, while having many different causes, is often a result of a lack of proper oral hygiene....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/do-you-have-gum-disease-signs-of-periodontal-disease.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/do-you-have-gum-disease-signs-of-periodontal-disease.htmlFri, 06 Feb 2015 12:00:00 ESTDental implants can be used for a variety of different situations in our periodontics office. Many people don’t know all that dental implants can accomplish for their smile, so in this article we will explain what dental implants are, when they can be used, and the procedure and aftercare for the dental implants.  What is a Dental Implant?   For people in Eustis looking for dental implants, they are a dental procedure typically done in a periodontist’s office, specifically designed to replace individual teeth. The result being a natural looking tooth crown....

]]> http://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/dental-implants-an-in-depth-look.htmlhttp://www.richardsonperiodontics.com/blog/posts/dental-implants-an-in-depth-look.htmlFri, 02 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST