Gum Disease. What to look for and how you can prevent it.

Periodontal Disease, or Gum Disease, affects 80% of people at some point in their life and is the cause of about 70% of adult tooth loss! People often disregard this disease because it can be painless until it reaches the advanced stages; however, this bacterial infection that causes chronic inflammation of the gums and surrounding tissue is not one to be taken lightly.

A primary cause of Gum Disease is Plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colorless, bacteria filled film that forms on the teeth that hardens into a substance called tartar or calculus if it is not removed by brushing or flossing. Once it has turned into tartar it can be very difficult to remove and the bacteria excels in producing toxins that lead to inflammation.  Other factors contributing to Gum Disease are lifestyle choices and genetics. A low nutrient diet, smoking, and stress increase your susceptibility. Other diseases that interfere with the body's immune system, such as diabetes, cancer, and AIDS can also worsen your condition. 

Some warning signs to look for are:

• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
• Gums that seem to be pulling away from your teeth
• Teeth that are loose or are separating from each other
• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• A change in the fit of partial dentures

Glacier Dental strongly feels prevention and awareness is key to keeping a healthy mouth. Be sure to floss daily, brush twice a day, and commit to visiting the dentist every 6 months for your continuous care visit to ensure things stay on the right track. If you are experiencing any of the warning signs it is important to treat them as soon as possible to ensure it doesn't progress into a more advanced stage. 

Glacier Dental offers Tongue and Lip Tie Revisions!

Glacier Dental offers a wide variety of services from routine hygiene visits to full mouth extractions and implant dentures. A unique service offered is reversal of tongue ties and lip ties. Glacier Dental was one of the first dental offices in Wisconsin to purchase a PerioLase, which is a laser used for suture free mouth surgeries. All three dentists at Glacier Dental are certified to use this laser for lip tie and tongue tie revisions. 

Whether you're a mom with an infant who is lip tied or an adult who is tongue tied, Glacier Dental works with any age. Dr. Steckbauer has performed this procedure on infants as little as one week old. The process is quick and the healing time is fast. In fact, many moms are able to breastfeed immediately after the procedure and will notice a much better latch and a happier baby!

Some dental insurance companies will cover this procedure as well as some medical insurances. We would love to do a complimentary benefits check for you at your initial consultation and if everything goes well, the procedure can be done same day as well.  Please give our office a call and we'd love to reserve a spot for you with one of our certified Doctors! 235.3251

Glacier Dental is thrilled to welcome Dr. Branden Goetsch!

We are SO EXCITED to welcome Dr. Branden Goetsch to our team!

He was born and raised in Kronenwetter, WI and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota. He is excited to be back in “Packer country” after receiving his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Midwestern University – Illinois.

He strongly believes that a thorough understanding of patient’s concerns and dental needs is of utmost importance, and will lead to an honest, loyal, and caring relationship with his patients.

When not at the office, Dr. Goetsch enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Emily, and their dog, Harper as well as getting as much quality time as he can with his family in central Wisconsin. His hobbies include many outdoor activities, from fishing and hunting to golfing and watersports.

Dr. Goetsch is looking forward to seeing you at your next visit and helping you with all of your dental needs!

Smile with confidence

We all want that picture perfect smile we can be proud of and taking the first step to get it has never been easier! Whether that means brightening up your smile or a full mouth transformation Glacier Dental wants to help you along on the journey to get the smile you've been dreaming of. 

Step one, the call. So you've put it off for months now, maybe even years. It can certainly take a spoonful of courage to pick up the phone and set up a visit, but you can do it! Reach in your drawer and grab the biggest spoon you can find and make the call, you will not regret it. 

One of our favorite transformation stories come from a man who is so proud of his smile he was happy to share his a bit of his experience.

"Wow, What a great place to be a part of!  I needed help to put closure to something that happened to me 28 years ago. After talking to Katelynn and telling her my story on the phone for almost an hour I finally scheduled an appointment. I came to the best place I could have ever come, Glacier Dental. From the start they were nothing but top shelf. Glacier Dental is a 5 star place, but what makes it even better is that the people are 10 star! They care, they listen, they are honest, and so much more! I have referred my family and friends and I will never stop doing that. My experience went better than I ever could have thought it would, I wish I would have done it sooner. Everyone cares about you and wants to help you. What a place!" -Jack Koepke

This photo of Jack and a few Glacier Dental ladies was taken at, The Koepke Memorial Golf Outing, which Jack puts on every year. Glacier Dental had the honor to be apart of this great event raising money for our local hospitals. Jack's confidence beamed after  finally getting the smile he had wanted for so long.  His smile can light up any room, is highly contagious, and we couldn't be more happy for him. Thank you for letting us be a part of your story, it is truly inspiring.

It's time to get the smile you've been waiting for and we are here to help you get it. Grab the big spoon from the drawer and call us today. (920) 235-3251.

Kick fear to the curb. It's time to get the smile you deserve!

There are few people on this world who actually enjoy going to the dentist, but it is crazy to think that over 40 million people completely avoid the dentist due to fear. At Glacier Dental our team completely understands that it isn't easy to take that first step of coming into the office and want you to know our number one priority is to listen to your concerns make you feel completely comfortable. 

The great news is there are several tools available to help ease your dental anxiety and make them a thing of the past. A cozy blanket, your favorite beverage, listening to music of your choice with headphones, or watching Netflix are all complimentary to our patients to help you relax. 

Lavender oil is a fantastic calming agent to use to help reduce those pre appointment jitters. Apply a couple drops to your wrists, in your diffuser, or to a pot of boiling water on the stove and experience its relaxing benefits.

Laughing Gas  (Nitrous Oxide) has been used for years to help aid patients through dental visits and is highly effective.

Sedation dentistry is an option for those who have a higher degree of anxiety about dental visits and want to feel relaxed on another level.Time will fly by as the doctor gives you a healthy mouth that looks and feels great. All treatment can be done in one visit, while you relax without a care in the world! 

No matter what your unique concerns may be Glacier Dental is here to listen and our excellent doctors will not start any treatment until you say you're ready. To see if you’re a good candidate for sedation dentistry, please call our office to set up a sedation consultation. Call: 920-267-4921.

Bye Bye Bad Breath!

Ever wonder if you are one of those people everyone avoids getting close to because your breath is awful? Kick your bad breath anxiety to the curb!  Glacier Dental wants to help you to speak confidently.

Bad breath, also called Halitosis, varies depending on the source or cause and is quite difficult to detect on your own. We recommend asking a family member, close friend, or better yet your dentist to offer a confirmation on the matter. Many times your bad breath remedy calls for a simple commitment to your oral healthcare routine. Focus on your hygiene habits, brush your teeth and tongue twice a day, be sure to floss once a day to remove any debris between your teeth, and drink plenty of water and pay attention to your diet. If there is no improvement following your increased attention to your home care it is time to visit your dentist to see what the underlying cause may be.

There are many different causes leading to bad breath including, food, tobacco products, poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, infection in mouth, medications, or various systemic diseases so it is very important to to detect the root cause. The dentist may discover you have gum disease. Gum disease causes the gums to pull away from your teeth allowing pockets to collect bacteria. A professional cleaning will be recommended to remove that bacteria getting you back on track to crisp clean breath. The dentist may also find that decay is the cause of your bad breath in which the proper restoration will be recommended. Other recommendations if it is due to an oral health issue may be a prescription mouthwash or toothpaste. If your bad breath is not linked to an oral health issue your dentist may refer you to your primary care physician for it may be linked to a serious overall health condition.

A few additional tips to keep your breath fresh:

• Brush your teeth after eating.
• Brush your tongue.
• FLOSS
• Clean your Dentures or other Dental Appliances 
• Avoid Dry Mouth
• Stick to a healthy diet. Limit the sticky, sugary foods.
• Replace your toothbrush regularly.
• Schedule regular dental Check Ups.

It's time to speak confidently and stop relying on mints and gum to mask your bad breath! 

Silver or tooth colored fillings?

For the past 150 years Amalgam, better referred to as "Silver", Fillings have been present in dentistry; however, many dentists today will not use or recommend a "Silver" Filling. Instead most dentists would recommend a  Composite, better referred to as "tooth colored",  Filling. Why the change? What makes a "Tooth Colored Filling" more ideal?  

Amalgam is actually a combination of of metals including Silver, Mercury, tin, and copper. Sometimes small amounts of Zinc, Indium, or Palladium may be used as well. Although to many the concern with this type of filling is the content of Mercury and its toxicity the fact that this combination of metals is able to expand and contract is a bigger concern to many dental professionals While there is Mercury present, studies show that the release of the Mercury from everyday wear, chewing, and grinding of 5 fillings is about the same as the amount found in a tuna sandwich. 

On a daily basis we are seeing cracked teeth as a result of  the expanding and contracting of the metal in an Amalgam Filling. This leaves the tooth vulnerable in need of a Crown, Root Canal, or worse an Extraction. Not only is the Composite filling material able to bond with the tooth creating a seal to avoid cracks and future decay, it looks like your natural tooth!

To save yourself time and money in the future let our experts at Glacier Dental restore your teeth to your benefit with Composite Fillings.