How Often to Have a Dental Exam

Your smile is more than just another facial expression. It offers a window into your dental and overall health. Our dentists in WeHo recommend routine dental exams as one of the best ways to track your smile’s health.

Dental exams allow us to spot problems when treatment is likely to be the most simple and affordable. When little areas of decay or gingivitis are not identified early, they can lead to more extensive problems, which translate into more expensive problems. However, there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation for exam frequency.

You may need to visit us more often if you:
•    Have periodontal disease
•    Have had many cavities in the past
•    Smoke
•    Have diabetes
•    Have other systemic conditions
•    Use medications that cause dry mouth
•    Drink heavily

Most people need to visit us about every six months. At your next checkup, we will explain the most appropriate exam schedule for your needs. This may be shorter or longer than every six months, and the dental schedule may change over the course of your life depending on your oral health needs. Call us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment with our expert in dental exam in West Hollywood.

Who Can Use Invisalign

Invisalign is a system of clear plastic aligners that are designed to straighten your teeth. Due to their clear nature, the Invisalign aligners are effectively invisible while they are being worn, which makes them an increasingly popular alternative to traditional metal braces. But can everyone use Invisalign?

Treatment with Invisalign is best suited for cases of overly crowded teeth, gapped teeth, and cases of mild to moderate bite issues. You may not be considered a good Invisalign candidate if you are suffering from a severe malocclusion, or have teeth that need to be rotated by more than twenty degrees or moved vertically. Additionally, if you have had bridgework done, that may also prevent you from being able to receive orthodontic treatment with Invisalign.

In order for treatment with Invisalign to be effective, patients must wear their aligners for 22 hours a day. Patients that do not feel that they have the necessary discipline to wear their aligners for this length of time each day might want to consider treatment with conventional braces instead.

While Invisalign does offer a Free Smile Assessment on their website to give you an idea as to whether or not Invisalign may be right for you, only your orthodontist will be able to say for sure which treatment will work best. If you are interested in learning if you would make a good candidate for Invisalign, contact our Beverly Hills Invisalign expert to set up a consultation.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which breathing stops repeatedly throughout a patient’s sleep cycle. Sleep apnea will either partly or fully awaken a patient dozens or hundreds of times per night, which deprives the body of oxygen and raises numerous health risks. Today, patients with this disorder can often find relief through new dental treatments.

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

Patients with sleep apnea often feel fatigued and breathless during the day without knowing why. Although many patients snore, not all of them with sleep apnea do. A sleep study, in which patients have their breathing and oxygen levels monitored overnight, is the standard diagnostic technique.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, is the traditional option for treating sleep apnea, but it can be uncomfortable for many and is not always effective. By visiting our West Hollywood dentists, patients can explore their dental treatment options, including oral appliances and soft-tissue removal surgery. Whereas oral appliances work by keeping the tongue from blocking the airway during sleep, surgery can expand the airway to prevent this collapse.

If sleep apnea is left untreated, patients have a higher risk of suffering diabetes, heart attack, stroke, sudden cardiac death, dementia and fatal accidents. Prompt diagnosis and treatment from our expert in sleep apnea in West Hollywood is key to regaining quality of life, along with their health.

How Dental Crowns Protect Teeth

Dental crowns are prosthetic devices that are made to resemble natural teeth, and they are placed over teeth that have been damaged in order to protect them. Crowns can be made of a variety of materials, including metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, porcelain, and resin.

Teeth that have suffered large amounts of decay may require more than just a dental filling in order to be strong enough to withstand normal chewing forces. Crowns offer the necessary support. They can also be used to hold together the parts of a cracked tooth. In this capacity, they act like a splint for the damaged tooth. A crown may also be used by our Los Angeles cosmetic dentist to restore a tooth that is severely discolored or worn down.

After a root canal procedure, the tooth is no longer strong enough to support itself. That is why a crown is placed over it once the procedure has been finished. The crown is able to absorb the pressure that is exerted on the weakened tooth structure.

If you are wondering if a crown may be the best way to protect your teeth from further damage, contact our expert in porcelain crowns in Los Angeles to set up a consultation.

Dental Implants and Oral Health

Dental implants are a critical piece of restoration after tooth loss or extraction. In fact, they can easily and permanently replace a lost tooth, or soften the awkwardness of dentures.

Simply put, implants are replacement roots that anchor replacement teeth in your jawbone. A crown will fill the void where your natural tooth was, but providing a stable fixture is the titanium root that fuses smoothly with your jaw. This process is undertaken by a series of safe and convenient procedures, where the root is placed, the jaw is left to heal and fuse with the implant, and the implant is restored with a crown. With proper care, implants can last a lifetime, though.

Our expert in dental implants in Van Nuys has found a common use for implants to be a good support for a bridge or set of dentures at times when a crown is not the best option. Dentures must fit properly in your mouth or it will take a performance hit. Dentures without implants can cause you to have difficulty speaking or chewing if they slip. Implants ensure that you can eat any food or snack without worry, acting as restraints against unwanted movement.

Improvements in oral health can be expected at first, since implants do not require adjacent teeth to be surgically altered in any way. Implants are also a healthy choice when concerning missing teeth and what can happen in their absence. Teeth tend to shift, and any gaps can attract movement over time. Implants guard against this, filling out your smile with finesse and finality.

Schedule an appointment with our Van Nuys dentist today.

Sleep Apnea Mouth Guards

The standard form of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is usually most effectively done through continuous positive airway pressure therapy, or CPAP therapy. However, new research from The Netherlands’ University of Groningen shows that oral appliances are an effective alternative form of treatment. This is especially true for those suffering from mild to moderate apnea. Fortunately for those who are uncomfortable with the forced air pressure and mask associated with the CAP therapy, there are a number of mouth guard appliances to choose from for treatment.

A mouth guard for sleep apnea can function in two different ways: MAD or TRD. The mandibular advancement device, or MAD, is very similar to the typical sport’s mouth guard or orthodontic retainer in appearance. This oral appliance functions by positioning the lower jaw forward to hold it in place throughout the entire time you are asleep. By placing the jaw forward, this alleviates any form of blockage from occurring at the back of the throat. This allows for the air to flow naturally in and out of the airways during sleep. TRD, or the tongue retraining device, is the alternative form of the sleep apnea mouth guards. The TRD holds the tongue in place as a splint, restraining it from falling to the back of the throat during sleep.

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, there are more than 100 different oral appliances approved by the FDA for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. There are plenty of mouth guard appliances that can be bought over-the-counter, but they are not as effective as a custom-fit mouth guard provided by a sleep apnea specialist. Being fitted for your mouth guard is easy, though, as some dentists are trained in sleep apnea to provide this form of treatment.

If you are unsure about whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea, contact our sleep apnea center in Los Angeles to schedule a sleep study for proper diagnosis.

Periodontitis and Available Treatment Options

There are several treatment options that exist for treating periodontitis, but the treatment you receive will depend on the level of periodontitis that you are experiencing.

Gingivitis is the beginning stage of periodontitis. This condition is characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily during every day routines, such as brushing and flossing. At this point, scaling and root planing is the preferred treatment. This procedure is non-surgical and can help reverse gingivitis if it is caught early on. Scaling involves the dentist scraping away the plaque and tartar that has accumulated above and below the gumline. Root planing involves the dentist removing the rough bacteria deposits that have formed at the root of the tooth. If your gum disease has progressed past the point of gingivitis, then your gums have most likely started pulling away from your teeth. At this point, surgery may be required.

Pocket reduction surgery involves the dentist placing incisions into your gums and then lifting them back to remove the tartar. While this is very similar to a scaling and root planing, this procedure allows the expert in periodontitis treatment in Los Angeles to give you a fully deep clean. The gums are then positioned back in such a way that they snugly heal around the tooth. Sometimes pocket reduction surgery is paired with guided tissue regeneration in order to restore any lost bone or tissue. In some cases of gum disease, excessive bone and tissue has already been lost. In these cases, it may be necessary to have a bone or tissue graft performed to effectively treat your periodontitis.

If you are suffering from periodontitis, contact our Los Angeles periodontists to learn more about your treatment options.

How are Teeth Makeovers Done?

Extreme teeth makeovers, also called smile makeovers, are carefully planned combinations of cosmetic procedures chosen to completely renew the oral appearance. While each teeth makeover is unique for addressing the goals of the individual, a common process can be identified across different makeovers.

Planning First

The first step towards a smile makeover is scheduling an appointment for a discussion of goals and selection of treatments. At this visit, our dentist identifies issues to be improved in the smile and then explains the many options that patients have available to them. The chosen procedures are then mapped out for efficiency over the course of a schedule that may last days, weeks or longer.

Order of Treatments

The order in which treatments are performed can vary significantly. For example, if a patient has decay on a tooth that needs a treatment with a veneer, then a tooth-colored filling will most likely be performed first so that the veneer can be seated properly to last. Some patients may wish to have more efficient treatments, such as a teeth whitening, performed first to gain visible improvements without delay.

Just as the procedures composing makeovers will vary in their complexity, so will the extent of the makeovers in time and outcomes. In all cases, makeover recipients will receive a better-looking smile and an increased self-confidence that comes with it.

What is Invisalign Teen?

Invisalign Teen is the smooth, modern alternative to traditional braces for those in their adolescents. It powers the Invisalign technology through a program designed for teenagers and their attendant growth. If your teen wears the Invisalign aligners as directed, she will enjoy straight teeth with none of the stigmas associated to metal braces.

Metal braces are historically the mark of a “brace face.” Unfortunately, that is how most kids have seen it. Invisalign Teen eliminates this pressure by straightening the teeth in near-invisibility, keeping your teen in high spirits about their appearance. The result is not only straighter teeth, but a better emotional state for the growing years.

The patient will be fitted for the aligners and instructed to wear them for at least 22 hours of the day, taking them out only to eat or drink anything other than water, as well as for cleaning. Every two weeks, a new set of aligners is inserted. Each new set is programmed to work the teeth in a linear formula, building on the previous goals of the aligners before.

Our expert in Invisalign Teen in Burbank recommends Invisalign Teen for teeth that are crooked or rotated, as well as for teeth that are excessively gapped or spaced. In addition, Invisalign Teen can effectively treat low-level orthodontic troubles, such as with the bite or jaw.

If you are interested in having your teenager try Invisalign, contact our Burbank Invisalign expert today.

Are Dental Implants Cheap?

Any high-quality dental treatment will require some investment, and dental implants are no exception to this. However, implants can be surprisingly affordable, particularly when their long-term value is considered. Here is a look at the factors behind the cost of implants and how the treatment justifies its price.

Most important among dental implant price factors is the number of implants ordered. Naturally, more implants will cost more money. Beyond this, patients may pay more or less depending on whether they need bone grafting. The type of restoration chosen will also affect the implants cost to top the implant, such as crowns or dentures.

Implants do cost more than bridges and dentures at first, but they frequently cost little to nothing more than their up-front costs afterwards. By contrast, dentures or bridges may require replacement and can necessitate further dental work later on, because they allow the jawbones to deteriorate. Practicing proper brushing and flossing, as well as attending regular checkups from our Beverly Hills dental implant dentist can help your implants last for a lifetime.

Cheap dental implants in Beverly Hills can permanently normalize the appearance, comfort and functionality of a smile. An initial investment is necessary with this replacement method, but maintenance costs are generally minimal. To learn more about how much implants will cost to address specific goals, patients can schedule a consultation with our dentist.