Dental Veneers and How Long They Last

Part of the reason dental veneers have become so popular over the years is because of their durability. Advances in the production of the porcelain veneers in particular have made them capable of lasting years, while advances in the bonding agents have made the likelihood of them falling off almost a non-issue.

How long a particular veneer might last is dependent on a number of factors. The first is the type of material used. The two primary materials used as a dental veneer are porcelain and composite resin. Both have significant staying power, but resin is more likely to stain. This staining may result in their being replaced sooner.

Another factor in their lifespan is how well you take care of them. Chewing on your nails or pencils or pen caps is definitely frowned upon. Doing so can cause small fractures to develop, ultimately causing them to crack and break.

All that said, our dental veneers specialist in Los Angeles has seen dental veneers last five years, but more commonly extending into or beyond ten years. It is also not uncommon for dental veneers to last as long as twenty years.

If you are considering dental veneers, contact our office to learn about their proper care and expected lifespan.

Pros and Cons of Porcelain Crowns

Dental crowns are used to provide a weakened tooth with enough strength and support to survive. Crowns can also be used to improve the aesthetics of misshaped or discolored teeth. Additionally, if a patient receives a dental implant, a crown is the device that is placed on top of it. Porcelain crowns are a specific type of crown that is becoming an increasingly popular choice with patients. There are some pros and cons associated with this type of crown.

A major pro of porcelain crowns is that they are tooth-colored and can be made to match the shade of the surrounding teeth. They are also used for patients who suffer from metal allergies. No other crown mimics the natural tooth aesthetic as well as porcelain crowns. Indeed, this is the main reason most patients request porcelain crowns from our cosmetic dentists in West Hollywood.

There are a few cons associated with porcelain crowns. They are unfortunately not as strong as some of the other crowns, such as metal crowns and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. And since porcelain is a very hard material, porcelain crowns run the risk of wearing opposing teeth down a bit more than the other crowns.

If you are interested in learning if porcelain crowns are right for your dental needs, contact our expert in porcelain crowns in WestHollywood to schedule a consultation.

Effectiveness of At Home Whitening Treatments

Given the number of photos that we post online nowadays, it is no wonder that the popularity of tooth whitening treatments continues to increase. While there is a certain convenience involved in being able to whiten your teeth from home, do these at-home whitening treatments actually work?

Most whitening treatments are peroxide-based, whether it is a professional whitening treatment or an at-home whitening product. The peroxide works to break down intrinsic and extrinsic stains that are affecting the teeth. At-home products come in a variety of forms, including toothpaste, whitening strips, and whitening trays. While these at-home products are generally seen as effective, there are some risks associated with them. For instance, whitening trays that are designed for at-home application use a one-size-fits-all approach in delivering the whitening agent. If the mouth tray does not fit you properly, you run the risk of whitening solution leaking and irritating your gums. If left on for too long, the peroxide can even burn the soft tissues of your mouth.

The advantage of seeing our cosmetic dentists in Northridge for a professional whitening is that the experience is custom-designed for your mouth. The trays that are used during a professional whitening treatment are made by using molds of your own teeth to craft the tray. This prevents leakage and helps keep your gums and other soft tissues in your mouth safe.

If you are interested in whitening your smile, contact our expert in teeth whitening in Northridge to schedule a consultation.

What is Involved in Preventive Dentistry?

Preventive dentistry is your best line of defense against the harmful effects of tooth decay and gum disease. A good preventive dentistry regimen is brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day, along with visiting the dentist every six months for a professional exam and cleaning.

When it comes to practicing preventive dentistry at home, brushing and flossing is the most important thing you can do. It is recommended that you use fluoride toothpaste when you brush. Also be sure to use the proper technique. Hold your brush at a forty-five degree angle to the gumline and use gentle circular motions to clean the inner, outer, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. It should take about two minutes to properly brush your teeth. For flossing, make sure you avoid using sawing motions to clean in between your teeth. It is much better to floss using up-and-down motions.

No matter how good you are at brushing and flossing, it is unfortunately impossible to remove all of the plaque from your mouth on your own. That is why it is so important to visit the dentist biannually for a professional exam and cleaning. During the exam, the dentist will check the health of your teeth and gums. He or she will also screen you for oral cancer. X-rays may also be used to help identify dental issues that cannot be seen with the naked eye alone. The earlier our preventive dentist in Agoura Hills identifies an issue, the easier it is to treat it before it becomes a more serious problem. During the cleaning, the dentist will remove all the plaque and tartar you were unable to reach.

What Should be Done in Case of Extreme Tooth Decay

In the case of extreme tooth decay, it is likely that you are experiencing a pretty high level of pain. When decay reaches the pulp of the tooth, it can easily form an infection. Your treatment options at this point are either having a root canal to save the tooth or dental extraction. Sometimes decay is so prevalent that a root canal is not possible, in which case dental extraction will be the only option.

If your tooth is able to be saved through a root canal procedure, our Los Angeles emergency dentists will need to remove the infected pulp from your tooth. This procedure is known as a root canal treatment. The dentist will first isolate the affected tooth to keep it clean and dry. An access hole will then be drilled into the top of the tooth and the decayed portion will be removed. Using a special instrument, the pulp will then be removed from the root canals of your tooth. Once this has happened, the root canals will be flushed and cleaned. Antibiotics will be administered at this point. The root canals will then be filled with a rubbery substance called gutta percha and topped with a dental filling. The last step will be restoring the tooth with a crown.

If you are experiencing extreme tooth decay, contact our expert in emergency tooth extraction in Los Angeles immediately.

Best Dental Cleaning Techniques

Brushing our teeth can become such an ingrained habit that we never notice when we slip into potentially bad habits while doing it. Periodically reviewing your hygiene routine can help you keep your smile on track and get a clean bill of dental health at your next dental cleaning.

1.    Brushing properly
When you brush, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle towards your gums and use small, circular movements to brush the entire tooth surface. Brush the outer, inner and chewing surfaces of each tooth. Brush about two minutes at a time to thoroughly clean your teeth, and brush twice a day to keep plaque under control.

2.    Flossing regularly
Floss every day. Use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between each set of teeth. If you have a bridge or braces, use a floss threader tool to thread the floss around the appliance.

3.    Using the right tools
Fluoride toothpaste is essential for hardening your enamel and combating oral bacteria. Use a soft-bristled brush to reduce the risk of damage to your teeth or gums.

If you are unsure about your technique, let us know at your next appointment. We can show you how to get more out of your brushing and flossing and keep your smile going strong. Call us today to find out more or to schedule your next appointment with our dentist in Santa Clara.

How Long Does it Take for Invisalign to Work?

Invisalign will begin to work as soon as you start wearing your first set of aligners. Each set of aligners is designed to move your teeth incrementally closer to your treatment goal. Though you may not notice any difference in the position of your teeth at first, after about two months you should see some visible progress. As far as the total length of your treatment goes, it will depend on the severity of your case.

You will wear each set of aligners for two weeks before replacing them with a new set of aligners. The more that your teeth need to move, the more aligners it will take to get them there. The average number of aligners needed for an Invisalign treatment is usually between 20-30 sets of aligners. The total number of aligners that are required for your individual treatment will be planned out in advance by your orthodontist. In fact, you will know from the very start of your treatment how many aligners you will need to reach your goal. And be sure to remember that wearing your aligners for at least 22 hours a day is one of the most important steps for Invisalign treatment to be successful.

If you have any additional questions about treatment with Invisalign, contact our Los Angeles Invisalign doctor to schedule a consultation.

Benefits of Digital X-Rays

While our Northridge dentist will visually evaluate the health of your entire mouth during the exam portion of your visit, digital X-rays may also be taken to ensure that the exam is as comprehensive as possible. Indeed, there are several benefits associated with using digital X-rays for dental care.

The truth of the matter is, no matter how thorough a visual examination, there are certain things that the naked eye is unable to detect. Digital X-rays help dentists to fill in the gaps. Decay between teeth or issues at the root will present themselves clearly on a digital X-ray, as will other potential trouble areas. With oral care, the earlier that a health issue is caught, the more simple the treatment. This is especially true for conditions like oral cancer.

While analog X-rays were also useful for the above purposes, digital X-rays offer some additional benefits over their analog predecessors. One of these benefits is that once the digital X-ray is taken, the results are available almost immediately. The quickest turnaround for analog X-rays was about 15-20 minutes, which slowed down your visit. Digital X-rays are also easier to enhance, which allows our dentist to be more thorough. Incredibly, digital X-rays also expose the patient to about 85% less radiation than analog X-rays.

If you have not had a professional cleaning and exam done lately, contact our expert in digital x-rays in Northridge to schedule a consultation.

Cosmetic Purposes of Dental Crowns

Many people already know that dental crowns can be used to restore a tooth that is too weak from decay or injury. After a root canal procedure, for instance, a crown is used to give the treated tooth enough strength to survive chewing forces. A lot people do not realize that crowns can also be used for purely cosmetic reasons.

If you have a tooth that is misshapen, our San Fernando Valley cosmetic dentist can use a crown to restore it to a better aesthetic. The same holds true for a tooth that has been severely discolored. Especially for a tooth in the back of your mouth, it may make more sense to have a crown fit as opposed to a veneer. Sometimes in the case of bruxism, crowns can be used to hide the damage that has been caused to your teeth.

In the past, it was more common to restore a tooth with a metal crown. Today, porcelain crowns offer a way to replace a metal crown with a more aesthetically pleasing, tooth-colored crown.

If you have a cosmetic reason that you would like to have a dental crown placed, contact our expert in porcelain crowns in San Fernando Valley to schedule a consultation.

Pros and Cons of Veneers

Porcelain veneers can be a wonderful upgrade to a smile that has fallen out of date. But it is important to know all the facts before proceeding. Veneers are a good deal more permanent than other makeover processes, and once you have them there is no reversal. Consider this the first con, if you will. Here is a list of pros and cons of veneers:

Pros

•    Unlike crowns, veneers do not require lengthy modification of tooth structure
•    Veneers are highly visual, and reflect light just like natural teeth.
•    Veneers are durable, and can last for up to 15 years.
•    Due to the glass-like surface of the laminate, veneers are very stain-resistant.
•    You can pick the color you think is best, in consultation with our expert in porcelain veneers in Van Nuys.

Cons

•    Relative fragility—the laminates are tough, but not as tough as real teeth. They lack the same bite force, and you have to watch out for hard, break-y foods.
•    Expense—The number of laminates you select is one of the factors that influences price, but the procedure should be costly enough to guarantee artfulness. Not everyone is good at making and placing ceramic veneers.
•    Since enamel is removed to accommodate the veneers, your teeth may have increased sensitivity.

For more about veneers, contact our cosmetic dentist in Van Nuys.