Why See a General Dentist?

If you have ever gone to a dentist for a basic appointment, chances are you were seen by a general dentist. General dentistry exists ensure that your teeth are, and remain, healthy and beautiful. It is very important to see a general dentist at least twice a year. Here are some reasons why.

Even if you brush and floss your teeth as often as needed, bacteria and plaque can still develop on the smile. This can lead to tartar, a sticky substance that causes dental decay and many other oral health issues. Only a professional with the right tools can remove tartar, making regular appointments a must for your ongoing good health.

Did you know that dental appointments are when certain overall health problems are most often identified? In fact, many dentists can spot a health concern within just a minute of looking at your teeth. These issues include diabetes, eating disorders, and oral cancer. Problems such as these are more easily treated when caught as early as possible, so be sure to attend dental appointments regularly.

A significant goal of general dentists is to prevent dental problems from occurring, a practice called preventive dentistry. Be sure to avoid any unnecessary dental health concerns by scheduling and attending appointments with our Agoura Hills dentist at least every six months.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Root Canals

Root canal is by now a highly patented service that belies the old fears. It is largely painless, has a high success rate, and is generally the best remedy for teeth suffering from pulpitis or abscess.

The best advantage of a root canal is that it prevents an extraction. If you’re worried about full coverage, even a missing molar could be visible if your smile zone is wide enough. Root canal is performed on a tooth that is nearly or completely dead. A thorough excavation of the root canal effectively strips out whatever life is left in the tooth. But the tooth remains.

Industry watchers who disfavor root canals argue that a dead tooth, no matter the extent to which it’s embalmed, is potentially toxic in the mouth. This is why an expert in root canal in San Fernando Valley is essential. Making sure the entire root system of the tooth is clear of material the first time keeps your procedure’s odds of rejection low, and therefore your risk for retreatment, in the lowest range.

Remember, a root canal is always the healthiest choice. Keeping a tooth in its place, dead or alive, keeps nearby teeth in theirs, and ensures you maintain bite function and visual integrity.

Call our dentist in San Fernando Valley for more about root canals.

Treatments Involved in General Dentistry

General dentistry is an important part of this field. If you go to a check-up dental appointment, you are likely seeing a general dentistry. These professionals offer a wide range of treatments in order to ensure your teeth stay beautiful and healthy. Here is a look at some general dental treatments offered.

At a regular check-up appointment, our San Francisco dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and other areas of the mouth. They will look for plaque and tartar on the teeth, and any sores or lesions in the soft tissues. These appointments are when mouth cancer and other serious health issues are most often identified, making it essential for patients to not skip out on these check-ups.

General dentistry also involves some preventive treatments. For example, dental sealants can be applied during check-up and cleaning appointments in order to protect the teeth from bacteria turning into sticky plaque. A fluoride treatment can prompt remineralization, which can build up the protective layer of dental enamel. Our dentist can also recommend a dental restoration, such as a dental crown or filling.

General dentistry appointments are vital for keeping the teeth and mouth healthy. If it has been more than six months since your last check-up, be sure to schedule one today.

Are Braces Always Metal?

Metal braces are a thing of the past. It’s no secret that no patient wants a mouth full of bulky and pointy metal brackets and wires. While this was the only option for patients in the past, there are several appliances now available today that are much less cumbersome and noticeable. Here is a look at these options.

Ceramic braces, or white braces, are a very popular choice with patients today. This appliance features brackets made out of ceramic, a material used often in dentistry. It is often preferred because of its similarity in shade to natural tooth enamel. While the wires are still metallic, the appliance as a whole is much less noticeable.

Invisalign is typically the go-to choice for patients looking for a discreet orthodontic experience. This appliance is shaped and fits around the teeth just like a mouth guard. It is made of a see-through material that usually goes unnoticed by others. Invisalign aligners are also very comfortable and easily removable. Our Rocklin orthodontist will likely be able to tell you whether or not you are a candidate for this option.

Do not let your ideas of the way braces look prevent you from getting the smile you want. Schedule a consultation today.

How to Use TMJ Appliances

TMJ disorder can arise from any number of circumstances. Arthritis can inflame the temporomandibular joint. Or the joint itself can become internally deranged, due to a displaced disc or injured condyle. Finally, TMJ pain may occur simply because of anxiety or a lifetime of bad posture.

After seeing your Los Angeles TMJ treatment expert and trying several remedies at-home and otherwise—recommended therapies can include everything from prescribed antidepressants to applied use of heat and cold—you may decide to try a TMJ appliance. These are alternately called orthotics, occlusal splints, occlusal appliances or simply “night guards”. Similar to what athletes wear to protect their teeth in-game, these devices are custom-fit and can be prescribed to either stabilize (in the event your TMJ symptoms are deemed due to excess teeth-clenching) or reposition (in the event your TMJ symptoms are due to a pathology of the joint).

Splint therapy eases stress on the myofacial muscles and palpates the joints. Factors believed to contribute to TMJ, like tongue thrusting and reverse swallowing, can be managed as well. Most specialists recommend wearing the device while sleeping, plus one hour during the day.

Appliance therapy for TMJ is still being studied, much like the condition itself. Ask your doctor for more information.

Orthodontic Process with Braces

Many patients require orthodontic treatment with braces. This is usually because braces are the best at moving the teeth and correcting any type of orthodontic issue. These include crooked and rotated teeth, as well as spacing and bite alignment issues. Here is a look at how metal braces achieve this.

Our Torrance cosmetic dentist will apply the brackets to the teeth and run the wires through them during an appointment that typically lasts about an hour. Patients usually report that the teeth will feel painful and uncomfortable for a few days afterwards. This is because the wires are tight in place, creating pressure. At appointments that take place about every two weeks throughout the treatment process, our braces expert will tighten and snip the wires a little bit each time. This continues to put pressure on the teeth, effectively pulling the teeth into straighter, healthier spaces.

If the pressure or abrasion from the metal becomes too painful, our Torrance braces dentist can make some adjustments. You may also be a candidate for alternatives to traditional braces, such as lingual braces, which work the same, but are placed on the back sides of the teeth. Ask our dentist how braces could benefit your smile.

Why Get Porcelain Veneers?

Are you happy with the way your smile looks? Or does it feature several cosmetic flaws? Dental veneers are a great way to solve this issue. Our veneer dentist recommends this option for many patients with otherwise good dental and oral health.

Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth. They can effectively cover a wide range of cosmetic dental problems, such as chips, cracks, and stains, as well as misshapen and crooked teeth. Our dentist can work with you to design each individual veneer in order to create the smile you desire.

Dental veneers can also protect the teeth from further damage. For example, a crack in a tooth can become bigger by biting on hard foods. Placing a veneer over it will protect it from getting any worse. This is partially due to the porcelain, which is very strong and durable.

Many patients opt for dental veneers in as a good alternative to treatments such as orthodontics or teeth whitening. Getting veneers is much less costly and time consuming. You can schedule a consultation with our Los Angeles dentist today to see how dental veneers could benefit you and your smile.

Issues Caused by TMJ

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint disorder, an issue that affects one or both of the jaw joints. This disorder can be difficult to diagnose, as its symptoms can appear as signs of many different possibly underlying issues. It is important to know what some of these common issues are in order to possibly diagnose TMJ.

First and foremost, it is important to know that TMJ can cause pain in many different areas. These areas include the joint itself and the entire side of the face, as well as the ears, teeth, head, neck, and shoulders.

Because this joint is so close to, and directly affects the jaw and mouth. This means that the bite can change significantly, causing the need for orthodontic help. Cross bites and underbites are the most common issues. Our Thousand Oaks TMJ dentist may recommend braces or a form of braces to correct this issue. If left untreated, it could eventually cause an altered facial structure.

Other common issues caused by TMJ include difficulty chewing, bruxism, and tinnitus. Our dentist can employ a few different treatments in order to eliminate TMJ and its symptoms. If you think you may be suffering from TMJ, do not wait to seek treatment.

When are Gum Grafts Recommended?

Over time and through attrition, gums can recess. This means they no longer fit the teeth properly, exposing the crowns or even the roots. Because the soft tissues are so subtle, many people do not know they have gum recession until it’s already time for gum grafts.

Cases in which gum recession has not occurred, but gum grafts are needed anyway, can be the installation of dental implants or dental crowns. Certain teeth require more coverage by the soft tissues than others.

According to our expert in gum grafts in North Hollywood, the three common types of gingival grafts are as follows:

·         Connective-tissue—a flap of skin is cut from the roof of the mouth, and tissue from under it is stitched to the relevant gum area.

·         Free-gingival—tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth, but without removing the flap of skin, and stitched to the relevant gum area.

·         Pedicle—tissue is taken from the surrounding gum and added to the surgical site.

·         If a patient lacks viable donor tissue, it is also possible to graft using a biomaterial, as long as there is sufficient tissue at the graft site.

·         Gum graft surgery has a high success rate, particularly when any interdental bone loss is minimal.

Contact our dentists in North Hollywood for more information.

Teeth Whitening Options and Their Effectiveness

Teeth whitening is a popular way to improve your smile without any invasive treatments. With the right whitening treatment, you can take years off the look of your smile and boost your confidence. If you want a Hollywood smile, whitening might just be the fastest way to get there.

Some popular options include:

1. Whitening toothpaste
You use toothpaste anyway, so tooth whitening toothpaste seems like a simple solution. Although it can be effective for mild, surface stains, toothpaste cannot scrub away the stains that are deep inside your teeth.

2. Whitening strips
Strips are small strips of material impregnated with a peroxide solution. They attach directly to your teeth for a certain time each day. These over-the-counter strips can lighten your teeth by a few shades but are not as effective as professional whitening treatments.

3. Professional whitening
For the brightest smile, professional whitening will give you the most for your investment. Professional whitening can be performed in our office or in the privacy of your own home, depending on your preferences, and it can lighten your teeth up to eight to 10 shades or more.

Call our dental office today to find out more or to schedule an appointment with our team.

Short-Term Braces

Some smiles have more structural flaws than others. While some may need upwards of two years of orthodontic treatment to correct severe issues, other may not need a long time at all. If you are looking to correct a few minor to moderate orthodontic flaws, you might want to talk to our 6 month braces dentist.

6 month braces are called such because that is generally how long they require to show full results. They work just like regular treatment with braces works, with brackets bonded to the teeth and a wire threaded to them. The wires are periodically tightened throughout treatment in order to pull the teeth into place.

This treatment can address minor cases of gapping, crowding, and crooked teeth. Any issues with bite misalignment or rotated teeth will likely be best corrected with a full form of treatment. Many patients are interested in this option as a way to perfect their smile before a major life event, such as a wedding, reunion, or graduation. You can also talk to our Rocklin orthodontists about this treatment as part of a smile makeover.

If you believe your smile could benefit from 6 month braces, schedule a consultation appointment today.