What Happens During a Dental Cleaning in Santa Cruz?

In order to maintain oral health, it is important to schedule a dental cleaning in Santa Cruz at least once a year. Maintaining proper oral hygiene at home is also necessary for healthy gums and teeth, but during a dental cleaning, you will receive a deeper, more thorough clean than is possible to implement in a home regimen. If you want to enjoy the long life of your teeth, begin visiting our dental office for a proper cleaning. We will perform a detailed dental service like the method we explain below when you see us at least twice a year for treatment.

Dental Discussion

During your visit, we will have a discussion about any worries you may have concerning your oral health. If you have noticed any abnormalities, have been experiencing any discomfort, or have had any alarming symptoms, now is the time to discuss these things with a dentist in our office. During the cleaning, a dental hygienist will keep an eye on these notes and then a dentist in our office will keep them in mind during the post-cleaning checkup.

Dental Cleaning in Santa Cruz

During the actual dental cleaning process, we will use specialized tools to access hard to reach areas of your teeth for a thorough plaque removal. Using a metal instrument called a scaler, the hygienist will remove any plaque or tartar (hardened plaque) from around the gums and teeth. Following this process, we will spray off any loose particles with a water stream. Next, we will then use a special textured toothpaste and polisher to remove any leftover plaque or surface staining. Following all of these detailed services, your teeth will receive a thorough flossing to remove any remaining particles or grime.  This dental cleaning will provide your teeth with a clean, smooth surface that will help you to combat plaque build up until your next visit.

Dental Examination

Following your cleaning, we will provide you with an examination to look for dental decay or gum infections. Using a metal probe, the dentist will check your gums for any swelling, bleeding, or discoloration. We will also gently prod your teeth to feel for vulnerable areas that may be an indication of dental caries. We may also check your bite to reveal any uneven developments and feel your cheeks beside your jawline for popping or grinding when you open and close your mouth. As a final measure, we will feel around your face and neck to find out if there is any swelling in your lymph nodes. If the swelling is occurring, it may be a sign of infection or even oral cancer.
A thorough dental cleaning in Santa Cruz, and a checkup will help ward off any dental decay or gum infection. A cleaning will also give us an opportunity to get to know your teeth and gums a little better so that we can determine if you might be at risk for oral cancer, periodontal disease, or any other serious oral health problems.

Dentist  >  General Dentist

Why Your Child Might Need Dental Fillings

Dental fillings become necessary when one or more teeth develop cavities. Cavities are typically caused by a combination of several factors that include frequent consumption of sugary food or drink, poor oral hygiene, not brushing and flossing as often as necessary, and irregular visits to your Santa Cruz dentist.  This can be especially difficult for children that love eating fruit snacks, having dessert, and simply do not know how to brush their teeth properly.

The primary cause of tooth decay is food debris that stays on the surface of the teeth for too long, allowing bacteria to accumulate on the surface. Over time, the bacteria become visible as a pale yellow, slimy layer called plaque. Acids from the bacteria in the plaque eat their way past the enamel or the hard protective outer shell of the tooth. Dental fillings are a way to preserve teeth that have developed cavities. Our Santa Cruz office starts by removing the cavity (decayed portion of your child's tooth).  We then need to restore their tooth structure and fillings are the way to do so.  Fillings prevent the bacteria reaching the soft inner layer of the tooth which, can not only cause a considerable amount of pain, but tooth loss as well.

Filling a Cavity

After numbing the area around the tooth (or teeth) that are experiencing decay, we will use a drill to slowly and thoroughly remove all the decayed parts of the tooth. Once we are satisfied that all the decay has been removed, we will clean all debris and bacteria out of the cavities and prepare it for the dental fillings.

Tooth Colored Fillings

Dental fillings can be made of various materials, including gold, porcelain and a silver amalgam which is made up of a combination of mercury, silver, and other metals. However, there are numerous people who do not like the idea of a 'metal mouth' and opt for a tooth colored composite resin fillings. This is especially true in the case of children who have developed cavities.

These more recently available plastic and ceramic compounds are called composite resins. They mimic the appearance of natural teeth which is especially important when front teeth are involved. However, depending on the extent of the decay they can also be used on the back teeth.

Because the composite resin is applied in layers, each of which has to be hardened or 'cured' using a light of a specific wavelength, these fillings take longer to place than some others. However, apart from the fact that they can be closely matched to the shade of existing teeth, they also bond to the tooth itself, which creates additional stability. Composite resins are also very versatile, and can be used to repair chipped or worn teeth.

The Importance of Treating Cavities in Young Children

If left untreated, decayed teeth in children can have devastating lifelong consequences. Baby teeth play a very important role in a child's appearance and speech development. If decay is left untreated, it can cause damage to permanent teeth that have not yet appeared. Dental disease has also been linked to a number of health issues for children including bacterial infections that require emergency surgery, and malnourishment,

While there is no question that prevention is far better than cure, if your child has already developed one or more cavities, do not wait to have them treated. Tooth-colored dental filling are an inconspicuous method of saving their teeth and preventing a host of potentially serious health issues.

Dentist  >  General Dentist

Preventing Injuries With Help From our Santa Cruz Family Dentistry Office

Imagine if after years of treatment and quality care from our Santa Cruz family dentistry office, you suddenly find yourself with a missing tooth due to a sports injury and sitting in our office awaiting a replacement. A missing tooth can be an incredibly frustrating experience that can cause immense discomfort. We want to encourage you to avoid an injury like this by wearing a mouth guard when you play sports. We can replace your missing tooth or repair your oral tissues after an accident, but we care for our patients and want them to avoid detrimental situations like these by making their dental protection a priority.

Why should I wear a mouthguard?
When you play sports, you could sustain a variety of injuries. Some of the most common injuries are lip and cheek punctures, gum damage, teeth loss, teeth chips and breaks, and jawbone fractures. You could also injure other people when you don't wear a mouthguard. Teeth are sharp and strong so they can cause extensive damage. They are also not immune to becoming cracked or chipped. Dental injuries can cause discomfort and require a restoration in order to heal. To protect yourself and others, and to avoid these complications, you should get fitted for a mouth guard and start wearing one immediately.

When should I wear a mouthguard?
You should wear a mouthguard while playing or practicing most sports. Hockey, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, football and even skateboarding are sports that could cause damage to your dental structure. The American Dental Association has estimated that the use of mouth guards prevents about 200,000 injuries every single year in high school and college football alone. This is just one example of how a mouthguard can prevent harm. To learn more, visit our family dentistry office.

What is the best type of mouthguard?
There are a few types of mouthguards including a stock mouthguard, a boil and bite mouthguard and a custom-created mouthguard. A stock mouthguard is the least expensive option. It can be purchased at most popular stores and is pre-packaged and ready to wear. Most people complain that this option is bulky and fits too loosely in their mouth. It does not provide the best protection against injury. A boil and bite mouthguard is a little better. When boiled, this mouthguard can be molded to fit your teeth. It provides more coverage, but it is also bulky and can easily fall out of your mouth. The best option available is a custom-fitted mouthguard created by our family dentistry office.   This mouthguard will fit securely in place, and it will provide the best level of protection. It can be a little more costly, but it is worth the present affordable cost to avoid future dental bills due to injury.
We hope that this article about what a mouthguard does and how it will protect you has helped you to understand the importance of using dental protection during contact sports and non-contact sports alike. Avoid the cost of repairs, the time constraints, and discomfort by employing proper dental protection habits when you play sports and contact our family dentistry office for more information.

General Dentist  >  Dentist

The New Type of Natural-Looking Dental Veneers in Santa Cruz

For too long dental veneers have been considered a purely aesthetic solution, and therefore purely commercial application. Most patients have never considered that they might break or crack a tooth and be in need of an urgent repair on the tooth. Dental veneers in Santa Cruz are literally the best option when you have this kind of damage, that does not rise to the level of needing a full crown, but still needs repair.

One cannot argue that there are clear cosmetic applications for veneers, after all, they clearly make your teeth better. However, it is also true that when you have had an accident and damaged a tooth, you will need to get it repaired before it causes additional problems. A damaged tooth does not have the means to heal itself so typically, as you continue to use the tooth, you will increase the level of damage. When you have a cracked tooth, you provide an excellent place for bacteria to breed which could lead to infections or gum disease. A chipped or broken tooth is hard to manage, which means you always run the risk of biting your lip or injuring your gums and this could lead to an additional infection. There are, therefore, two distinct groups of patients that used veneers for their teeth.
The use of dental veneers is growing rapidly. In 2006 alone there were over 600,000 people using dental veneers, either to fix defects or because they had to have an emergency replacement of the enamel. In either case, there is now a growing trend among users to have couture dental veneers instead of the traditional iteration of the product. As with any evolving product, the veneers needed today have increased the amount of skill that goes into making them, since our patients now want veneers that reflect a better version of their teeth instead of a fake looking replacement block of perfectly white pearly whites.

This has led to a number of innovative methods in shading, placing, and creating dental veneers so that they look as realistic as possible. Some of the methods being used are shading the veneers in a manner that creates an illusion of slight discoloration around the gum line, gradually getting whiter as the tooth extends into the mouth, angling the placement of the veneers so that they create a less than perfect space and even overlap slightly with an adjacent tooth, and the use of natural lighting by improving the translucency of the veneers to allow light to pass through. All of these are direct imitations of the qualities of your naturally occurring teeth and cause the dental veneers to seem much more normal.

Whether you need dental veneers for replacing damaged enamel on a tooth that has been through trauma or whether you want veneers to simply improve your teeth, you have multiple options from which to choose. The one word of caution when selecting couture is that they can be slightly more expensive that normal veneers. Traditional veneers will cost less so we will give you both options during your consultation.

Cosmetic Dentistry  >  Teeth Whitening

Interesting Facts About Orthodontics

If your teeth need straightening, you should visit a certified orthodontics office for treatment. Orthodontics is a field of dentistry specifically concerned with straightening crooked or crowded teeth, treating malocclusions, correcting abnormalities in the mouth cavity, and fixing bite and jaw alignment. Having your teeth corrected can give you a more attractive appearance and a healthier mouth. If you are considering receiving straightening treatment in Santa Cruz, you may be intrigued by these interesting facts about orthodontics.

• Only 5 percent of dentists practice orthodontics.
• Orthodontists receive years of specialized education in which they correctly learn how to straighten teeth. This additional education is required for all forms of orthodontics. If your general dentist suggests they can effectively straighten your teeth, visit our orthodontics office instead. Most orthodontists receive seven years of education following high school.
• Our orthodontics office in Santa Cruz is up-to-date with the latest technology regarding the best methods for teeth straightening. We are constantly acquiring more knowledge regarding the best orthodontic practices.
• The American Association of Orthodontists suggests that children see an orthodontist by age seven at the latest. The earlier your child receives treatment, the sooner their growth development can be successfully and permanently corrected.
• Some adhesives used for attaching the brackets of braces actually release fluoride that can help strengthen and remineralize your teeth.
• If you do not go through a retention phase after having your braces removed, you are more likely to need braces again, as your teeth were not correctly and permanently repositioned without this phase.
• Some braces include the material nickel-titanium, which was actually developed by NASA scientists for its shape memory abilities.
• Lingual braces, a form of braces placed so they are invisible to others, were actually first called couture braces. Lingual braces work the same way as traditional braces, but the brackets and wiring adhere to the backside of your teeth.
• “Clear braces” are very similar to metal braces, but they blend in better with your teeth due to the ceramic components. Clear braces are translucent, so your natural tooth color shows through, eliminating most of the distracting metal that some patients dislike.
• There are actual floss picks created for braces wearers to make cleaning easier. You can also use a water pick to squirt out lodged food particles from in between teeth without having to navigate around your braces wires and brackets.

There are many factors that go into the potential success of orthodontics treatment. Age and health, genetics, bad habits like nail biting and teeth grinding, diet, missing teeth, stress, and responsibility of the patient can all affect the progress of orthodontics and the final result of a permanent straightening. These are reasons why it is so important to follow the instructions of your orthodontist faithfully and to make your investment count by following a treatment plan fully.

These are only a few of the interesting things you can learn about orthodontics. For more information about the services we provide in Santa Cruz and the history of braces, visit our office for an appointment. You will soon have the beautifully straightened teeth you want!

Our Dental Crown Treatment in Santa Cruz Is Durable and Natural-Looking

A dental crown treatment in Santa Cruz is used to completely cover a tooth that is damaged. Our dental crowns protect, strengthen, align, and improve your entire tooth. If you are looking for a durable and natural-looking restoration for a damaged or decayed tooth, continue reading to learn more about our quality crowns.

Natural-looking

Our crowns are typically created to match the color of your nearby teeth. To create a tooth-colored crown, we will have it made out of porcelain or ceramic materials. These options look natural with your other teeth, so no one will know you have a restored tooth. If you are not interested in the aesthetic potential of a dental crown, we can also create strong crowns made of metal alloys or porcelain fused to metal.

Durable

A dental crown treatment in Santa Cruz is a durable option you should consider if you have a weakened tooth. Not only are our dental crowns natural-looking, but they are also strong and durable. The crowns we provide give your tooth protection against more damage or decay, or crowns can keep your tooth structure sound if you have a cracked or a chipped tooth.

Long-lasting

While dental crowns can last a lifetime, crowns should last for at least five years, but more commonly longer. Most dental crowns will last around 15 years with the best care. Avoid using your crown to open packages or bite nails, and if you have night clenching or teeth grinding (bruxism) habits, wear a protective night guard to keep your crown in the best condition. Approximately 80 percent of crown failures are caused by unprotected bruxism habits. Notify our office during your appointment if you think you may be a night grinder, so we can help. For the longest lasting crowns, you should also have proper oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing your teeth will protect them from decay and help your crown ward off more potential decay.

Multiple Uses

A dental crown treatment in Santa Cruz can be performed for many reasons. Dental crowns are one of the most common restoration options because they have so many uses. You may need a dental crown to:

Replace a large filling if not enough tooth is remaining to hold it in place. This normally occurs if you have a large cavity.
Protect a weak tooth from breaking further if it has been fractured or chipped.
Restore a damaged tooth to a more attractive appearance and stronger function.
Cover a discolored, oddly shaped, or undersized tooth.
Cover a tooth that recently received root canal treatment
Attach a dental bridge or cover a dental implant for tooth replacements.

If you are looking for a tooth restoration that is both strong and attractive, visit us for a dental crown treatment in Santa Cruz. We know you will be pleased with your durable, natural-looking, and stain-resilient crown. Quality dental crowns from our office will strengthen your teeth for years to come.

A General Dentist Can Prevent Gum Disease

As a general dentist, we help prevent all types of oral health issues in our office. The goal of our team is to keep our patients in the best possible health by preventing oral disease and treating it if it occurs. Gum disease is a major health issue that can impact people of all ages. By catching it early, we can provide treatment that is fast and comfortable.

Many people are unaware of the importance that gum health plays in their overall health. In order for teeth and their roots to stay protected gums need to remain in place. Gums serve as a protective barrier against bacteria by covering sensitive areas in the mouth. Additionally, gums hold teeth in place and when they recede or become unhealthy the teeth can fall out.

The initial stages of gum disease are uncomfortable but may not be painful. This leaves a lot of people undiagnosed and prevents them from getting treatment. As a general dentist, we can identify signs of gum disease during routine teeth cleanings, which ensures that people can get treatment before the disease starts to cause pain.

While at home look for common signs that include red and swollen gums. They may also feel sensitive when brushing or eating and may bleed from time to time. At this stage, it is generally referred to as gingivitis. As the condition worsens the gums will recede and more of the tooth will be exposed. In its worst state, pockets can form in the gum tissue and create an area for bacteria to flourish. The bacteria can attack the tooth and roots and further infect the area and cause pain. If you notice any of these symptoms it is important to schedule an appointment immediately so that we can help to prevent this situation.

Treating Gum Disease

If you have gum disease it can be treated with a deep cleaning. This procedure involves removing the bacteria from underneath the gums so that they can become healthy again. The body is able to naturally heal itself once the bacteria have been removed. Once the gums have receded and pockets have formed in the gum tissue a gum graft may be necessary for closing the pocket. In this procedure tissue from the roof of your mouth is attached to your gums so that they can cover and protect the tooth again.

Gums and a Healthy Body

Healthy gums are important for the health of the rest of your body. Pregnant women need to be especially careful since gum disease can induce labor prematurely. Babies can also be born at a lower than average birth weight when their mother has unhealthy gums, making regular dental care extremely important.

Heart disease has also been linked to gum disease, with 91 percent of those suffering from a heart condition having unhealthy gums as well. Heart disease kills more people than any other health condition and reducing the risk factors is of extreme importance. As a general dentist, we can help to keep your teeth and gums in good health so that the rest of you can stay healthy too.