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.

Learn More Facts About Replacing Teeth From an Implant Dentist

As an implant dentist, we know that more than 3 million Americans have dental implants today. Dentists have been successfully performing implant dentistry for the better part of fifty years, though only now has the popularity of this procedure really started to grow. Seen for many years as a cosmetic fix, oral health professionals are now advising dental implants for a host of tooth loss problems. Teeth can be lost very easily after an accident, playing sports, due to normal aging, or disease. Having a way to replace teeth and give a person back their speech patterns, their smile, and their natural look is an extremely powerful tool; one that we use on a regular basis.

What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a small titanium screw which is placed into the jawbone of a person’s mouth. An abutment is added, which is a piece that sticks out from the gum and connects the implant to the crown. Finally, a crown or a uniquely sculptured replacement tooth is placed over the abutment to finish the effect. When completed a dental implant looks and feels exactly like real teeth, giving the patient the comfort and familiarity they are used to with their naturally occurring teeth.

How much does a dental implant cost?
Dental implants have been slowly going down in price. However, they are still costly to get and often can be cost prohibitive to those who need a replacement tooth.  A single tooth implant can cost between $1,500 and $3,000 with an additional cost of $500 to $3,000 for the crown. Many factors come into play when pricing out an implant, including the amount of support work that will need to be done, the number of teeth to be replaced, extractions, and other treatment that might become necessary around the implant. Also, one has to factor in the type of implant and the materials to be used. As an implant dentist, we can give you a precise quote after a consultation.

What is the process of getting a dental implant?
The process of getting an implant can take up to six months when you consider healing time. To start the process, we will discuss all the options available to you. Next, you will be scheduled for a comprehensive examination and consultation. Once you decide to proceed with the implant, we will take an imprint of the tooth to be replaced along with the gums and nearby teeth. This allows the crown to be customized to fit your mouth perfectly.

On the day of the surgery, we will implant a small screw or post into your jawbone. It is placed into the socket of the missing tooth and allowed to heal. Healing takes between six to twelve weeks. On your return a small connector post, known as an abutment, will be attached to the implant. The abutment sticks out above the gum line and connects, on the other end, to the crown. An additional two to three weeks of healing are required after the abutment is placed. Finally, the dentist will install your crown or replacement tooth to the abutment. Following some checks and tweaks to ensure your bite is perfect, you will have a perfect new replacement tooth.

White Fillings Are a Natural Looking Solution for Your Dental Needs

Most people need white fillings at some point in their life. This procedure has become so common that it is literally the one thing most people associate with dental work. For us, this is a regularly performed procedure, often several times a day. As people are exposed to foods that are high in starch and sugar, the need for dental fillings grows. This is because a dental filling is necessary to fill a tiny hole in the tooth’s enamel, known as a cavity. Cavities are a direct result of bacterial acid secretions which cause the enamel to be worn away. Bacteria exist in their natural form in the mouth, where they tend to colonize the teeth. You can tell that you have bacteria by the thin layer on your teeth known as plaque. When this bacteria is exposed to sugars or starches, it will secret acids, and these acids ultimately are responsible for cavities. While many of our patients know how and why cavities form, very few are away that the tooth actually works constantly to avoid cavities. Using calcium and phosphate, which are naturally found in saliva, along with fluoride, and water, the teeth repair damaged enamel slowly. Unfortunately, the acid often gets overwhelming, and when this happens you get a cavity.

White fillings may seem routine, and maybe even a little boring, but there is nothing stale about the technology or the effort that is constantly being put in to improve these little tooth savers. Patients, for example, have always been more comfortable with a filling that is a natural looking. For many years, most fillings were either gold or a silver color, which stood out. To make them more attractive and natural looking, we offer a better solution. A white filling composite which consists of plastic and glass, and can be made in any color to match the surface of your teeth. These natural colored composite dental fillings made it so that you cannot even tell that you have a filling.

The largest challenge with white fillings is the occurrence of bacteria. When we clean out a cavity, we have to make sure to remove all the bacteria, completely sanitize the area, and remove any enamel that may have been compromised as well. The University of Maryland Dental School may have an innovative idea to solve this problem. They have been working on a new kind of filling that would kill any residual bacteria and allow the tooth to start healing normally. Ultimately the goal for all dental scientists is to allow the tooth to do its own work, healing naturally. This new solution incorporates both silver nano-particles and ammonia into its preparation. Each of these is known to be an antibacterial component that will kill cavity-causing bacteria instantly.  While there is still a lot of testing to be done on this particular product, we are definitely moving in the direction of a more holistic approach to dental fillings. We can discuss all of these options with you in further detail when you come in for your appointment.

How to Save Money When Visiting Our Dental Office

In our local dental office, we understand that most of our patients live on a budget and saving money is important. The larger your family is; the more important this can be as paying for medical bills for one person can be difficult, paying for six is even harder. As a family dentist, we want all of our patients to be able to afford the dental health care that they need. Using these tips can make it possible.

Practice at-home care. Taking care of your teeth at home is an important way to keep your teeth and your kids teeth, in great health. It starts with eating a healthy diet that includes green leafy vegetables, lean protein, dairy products, and complex carbs in addition to drinking plenty of water. Try to eliminate sugar from your diet since it can increase your risk of cavities. You also need to brush teeth throughout the day and floss at least daily. This will help to remove sugar, bacteria, and plaque before an infection starts.

Brush correctly. When brushing your teeth take the time to make a circular motion that starts at the gum line and works towards the center of your mouth.  Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for the biggest impact. We can suggest ways to improve your technique in our dental office.

Wear a mouth guard. You can prevent the athletes in your family from getting tooth injuries by wearing a mouth guard while playing sports. The American Dental Association estimates that this prevents over 200,000 high school and college football injuries every year in addition to protecting adults, younger children, and those playing other sports. By protecting teeth, you can prevent the expense of a restoration or tooth replacement.

Get teeth cleaned. You should have your teeth cleaned and examined twice a year. Most dental insurance companies cover teeth cleanings as preventative care. This is one of the best ways to prevent cavities and infections so with some simple preventative care that is typically low or no cost; you can reduce the chance of needing an expensive procedure down the road.

Schedule treatments. There are certain treatments we can do to protect and strengthen your teeth. This includes completing a fluoride treatment or applying sealant as needed. These procedures are typically done in children but can be used on adults as well.

Know your options. If your tooth is damaged and needs to be restored or has fallen out and must be replaced, we have multiple ways for doing so. Let us know what your financial concerns are, and we can recommend a treatment plan that fits within your budget.

In our dental office, we also provide financing solutions that make getting dental work done affordable and possible. While you may not have the funds you need at that moment, you can still take care of your health by using this creative option. Otherwise, we can discuss payment plans with you.  In the meantime, avoid needing a costly procedure by practicing preventative care.

General Dentist  >  Orthodontics

Visit Our Cosmetic Dentist Office For These Procedures

Our cosmetic dentist office can transform your smile from dull to brilliant. No matter what your particular needs are, we know how to help. Some of the most common treatments we employ are listed below to provide you with insight regarding our viable methods.

Fillings: If you need a filling to remedy a cavity, we can provide you with a tooth-colored filling that will look natural against the color of your tooth. Our fillings are durable and will protect your vulnerable teeth from more damage for years to come.

Bonding: In our cosmetic dentist office, our dental bonding is made of a similar material as our composite resin fillings, but it is used to fill in chips and cracks in your teeth to improve esthetic value. If you have a minor imperfection that you would like covered, dental bonding is an attractive and long-lasting solution that requires minimal chair time. Our bonding solution is also tooth-colored, so it blends in with your natural tooth color.

Crowns: We use crowns to cover damaged teeth that are too impaired to be fixed by a filling or bonding. They cover your entire tooth for the most protection against decay and further damage. We can offer you attractive, natural-looking crowns that match your other teeth. While natural looking, they are so durable that can withstand immense pressure and are stain resistant.

Teeth Whitening: To brighten a dull smile, our cosmetic dentist office can give you a thorough teeth whitening strategy that can be implemented as needed to achieve the white shade you desire. A whitening can transform your smile in a simple, but effective way.

Dental Veneers: Our veneers are very thin, tooth-colored shells that can be applied to the fronts of your teeth as attractive coverage for crooked or discolored teeth. Veneers are long-lasting and are a minimally invasive way to cover up dental flaws and to restore teeth that have been damaged in an accident.

Dental Bridges: A dental bridge is a semi-permanent replacement for missing teeth. If you have one missing tooth or several missing teeth, our dental bridge provides fabricated teeth that match your other ones. The bridge will fit into the gap created by your former teeth. The false teeth will be secured in place by two crown anchors attached to your strong existing teeth.

Dental Implant: A dental implant will be your most attractive and permanent replacement option. Our cosmetic dentist office will secure a titanium rod into the root opening that was left by your former tooth. This rod will be attached to the replacement tooth to hold it in place. With time, the titanium rod will graft with your jawbone to create the most permanent solution to a missing tooth.

For all your esthetic dentistry needs, our cosmetic dentist office can help. We can provide you with comprehensive care so that no imperfection is left unrefined. You will be pleased with the timely, durable, and attractive solutions we can provide for your dental needs.

Implant Restoration  >  Family Dentistry

Dental Veneers Fast Facts That You Should Know

Before you get dental veneers, you may be interested in learning more about this great dental service. When it comes to covering flaws, veneers are a wonderful product that creates amazing results. You will be impressed with how much better your teeth will look once you have your veneers placed. Veneers can cover many dental flaws with minimal effort. For a few more important and quick facts about them, continue reading.

• A veneer is a very thin, normally porcelain shell that is adhered to the fronts of your teeth to cover flaws. 
• Dental veneers can cover and improve shaping and contouring issues, discoloration or spotting, chips or gaps, misaligned or crooked teeth, awkward lengths, and a variety of other imperfections.
• Veneers are normally made of porcelain or composite materials depending on your specific needs. 
• Before your veneers are placed, we will gently etch the surface enamel of your teeth to create a better base for the adhesive. Once your enamel is prepared, we will adhere temporary veneers while your new ones are created in the lab.  Once ready,  the dental veneers will be bonded to your teeth with a long-lasting dental glue.
• Veneers normally last 15-20 years, sometimes longer. This length will range depending how well you care for your veneers and your surrounding gums and teeth. 
• They can be easily replaced if they become damaged or worn. 
• Dental veneers can be placed in as little as one dental visit or as many as three visits depending on what type of veneers you choose. 
• Before we can place your veneers, you will need to have a dental check up and allow us to fix any cavities and remove any dangerous infections. 
• The veneers placement is a minimally invasive and highly effective cosmetic solution. 
• You should not get veneers if your teeth are still developing or if you are suffering from ongoing periodontal disease. 
• Dental veneers are customized to fit only your teeth and improve the exact flaws you discuss with us. 
• Veneers are very natural looking and not easily scratched, stained, or damaged.
• The veneers procedure is not reversible unless you plan to have another cosmetic or restorative procedure completed to cover your vulnerable teeth due to the removal of enamel before veneers are placed. 
• Regular flossing and brushing can be done once your veneers are placed. No extra care outside of the avoidance of biting your fingernails or grinding your teeth is required. 
• Normally local anesthetic application is all the pain relief that is needed for a veneers placement. You will not experience discomfort during the procedure.
• The cost range of veneers varies depending on the location of treatment and severity of dental imperfections. 
• Dental veneers from our office should blend in perfectly with your other teeth. 

Now that you have learned some fast facts about how convenient, efficient, and affordable veneers are, we hope you consider visiting our office to learn more. The benefits of dental veneers are endless, and the results are attractive and natural looking. For all your dental veneer needs, we can help.

Dentist  >  General Dentist

More About Orthodontics and Oral Surgery for the Jaw

As a provider of orthodontics, we have the expertise to diagnose symptoms that may seem unconnected to the mouth, and connect them back to the jaw bone. A misaligned jaw may or may not manifest itself with traditional symptoms. The jawbone, being in the face, has been known to cause problems to the overall health of a person. For example, the jawbone being misaligned can be diagnosed from symptoms that may include migraine headaches, bouts of dizziness, and even severe pain in the neck and shoulders. There have even been cases of people with tinnitus, an extreme ringing in the ears, finding relief after getting their jaw realigned properly.

Even among orthodontists there are specialists who focus on different areas of the teeth and jaws. Most of the work an orthodontist does is concentrated on the teeth themselves and helping to move the jaw based on the alignment of the teeth, also known as the bite. There are, however, a school of orthodontics that is specifically focused on aligning the jaw and is known as Dentofacial orthodontics. Dentofacial orthodontics attempts to correct the misalignment of the jawbone itself. More often than not these practices are more effective in children, but there are also ways to correct misalignment in the jawbone of adults using these methods and oral surgical procedures.

Children are by far the best candidates for having their jaw alignment changed before it grows into a misaligned problem. Orthodontists can work with a child’s jaw, using a variety of tools, so that it never grows in the wrong position. If we suspect that a child’s jaw is growing into a bad alignment, usually as determined by misaligned teeth and adult teeth coming in badly positioned, we can immediately take Dentofacial corrective measures. A child’s jawbone is still soft and can be manipulated to affect both the development of the jaw and the incoming growth of the teeth.   In our orthodontics office, one of they ways that we accomplish this is by using an expander to create enough room for all of the teeth or using rubber bands to manipulate the position of the jaw itself.

For adults, whose jaw has already developed and hardened it is a little bit more complicated to realign the jaw. Typically braces and addressing the bite itself can be used to straighten teeth. However, if we determine that your jaw bone itself is the cause of the misalignment and if you have other problems arising from the misaligned jaw, then we may recommend using Dentofacial corrective measures as well. Often, adult oral surgery is the only way to correct a jaw misalignment.  In this case, an oral surgeon will make the corrective adjustments to the jaw and then we will put on braces for you to complete the alignment and correction of the teeth. As with children, aligning the jaw before beginning the alignment of the teeth makes it much easier to give you that brilliant smile.

Age is not the only determining factor for correcting a jaw that may be misaligned. While the initial orthodontics treatments may be influenced by the patients age, ultimately once the jaw bone has been properly aligned you will start feeling more comfortable and the appearance of your teeth and smile may improve as well.

How to Keep Your Dental Crowns in Good Condition and Make Them Last Longer

By visiting our dentist office, you can help to keep your dental crowns in good condition for a longer period of time.  Crowns are an excellent option in restorative dentistry because they surround your damaged tooth like a cap. They provide complete coverage and protection so that your tooth can remain in place even after becoming cracked or chipped.  We use this procedure on a regular basis and are experts at creating crowns that look natural.

It starts by taking an impression of your mouth.  When creating a crown in the dental lab, it must be a perfect fit for the shape and size of your tooth. Additionally, the ridges in the top of the crown need to be perfect so that it doesn’t interfere with your bite and how your teeth fit together.  This takes paying attention to every detail and by spending time doing so, we can make sure that your crown will fit perfectly and feel great.

Once your crown has been bonded to your tooth it should remain in place for years.  It will provide the protection that your tooth needs since nothing will touch the tooth directly but will instead, touch the crown.  By taking care of your dental crowns, they can last for a long time and continue to look amazing.  How long they last depends in part on the type of material that they are made of.  For example, all-metal crowns last the longest and are known to last for over fifteen years.  They are typically placed on back teeth since they stand out in appearance and don’t look natural.  All-porcelain crowns look the best because they look like natural teeth. The challenge is that they can break more easily and tend to only last for five to ten years.  Porcelain-on-metal is a good alternative because it combines the strength of metal with the appearance of porcelain.

It is important to pick the material that you feel will accomplish your goals.  For example, an all-porcelain crown is not a good option for back teeth since it won’t provide enough durability.  Simultaneously, all-metal crowns are not a good solution for front teeth since they completely stand out.

Once your dental crowns are in place, you can take specific steps in order to keep them in good condition. This includes brushing and flossing throughout the day and visiting the dentist twice a year to have your teeth cleaned. This way your gums and teeth will stay free from infection and your crown will stay healthy.  After all your crown is on top of your tooth so if your roots become infected, that will impact the crown.

Additionally, you can protect your crowns and your other teeth by wearing a mouth guard while playing sports.  Tooth injuries are extremely common, and this simple step can prevent many of them.  If you want to stay safe and prevent crown damage keep your teeth out of harms way, brush regularly, eat a healthy diet and don’t grind your teeth. These simple steps will keep them in good condition.

Tooth Loss and the Need for Dentures

As a dentures dentist, we know that few people ever consider life after losing teeth. Even fewer considered life with dentures. In fact in a recent survey more than 60% of the responders stated that they had never even considered or given serious thought to dentures. Most people are confident about the quality and health of their teeth. With over 97% of people now brushing their teeth at least once per day, it is understandable why so many people feel like they will never lose a tooth.  While avoiding tooth loss is a great goal to work towards, most adults will experience some tooth loss in their lifetime. For example, you might be surprised to learn that around 20 million women, over the age of 40, wear dentures in the United States today. According to the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, the number of people that will be wearing complete dentures will be around 37.9 million by 2020. While we strongly encourage all of our patients to take good care of their teeth, be careful what they bite down on and have a healthier diet, we also know that sometimes DNA or age just catches up with you.

Preventing tooth loss -

Nobody suddenly needs dentures one morning. You will, almost, never wake up one morning with a gaping hole in your teeth and needing to come see the dentist for dentures. Instead, the way it usually works is that there are underlying symptoms, which people tend to ignore. Your body will tell you if you have an infection or gum disease, and give you the opportunity to come see us and have us fix the problem before it leads to tooth loss. Naturally the best way to avoid ever getting to that place is to be part of the 53% of Americans that make it a habit to visit the dentist at least twice each year. When you do this, we have an opportunity to catch any underlying problems before they fester too long and become severe. In between appointments, or if you are part of the 48% that doesn't visit us regularly, there are a few signs to look for that may indicate an infection or diseases that require medical attention.

One of the most common, and often ignored, signs of gum disease is a loosening of teeth. Your teeth were never meant to be loose and when they start to shift inside your mouth of their own accord, this is an indicator of a deeper problem. Another indicator of gum disease is a toothache. While people do get toothaches from eating too much sweet, if you cannot control the toothache with over the counter medication, if it lasts longer than a day or two, or if it comes back frequently this could be an indicator of a deeper infection or gum disease. Since gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss, these symptoms require immediate dental care.

While we will try to prevent tooth loss, if you do lose a tooth - we can help.  We can create a comfortable set of dentures that will look natural and function perfectly, allowing you to smile with confidence.

Cosmetic Dentistry  >  Family Dentistry

As a General Dentist We Treat Athletes That Have Injured Their Teeth

If you are an athlete, a trip to the general dentist is in order before you start the game.  According to the American Dental Association, the majority of adult tooth injuries are due to playing sports.  Since most adults only play casually with friends, this means that even a pickup game of basketball or tossing a ball with your kids can lead to tooth damage.  In order to protect your teeth, you need to keep them in good health.

We recommend that you have your teeth cleaned twice a year so that we can remove the bacteria and plaque from your teeth that can lead to a tooth infection.  It is important to keep your teeth cavity free and to prevent gum disease because if a random ball hits your face and there is an infection, your tooth will be more likely to break or be knocked out.  Think of it like a pond that becomes frozen in the winter.  A solid sheet of ice can support kids playing on it for hours, but one small crack can cause the entire thing to shatter when someone steps on it.  Teeth that are infected are like a pond with a small crack.  They cannot withstand the impact of something hitting them.

It is also important to strengthen your teeth by brushing with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.  Fluoride is a mineral that when placed onto your teeth will help them to be stronger.  You can further strengthen your teeth by eating a healthy diet that contains lean protein, nuts, cheese, yogurt, and green leafy vegetables.  This, combined with trips to our general dentist office can keep your teeth and gums in excellent health.

We also recommend that you wear a mouth guard while playing sports.  This prevents hundreds of thousands of injuries on an annual basis.  When considering high school and football players alone, the American Dental Association claims that over 200,000 injuries are prevented every year due to wearing a mouth guard.  When you consider how many different sports and age groups there are, it is clear that this simple device is a fantastic way to protect yourself from injury.

If you take these precautionary steps and still injure your teeth, we can restore them in our general dentist office.  If a tooth is cracked or chipped, we can use a dental veneer to correct it by placing the veneer onto the surface of the tooth.  It will look completely natural and make it possible to eat and speak like normal.  If the tooth is severely cracked or a lot of enamel is missing, we can use a dental crown to restore the tooth instead.  This provides a greater level of stability because it can surround the tooth entirely.  This is a durable procedure that can help your teeth to function as good as new after a serious injury.  If a tooth has been knocked out, we can replace it as well by using either dental implants or a dental bridge.

If your tooth has been injured, schedule a dental appointment right away.

Dentist  >  Cosmetic Dentistry