1/29/2018 0 Comments Candidates for Dental SedationFor those who will be undergoing any type of invasive, potentially painful dental or orthodontic procedure, the inclusion of dental sedation into the picture is nearly always a possibility. Our Huntington Beach dentists will be able to determine if dental sedation can help you.
Many of us are familiar with the use of Novocain in the dentist’s office and may confuse it with true dental sedation. While Novocain only numbs the area in question locally, dental sedation is unique in that it operates on the consciousness of the patient rather than the strictly physical sensation of the pain to be experienced as a result of the procedure to be performed. Good candidates for sedation are those undergoing invasive procedures or treatments that will require an extended amount of time, such as an individual receiving a dental implant or a root canal. Some patients may be biologically impervious to the numbing effect of Novocain, necessitating the need for dental sedation in some cases. Individuals who experience chronic jaw soreness or other disorders of the head and neck that may inhibit their ability to comfortably sit through the entire procedure while fully conscious may also benefit from the use of dental sedation, as will any patient with an uncontrollable gag reflex, or insurmountable anxiety in anticipation of dental treatments. Some pre-existing conditions might make the administration of dental sedation too risky to be professionally recommended. Women who are pregnant will want to avoid sedation as the drug can affect their growing infant negatively. Patients who are in poor health or who suffer from some medical conditions such as heart disease or abnormal blood pressure may also want to consider alternative means of pain management during their procedure. Our dentist will take all these factors into consideration before making a final call on whether or not sedation is right for you. Of course, to minimize any danger or health risk to the individual being sedated, our sedation dentist will want a full report on both your dental history and health records, including a list of allergies and previous negative reactions to anesthesia. Your current regimen of medications will be checked against the sedation to be administered to avoid the possibility of an adverse drug interaction.
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1/26/2018 0 Comments Why Get a Smile MakeoverA smile is a first impression; it can say a lot about us, for better or for worse, and nothing can take a toll on a person’s confidence like looking into the mirror every morning and feeling like the one they have is inadequate. Many feel that their teeth are simply beyond hope, but the good news is that is rarely the case; a smile makeover may be just the thing you need to change your life.
A smile makeover is rarely as simple as it sounds; in most cases, it involves a combination of different types of cosmetic procedures and restorative fixtures used in conjuncture to solve a variety of problems with the appearance of the mouth and teeth at once, as opposed to fixing things one problem at a time. During your initial consultation, our cosmetic dentist will have a discussion with you about all of the areas you feel could be improved about your teeth. Once you have made your list, we will recommend a course of action, suggesting various types of treatment and means of enhancement. If your teeth have become discolored in some way, our dentist may recommend a whitening regimen, or in some more advanced cases the prospect of a new set of dental veneers. Others may be dissatisfied with the natural shape and size of their teeth, some patients even electing to alter their gumlines; this is also something that can be achieved with veneers, which can be sculpted to bring any smile into proper proportion. For those with teeth that have become damaged, chipped, or fractured in some way, dental crowns are a great solution – they can be used to hide and hold together teeth beginning to break apart but still firmly lodged into the gums. For teeth missing entirely, a dental bridge or one or more implants may be the way to go; they are able to mimic the look of a natural tooth without the need for a root to latch on to. Our expert in smile makeovers in Torrance who will be able to help you decide if a smile makeover is right for you. 1/17/2018 0 Comments History of Tooth ImplantsThere is a wealth of information that comes with the topic of tooth implants, from how they are administered to why a person would need one. One often-overlooked aspect of this restorative device, however, is its long and storied history. Implants have certainly come a long way from their humble beginnings, becoming the refined way of replacing teeth that we all know today.
A dental implant is defined as a means of tooth replacement that requires no adjacent abutment, instead relying completely on some sort of placement into the jawbone itself, or in some cases just along its surface; over top of this self-sufficient support system is placed a crown bearing an artificial tooth meant to replicate the way the natural one did before. The first recorded evidence of this practice comes from China in the form of bamboo sticks found in the remains of patients of the past, and carbon dating indicates that these tools were used approximately four thousand years ago. Similar findings in Egypt show mummified corpses with implants made of ivory and precious metals. Other antiquated methods of the past include replacing human teeth with those of animals, or even human teeth bought on the black market. As dental and orthodontic technology became more advanced in the 19th and 20th centuries, dental implants made their rocky way through a modern infancy period. There was a great learning curve in refining it in a formal sense, and unlike more primitive takes on the concept from the past, many western attempts struggled to achieve a fully functional way of replacing teeth in this way that could serve as anything more than purely aesthetic. One of the first successful attempts of this era was the Greenfield implant. Conceived in 1913, it consisted of an iridioplatinum stake driven into the bone and topped with a crown of pure gold. Dr. Greenfield modeled his technique after the already tried-and-true method that surgeons used to place implants into the hips of patients after the time; through these means, they achieved the impossible and created a successfully osseointegrated dental implant that could be used just like a real tooth. Later, the advent of using titanium rods as leverage would be introduced by another doctor named Gottlieb Leventhal. Leventhal’s work was built upon in Sweden by a surgeon called Per-Ingvar Branemark, who was the first to formally observe and recognize the osseointegration phenomenon. Between then and now, much has changed, but the basic idea still remains the same; from sticks and stones to titanium and ceramics, dental implants have been revitalizing smiles since the earliest days of civilization. Perhaps you’ll be the next one to have one placed. Teenagers are faced with numerous challenges such as the pressures of high school, their peers, sports and their appearance. If your teen has crooked teeth, gapped teeth, misaligned bite, overbite, or underbite, you may consider Invisalign Teen to improve their smile. Our San Francisco dentist specializes in Invisalign and can talk to you and your teen about straightening their teeth.
Our dentist will discuss your needs and evaluate whether this treatment option is right for your teen. They will come up with a custom treatment plan by scanning your teeth and creating a digital map of your smile. Our dentist will map out the exact movements of your teeth and be able to tell you how long the treatment plan will take. The Invisalign treatment plan consists of clear plastic aligners that are custom fit to your teen’s mouth. They can be removed for eating, drinking and brushing their teeth. The best part is, they are completely invisible. They can continue to enjoy the activities and foods they love without pain or discomfort. Teens don’t have to worry about injuries from wires and brackets or trips to the doctor. The clear plastic aligners are easily removable and comfortable in the mouth. The aligners should be worn for most of the day. The only time your teen should remove them is when they brush their teeth, eat or drink. They can easily clean them with warm water or the Invisalign cleaning kit. Your teen should still maintain good oral hygiene by brushing twice a day for at least two minutes along with flossing. This will ensure that your teen’s teeth and gums remain healthy while the clear plastic aligners do their work! The length of treatment will depend on their specific case. The average case takes about one year. The aligners are meant to be switched out every week as your teen’s teeth move and shift into place. You and your teen can continue to track their progress as their smile improves. Talk to our dentist about your teen’s smile. He can assess their teeth and come up with a treatment plan that works for them. No matter what your teen is experiencing with their smile, our experts are here to help. Schedule a consultation with us today. |
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