12/9/2019 0 Comments Can Dental Implants Work for Me?Patients who are missing teeth often come to our office, believing that dentures or bridges are the only options to give them back their smile. While both of these treatments are effective in masking teeth that are missing, they do nothing to help in the long-term. A more effective procedure would be getting dental implants.
The concept behind dental implants is centuries old; early man tried various techniques to replace missing teeth. However, in the 1950s, an orthopedic surgeon from Sweden proposed using titanium rods to replace missing teeth. The idea behind dental implants was born. Since that time, modern dentistry has improved upon the idea exponentially. Today’s dental implants not only make your smile look great, but they also improve the overall health of your mouth. Many of our patients are not aware that after they lose a tooth, their body reacts to the lack of stimulation in the socket by no longer providing nutrients to the area. Eventually, bone loss occurs, and over time your face takes on a sunken look because of the bone loss. Even if you receive a dental bridge or dentures, the bone loss is inevitable because the socket is empty. When our dentist in Huntington Beach places the titanium rods in empty tooth sockets a process called osseointegration begins. The socket believes the rods are roots and they fuse to the jawbone. Because of the fusion, the body believes the area needs nutrients and blood and resumes caring for the area. This action by the body prevents future bone loss. Dental implants work well for the vast majority of our patients. Occasionally, a patient is not able to have implants. This generally happens for a few reasons. • A patient taking medication that interferes with the body’s healing process should not get dental implants while on the medication • If a patient has extreme bone loss, a dental implant may not be possible • Patients’ with a diminished ability to open their mouth may not be able to allow the dentist access for an implant If you are missing teeth and would like to learn more about dental implants, please feel free to contact our office. Our staff can give you information as well as make an appointment for a no-obligation consultation where you can learn more specific information about dental implants.
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9/25/2018 0 Comments How Invisalign Corrects TeethPatients who visit our dental office are often interested in ways to correct their misaligned smiles. We frequently receive questions about the Invisalign system, how it can adjust their teeth, and what is involved in getting the alignment trays.
For nearly two decades, Invisalign has provided a way for patients to achieve beautiful straight teeth while avoiding traditional metal braces and the years of brackets, wires. Painful adjustments and eating restrictions. If you decide you would like Invisalign, our orthodontist examines you and makes a detailed impression of your teeth. This information goes to an Invisalign lab where a technician fashions a series of transparent plastic alignment trays. Most patients receive 20 to 25 aligners, but the number varies according to your specific needs. The clear trays are thin, fit securely over your teeth, and are so lightweight most patients hardly notice them. Invisalign transforms your smile over time as the alignment trays guide your teeth to the preferred position in your mouth. This is a gradual process, yet most of the patients our Invisalign dentist in Huntington Beach treats complete their treatment in 18 months or less. Because Invisalign has no wires to adjust, you must change alignment trays approximately every two weeks. The aligners will move your teeth a little at a time. Each new Invisalign tray brings you closer to your ideal smile. Throughout your Invisalign treatment, you need to wear the alignment trays between 20-22 hours each day in order to get optimal results. Remember to take out your aligners whenever you eat or drink anything; although you may wear the alignment trays if you drink clear water. It is necessary to clean the trays and brush your teeth before reinserting the aligners. Throughout the course of treatment, you will make periodic visits to our office so our dentist can check your progress. Our patients tell us that because the aligners are clear, they do not feel self-conscious when wearing them. To learn more about the Invisalign system and what it can do for your smile, contact our office to schedule a no-obligation consultation. 7/30/2018 0 Comments What Does Pinhole Surgery Do?Many of our patients have problems with receding gums. Exposed roots are an easy target for bacteria to build and cause decay. Loose teeth, as well as heightened tooth sensitivity, are also common problems our patients with receding gum lines encounter.
Until recently, a patient with gum recession had one option for repair, a gum graft. The gum graft is a surgical procedure, and although it is not major surgery, you will experience discomfort and need several weeks of recovery time. The dentist takes skin from the roof of your mouth, stitches the tissue to your receded gum line, and sutures the roof of your mouth. We are happy to offer our patients with receding gums the option of pinhole surgery instead of a gum graft. The procedure for pinhole surgery is not complicated or painful, and it is usually complete in around two hours. What sets pinhole surgery apart from grafting is the fact that there are no scalpels or stitches necessary. Your procedure begins as the doctor numbs your mouth using a local anesthetic. After your mouth is numb, our dentist in Huntington Beach uses a small needle to puncture a hole in your gum. Then specialized dental instruments go through the hole and under your gums. Our dentist will loosen the gum tissue and slowly stretch it over the exposed area of the tooth and into proper position, covering the roots of your teeth. Your gums will reattach without any stitching or other help from our dentist. There are several good reasons to opt for a pinhole surgery rather than a conventional gum graft. • No skin needs removing from the roof of your mouth • Results are nearly immediate • The recovery time required is short, usually just one or two days • Your gums have a smooth and natural look because there is no cutting or stitching If receding gums are a problem for you, call our office, and we can set up an appointment for a consultation with no obligation. Technological advances and improvements make this an exciting time to be a part of a dental practice. Treatments that seemed like science fiction several years ago are now cutting-edge procedures which allow our dentists more ways to help patients. A good example of this is the use of lasers to treat soft tissue problems.
Lasers are becoming more common in dentistry, and our dental office in Huntington Beach is no exception. Aside from using lasers to help with teeth whitening and removing cells for biopsies, the laser (specifically the diode laser) is now a frequently used tool that aids our dentist in treating periodontal disease. The diode laser has several attributes which make it an excellent tool for use with soft tissue. • This type of laser is compact and easy to manipulate during delicate procedures. • The laser’s wavelength is compatible with soft tissue procedures. When it comes in contact with tissue the wavelength is absorbed in the soft tissue’s melanin and hemoglobin. This absorption allows the diode laser to make precise cuts, congeal, or evaporate the problematic tissue. • Research shows the diode laser possesses unique abilities to kill bacteria in the long term. In our practice, the laser is useful for various periodontal therapies with excellent responses from our patients. In particular, patients who fear cutting and suturing were pleased that the laser eliminated the need for these techniques. Our patients needing scaling and root planing were noticeably more comfortable with the laser as opposed to traditional metal dental instruments. Additionally, our dentists felt the results were preferable and that the patients healed much faster with laser scaling and planing. The diode laser eliminates excessive bleeding when used as a part of periodontal work. In addition to expertly cleaning between the teeth and gums, the laser kills the pathogens which contribute to periodontal disease. With so many advantages, lasers as a part of soft tissue procedures are good for both the practitioner as well as the patient. If you would like to know more about laser treatments, contact our office. 5/8/2018 0 Comments What Can Invisalign Do?The Invisalign treatment system provides our patients with an alternative to traditional metal braces. With more than 20 years of experience creating over five-million beautiful and straight smiles, the Invisalign system is the gold standard of alignment tray orthodontic treatments.
Patients often ask our Huntington Beach dentist to explain what Invisalign therapy can do for their teeth. The most significant results of Invisalign include: • Properly aligned teeth- Correcting misalignments is the primary reason people seek orthodontic care. The Invisalign system is successful in treating malocclusions which are mild or moderate. Our Invisalign dentist in Huntington Beach will carefully assess your misalignment before proceeding with Invisalign therapy. Patients with spaces between their teeth that are greater than ¼ inch per arch will not benefit from Invisalign. Additionally, patients with extreme tooth rotation (more than 20 degrees) or severe incline (more than 45 degrees) are not eligible for Invisalign. • Correct bite problems without surgery- While Invisalign is not made to replace necessary dental surgical treatments, it is helpful to our patients who have overbites or underbites caused by tooth problems. Some bite problems, such as an open bite need more detailed intervention to correct the issue. • Improve speech impediment- Some speech difficulties are caused by misaligned teeth which interfere with the tongue moving as freely as necessary for proper speech. Using the Invisalign system to realign teeth often helps eliminate this type of problem. • Solve eating problems- We see many patients with bite problems who struggle to eat food that enjoy because over time the overbite or under bite progressed to the point of making eating favorite foods a painful chore. When Invisalign corrects these problems, our patients are free to enjoy food which may have been off limits before Invisalign. • Enhanced self-esteem- Many of our Invisalign patients are acutely aware of their less than perfect teeth. In some cases, fear or a sense of self-consciousness about their teeth can hold some people back from things that they would like to be a part of in their daily lives. If you or someone you love is considering Invisalign therapy, but you have questions, do not hesitate to contact our office for helpful information. Your ideal smile is closer than you think. 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. 6/2/2017 0 Comments How is Gum Disease Treated?Gum disease is a serious infection that strikes the gum tissue surrounding the teeth. Treatment is designed to control the infection and halt the spread of the disease. Without treatment, gum and bone tissue will continue to be damaged, and tooth and bone loss can occur. Our dentist in Huntington Beach can help you decide on the best treatment for your needs.
Call our office today to find out more or to schedule your appointment with our expert in gum disease treatment in Huntington Beach. |
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