Same Day Crowns and Their Benefits

Same-day crowns, also known as CAD/CAM crowns, are similar to conventional crowns in their shape and material, but they are different in a few important ways. Instead of being made at a remote laboratory, these crowns are created on site at our office. This gives patients benefits related to treatment speed, convenience and accuracy.

Treatment Speed

Whereas conventional crowns take two at least two visits with days or weeks in between, same-day crowns are designed and made during one visit. Patients can simply relax in our waiting room until their crowns are finished.

No Temporary Crowns Required

Preparation of teeth before crown placement involves removal of enamel. To protect these teeth until the second appointment, when the permanent crown will be placed, a temporary crown is often placed. Temporary crowns, which can shift and allow tooth sensitivity, are not required with same-day crowns.

Automatic Shaping and Tinting

Just like traditional crowns, same-day crowns are shaped and tinted on a custom basis. However, a computerized machine makes these crowns automatically from special images and input from our dentist in San Francisco.

Most patients are eligible for same-day crowns, but candidacy is determined individually. Our expert in same day crowns in San Francisco may recommend traditional crowns for certain patients. By scheduling a consultation with our dentist, patients can learn more about CAD/CAM crowns.

How Snap On Smile Works

Snap On Smile is a unique way to achieve a smile makeover. No drilling or shots are required, in fact, it is entirely non-invasive. Best of all, it is removable and reversible. So how exactly does it work?

Your Snap On Smile will be designed in two visits to the dentist. On your first visit, you will pick the style and shade of your new smile. The dentist will then take impressions of your teeth. The impressions are then sent off to the lab that will design your Snap On Smile. In about three weeks you will return to the dentist to make sure that it fits. Assuming it fits, that is all it takes to get your Snap On Smile.

The Snap On Smile is designed using a special hi-tech dental resin. You simply wear it over your natural teeth whenever you desire having an aesthetically pleasing smile. You can eat and drink while wearing it. Snap On Smile is able to conceal gapped teeth, discolored teeth, crooked teeth, and even missing teeth. It is also a much cheaper option than undergoing a Hollywood-style smile makeover.

If you are interested in learning if Snap On Smile is the right option for you, contact our West Hollywood cosmetic dentists to schedule a consultation.

How Long Does Root Canal Treatment Take?

Root canal treatment is usually completed in a single 60 to 90 minute session. However, results may vary.

Until the last 20 years, root canals were typically split into two sessions. In the first, the dentist would clean and shape the tooth and root system. In the second, the tooth would be filled and sealed. As dentistry matured and technology improved, the separate steps were combined.

A second appointment may still be required if there is extensive damage to the root system, or if the root system is especially complex. A root system that is not thoroughly treated can develop complications later. Also in cases of extreme pain, our root canal dentist in North Hollywood may wish to prolong the work into two visits.

Including recovery, you can expect a 6-week window for your root canal. You will most likely receive a temporary filling at the time of the procedure. A permanent restoration will be scheduled for you, and you will need to avoid certain foods during the 6 weeks.

Only ten percent of root canals require retreatment, so a return with complications is unlikely. If retreatment were to occur, to remove an infection for example, you could again expect to spend 60 to 90 minutes at our North Hollywood dentists office.

Bleaching Your Teeth

Everyone wants a whiter smile. You can bleach or whiten your teeth at home or at the dental office, but you should be prepared for different outcomes. Doing it yourself saves money, but you will not get the powerful bleaching effect your dentist can give you.

At home, using over-the-counter treatments, you can expect to make your teeth one to three shades lighter at most. In the office, you may see results of up to ten shades lighter, results that can last up to five years.

We encourage you to consult our expert in teeth bleaching inNorth Hollywood before deciding what bleaching method is best for you. Certain kinds of discoloration, like grayish tetracycline stains, typically do not respond well to whitening. In addition, any gum disease or teeth that are especially worn down due to bruxism may make you a poor candidate.

Both personal and professional whitening use the same product: peroxide. The dentist uses a much higher percentage, of course. Only professionals should administer this solution, as leaving it on the teeth too long produces oversensitivity and can inflame the gums.

Improving the color of your smile is relatively straightforward, and can even be accomplished on your own. But you should not undertake a whitening mission without first consulting your North Hollywoodcosmetic dentist.

When are Tooth Colored Fillings the Best Option?

If you have a cavity, the first step will be our cosmetic dentist in West Hollywood drilling the decayed portion of the tooth away. The next step will be the dentist restoring your tooth with a dental filling. You will likely be able to choose from several different filling options. In many instances, the tooth colored filling will be your best option.

From a purely aesthetical point of view, tooth colored fillings are usually the best option. These fillings are also known as composite fillings. They are made from a mixture of plastic and glass, and can be made to match the shade of your natural tooth. This reason is why composite fillings are almost always used in front teeth or visible parts of your other teeth. Because they are bonded to the tooth, they actually provide your tooth with additional support. In many cases, less tooth structure needs to be removed in order to place composite fillings, as opposed to amalgam fillings. And while the traditional logic was to always use amalgam for the rear teeth that experience the most biting pressure, it has been found that composite fillings are able to withstand these pressures as well. While a composite filling may not last as long as an amalgam filling and may be slightly more expensive, the benefits usually outweigh these considerations.

If you think you may have a cavity that needs to be filled, contact our expert in tooth colored fillings in West Hollywood to set up an appointment.

Replacement Options for All Teeth

If you are missing all of your teeth, there is a good chance that you are looking to replace them. One of your options is to be fit with traditional dentures. This type of dentures is removable and it rests directly on top of your gums. Many patients find eating and speaking with this type of dentures to be difficult. Furthermore, they are prone to falling out of your mouth. Implant-supported dentures offer a much better option. Full mouth dental implants are utilized in this option, to support either a fixed bridge or a removable overdenture.

Implant-supported dentures make tasks such as eating and speaking as easy as it was with your natural teeth. And because they are secured into your mouth with implants, there is no need to worry about this type of dentures falling out of your mouth. In order to support either a fixed bridge or a removable overdenture, you will need to have anywhere from 4-8 implants placed per arch. The dentist will discuss with you which type of implant-supported dentures are right for your needs.

If you would like to replace your missing teeth with implant-supported dentures, contact our tooth implant dentist to schedule a consultation.

Invisalign and Its History

As someone that got braces as an adult, Zia Chishti realized that he could get the same corrective value from devices similar to retainers but with a huge benefit in the form of discretion. So he founded the company Align Technology in 1997, developed his idea with significant backing, and then received approval from the Food and Drug Administration the following year to use his idea to treat orthodontic issues.

The next year, in 1999, the product Invisalign went on the market. At the time, the company only had one line of products aimed at adults. It involved a series of aligner trays that nudged teeth along from their current position to a perfect mouth by switching them out every two weeks or so.

The revolutionary product has only improved since then, with new product lines coming to market and skilled dentists figuring out better and better ways to move the teeth using the system. Since its introduction into the market, there is now a line aimed at teenagers called Invisalign Teen. An additional line was developed for people needing only simple corrections taking six months or less called Invisalign Express. Our Rocklin orthodontist offers all of these product lines.

Since its introduction in 1999, Invisalign has now treated 2.4 million people around the world and the popularity is only growing as patients discover how effective and discreet the treatment is.

Contact our expert in Invisalign in Rocklin to see if you qualify.

Veneers, Their Uses and Advantages

Dental veneers, also commonly known as porcelain veneers, are a type of cosmetic dental treatment for people wanting a perfect-looking smile. Our expert in dental veneers in Orange County uses them for a variety of situations, including the following.

Hiding Blemishes

Teeth that are otherwise perfect in size, shape, and alignment might still have problems that cannot be easily fixed by other means. Perfect examples of this are patients who have severe staining or discoloration that is not responsive to teeth whitening, including “tetracycline teeth” and those with fluorosis.

Hiding Gaps

Minor gaps between front teeth can be embarrassing and orthodontics can be cost-prohibitive. Veneers are able to hide these minor problems in as little as two dental appointments.

Aligning Vertical Unevenness

Some patients have teeth that are inconsistent in their length. For example, with an ideal smile, the top two front teeth (known as central incisors) should form a smooth curve line from them all the way back to the molars, with only the canine teeth protruding slightly lower. Many patients, however, have second teeth (lateral incisors) that are significantly shorter. Veneers are able to address this issue, giving the appearance of an even arc.

Learn more about the uses and benefits of dental veneers by contacting our Orange County cosmetic dentists.

Cost of Having a Smile Makeover

A smile makeover is custom-designed to the needs of each individual patient. Some patients only require one or two treatments in order to achieve a smile makeover, while others require several more. For this reason, and a few others, the smile makeover cost tends to vary on a patient-by-patient basis.

A smile makeover can include pretty much any cosmetic dental procedure, depending on the needs of any given patient. A patient with one chipped tooth and discolored teeth can achieve a smile makeover through a teeth whitening treatment, followed by a dental bonding procedure to fix the tooth. A patient with crooked teeth, missing teeth, and broken teeth will need several more procedures to achieve the perfect smile. The type of procedures that you will need will definitely have an impact on the cost of your smile makeover. The geographic location where the smile makeover is taking place will also affect the cost. Major cities and coastal areas tend to cost more than minor cities and rural areas. The level of experience of the provider performing your smile makeover will also affect the cost.

If you have any additional questions about what a smile makeover would cost you, contact our office to schedule a consultation.

Cost of Invisalign

The cost of any orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign, is notoriously difficult to estimate. This is because of the sheer number of variables at play when it comes to something as unique as a mouth. Indeed, like a fingerprint, every mouth is different from every other. The best way to determine the cost for your particular situation is by visiting our orthodontists in Rocklin to get a free consultation.

The biggest factor going into the cost of Invisalign is the duration of the treatment. This is because while one patient may only need one tooth to be straightened in an otherwise aligned mouth, another patient might require more than two years of careful planning to achieve the desired results. This is because a simple rotation of a tooth and minor shifting of others is quite simple when compared to someone with a malocclusion such as a crossbite or open bite.

There are a variety of costs that are associated with getting treatment with Invisalign, most notably the purchase of the aligner trays themselves, which are traded out every two weeks or so. While some treatment plans may call for eight trays, others might need 40 or more. Unfortunately, the cost of the aligners is fixed.

The best option is to inquire about the Invisalign cost in Rocklin by scheduling a no-commitment consultation.

Common Dental Emergency Cases

We have all been there. It is the late evening when you bite into something and you immediately identify that something is wrong. Or your kid was out playing a pick-up game of basketball and received an elbow to the face, knocking a tooth loose. Dental emergencies happen all the time, making it a perfect time to call our San Francisco dentist.

Common Dental Emergencies

•    Knocked out permanent tooth
•    Loose permanent tooth
•    Cracked tooth
•    Severe toothache
•    Swelling and pain in the gums
•    Sudden and painful tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
•    Filling, crown or veneer breaking or falling out
•    Broken braces and wires

When in doubt, though, feel free to call the office and get the information you need. Some situation may call for immediate attention, while other may be fine for a day or two with proper temporary care. At a minimum, you will get some advice on how to deal with the situation in the meantime, like keeping knocked out teeth moist by placing it between the gums and teeth or in milk (not water).

As specialists in dealing with all types of situations, get the peace of mind you need during your next dental emergency in San Francisco by contacting our offices.

When are Onlays Used?

Onlays are a tooth-restoration option that cosmetic dentists in Los Angeles use on a regular basis. In fact, the most well-known type of onlay is the dental crown. But while a dental crown covers the entire visible surface of the natural tooth, some onlays might only cover a portion of it, most commonly one or more of the cusps of a molar or premolar, the bumps which are used for grinding.

This is done in instances where a tooth needs added strength as a result of decay that has weakened it or a fracture has formed as a result of trauma or simple wear and tear. As a tooth-colored restoration option, they can also be used as a way to hide and fix other problems with teeth, including chips. These can even be used on front teeth, providing a natural-looking solution to unsightly problems.

Because onlays are made outside of the mouth, there is no concern about their changing sizes during the hardening process, which happens with metal and resin fillings. That changing of sizes, although minuscule, can create stress on a tooth. If the tooth is already weak, this could result in it breaking apart. Onlays avoid this problem altogether and act as a firm way to secure and strengthen the tooth.

To learn more about them, contact our expert in onlays in Los Angeles to schedule an appointment.