How to Fight Gum Disease

Taking care of your teeth and gums is a top priority. More than 75 percent of Americans over the age of 35 have some type of gum disease. Gum and periodontal disease describe a bacterial growth and production of factors that eventually destroy the tissue surrounding the teeth. When this happens, the teeth decay and fall out. Simply following good oral hygiene routine everyday can help you avoid tooth decay. It’s important to be mindful of plaque and other factors such as bacteria that can cause the gums and teeth to become unhealthy.

Brushing and flossing the teeth every day can help keep plaque for building up on the teeth and gums. Plaque is a colorless sticky film that can wreak havoc on your mouth causing the gums to become irritated, swell and even bleed. If left untreated, patients can lose their teeth because bone and connective tissue become destroyed. Arming yourself with the knowledge to fight plaque and bacteria will help keep your gums and teeth as healthy as possible.

Gingivitis is also a symptom of this disease. In the early stages of gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen and easily bleed especially during brushing. Left untreated, this can turn into periodontitis. The inner layer of the gum and bone recede and form pockets. These pockets can become infected as they collect debris. Other signs of periodontitis are loose or shifting teeth, changes in the way the teeth fit together on biting and persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth. However, these issues along with others, are very preventable.

If you are not consistent with good oral hygiene but you have no symptoms, you may still have some form of gum issue. Some patients have isolated problems in the back of the mouth where they cannot see. Our dentists can recognize and determine the severity of these issues during a routine visit. During an exam, our experts will check for swelling, firmness and bleeding along with movement and sensitivity of the teeth. Your bite may also be looked at in case it has shifted. X-rays can also determine the breakdown of bone around the teeth.

When you brush and floss twice a day and get professional cleanings at our office at least twice a year, your gums and teeth will thank you. You can actually reverse the early stages of this disease by being diligent with your oral health so that you can keep your teeth for a lifetime. Schedule an appointment with us today.

How Dental Bonding Restores Teeth

A slightly damaged tooth might not seem serious enough to make a big difference to your smile, but it can affect your smile’s aesthetics and function. That chip can collect plaque and debris, and because it’s difficult to clean, the tooth will be more likely to decay. A little crack can absorb stains and create an unsightly situation. Dental bonding can prevent these issues and make your smile look new again.

Bonding is a versatile cosmetic and restorative procedure as well as one of the most affordable and minimally invasive treatment options that we offer. To perform bonding, we apply composite resin to the tooth to repair and restore it. The resin is cured in a way that creates a strong chemical bond with the dental enamel.

You might be a candidate for bonding if you have:

·        A chipped tooth

·        A small crack in your tooth

·        A gap between your teeth

·        A small cavity

·        Stains

·        Exposed tooth roots

·        A misshapen tooth

We can finish bonding a tooth in a single dental appointment. Once the bonding is complete, you can get the most out of it by caring for your restored tooth just like you care for your other teeth. Call our East LA dentist today to learn more about restoration options or to schedule an appointment.

Who Needs a Smile Makeover?

When you’re not happy with your smile, that dissatisfaction can affect other areas of your life, too. You might not feel confident enough to engage with new people or speak in public. You might avoid smiling in public or in photos. You might even cover your mouth when you smile, laugh or talk. If this describes you, it might be time to make over your smile.

A smile makeover incorporates a variety of restorative and cosmetic treatments to give you the smile you have always wanted. At your consultation, you will spend time with our Northridge cosmetic dentist explaining what you do and do not like about your smile. We will explain your options and how they can change your smile. Many treatments can be incorporated into a makeover, including whitening, veneers, crowns, tooth-colored fillings and implants.

You might need a makeover if you:

·        Have suffered oral trauma

·        Have had inadequate dental care in the past

·        Grind or clench your teeth

·        Have orthodontic problems or an uneven bite

·        Have serious dental problems, such as chipped, cracked or decayed teeth

·        Have stained or badly discolored teeth

·        Are missing teeth

·        Suffer from acid reflux

Other issues can also lead to the need for a makeover. Call us today to learn more about cosmetic dentistry or to schedule an appointment with our team.

Do I Need a Sleep Study?

Americans are among the most overworked people on earth, and some of the least rested. Insufficient sleep, while a drag on productivity, can also become a health concern. Glucose levels can rise if sleep is frequently interrupted or if stress levels during sleep remain high. And bad glucose readings can result in a diabetes diagnosis you don’t want.

In as many as 18 million Americans, the cause of insufficient sleep is an actual disorder. It’s called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. This disorder interrupts sleep with little breathing accidents, called apneas. For many of them, you stop breathing entirely, causing the brain to startle you awake. This can be terrifying, or as commonly as the need to get up to urinate. While getting up to urinate can be a marker of sleep apnea, know that you’re getting up for the wrong reason (urination) and not simply because your airflow was deprived.

Despite an array of risk pools—obesity, being male, being middle-aged, being alcoholic—sleep apnea can be hard to diagnose. The symptoms, at least, are clear and may include any or all of the following: multiple wakeups per night, morning headaches or sore throat, drowsiness or fatigue during the day, reduced concentration, irritability, and lowered libido.

Many physicians prefer to observe sleep patterns up close before their determination. To do this, they may commission a sleep study—either in a clinic, or at home. This process is called polysomnography and is used to diagnose sleep disorders across the board—REM sleep behavior disorder, sleepwalking, insomnia, restless legs syndrome. It’s also very reliable in picking a treatment course for sleep apnea patients.

With the help of your at-home or clinical test, we can put you on the road to recovery, with better sleep and better health. Even if it’s only a lifestyle fix—eating better and/or losing weight—getting a diagnosis is the first step toward managing a subtle and disruptive health issue.

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How Losing Teeth Can Affect Your Memory

Research suggests that tooth loss could be linked to memory loss. This may seem like an odd relationship. However, the science behind this theory says that the memory loss may be because of reduced sensory input to the nervous system through the connective fibers that attach the teeth to the bone. The research also suggests that people who tend to avoid nutrient dense foods; proteins and calories that keep the brain active will also lose teeth.

There are several sensory impulses sent to our brain with the movement of the jaw and teeth. These impulses are fed to the brain in the area that forms and retrieves memories. People who have fewer teeth send fewer signals to this region of the brain called the hippocampus. Individuals were tested on their performance on memory tests where they recall events from the past. According to this study, older people scored higher on this test who had most of their own teeth than those without.

One way the study can be interpreted is through an individual’s chewing ability. Chewing actually increases blood flow to the brain, which in turn increases activity to help with function and recall memories. It is also possible that brain activity changes due to diet. Those who have less teeth or use dentures tend to eat foods that are not as nutrient dense and full of vitamins. This too can affect how the brain works. Nutrient dense foods such as vegetables and fruits promote healthy brain activity, so it’s important to eat them.

It’s important for individuals to maintain proper oral hygiene to maintain optimal health. If tooth loss does occur, dental implants could be an option. These implants function just as natural teeth do. While there is a gradual process to getting these implants, it will be well worth a patient’s time. This could help them avoid issues such as memory loss or a poor diet.

There is no alternative to eating healthy. Patients who receive prosthetic teeth should be encouraged to eat a wide variety of foods. This will ensure that they stay as healthy as possible and avoid any issues associated with tooth decay, tooth loss or even memory loss. If you are missing some teeth, talk to our dentist about the options available to you.  Our dentist will be able to not only improve your smile, but keep your mouth and brain healthier for the long term. 

How is Invisalign Made?

Are you self-conscious about the state of your teeth? Do you wish there were a way to straighten them out without needing to resort to an ugly, clunky set of metal bracket braces? Are you an adult who feels like it’s too late for your smile?

Your worries are about to become a thing of the past; we’ve helped hundreds of adult patients improve their smiles without the use of traditional braces. Invisalign is a clear alignment retainer that works all night and day to straighten your teeth while you’re free to enjoy the foods and activities you loved before starting the program.

How are they made? In recent years, a technological phenomenon called 3D printing seems to have taken the world of material manufacturing by storm, but it’s actually been around since as early as the eighties. Invisalign utilizes this technology to guarantee your retainers will do exactly what your dentist wants them to throughout the course of your treatment plan; our patented material is engineered to be up to two hundred percent more reliable in terms of mapping out those precise movements so crucial to achieving the perfect smile.

Your Invisalign specialist will use an iTero scanner to get a complete image of your mouth. After that, physical impressions will be made to supplement the information gathered by the scan, and then both will be sent to a dental lab where technicians will follow your dentist’s instructions in terms of what needs improvement. They will use both the impressions and the scan in conjuncture with the 3D printing technology to create your own customized Invisalign alignment retainer, ready for you to use.

If you’re just about ready to give up hope when it comes to your teeth, give our office a call. We’ll match you with a highly-trained LAInvisalign doctor who will be able to guide you along the path of success.

Recognizing TMJ Disorders

The TMJ or temporomandibular joint is one of the most complicated joints in the body because it uses dual action movement such as sliding and pivoting to open the mouth wide. The cartilage discs (between the condyle and the maxilla) act as a cushion to make the movement smooth and protect the working parts. Sometimes the cartilage discs begin to wear out and shift out of place. This is called a TMJ disorder.

Repetitive movements of the jaw such as chewing and biting on hard foods, or bending the head cause TMJ disorders. However, this is not necessarily the sole cause. Patients that are more susceptible to TMJ should take extra caution when eating certain foods to avoid this condition. The cartilage discs mentioned above can pop in and out of place as the jaw closes. When the cartilage is worn down, the nerves become more sensitive to pain. Pain from TMJ disorders can be mild or extreme.

Patients can consult with our dentist if they believe they have TMJ disorder symptoms. Some of the symptoms include pain when opening the mouth; a popping noise when opening the mouth to the point of over-extension and any type of pain the patient might feel in the face or ears (headaches or earaches). This can be an indicator of a TMJ inflammation. The TMJ is used when speaking or eating. If the patient feels pain doing these actions, this may be a sign that they may have a TMJ disorder.

Pain relief is possible for people with TMJ disorder symptoms. Home remedies can make a huge difference. We can also recommend anti-inflammatory medication. For quicker relief, patients can opt for over-the-counter medication. This will ease discomfort by reducing inflammation and swelling of the joints. In addition to this, patients with TMJ symptoms should chew softer foods and smaller sized portions to reduce the stress placed on the temporomandibular joint. In additional to pain relievers, patients can apply a warm compress to the area three to five times a day for 20 minutes. This will help the cartilage discs between the condyle and maxilla slide more easily.

              

It is important to get a consultation from a professional to properly diagnose TMJ disorders. TMJ symptoms can sometimes be confused with other disorders associated with fibromyalgia, Ernest Syndrome, Temporal Tendinitis and Osteonecrosis to name a few. Treatment for TMJ disorders could include mild to more involved surgeries. 

How Braces Work

If you have crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, there are a variety of options to help straighten your teeth including braces and retainers. Schedule an appointment with our dentist to talk about the options available to you. Depending on the severity of your orthodontic issue will depend on the treatments used.

If you opt for traditional straightening, your orthodontist can prescribe an appliance specific to your needs. Traditional braces involve brackets that are cemented to the tops of every tooth and connected by wires. The teeth slowly move into the correct position over time. This treatment can take anywhere from 6 months to a couple years to complete depending on your needs.

As the teeth move into place, the bone changes shape as pressure is applied. The brackets are like handles holding the arch wires that move the teeth into the correct position. You will visit your dental professional monthly to get these brackets and wires tightened as the teeth move and shift. Some of the adjustments might cause soreness in the mouth, however over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol can help relieve the pain.

There are several types of braces including stainless steel, tooth-colored ceramic or even plastic aligners. The plastic aligner option is very popular because they are almost invisible and removable. However, this option is not meant for everyone. Treatments are also available to both children and adults. The main differences between these treatments are that certain corrections in adults may require more than just braces alone.

In addition to brackets and wires, elastics or rubber bands can be used between the upper and lower teeth. They apply pressure to move the upper teeth against the lower teeth to make sure the bite is properly aligned. Headgear is also an additional gadget used to move the upper molars back in the mouth. Not everyone will need headgear however. This will depend on the severity of your orthodontic needs.

There’s also a new option called “mini-braces” which are much smaller than traditional ones and may be an option for certain people. Discuss all these options with your dental professional so you can achieve the best smile possible. No matter which option you choose, the treatment is progressive and will take some time for the teeth to shift into the right place. Rest assure that you will end up with a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. 

When Do You Need Tooth Whitening?

“Are you insecure about your yellowing teeth? It may comfort you to know that you are not alone – teeth whitening is the #1 most-requested cosmetic service in the United States, and the number of procedures done every year continues to climb. Most assume it’s costly and invasive, but oftentimes this is not the case. To understand what is best for your own particular case, it’s good to take a look at the facts first.

Discoloration of the teeth is a natural and inevitable part of the aging process, no matter how meticulously one works to prevent it.  One misconception is the idea that it is always the outer enamel that darkens, when in reality it could also be the inner core of the tooth called the dentin.  This gives us two potential problems to diagnose: the state of the inside, and the state of the outside. Therefore, there are two types of treatment options available to somebody looking to improve the appearance of their smile: intrinsic for the dentin, and extrinsic for the enamel.

Your approach and plan of attack will depend heavily on the nature of the original issue. Superficial enamel stains from things like coffee and wine are easily solved with the use of whitening and polishing toothpaste. Discoloration of the inner tooth will require the use of a bleaching agent to rectify.

Whitening your teeth doesn’t have to break the bank or exhaust all your patience. If you notice your teeth are discolored, talk to a professional; they’ll be able to tell you whether the stains are on the surface or deeper inside. If you’re unsure, give us a call; our office is home to some of the best teeth whitening dentists in the Los Angeles area.”

Can I Get Dental Implants?

Before dental implants, most restorations were either dentures or bridges. These had the drawbacks of feeling and sometimes looking too artificial. There was no real way to seamlessly put teeth back in the jaw. The advent of implants did not make dentures and bridges obsolete, since there are plenty of cases where they apply. But implants did make it easier to replace teeth with style and naturalism. 

The implant process is driven by the chief element in the implant itself: titanium. Its high compatibility with human bone gives the implant its permanence. A biomechanical process called osseointegration bonds the implant with the bone, and gives the implant its 98 percent success rate. Only rare occurrences like allergy cause the implant to reject.

But how do you know if you can get dental implants? They’re not for everyone, simply because it’s a surgical procedure that needs a strong surgical site. For implants, this means lots of quality jawbone. Plenty of people have bone erosion from tooth loss, tooth decay, periodontal disease, trauma, illness, or genetics. If your jaw doesn’t have enough volume, you may not qualify for dental implants.

There are procedures to ready you for implants. You may qualify for a sinus lift, for example, or a bone graft. At your consult, ask your dental implants expert in Huntington Beach for more about these.

Once you get dental implants, as long as you care for them with normal brushing and flossing techniques, they should last a lifetime. Implants provide the same look and feel as the natural teeth they replace.

You can get a single implant for a single loss, or multiple implants for multiple losses. In some cases, implants are combined with dentures or bridges to simplify treatment. Implants make the plate or bridge more secure and improve the visual element.

Contact our Huntington Beach dentist today.