One of the biggest concerns of patients who require orthodontic treatment is that they will no longer be able to enjoy their favorite foods if they have to wear braces. Braces use metal wires and brackets where tiny particles of food can easily become stuck which can lead to cavities and other oral health concerns. Also, eating hard foods like candies can cause damage to the braces which will require expensive repairs.

With Invisalign aligners there are no restrictions on what you can eat. Invisalign uses clear, plastic, removable aligners to gently guide teeth into position. Although it is recommended that the aligners are worn for at least 22 hours per day, they can be removed during eating and brushing. This means that patients who elect to correct their misaligned bites, crooked teeth, and gaps with Invisalign will be able to enjoy virtually any foods they desire. Simply remove the aligners to eat popcorn, nuts, hard candies, or anything else that you would have to avoid while wearing braces.

One of the biggest advantages of Invisalign according to our West Hollywood cosmetic dentist is that they allow for easy cleaning, which reduces the patient’s risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Call today to schedule a consultation and find out if Invisalign is right for you.

When a patient’s oral health is so badly damaged that a single dental procedure by our Los Angeles cosmetic dentist is not enough to fix the problem, we recommend a full mouth reconstruction. A full mouth reconstruction consists of several treatments that are combined to uniquely treat a patient’s exact oral health problem.

Our expert in full mouth reconstruction in Los Angeles regularly performs such treatments on patients who have smiles that are badly damaged by trauma suffered in a car or sports accident and those who have bad cases of periodontal disease and tooth decay that has caused more than one oral health issue.

Some of the procedures that are combined in a full mouth reconstruction include dental implant placement, root canal treatment, dental veneers, dental bonding, and dental crowns and bridges. When these procedures are combined into one treatment there are several ways in which the patient will benefit. Less office visits will be required, therefore they will not have to undergo anesthesia as many times or deal with their dental anxiety as often. Also, healing time will be reduced while at the same time allowing the different procedures to integrate better with each other.

If your oral health is deteriorating fast and you need to restore it with one or more dental procedures, contact our office today to see if a full mouth reconstruction is right for you.

If you have a cavity, a tooth that has been damaged, or if you recently received a root canal your dentist may have suggested a dental crown to cover the tooth but you might not know what it is. So what is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a dental appliance that is used to protect a weakened or damaged tooth of any kind. They are also commonly used to support other dental appliances, like bridges, by fitting them over perfectly healthy abutment teeth.

Dental bridges are usually made of porcelain but can also be constructed out of a similar dental-grade resin material. These materials are strong, durable, resistant to staining, and can be colored to match a patient’s natural teeth.

Dental crowns are often used to cover a tooth with a filled cavity because the tooth is weak and prone to further damage. Teeth which have chips or cracks are also more prone to decay and so they might benefit from dental crowns as well.

If you have a damaged tooth that needs protection because it is vulnerable when exposed to the daily stress it endures, contact our expert in dental crowns in Los Angeles today to schedule a consultation to find out if you are a candidate for such treatment.

The crown of a tooth is the portion that is visible above the gum line. A dental crown is an artificial device designed to replace this part of the tooth. While they are most commonly used to replace a tooth that is missing, there are many other uses for dental crowns according to our dentist in Culver City.

Dental crowns can replace missing teeth when they are attached to bridges, dentures, or dental implants. The best replacement for a missing tooth is with dental implants so this method is most often recommended for those who qualify.

Our expert in dental crowns in Culver City also uses them to protect teeth that are damaged or decayed. For example, dental crowns are often used to cover a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy. A tooth that has received a root canal has become weakened and the structure remains but it is no longer functional. To restore its function, a dental crown will fit right over the top of the tooth to allow the patient to eat and speak normally again. They can also cover teeth with large fillings, cracks and chips. Any tooth that has become vulnerable to damage can benefit from being strengthened with a dental crown.

If you would like to learn more about dental crowns and if your damaged teeth can benefit from their protection, contact our expert today to schedule a consultation.

While it may be obvious to some, a recent study performed by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey has proved that those who smoke are at a greater risk for tooth loss than those who do not. The best way for smokers to decrease this risk and help prevent losing their teeth is to quit altogether.

Smoking leads to tooth loss in several different ways. It can decrease blood flow in the soft tissues surrounding the teeth, causing the gums to recede from the teeth, which loosens them. Smoking also increases the amount of plaque and tartar on the teeth, both of which are the primary causes of tooth decay.

Dental implants can replace missing teeth permanently and naturally by replacing both the crown and the root of the missing tooth. Because smokers are prone to other dental problems besides tooth loss, they will need to have any other issues taken care of before they receive the dental implants since it is a procedure that requires excellent oral health.

To find out more about dental implants and to discover whether you are a candidate for the procedure, contact our dental implants dentist today.

Porcelain crowns are designed to replace the visible portion of the tooth, or the crown, to restore its function and appearance and to protect its health. Our Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist may recommend using dental crowns if you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth, if you are a candidate for a dental bridge, are using dental implants to replace one or more teeth or have a tooth that has had its roots treated.

Porcelain has a finish that closely matches natural dental enamel. It can be sculpted to match your own teeth exactly, and the color can be made to match. Porcelain is often used to manufacture dental veneers, which are used to conceal cosmetic flaws, but it can also be used to craft a natural-looking crown.

Dental crowns can be made of several different materials. Metal crowns are strong and durable, but they are also quite visible once bonded into place. Porcelain-fused-to-metal, or PFM, crowns combine the strength of metal with the beauty of porcelain, but they have some drawbacks. Many patients dislike the dark line that often develops near the gumline. Porcelain crowns are strong, durable and incredibly natural-looking and eliminate that dark line.

Contact our dental office today to learn more or to schedule your next appointment.
 

Dental implants are the most effective way to replace missing teeth because they solve many problems that previous methods failed to address. Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots made of titanium that are placed directly into the jawbone to create an extremely durable structure to hold the replacement teeth. Dental implant surgery takes time to heal and patients who receive dental implants must follow precise instructions to make sure that the implant site heals correctly.

Patients who have recently undergone dental implant surgery should avoid hot and cold foods. They should also avoid foods that can get stuck in the implant site such as fruits with tiny seeds, nuts, and popcorn. Such patients should never use straws because they could possibly dislodge the blood clot, causing the healing process to start all over again.

The medications prescribed by our dental implants dentist should be taken exactly as instructed. These medicines play a vital role in the healing process by preventing infection and reducing pain. Antibiotics should always be taken on schedule and patients are usually required to keep taking them until the prescription runs out. Pain medication must never be taken more often than is needed for pain and driving or operating machinery should be avoided during use.

Finally, proper dental hygiene must be practiced in order for the implant to heal affectively. For the first 12 hours after surgery, brushing and rinsing should be avoided completely. After that, patients should rinse their mouths with warm salt water to cleanse the area and normal brushing can continue.

By following all of these important steps and any additional instructions given by our dentist, the risk of dental implant surgery complication is greatly reduced and the time it takes to heal will be as well.

Dental implants are now the most highly recommended way by dentists for their patients to have missing teeth replaced. This is because prosthetic teeth, like bridges and dentures, which are supported by dental implants, have many great advantages over those that are supported by abutments. With fixed bridges and partial dentures, the support for the prosthetic device comes from surrounding healthy teeth. This makes these abutment teeth more prone to damage and decay because they must endure the additional stress put on them by the replacement.

Another great advantage of dental implant supported replacements is that they help to better preserve the underlying bone structure. Unused bone underneath a missing tooth can begin to deteriorate when there is nothing to stimulate it to regenerate. With dental implants, the bone will be stimulated, so it will remain healthy.

Fixed bridges and removable partial dentures have many other downfalls as well. Over time, the gums can recede around the devices and reveal the unsightly framework. Also, when the jawbone deteriorates and loses structure, a person’s face can lose its structure as well and begin to look as if it is sagging. Dental implants offer the best replacement option for teeth that look, feel, and function exactly like natural teeth.

If you are interested in replacing your missing tooth or teeth with dental implants, our expert in dental implant in San Diego can further discuss your options with you.

Dental Implants are a great resolution for fixing a missing tooth or set of teeth.  An implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed in the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. This procedure offers a long term solution, lasting a lifetime if excellent oral hygiene is maintained.  Dental Implants consist of three major parts including a titanium implant, abutment, and crown. These crucial elements are what make dental implants such a reliable tooth replacement method.

Dental implants are posts made of titanium which are surgically placed into the jawbone and topped with artificial teeth.  The titanium implant plays a key part in dental implants, sitting in the original tooth’s bone pocket. Over time, the titanium forms a bond with the bone, similar to the original tooth and jaw bone.

Once the titanium implant is placed by our Canoga Park dentist, the jawbone grows and unites with the surface of the dental implant. This process provides a solid foundation for the new artificial tooth. After completion, an abutment will be installed. This is the piece where the crown will eventually attach. Attaching the abutment is done by having your gums reopened to expose the dental implant. The abutment is then attached to the implant and the gum tissue is closed around the abutment. The crown is fitted onto the abutment, creating a natural appearance.

While many people who are missing a single tooth choose a fixed bridge, this can do more damage than good.  Healthy, adjacent teeth may be cut down in order for a bridge to be placed. Consequently, our expert in dental implants in Canoga Park may need to restore these teeth in the future. There also could be additional costs of having to replace the bridge several times over the course of a lifetime.

Dental implants offer reassurance and stability when replacing a missed tooth.  Implants act as a stable support that tightly locks replacement teeth to prevent bone loss. This treatment has a proven success rate of 95% and nearly 50 years of clinical research to confirm these results.

Dental implants are revolutionary devices that allow for missing teeth to be replaced in a much more natural and permanent manner. They act as artificial tooth roots that create a very sturdy base for replacement tooth devices like crowns, bridges, and dentures to attach to.

While there are a variety of different types of implants to meet the special requirements of most patients, not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. The best candidates for dental implant surgery have excellent oral health but are missing one or more of their teeth. Poor oral health, including periodontal disease, and tooth decay is not a disqualifying factor but an issue that must be taken care of before the implant surgery is performed. This will reduce the risk of the implant area becoming infected. Patients should also have an underlying jawbone structure that dense and plentiful enough to support the stress of the implant.

Because dental implants are so closely connected with the gum tissue and its underlying bone structure, a specialist in this area will be an essential part of your dental implant surgery team. These specialists, known as periodontists, will closely monitor the implant area before and after surgery to make sure the procedure is progressing as planned.

If you are interested in receiving dental implants to replace your missing teeth, or as a substitute to traditional dentures and bridges, contact our San Diego dental implants expert today to learn more about how we can help.