Temporary tooth replacement for implants

This is an example of a typical stayplate with hidden metal/acrylic.

If you have been looking to have a tooth replaced with a dental implant, you were probably surprised to learn about the treatment time line. Some television shows and ads make implants seem like a single step process- you go to the dentist, they place the titanium anchor and attach a crown in a single visit. On the contrary, most implants need about six months to fully heal before being fitted with a crown. For patients replacing anterior teeth, this can be a huge esthetic concern. 

When preparing for anterior implants, careful planning and consideration can make the difference between "acceptable" results and "outstanding" results. With this in mind, we typically do not recommend putting an immediate load on the implant (placing a crown at the same visit as the surgery). This allows time for proper bone healing and gives us a chance to perfect the soft tissue around the anchor and create a natural gum line. However, you certainly can't walk around for six months with a missing front tooth!

To fill in the time between implant surgery and crown placement, we typically have our lab create a temporary partial denture called a stayplate. These devices, also known as flippers, are removable partial dentures that are made prior to implant placement. At the same visit as your surgery, you leave the office with the fitted stayplate replacing the missing tooth or teeth. They are typically made out of acrylic and metal and more closely resemble orthodontic retainers than traditional dentures. In most instances, the clasps, wires and acrylic are fully hidden from your smile, presenting only the replaced tooth!

We use stayplates as temporary tooth replacements in a number of circumstances. However, we do not use them on the back teeth (molars and premolars) to restore chewing function. Due to the design and materials used in stayplates, they cannot be used for eating and can cause irritation to the underlying gum tissue. For a full picture on stayplates and what they can accomplish, please give our office a call! 

Options for Straighter Teeth

Orthodontics represent one of the most commonly performed dental procedures outside of cleaning and fillings. Every year, thousands of children, teens and adults begin treatment towards straighter teeth. Take a look at some of the considerations you will want to make in obtaining that perfect smile!

First and foremost, orthodontics should only be attempted under the supervision of a licensed dentist/orthodontist. No online guide or mail order kit will be able to bring the expertise of a professional in creating a perfect smile. Even something as simple as closing the gap between your two front teeth can cause irreparable damage. At the very least, you will be wasting time and money on "procedures" that get you nowhere. At the worst, you could end up losing a tooth (particularly true for the rubber band gap closers available online). 

Many younger patients will be best suited for traditional metal band and bracket braces. This treatment is predictable, easy to adjust and can straighten many different types of crooked teeth. Braces are usually worn for about 24 months and are overseen by an orthodontist. The hallmark of this treatment are the non-removable wire and brackets. Children (who typically have poor compliance) do not have the option of "not wearing" their appliance. Conversely, flossing and brushing around the wires can be difficult, making good oral hygiene a must while in braces. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum are clear aligners, like the always popular Invisalign appliance. This treatment is performed by general dentists and orthodontists alike to correct most types of spacing problems. Our office uses Invisalign to correct many mild to moderate orthodontic concerns. Because aligners are clear plastic and can be removed, they are often the choice for individuals with cosmetic requirements. Unfortunately, since the aligners are not physically attached to the teeth, some movements are simply not possible. Furthermore, this treatment relies on patient compliance- the retainers must be worn for 20+ hours a day!

In some specific circumstances, crowns and veneers can also fix gaps and crowding between the teeth. A common application would be placing crowns on the two front teeth to fix a gap by creating a more cosmetic contour. That said, orthodontics are usually the first choice if the only problem is spacing between teeth. If you would like to know more about your options to a straighter smile, please give our office a call!

Dental Questions: Can eating fruit harm your teeth?

Fruits and vegetables are often hailed as the healthiest parts of a balanced diet. They bring vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to almost every dish, while avoiding harmful fats and oils. However, since many fruits are acidic and high in sugars, they can be potentially harmful to your teeth.

As with all foods, the quantity and quality of the fruit you eat doesn't matter as much as the duration in which it is consumed. The bacteria in your mouth don't care if it's organic and natural or processed and preserved. To them, sugar is sugar. As such, the best way you can modify the bacteria's response is to limit the time that your teeth are exposed to carbohydrates.

Every time we eat or drink our mouths turn to an acidic state for 30 minutes. During this period, dental enamel becomes softened and prone to decay. In this sense, someone who eats every 30 minutes spends nearly the entire day damaging their teeth. This is why snacking on apple slices all day is more harmful than eating a single candy bar immediately after a meal (in a strictly dental sense).  

Another factor you can control is the consistency of the foods you eat. Sticky and dry fruits like raisins can be much more harmful than something crisp and moist like pear or apple. This is particularly true in children, who don't have a natural tendency to pick food out of their teeth. 

In total, fruit makes an excellent healthy snack, but must be enjoyed in moderation. Realize that it still contains acids and sugars that fuel the tooth decay process. As with any sweet food, we recommend keeping snacking on fruits to a minimum and sticking to eating only at mealtime. If you must snack, make sure that you are cleaning your teeth of any residual food and rinsing with water when you're finished. If you have any more questions on diets, tooth decay and cavity prevention, please give our office a call!

The Primary Teeth

February is the official National Children's Dental Health Month, as recognized by the ADA. Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry will be rolling out weekly topics relating to pediatric dentistry all month long. Make sure to check back regularly to catch all the great information. 

One of the most miraculous features of the human body is our ability to develop two full sets of teeth. Baby teeth (also known as "deciduous" or "primary" teeth) begin developing before birth and are completely shed by about 12 years of age. During this time, they serve a number of developmental and nutritional purposes. 

For starters, baby teeth are usually whiter and more widely spaced than adult teeth. They also have relatively larger nerve spaces and thinner enamel, meaning the likelihood of a cavity going to the tooth nerve is much higher. There are also no baby premolars- just incisors, canines and molars. 

A handy guide illustrating when you should expect baby teeth to erupt and shed. It is important to note that the ranges are estimates and many children will fall outside these dates. 

In their most basic form, primary teeth allow a child to properly chew and break down food for digestion. They also act as guides to save space and allow the permanent teeth to grow in. This is one of the guiding principles of phase one orthodontics, or braces on primary teeth. It is also believed that the deciduous teeth play an important role in the development of facial bones. Finally, children's teeth are crucial in learning phonetics and vocalizing specific sounds. 

WIth all this in mind, you can see how losing baby teeth early can have a significant impact on childhood development. Premature toothlessness in children is often associated with pain, problems eating, lower self esteem and greater orthodontic complications later in life. The best way to prevent these problems is regular dental examinations coupled with good oral hygiene at home. Positive parental attitudes towards dentistry can go a long way in keeping children's teeth healthy and well protected. If you would like to know more about baby teeth, braces or dental exams for kids, please give our office a call!

Replace That Toothbrush!

Is your brush looking a little frayed? Its probably time to grab a new one! The ADA recommends replacing toothbrushes (or electric brush heads) every three to four months. Older brushes lose their ability to reach the fine areas of your mouth and harbor potentially harmful bacteria. If your brushes are wearing out sooner than the three month mark, it could be a sign of using too much pressure while brushing. Children's brushes will likely need more frequent replacement and should be monitored closely. 

We always recommend using a toothbrush with soft or extra soft bristles and a small head. Brushes with stiff bristles can actually do more damage than good and large heads make it difficult to navigate the narrow spaces in the back of the mouth. Also make sure you're pairing your new toothbrush with a fluoride toothpaste. Finally, if you plan on switching to a electric brush, make sure it has a pressure sensor and built in timer, along with readily available replacement heads. If you have any further questions about toothbrushes, oral hygiene or taking care of your teeth, please feel free to contact our office!

Technology and Root Canals

If you need a root canal, chances are you will be referred to one of the wonderful endodontists in our specialist network. With today's advances in dental technology, root canals are quicker, safer and more predictable than ever before. In many instances, these new products and techniques have allowed specialists to save teeth that were one destined for extraction. Take a look!

For starters, a root canal is a procedure performed on a tooth with an active infection or dead nerves. An opening is made in the top of the tooth and the innermost layer, called the pulp chamber, is thoroughly cleaned. The nerve canals (which follow the length of the tooth roots) are cleaned and shaped as well and filled with a resilient rubber material. After the root canal is finished, you will typically have to return to our office to have a crown placed on the tooth. 

One of the most important aspects of dentistry is being able to properly visualize the problem you are trying to fix. This is particularly challenging in the field of root canals, where the root shape and location makes diagnosis and treatment difficult. Today, cone beam CT scans can make this process much more straight forward. In these images, tooth roots, nerve canals and possible fractures are visualized in three dimensions. The endodontist can then accurately predict how he will perform his procedure before starting. 

Another important advancement in visualization is the use of dental microscopes in endodontic offices. The canals within your teeth can be as small as half a millimeter and vary in location from tooth to tooth. The microscope allows for much more accurate treatment and minimizes the risk of missed canals.

In the actual treatment of root canals, many advances have been made in the art of cleaning out the inner tooth. Flexible metal files shape the canals with ease while ultrasonic cleaners eliminate any residual bacteria. New materials create a better seal between the rubber filler and tooth while fending off recurrent infections. All in all, the entire process is now much more streamlined.

These technologies have helped make performing the root canal easier, which in-turn makes the patient experience more enjoyable. At any endodontist's office, your comfort is the most important aspect of the treatment. If you would like to know more about root canals, why teeth need them and how they are performed, please give our office a call.

Get your teeth back in shape!

New year new you, right? If you're hitting the gym and shaping up as part of your new year's resolution, why not include your teeth in that plan? Here's a list of some of our favorite products and techniques for getting your oral health in peak performance.

Cut out the "slow" sugar- Are you a frequent snacker? Are you always sipping on a mocha or soda? These habits that involve consuming sugars and carbs over long periods of time are detrimental to your dental enamel health. Try to cut down on duration of consumption or switch to low/no sugar options like carrots, water or cheese (no crackers). Remember to rinse with water after every meal!

Get a mouth rinse that fits your needs- Most patients gravitate towards alcohol based mouth rinses like Listerine for the satisfying burn and promises of a healthier mouth. These types of rinses are great for patients with periodontal problems. However, many are at higher risk of developing cavities than periodontal disease and would not see much benefit from these products. For them, we would recommend a fluoride rinse like Act Fluoride or Carifree Ctx3 (available at our office). 

Go Electric- If you haven't tried an electric toothbrush yet, now is the time! They make brushing easier, more convenient and generally more enjoyable. Make sure to look for a product with a built in timer and pressure sensor. 

Brighten your smile- Not satisfied with the shade of your teeth? There are a number of awesome tooth whitening services and products available today. At our office, Dr. Kari Ann Hong offers both take-home bleach trays and in-office single visit whitening. If you are interested in trying an over-the-counter method, we recommend Crest Whitestrips and the like. 

Stick to the basics- Beyond any viral videos and secret techniques, brushing for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing daily is the hands down best way to keep on top of your oral hygiene. No other product, service or trick can match the efficacy of this regimen. Don't overcomplicate it!

Check in for your check ups- Regular dental exams and cleanings are crucial to your oral health. There is simply no substitute for the expertise of a dental hygienist and dentist in keeping your teeth in tip top shape. You'll save money too- catching small problems early on avoids the need for large fillings, crowns, extractions and other invasive procedures. 

We hope you found our list informative! If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact our office.

Using Dental Instruments at Home

With the rise of online marketplaces like Amazon and Ebay, many previously hard-to-find products are now readily available to purchase. Dentistry is no exception, with many options to buy professional cleaning instruments like scalers. Often listed as scrapers, tartar removers and hygiene tools, these items look identical to the ones used in the dental office. Are they safe to use at home? That's another story entirely. Read on for the complete answer!

In short, the only people that should be using hand scalers, polishing cups or other tooth cleaning instruments are licensed dental professionals. Many of these devices are technique sensitive and their misuse can lead to extensive damage to the gums and teeth. It is surprisingly easy to cut off gum tissue (that won't grow back), or chip away healthy enamel (leading to sensitivity). Furthermore, there is no way of knowing if the instruments you are using were made with quality materials. Porous metals can harbor bacteria or even break during use. Imagine the horror of having the tip of your scaler break off below your gumline!

Your best bet in keeping tartar off of your teeth is by brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing daily. This regimen causes you to break up plaque deposits before they can harden into stubborn calculus. Regular dental cleanings will help ensure that you are keeping on top of your dental hygiene and allow us to clean your teeth in a hygenic and professional environment. Call us today to schedule your yearly exam and dental cleaning!

Wisdom Teeth

For most patients, wisdom teeth represent something between a minor inconvenience and a major headache. Otherwise known as third molars, they usually erupt around the age of eighteen, though the exact time frame is variable. They are the most commonly congenitally missing tooth, with many patients having three, two or none. Wisdom teeth also commonly exhibit abnormal anatomy, such as extra cusps or small size.

The most common problem associated with wisdom teeth is impacted eruption. Here, as the molars erupt they contact the adjacent teeth, preventing them from growing into their anatomically correct positions. This becomes a problem as they create cavity prone food traps, which can lead to infection or damage to the second molars. Even if the wisdom teeth grow in properly, they are difficult to keep clean and commonly develop decay. Typically, dentists will not place large fillings or crowns on wisdom teeth, but rather recommend extraction.  

Wisdom teeth are usually extracted by oral surgeons, due to their position in the back of the mouth and tricky anatomy. The roots of third molars can touch or wrap around the inferior alveolar nerve, making nerve damage to the teeth, gums and chin a possible complication. In the United States, wisdom teeth are usually taken out under sedation, so that the patient is more comfortable throughout the procedure. However, this is not a necessary part of their removal.

A referral for wisdom teeth extraction is usually made by a general dentist after a full check-up and necessary x-rays. The oral surgeon will typically have one consultation appointment for an exam and panoramic x-ray and another for the actual surgery. If you are concerned about your wisdom teeth or any other part of your oral health, please call our office to schedule an appointment. 

Dental Questions: Are Metal Fillings Safe

One of the most widely discussed topics in dentistry is the use of mercury in metal "amalgam" fillings. It is proposed that the mercury contained in these restorations can cause various health problems from lethargy to mental impairment. If you personally have metal fillings, you may be worried about the effects on your own well being. In this article, we would like to take a moment to alleviate any concerns you might have about your dental treatments!

For starters, amalgam fillings have been used in dentistry for nearly 200 years. They are safe, convenient and stand up well against regular use and wear. Amalgam uses mercury as a mean of binding loose metal particles together. As the mercury dries, the once malleable filling becomes rock solid. What is left behind is a blend of the various metal components locked together creating a strong structure. 

The mercury found in amalgam fillings is stabilized by the other metals in its mixture, making it inert (unable to affect the body). This contrasts with methylmercury (found in seafood) that accumulates in the body and causes poisoning and elemental mercury which has various toxic effects on the brain. Over time, amalgam does not leach an appreciable amount of mercury and has not been shown to have any affects on physical or cognitive function. Thus, it is just as safe as any other dental material used today. 

With this information in mind, our office does not remove amalgam fillings simply because they contain mercury. This often creates more problems than it solves by requiring unnecessary modifications to the underlying tooth. We will only change out amalgam fillings if they are defective, broken or have new decay emerging underneath them. If you would like to know more about the fillings and other services offered at our office, please give us a call!