Enjoying the nice weather!
Duke and Jonathan hanging out in their strollers
Our beloved assistant/front office staff Christy is moving to Texas! Though we are sad to see her go, we're excited to hear about her new adventures in the Lone Star state. In her honor, we held an office party at the Malibu Cafe. A great time was had by all! Christy, best of luck to you and your family- we know you will have a wonderful time in Texas!
Just in time for Halloween!
Have you ever noticed the candy bowl sitting at our front desk? Its full of Dr. John’s Candies. They’re delicious low calorie lollipops, mints and suckers that come in a variety of shapes and flavors. The best part? They’re all sweetened with xylitol, a natural sugar alternative! Xylitol can be found in a variety of sources- from trees to fruits and vegetables. When used as a sweetener, it limits the ability of oral bacteria to cause cavities by stopping their acid production. A win-win for oral health!
This Halloween, we suggest stocking up on some xylitol goodies for your trick-or-treaters. Dr. John’s candies are an excellent option, as they taste great and can be ordered in bulk directly from the company or on Amazon.com. Our only disclaimer: too much xylitol can cause an upset stomach, so enjoy them in moderation! If you have any further questions about a tooth-friendly Halloween, give us a call!
Website: WWW.DrJohns.com
If you haven't seen our new look, check out this quick video tour put together by Dr. Kari Ann Hong! You will notice new flooring, paint and artwork throughout the office and exam rooms. Additionally, take a peek at our brand new waiting room and private consultation room. Overall, the renovated space creates a very upscale and welcoming ambiance. If you would like to see the office for yourself, just stop by and see us!
Here's another fun moment from our office: Sharon (our past dental assistant and hygienist) stopped by for a cleaning and brought along her son Nico. This gave our insurance coordinator Carol a chance to babysit during the appointment. How much fun! We love getting updates on our past staff and their families. Until next time!!
Here you can really see his first two teeth!
What a great moment caught on video! Here is Dr. Kari's son Duke having his teeth brushed for the first time. His two lower teeth came in at 6 months and now at 7 months they are almost fully erupted. They get brushed twice a day with a children's toothbrush soaked in water. He loves holding the brush and sucking the water off the bristles. We can't wait to share more dental milestones to come!
Another Great veneer case from Dr. Kari Ann Hong!
This patient came to our office wanting to restore the esthetics and proportions of their smile. The maxillary anterior teeth appeared jagged and uneven due to a combination of grinding and dietary acid wear. The unnatural sharpness in tooth structure lends itself to an older appearing or "worn down" smile. Additionally, old composite (tooth colored) fillings had begun to show contrast against the natural tooth structure. As teeth age, they tend to pick up stains and wear at a rate different from composites. Over decades, these small differences can become very evident, particularly in patients who consume lots of dark liquids (coffee, soda, red wine, etc.).
In recreating this smile, Dr. Kari used a series of eight lithium disilicate veneers. These restorations give the teeth a uniform shape and color, while mimicking the natural opacity of dental enamel. In just two weeks, this smile looks years younger! If have any further questions about veneers and what they can do for your teeth, please give our office a call!
Faith, our dental assistant, recently brought her daughter by the office for a checkup and quick filling. Dental work can be stressful, but blankets, headphones and your favorite TV show can sure help! If you would like to know more about what we can do to make you feel more comfortable during your dental treatment, please give us a call.
Here you can see a maxillary first premolar fractured between its two cusps. Fractures commonly occur here due to natural stress points in the enamel and dentin. This tooth was fractured down into the root space and needed to be extracted.
Like any hard object, enamel tends to crack or fracture when subjected to a large amount of force. Hence, broken teeth are a very common source of dental pain. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to pain when chewing or a constant radiating soreness. They are sometimes preceded by an audible "crack" or "pop" while chewing a hard object. No matter your current state, a cracked tooth needs to be addressed by a dentist before the symptoms will subside.
One of the trickiest parts of treating cracked teeth is that they are difficult to see. Traditional X-Rays frequently miss cracks, as they are trying to represent your three dimensional tooth in a 2-D image. Visual inspection will reveal some cracks, particularly vertical fractures through the crowns. However, smaller crack and cracks in the root area are impossible to spot with the naked eye. The most reliable way to see if a tooth has broken is by imaging with a Cone Beam CT scanner. Here, a specialist (often times an endodontist or oral surgeon) will take a 3D image of your tooth, revealing any cracks or defects throughout its structure.
Once a tooth is confirmed as cracked, it will typically need to be extracted. Large splits in enamel running into root structure are impossible to repair or remineralize. Still, some shallower cracks in ideal locations can be treated with a crown and/or root canal. Here, the actual cracked portion of the tooth is removed, preventing the possibility of the defect propagating and getting bigger. However, it is important to note that these conditions are rarely met and extraction is the most typical course of treatment for a broken tooth.
The most important thing to remember is don't wait and suffer in pain! Especially if you have pain while chewing or feel your teeth "flex" or "shift" when you bite down, there is a good chance you cracked your tooth. This discomfort will not resolve on its own; in fact there is a good chance it will worsen with time. If you have any type of dental discomfort, call our office as soon as possible. We can help you alleviate pain, reach a proper diagnosis and plan for the best course of action for getting your mouth back to normal.
Here, you can see the child's permanent teeth erupting behind the similar baby tooth.
We often get calls to our office from parents concerned that their child's adult teeth are coming in behind or in front of the corresponding primary tooth. This can create a "shark tooth" appearance that looks to be preventing the permanent tooth from coming in straight. On the contrary, a retained primary tooth is usually not a problem and will come out on it's own. The permanent tooth should "push" the baby tooth out enough that it becomes loose. If the permanent tooth is fully erupted and the baby tooth still isn't loose, a dentist will usually extract the primary tooth before a problem arises.
Dr. Kari's son Duke with his two mandibular primary central incisors erupting. These are usually the first teeth to appear.
Likewise, the mandibular primary central incisors are the first baby teeth to be lost (notice the permanent tooth erupting it its place).
Retained teeth are usually a problem localized to the mandibular and maxillary incisors (four front teeth). The two mandibular primary central incisors are the first teeth to erupt at about six months. Subsequently, they are the first baby teeth lost at five to six years. They make way for the mandibular permanent central incisors, which typically erupt at ages six to seven. You can definitely see how a small overlap in timing can create the "double tooth" problem.
Overall, any concerns with your child's dentition should be brought up at their yearly checkup. We pride ourselves in being an educational and informative office and want you to leave with peace-of-mind. If you have any concerns with your family's oral health, please call our office!
A quick office update! Jonathan (Michael's 9-month old) and Duke (Dr. Kari's 7-month old) are both doing great! They recently got together for a play date where Jonathan's mom snapped some fun photos. Look at them getting along so well! We can't wait to meet your little ones for their checkups and exams. Have a great weekend!
