Dental Sealants

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. 

While Dental Sealants are appropriate for patients of all ages, they are most commonly placed on kids and teens to maximize their preventative ability. The pit and groove patterns of the chewing teeth create near-perfect food traps. In fact, they are often so deep and narrow that toothbrush bristles cannot reach the furthest depths. Bacteria can then grow in these areas undisturbed and fueled by a constant food source. This is the general pattern behind cavities on the biting (occlusal) surfaces of teeth.  

Sealants interrupt this process by physically filling in the deepest parts of these pits and grooves. With the space gone, the risk of developing cavities in these areas is significantly decreased. The process of placing a sealant takes about 45 minutes (depending on the number of teeth) and does not require a shot. We start by cleaning the teeth with gentle air abrasion. Once the teeth are free of saliva, bacteria and food, we place the material into all deep grooves. The procedure is finished by checking the patient's bite and making sure the sealant is well bonded to the tooth. 

It is important to understand that sealants only protect against decay on the biting surfaces of the teeth. Cavities between the teeth (another common area) are only prevented by proper brushing and flossing. Additionally, it is worth noting that sealants can fall off over time and are much more likely to fail if the patient's home care is insufficient. As always, the key is brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily. If you have any more questions about sealants, what they do or why we place them, 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!

National Children's Dental Health Month!

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. 

For our first topic, we would like to discuss your child's first dental appointment. This visit should take place place at one year of age or when the first tooth erupts (Usually the mandibular incisors at 6-12 months). The first appointment serves as an important introduction for future dental care. Our office reserves this time to examine the mouth for any developmental problems and have a discussion on oral health with the parents. There are typically no x-rays or cleanings at this visit- just a checkup!

Just as important as the actual examination, this type of appointment sets the stage for a lifetime of positive dental experiences. Many less fortunate children will first see a dentist when they have a toothache and will forever associate the pain, confusion and anxiety with dental offices. We hope to start your children off with a fun and easy appointment that gets them excited to return for cleanings and exams! If you would like to know more about the dental services we provide for children or to book an appointment for your young ones, please give our office a call!

Complete Smile Makeover!

What makes a perfect smile "pop?"

Today's patient came to our office wanting a smile that exuded natural beauty. Their existing teeth had a general "flat" appearance with uneven wear on the edges. Younger/cosmetically desirable teeth tend to have more variance in shape between adjacent teeth and more symmetry across the midline. Each tooth has unique anatomic features, and a great smile captures these subtle differences!

To create this transformation, Dr. Kari Ann Hong prepared the patient's anterior teeth (from canine to canine) for dental crowns. Impressions were taken and sent to Opus One Dental Lab where six crowns were fashioned from Emax lithium disilicate material. Emax allows us to make hyper-realistic crowns that capture the translucency and shading of natural enamel while remaining resistant to fracture. The result is absolutely stunning! If you would like to know more about dental crowns, smile esthetics or cosmetic dentistry, 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!

Welcome Dr. Tapp!

Please join Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry in welcoming Dr. Christine Tapp to our office.  Dr. Tapp grew up in Pennsylvania, where she attended Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales and earned a B.S. in Chemistry.  She moved to southern California for dental school and earned her doctorate in dentistry from the USC School of Dentistry in 2004. A year later she settled in the Conejo Valley and has worked with some of the finest dentists across Ventura County.

Dr. Tapp is a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, the Santa Barbara-Ventura County Dental Society, and has been selected to serve on the Peer Review Committee.  She is also a member of the Spears Study Club, and has taken hundreds of hours of continuing education with an emphasis on providing the highest quality conservative dental treatment.  In addition, she is dedicated to providing each patient with individualized care and service.  Outside the office, Dr. Tapp enjoys spending time with her four year old son, Evan. They love being active outdoors with friends and family.

Perfecting Incisors using Emax Crowns

One of the most common dental anomalies is underdeveloped lateral incisors. Often referred to as peg laterals, this condition typically presents as two lateral incisors that look smaller and mismatched when compared to the central incisors. For today's patient, Dr. Kari Ann Hong chose to correct the cosmetics of this smile using two beautiful Emax lithium disilicate crowns.

Since the incisors were already undersized, only a minimal amount of tooth structure had to be removed in fitting the crown. By working with Opus One Dental Lab a near perfect match was made to the natural central incisors. Notice the delicate translucency near the edges of the teeth and harmonious shape. We even captured the pronounced developmental grooves (called mamelons) on the central incisors. The result is a beautiful smile that looks more natural than the "before" shot!

If you would like to know more about the cosmetic services we offer at Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry and what we can do for your smile, please give our office a call!

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.

Grinding and Night Guards

For many patients, nighttime grinding and clenching cause a host of problems including broken crowns, worn down incisors and sore jaw muscles. These habits fall under the category of bruxism- the involuntary contraction and movement of the jaw muscles. 

In most instances, bruxism occurs at night when you sleep. It can also occur during daytime hours in periods of intense stress or concentration. Early signs of bruxism include sore jaw muscles, sensitive teeth and "scalloped" indentations on the sides of the tongue. Later indications include fractured enamel, blunted cusp tips and chipped porcelain on dental crowns. It is generally understood that bruxism is caused by stress and external triggers that activate automatic responses in the brainstem. As such, tackling the cause of bruxism involves a deeper investigation into stress, coping mechanisms and mental health. 

From a dental perspective, our office offers custom fitted night guards to protect against the effects of nighttime grinding and clenching. On top of preventing damage to the teeth, these appliances feature a completely level biting surface. This allows all the opposing teeth to contact the guard at the same time, increase comfort and preventing jaw fatigue. Night guards usually need two appointments- one for initial impressions and a followup to deliver and adjust the finished guard. 

Night guards represent only one of many protective and preventative services we offer. If you would like to know more about bruxism, night time grinding or how to prevent it 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.