November, 2019 - 818.Dentist

November 30, 2019November 25, 2019

How Can I Manage the Pain of Tooth Extractions?

There’s good reason people often compare difficult tasks to “pulling teeth.” Without the right tools and medication, tooth extractions can be a nightmarish experience. However, the combination of modern medicine and experienced hands will ensure that your tooth extractions are relatively painless. But after you leave the dentist office after your extractions, it’ll be up to you to ensure that your extraction sites remain pain-free. Take a look at some of the aftercare tips your dentist will provide you to ensure that your discomfort is kept to a minimum after a tooth extraction.

Managing Pain after the Procedure

While you’ll get a better idea here about what to expect, your doctor will go over aftercare guidance during your appointment and will send you home with instructions so that you won’t forget any steps.

These are some of the instructions your doctor will leave you with after your tooth extraction:

· Take your pain killers. Basic, over-the-counter painkiller should sufficiently mute the pain and will help keep down the inflammation.

· Bite on the gauze covering the extraction site to help a clot form so that the bleeding stop.

· Replace the gauze if it becomes to bloody. If the gauze isn’t enough to stop the bleeding, you’ll need to contact your doctor.

· Ice the extraction site, applying a bag of ice to the area for 10- to 15- minute intervals

· Skip the hot drinks, at least for the first day or two

· Get plenty of sleep to promote healing

· Keep your head elevated to keep the pressure off the extraction site and the clot forming there

What About Pain During the Procedure?

During the procedure, you won’t have to worry about any discomfort. You’ll be given a shot of a local anesthetic that will completely numb the extraction site. You’ll be able to feel pressure from the dentist’s hands, but nothing that qualifies as “painful.” And if you’re worried you’ll feel anxious during your procedure, talk to your dentist about IV sedation.

More on Tooth Extractions in Van Nuys, CA

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November 30, 2019November 25, 2019

How Dental Implants Can Dramatically Raise Your Quality of Life

It isn’t too good to be true. Dental implants can restore your ability to eat foods that are too tough for those with failing teeth, or even conventional dentures. However, the benefits of dental implants don’t start and end with again enjoying foods you could no longer fully chew and enjoy. Take a look at all of the top benefits of dental implants, from enjoying good food again to smile confidently once again.

Comfort

Compared to conventional dentures or a mouth with a few failing teeth left, dental implants are much more comfortable – they feel much more natural.

Conventional dentures can agitate the inside of your mouth, especially when their adhesive breaks down and the dentures start to shift around in your mouth as you eat or speak.

Because dental implants are fused with the jawbone, they’ll stay in place and they won’t agitate soft tissue in your mouth.

Confidence

With your replacement teeth held firmly in place by dental implants, the back of your mind won’t be burdened by fears of your dentures sliding out of place while you’re talking or chewing.

Chewing

Even with a fresh application of an adhesive, there’s still often the fear of dentures coming undone while trying to chew through something fibrous and chew like French bread, fresh vegetables, or meat. With dental implants anchoring your replacement teeth, you can focus all your attention on the food and company instead of how the company will react to you struggling to eat your food.

Care

Caring for your new dental implants and replacement teeth will take just as much diligence as caring for natural teeth, but much less effort than maintaining conventional dentures.

There’s no need to fight with applying adhesives or to take dentures out to soak them at night. Simply brush, thoroughly, floss, and use a water flosser to clear out those hard-to-reach areas.

More on Dental Implants in North Hills, CA

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November 27, 2019November 25, 2019

Can I Get Dental Implants Even If I Have Gum Disease?

For many people interested in getting dental implants, it’s gum disease that started it all and caused the need for implants in the first place. Once gum disease progresses to its advanced stage, “periodontitis,” it begins to do irreversible damage to the teeth and gums. Eventually, teeth will rot and fall out, necessitating the need for dental implants. Yet, you can still be a strong candidate for dental implants despite having periodontitis.

Getting Gum Disease Under Control

If, hypothetically, gum disease was left untreated before your dental implant placement surgery, it’d continue to rage on after your implants have been placed. It’d threaten the success of your implants from the start, creating infections that caused the implants to fail to heal properly.

If you have untreated gum disease, your dentist will start there before moving on to dental implants. After you’ve received gum disease treatment, you still. may not be quite ready for dental implants. You may need another procedure or two rebuild areas damaged by periodontitis.

Solutions for Dental Implants with Periodontitis

Among its many perils, periodontitis can the teeth, gums and jawbone underneath to deteriorate. However, the following procedures can help improve your candidacy for dental implants and to drastically improve your chances of long-term success:

Bone grafting – when the mass or density of the jawbone under your gums has deteriorated too much, a bone graft can help regenerate bone in the area to provide a reliable foundation for dental implants.

Gum grafting – if the gums have receded too much, it may be necessary to graft new gum tissue into the area to help cover the implant posts.

Tooth extractions – remaining teeth will likely need to be pulled. Loose and decaying teeth won’t just stand in the way of new dental implants, they could harbor an infection that could cause your dental implants to fail. Essentially, removing failed teeth will help improve your oral health overall.

More on Dental Implants in North Hills, CA

Take a moment to schedule an appointment with a dentist to learn more about what you’ll need to do to get dental implants in North Hills, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

November 26, 2019December 19, 2019

Enjoying Food and Drink Right After Full Arch Dental Implant Surgery

full arch dental implants lake balboa ca

It’ll take a few days for the swelling and discomfort to pass, after having full arch dental implants placed. And for weeks still, your dental implants likely won’t have healed enough to support eat tough, chewy, fibrous food. While your diet may be limited until your dental implants heal, you can still enjoy good food in the interim. Take a look at these ideas for enjoying food right after having full arch dental implants placed in Lake Balboa, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

The Liquid Diet (1.5 to 2 Weeks)

Your liquid diet should begin as soon as you get home from surgery, especially if you had to fast in order to receive IV sedation or general anesthesia for your surgery. You’ll need to stick to a liquid diet for at least ten days, or as long as two weeks.

These are a few tips for actually enjoying the foods you consume while on your liquid diet:

· Blend yogurt smoothies and mix protein into milkshakes for a filling, enjoyable meal.

· Cook hearty soups and then puree them for easy consumption

· Try to puree several components of your meal, instead of blending all components into one drink. This will give you a variety in flavor profiles

Progressing to Soft Foods (After)

After those first few weeks, your dietary choices will open up a bit more and you won’t be limited to things you can puree.

Take a look at these ideas for enjoying soft foods after transitioning from our liquid diet:

· Sandwiches with soft breads that aren’t tough or chewy

· Mix soft fruits into yogurt

· Enjoy baked or mashed potatoes, elevated with light cheese and seasonings

· Bake or broil fish until it’s flaky and delicate

· Eat hearty pasta dishes once again, making sure the pasta is cooked beyond al dente

· Feast on hearty, savory casseroles that have been cooked until the meat and vegetables are soft and tender

More on Full Arch Dental Implants in Lake Balboa, CA

Take time now to schedule an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about your options for getting full arch dental implants in Lake Balboa, CA.

November 25, 2019November 25, 2019

What to Expect After Having Full Arch Dental Implants Placed

It’ll take months to finally reach the day of your implant placement surgery. However, finally having your full arch dental implants placed isn’t the end of your journey. It’ll take months more for your dental implants to fully heal and their titanium roots to fully fuse with your jawbone. So in the days following placement, you’ll have to put extra care into your oral health to help ensure long-term success with your new teeth. These are some of the things your doctor will ask you to do after getting full arch dental implants in Lake Balboa, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

The Procedure

As you near the actual procedure, you’ll receive one last CT scan just to make sure that everything still looks good. During the same appointment, you’ll receive any supporting surgeries you may need – things like a tooth extraction to make way for the implants.

At the start of the procedure, you’ll be given a dose of a local anesthetic that will numb the implant sites. With the anesthesia active, you will feel no discomfort during implant placement. You won’t feel anything more than a mild amount of pressure as your dentist works.

The procedure itself is relatively quick. Your dentist will access the bone underneath your gums and then use a custom surgical guide. The guide will help your dentist quickly bore pilot holes into the jawbone and insert the titanium implant posts into the jawbone.

At the end of the procedure, you’ll be given a temporary restoration such a set of provisional dentures.

Aftercare

During the first few days after surgery, you’ll experience a bit of tenderness and inflammation at the implant sites. These are some of the things your dentist will instruct you to do to comfortably get through those first few days:

· Take painkillers as directed

· Keep your head elevated to help the implant sites clot

· Avoid drinking through a straw, which could dislodge a clot

· Ice the swollen area in 10- to 15-minute intervals

· Get plenty of sleep to help expedite healing

More on Full Arch Dental Implants in Lake Balboa, CA

Reserve an appointment with a dentist at 818.Dentist to learn more about what you can expect ahead of getting full arch dental implants in Lake Balboa, CA.

November 25, 2019November 21, 2019

Knowing When It Time to Seek Gum Disease Treatment

For some people, a bit of blood in the spittle while brushing is more than enough to prompt them to seek dental care. For others, it takes a bit more: regularly tender gums, swollen gums, toothaches and more. Knowing when it’s time to step up your dental care can help prevent gum disease from festering and advancing to periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease that does irreversible damage to teeth and gums.

Signs of Gum Disease

Knowing what to look for will help you better recognize when brushing and flossing at home are no longer enough to keep gum disease from overrunning your mouth.

Take a look at these common signs of gingivitis, gum disease in its early stages:

· Tender, swollen gums

· Discoloration of the gums

· A small amount of blood in the spittle when brushing or flossing

· Chronically bad breath

These are some of the common signs of periodontitis, severe gum disease that does permanent damage:

Moderate to severe swelling and tenderness of the gums

· Loose teeth

· Shifting teeth that no longer fit with opposing teeth

· Shifting teeth that shift away from neighboring teeth

· Gum recession, which makes the teeth look as if they’re getting longer

Options for Gum Disease Treatment

Knowing what to look for can help you recognize when it’s time to get professional help to rein in your gum disease. The sooner you get treatment for your gum disease, the more options you’ll have available to you.

These are some of the most effective solutions for treating gum disease:

· Deep cleaning – tartar is removed from the roots of teeth.

· Osseous surgery – more involved than a deep cleaning, tartar is removed from the roots and bone is reshaped to ensure the gums adhere to the teeth uniformly.

· Periodontal maintenance – regularly scheduled deep cleanings every few months

More on Gum Disease Treatment in Van Nuys, CA

Take a moment to reserve an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about your options for gum disease treatment in Van Nuys, CA.

November 22, 2019November 21, 2019

Gum Disease Treatment: What’s a Deep Cleaning?

How’s a deep cleaning different than a standard teeth cleaning procedure? How can a dentist or hygienist go even deeper than a standard cleaning? Find out how a deep cleaning working and how it can help you get your oral health back on track after being ravaged by gum disease.

When Is a Deep Cleaning Necessary?

A standard teeth cleaning procedure aims to remove tartar that has hardened onto the teeth. Tartar, hardened plaque, can’t be removed by brushing. It takes the precision of a dental scaling and experienced hands to carefully remove tartar from teeth.

If too much time has passed since the last standard teeth cleaning, that tartar buildup will begin to dip below the gum line and amass on the roots of teeth.

Tartar on the roots of teeth can create bacterial pockets, which will only make the situation worse. The pockets get deeper, the infection gets worse and, eventually, the teeth and gums will start to suffer irreversible damage. Scaling and root planning, commonly called a “deep cleaning,” offer a way to pull your oral health back from the brink.

Scaling and Root Planning: How Does It Work?

There are two primary elements of a deep cleaning, scaling and root planning:

Scaling – this portion of the procedure entails carefully removing tartar from, not only the visible surfaces of teeth but the roots of teeth as well. Before scaling begins, the dentist or hygienist will administer a shot of a local anesthetic to the gums so no pain will be felt.

Root planning – with the tartar removed, the dentist or hygienist will smooth the roots of the teeth. Smoothing the roots ensures that the gums attach uniformly with the teeth. This smoothing is necessary to prevent or eliminate pockets of space between the teeth and gums, pockets that will harbor bacteria.

Gum Disease Treatment in Van Nuys, CA

Take a moment to reserve an appointment with a local dentist to find out more about your options for gum disease treatment in Van Nuys, CA.

November 22, 2019November 21, 2019

Is IV Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Oftentimes, people confuse IV sedation with general anesthesia. Though similar, there are some clear distinctions between the two. One of the biggest: IV sedation is safer than general anesthesia, in general. But does that mean that IV sedation is safe? How safe is it, exactly? Take a look at why you shouldn’t be afraid of IV sedation and learn how it can take the fear out of your next appointment.

Differences Between IV Sedation and General Anesthesia

The biggest difference between IV sedation and general anesthesia is how deeply the later sedates you than the former. With General anesthesia, you’ll be completely unconscious when the medication takes effect. You may fall asleep with IV sedation, but it’s more likely you’ll remain conscious – which is why IV sedation is sometimes referred to as “conscious sedation.”

The danger with general anesthesia is that it makes the patient sleep until the anesthesia wears off. Shaking, prodding or speaking to the patient won’t rouse them. The medical staff simply monitors the patient’s condition and waits for the anesthesia to wear off.
Even if you do happen to dose off with IV sedation, it’ll be easy for anyone to awaken you.

Risks of IV Sedation

The biggest risks of IV sedation are the same for all forms of sedation. Because sedation relaxes the body, there’s a risk that it could depress the respiratory systems. But keep in mind that you’ll be monitored the entire time. And among sedation options, IV sedation is one of the most predictable. Your dental staff will know exactly how much of a sedative you’ve been given and will monitor your status in real-time.

Serious complications are rare. Side effects are much more common:

· Feelings of sleepiness, heaviness

· Slowed response times

· Short term memory loss

· Low blood pressure

More on IV Sedation Dentistry in Van Nuys, CA

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November 21, 2019November 21, 2019

Can Invisalign Straighten One Tooth or Just a Few Teeth?

All too often, people settle with living with a single crooked tooth, or just a few teeth, that don’t align with the rest. Why go commit to wearing braces for at least a year just to fix one or two teeth?

Even if it’s just one tooth that’s misaligned, straightening that tooth will help ensure that all your teeth wear easily and that you don’t wear down that specific tooth prematurely. Yet, you don’t have to commit to braces to straighten one or two teeth. With Invisalign® clear aligner trays, you can straighten as many, or as few, teeth as needed – and you can do so discreetly. Take a look at how Invisalign can help align your smile perfectly, even if only a single tooth is misaligned.

How Invisalign Straightens Teeth

Like conventional braces, Invisalign applies a gentle, yet constant, amount of pressure on the teeth to move them into their optimal placement. The clear aligner trays you’ll receive are customized to fit your teeth snuggly, adhering to the contours of perfectly aligned teeth while pushing on those that are out of alignment. This is why Invisalign works well on any number of teeth.

Other Considerations for Invisalign

The use cases for Invisalign extend to a wide range of teeth alignment issues, including the following:

· Overbite – teeth in the top row, or “arch,” jut out further than those on the bottom arch

· Underbite – the inverse of an overbite, an underbite characterizes bottom teeth that jut forward, past teeth on the top arch.

· Crossbite – teeth at the sides of a smile lean more towards a cheek or the tongue that opposing teeth.

· Gaps – describes excessive spacing between teeth

· Gape – there is a gap between opposing teeth when the form a bite

· Crowding – teeth are jammed together due to a lack of space. Individual teeth may rotate, jut our or tilted back due to the lack of space.

More on Invisalign in Van Nuys, CA

Take time to reserve an appointment with a dentist in Southern California to learn more about your orthodontic options and to find out more about getting Invisalign in Van Nuys, CA.

November 8, 2019December 19, 2019

How to Get Dental Implants Despite Bone Loss

Dental implants can give hope to those who had given up all hope for eating certain foods every again, and hope of smiling and speaking confidently without their replacement teeth sliding around. But severe bone loss can dash those hopes, especially if you’ve pinned your hopes of dental implants on a general dentist. An oral surgeon, however, can offer advanced solutions that can make your dreams of getting dental implants a reality. Take a look at what an oral surgeon can do to help you get dental implants.

Bone Grafting

It’s the top solution for helping a weak candidate for dental implants become a strong candidate.

A bone graft is performed by packing bone dust into the area where bone mass or density is too low to support dental implants. Over the months following surgery, the graft will be accepted by existing bone and will fuse together. This process usually takes at least four months. Ultimately, the bone graft will help existing bone generate new bone tissue.

Once the graft has healed, dental implants may be implanted in the area. And similar to the fusion of existing bone and the graft, the titanium roots of the dental implants will fuse together with the jawbone.

Some related procedures that can help make you a stronger candidate for dental implants includes the following:

Sinus lift – after severe bone loss has occurred, the sinuses may expand and sag, crowding space needed for implants. A sinus lift solves this problem by literally lifting the sinuses and using bone material to tuck them back.

Ridge preservation and augmentation – when a tooth is pulled, it may be necessary to fill the socket with bone material in order to stop deterioration. The ridge, the raised part of the jaw where teeth take root, can be reshaped after severe bone loss to accommodate dental implants and to restore facial symmetry.

More on Dental Implants in Van Nuys, CA

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Month: November 2019