Maintaining the health of your smile requires more than standard brushing and flossing at home. Attending routine checkups allows your dentist to examine your mouth for the signs of oral cancer at each visit. This particular form of cancer can spread aggressively throughout your mouth and to other parts of your body, so it is important that you catch it as early as possible. Identification is the first step in obtaining treatment, and early treatment can provide the difference between success and failure. The disease can affect people of all ages and appear in those with no other poor health conditions. Therefore, everyone should seek regular screening. Please contact your Cerritos, CA dentist’s office if you notice any growths forming within your mouth or other signs of disease. We can perform a scan and determine whether you have oral cancer. If detected, we will provide further guidance for your treatment and recovery.
Cosmetic dental treatments provide pleasing results to help you look your best. Improving the quality of your smile and gaining a brand new look lifts your confidence and allows you to live life to the fullest. Conversely, dissatisfaction in your oral appearance can cause unhappiness to permeate your social and professional life. If you are self-conscious about the way you appear when speaking or laughing, you may not interact with other people as often as you would like.
We are living in busy times and it can be difficult to look as good as you would like. Fortunately, at your Cerritos, CA dentist’s office, we know that presenting your smile to others should be something you look forward to each day. We provide cosmetic dental procedures that can enhance your appearance in a timely manner.
Your teeth can become damaged from the gradual wear and tear of daily life as the years go by, but erosion to the tooth’s surface from simple biting and chewing is generally minimal. If you experience serious wear to the enamel of your teeth, you may be grinding and clenching your teeth at night without even knowing it. The problem, when not addressed, can cause stress and pain in your jaw. Concerns that are once cosmetic can progress to actual oral health emergencies as damage to the enamel exposes the inside of your tooth and creates opportunity for infection. Your bite can become misaligned as the surfaces become uneven. Fortunately, your Cerritos, CA dentist’s office offers treatment to prevent teeth grinding at night. We can also discuss solutions to repair damage to your teeth from habitual grinding and restore your confidence in the health of your smile.
If you have recently lost a tooth, you understand how difficult performing normal activities can be. It can cause embarrassment with your smile’s appearance when viewing the new gap. A missing tooth impacts your ability to speak and will affect your ability to bite and chew your food. Your jaw alignment can shift as you attempt to eat around the missing area. Fortunately, your Cerritos, CA dentist offers a restorative procedure to return strength to your bite and mimic the missing tooth’s natural appearance. Placing a dental implant can reverse the difficulties associated with tooth loss. Discover the advantages of this permanent restoration that can return joy to your smile.
Your teeth are miraculous structures that withstand hundreds of pounds of force from the daily rigors of biting and chewing. They derive their strength from solid minerals composed of hard layers of enamel. When these layers are threatened by injury or tooth decay, the tooth can become impaired. Cracks in the teeth or total tooth loss can greatly affect your ability to enjoy life on normal terms. A permanent restoration, such as a dental crown, will improve the function of the damaged tooth and return its appearance to its natural beauty. Your Cerritos, CA dentist’s office offers custom ceramic crowns that match the shade of your natural teeth and preserve your oral health.
The removal of your wisdom teeth is a rite of passage for many teens and young adults alike. The third set of molars typically arrive after your other permanent teeth, and their eruption can be long and painful. In addition to causing discomfort, they may crowd out their neighbors and cause serious problems for the alignment of your bite. They can potentially crack your enamel as they attempt to fit in a jaw without enough space. When fully formed, they can be difficult to clean, which may lead to future cavity development and other issues.
Is your smile as beautiful as you would like it to be? The wear and tear to your teeth from daily living can leave you wondering what choices are available to improve your looks. Cosmetic solutions exist that can improve your grin beyond its current appearance. The placement of realistic porcelain veneers can give you the smile of your dreams with less invasive care. Speak with our Cerritos, CA dentist office to determine if this service addresses your esthetic concerns. You will be surprised at how versatile this solution can be!
A Practical Solution for Dental Damage
Veneers are made from thin layers of porcelain that are applied over teeth. The material mimics the appearance of natural enamel to blend in with your smile and can provide a whiter look for stained and blemished structures. The coverage of each tooth allows existing chips and cracks to be hidden from sight instead of requiring structural alteration. The layer can also cover gaps between teeth by extending their edges to nearly touch side by side. Patients with bruxism can cover the wearing down of the teeth from years of grinding and clenching.
Veneers can improve the function of your bite in addition to improving its look. Small adjustments to the shape and orientation of these restorations can correct certain dental misalignments. The application only requires a minimal shaving of the tooth, so you will be able to show off your new look sooner than you may expect. Remember to care and clean for your improved smile with the same standard you gave before. Continue brushing twice daily and flossing every day.
Additional Cosmetic Solutions
Our practice offers a variety of other treatments to help improve your smile’s appearance while maintaining your overall dental health. Durable ceramic crowns are well-suited to cover stained or damaged teeth. We select a material for each crown that blends in with your natural teeth for a restored appearance. We also offer teeth whitening procedures to brighten your enamel through a gentle bleaching process. This treatment removes stains while leaving your natural structure intact, helping you feel proud to show off your teeth once again! Often a combination of various treatments can address your specific concerns, so make sure to ask your dentist about each procedure.
Contact Your Cerritos, CA Dentist and Improve Your Smile Today!
At the offices of Shawn Hofkes, DDS, we are dedicated to helping you achieve the smile you desire. To schedule a consultation on improving your dental appearance, call our Cerritos, CA dental office at 562-584-4082. We welcome patients of all ages from Cerritos and all surrounding areas such as Lakewood, Long Beach, Buena Park, and more.
You may be grinding your teeth at night without even knowing it. When this condition becomes severe, it can cause serious damage to your oral health. Left untreated, this condition, otherwise known as bruxism, can damage your enamel and expose the inner roots of your teeth making them prone to bacterial infection. Your bite may become misaligned, causing difficulty chewing at mealtime. Because this condition often occurs while we’re unconscious, you should speak with your Cerritos, CA Dentist to identify symptoms and seek a proper solution.
Treating any disease begins with its identification. Attending your semiannual examinations and cleanings allows your dentist to inspect your mouth for the signs of oral cancer. While oral cancer may seem rare, be vigilant in attending examinations because it can be deadly when it develops. The American Cancer Society estimates that oral cancer claims about 11,000 lives while around 54,000 new cases appear each year. One in five of these new cases appear in people under the age of 55. Therefore, oral cancer screening is important at all ages.
Did you know that periodontal disease affects nearly half of all American adults? This bacterial infection of the gum tissue, left untreated, can greatly affect the appearance of your mouth for the worse. In particular, as the disease progresses, the gingival tissue recedes which exposes the underlying roots of your teeth. Sufferers of the disease may develop feelings of embarrassment when observing themselves in a mirror. If you find yourself looking “long in the tooth,” know that a solution to heal your appearance is available!
Gum grafting can take the healthy portion of your tissue and attach your gumline to its original level after experiencing recession. In addition to returning your self-confidence in your facial features, gum grafting will provide further stability to your periodontal health. This can help prevent future damage to your smile, such as the loss of a tooth, which would greatly impact your grin. Your Cerritos, CA dentist happily provides periodontal grafting solutions that can restore the appearance of your gumline.
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