There are many patients who don’t enjoy their time at the dentist’s office. It can be a real source of anxiety for many individuals, which is dangerous. When it becomes difficult for you to schedule and attend your dentist appointments, it becomes more likely that you’ll develop an oral health condition. That won’t do you any favors when it comes to managing your dental anxiety. If you’re someone who suffers from dental anxiety, you are not alone, and your dentist actually has solutions to help you. Sedation dentistry is a common method used to put anxious patients at ease during their visits. (more…)

When you’re awake, it can be easy to tell when you’re experiencing a health problem. You can clearly note when you feel differently, or when something is causing you pain. Those signs get harder — nearly impossible in most cases — to spot at night while you sleep. Conditions that affect you while you sleep are particularly dangerous because you may not even realize you’re experiencing them. Your teeth could actually be suffering at night from a condition called “bruxism.” This is unconscious teeth grinding that occurs while you sleep. You can combat bruxism with help from your dentist. (more…)

When you consider your oral health, you probably think about your teeth and gums. Keeping these parts of your mouth in good shape can lead to long-term oral health, but they aren’t the only factor in determining your outlook. Your jawbone is the piece that holds everything else together. The bite power and stability of your teeth are dependent on the stability of your jawbone. When this bone loses mass, it can jeopardize the health and longevity of your teeth and gums. If your jawbone becomes weakened, what options do you have? (more…)

Depending on your personality, you may have a specific definition of what constitutes as an emergency. You may be someone who tends to not overreact and wants to handle problems on your own. While that mentality can be helpful in some scenarios, it may also prevent you from seeking help when you desperately need it. Dental emergencies can happen quickly, and they need attention that is equally as quick. How can you tell what merits a dental emergency? In today’s blog, we cover some scenarios when you should seek treatment right away. (more…)

If there’s something that you don’t particularly like about your smile, cosmetic dentistry has a solution that can help. Almost everyone has something about the appearance of their teeth that stands out to them in a negative way. When you look at photographs of yourself, you may wish that your teeth were whiter. You may have a couple of teeth that don’t look even or straight next to your other teeth. Maybe some of your teeth are disproportionate to the others. In all of these cases, cosmetic dentistry solutions can give you a smile that makes you feel proud and comfortable. (more…)

For many individuals, removing wisdom teeth, or “third molars,” is a matter of maintaining proper oral health. Wisdom teeth can disrupt the function of your bite, cause you constant pain, and become a hassle to clean. Removing your wisdom teeth at the right time can make all the difference. When you’re younger, your jawbone is less dense, and this makes it easier to remove your wisdom teeth, so having this procedure done during your teenage years is often recommended. Finding time for surgery and recover over a period like winter break can help make the process easy. (more…)

When a person experiences tooth loss, their confidence can suffer because they are unhappy with their smile. While the cosmetic issues resulting from tooth loss can be serious, you should also be worried about the functional impact this problem can have. When even one tooth is lost, it can become more difficult for you to bite and chew, or even speak! If no effort is taken to restore your smile, your compromised bite can end up putting strain on your jaw joints and muscles, or wearing down remaining teeth that have to absorb more friction from basic dental functions. At our Cerritos, CA dental surgery practice, we can discuss the advantages of having a custom prosthetic restoration crafted and secured with a dental implant. This can give you more confidence in your smile, and it can allow you to return to a more natural dental function. (more…)

Usually, when you start coming up with things you’d really love to give yourself as a holiday gift, it’s something like a pair of cozy slippers, an island vacation, etc. Something you may not have ever added to your list in the past (but that you just might want to include this year)? A dental bridge! Yep, we know. It’s a bit unconventional but when you think about how important your smile is and you consider the fact that giving yourself the gift of a lovely grin and oral health is really something that’s hard to beat, well … the idea can really start to sound like a good one. Consider our Cerritos, CA team’s reasoning behind such a lovely, smile-related present!

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Of course, your dental anxiety is something that is a part of you. You can speak directly to it but it’s not as if there’s a personified version of your nervousness that will respond verbally back to you! With that said, though, our Cerritos, CA team reminds you that there are certainly a variety of ways to handle these feelings. When you “tell” any butterflies-in-the-stomach sensations (or tell yourself, depending on how you look at it) some positive or beneficial things, you may be surprised by the impact is has, as you quickly gain a sense of relief. Hint: We also offer dental sedation, so no worries!

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You may have some very clear ideas about tooth loss and the types or groups of people it impacts. You may guess that only people in their golden years deal with the loss of teeth and the need for replacements. You may assume that the main time this type of serious oral health concern occurs is when someone completely neglects dental care altogether. The interesting fact that you may be completely overlooking, however? It can happen to anyone (which means, even you!). Not completely buying it but you’re open to the details? Our Cerritos, CA team would be more than happy to offer you important clarification (and, remember, we offer care for missing teeth, too, should you need it!).

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