Dental implant surgery is one of the most incredible prosthetic capabilities of modern dentistry. Using dental implants, your dentist can rebuild your smile and give you the kind of bite strength you enjoyed with healthy natural teeth. However, dental implants are also more involved, invasive procedure than other prosthetic options. For that reason, it’s good to know what to expect before the treatment. You’ll want to discuss all of your options with your dentist before treatment, but here is an introduction to what you can expect from dental implants. (more…)

“Cancer” can be a scary word. It’s not one anyone wants to hear, but if you are diagnosed with cancer, you want to catch the problem early. An early diagnosis of oral cancer leads to a positive outlook for most patients. How can you be sure to catch something like oral cancer in its early stages? For one, be sure to listen to your body. If you start experiencing something abnormal, take note of it and bring it up with your physician. Second, be sure to attend biannual appointments with your dentist for cleanings and examinations. This is how you can catch and treat oral cancer early. (more…)

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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