When Should I Start Worrying About Wisdom Teeth?

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“Wisdom teeth” is the common, informal name for your third set of permanent molars, and they are often associated with a number of dental health complications. As the last teeth to erupt, wisdom teeth do not typically become problematic until early adulthood, and for some patients, the molars may never cause any trouble at all.

The problem with wisdom teeth is that they do not always grow correctly, becoming impacted by molars that are already there and causing sometimes-severe dental discomfort, and more. If you’re wondering when you should start worrying about wisdom teeth, then speak with your dentist as soon as possible to determine if you should consider extracting them. (more…)

filed under: Tooth Extractions, Wisdom Teeth

What Does an Oral Examination Reveal?

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Oral examinations are a vital part of effective dental care. By routinely performing a comprehensive exam, or checkup, your dentist can accurately diagnose existing dental issues and recommend appropriate, custom treatment options. But what exactly does your oral examination reveal, and what can it tell your dentist about your dental health?

During an exam, your dentist will perform a visual inspection and use digital imaging technology to inspect your teeth, gums, and mouth and throat tissues to ensure that everything is healthy. If an issue prevents itself, such as one of those listed below, then your dentist will consult with you to explain your condition and your options for addressing it. (more…)

filed under: Oral Health

Explaining Dental Implant Placement

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Dental implants are small, titanium cylinders that are surgically inserted into your jawbone, and are used as an anchor for your replacement teeth. In some cases, a dental implant procedure may include visiting one specialist to place the implant posts, and another to secure your dental crown, bridge, or denture to them. At Cerritos Dental Surgery, however, Dr. Hofkes can place your dental implant posts and restore them with a lifelike prosthesis, all in the same office. (more…)

filed under: Dental Implants, Oral Surgery

Ask Yourself If You Exhibit Sleep Apnea Symptoms

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You might not even realize that you snore unless the noise is loud enough to disturb your sleeping partner. Likewise, you might not realize that you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea unless you start to experience one or more of its related side effects. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA for short, affects more people than many realize, despite the fact that its most prominent symptom is loud, abrasive snoring. To determine if you should seek a sleep apnea assessment from your dentist, ask yourself if you exhibit any of the following sleep apnea symptoms. (more…)

filed under: Oral Health, Sleep Apnea

What’s Happening In Cerritos?

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At Cerritos Dental Surgery, we provide or services to the lovely community of Cerritos. We like to take time in our blog to remind our patients and our readers about all the wonderful and exciting things happening in the community. In addition, we want to remind you that we’re available for your oral surgery needs, from replacing missing teeth with dental implants to removing impacted wisdom teeth.

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filed under: Community Events

Nitrous Oxide Vs. IV Sedation

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If you’re afraid to visit your dentist, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety and fear is fairly common, but that’s why we have sedation dentistry! Using sedation, your dentist can calm your nerves and make for a very comfortable appointment – whether it be a cleaning, checkup, or even something more extensive. When it comes to sedation, however, you have several options; oral medication, nitrous oxide (also known as ‘laughing gas’), IV sedation, and even general anesthesia. Each method of sedation is different, just like each patient – depending on your severity of anxiety, your dentist will recommend the sedation that will best optimize your comfort level. (more…)

filed under: Sedation Dentistry

Could Your Snoring Indicate A Sleep Disorder?

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Sleep disorders are one of the most difficult medical conditions to diagnose given the nature of their symptoms, but you probably already knew that. What you probably don’t know, however, is that snoring can actually indicate a sleep disorder: sleep apnea. Before you start worrying, that doesn’t mean that everyone who snores has a sleep apnea (and vice versa). In fact, there are people who don’t snore but still suffer from sleep disorders. But, when your snoring is affecting the sleep of those around you – there may be an underlying sleep problem. How can you find out? (more…)

filed under: Sleep Apnea

Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

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If you find that you’re waking after a ‘full’ night’s rest feeling exhausted, you’re probably not getting as much sleep as you think. Unfortunately, sleep disorders are often difficult to diagnose because of the nature of their symptoms (they occur while you’re unconscious). Because of this, many sufferers go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and end up putting their overall health at risk for other complications. How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Well, they always say knowledge is power, right? Knowing the risk factors and signs to look for is the first step to discovering the reason behind your lack of sleep. (more…)

filed under: Sleep Apnea

How To Handle A Dental Emergency

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You probably already know that emergencies don’t occur at convenient times – but handling a dental emergency in the moment can certainly be stressful. Whether it’s an injury, dislodged tooth, or a severe infection – your teeth are an incredibly important part of your body and should be treated as such. That’s why Dr. Hofkes is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – to help you with any dental emergency you may have. But, what constitutes a dental emergency? How do you know how to handle an emergency situation like this? Don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! (more…)

filed under: Emergency Dentistry