An Implant Dentist Explains the Process After Surgery

As an implant dentist, we make it possible to restore any teeth that you have lost.  A dental implant offers you the ability to lead a normal life without worrying about missing teeth. The most complete way, of replacing a lost tooth, comes by way of an oral surgery, where we implant a metal post beneath the gums and secure it to the jawbone. The symbiosis between the implant and the jawbone, as well as the organic tissue, is critical to the success of your dental implant surgery, which is why recovery time is very important. Understanding that, regardless of how minor, dental implant surgery is, in fact, a surgical procedure is important for taking the time to recover fully.

Recovering from a dental implant surgery starts with time. As with any surgery, you are going to need a certain amount of allocated time for healing. For starters, when you come out of anesthesia you will need to let the effects wear off before being able to drive home. If you want to return home immediately following the surgery itself, you will need to ensure that you bring a designated driver with you or have someone pick you up. The overall recovery process will take several days, but you should be able to return to normal activities after the first 24 to 48 hours. We do recommend that you spend several days avoiding strenuous physical situations, like lifting heavy weights, for example so that you do not risk damaging the implant or tearing the stitches. 

The single largest risk when you have a surgery, including dental implant surgery, is the risk of an infection. Since there is an open wound, which is stitched up after the implant is in place, there is a chance of an infection setting in. We are fully aware of this and will take every step necessary to avoid any infection. Our first line of defense is to prescribe an antibiotic as a precautionary measure. As an implant dentist, we recommend starting the antibiotic the day after the surgery and will continue for several days. It is important that you fill the prescription in a timely manner and that you take the entire course of antibiotics. Since antibiotics can be harsh on the system, we recommend that you take the pill with a meal or follow it up with a glass of milk. 

As an implant dentist, we will give you a special rinse with which to wash the area around the dental implant. This medicated solution, when combined with salt water rinses, will help disinfect the site of the dental implant and go far to ensuring that there are no infections possible. You will need to rinse three or four times in a day. 

 Additionally, you need to avoid touching the implant. Since the fingers can carry external germ and bacteria to the site of the surgery, you should avoid touching the dental implant until it is completely healed. 

If you experience any discomfort during the healing process you can take an over the counter pain medication and use a cool compress to reduce the swelling.  You should also watch what you eat and stick to soft foods for a few days.

Visit a Spanish Speaking Dentist so Your Family Members Can Stay in Good Oral Health

As a Spanish speaking dentist, we play an important role in helping our community to stay healthy.  We understand how common it is for people to fear visiting the dentist.  Millions of adults have some form of dental anxiety, and this can be made worse by not speaking the same language as your health care provider.  Whether visiting the dentist or a doctor, it is helpful to be able to communicate about what is bothering you and to be able to ask questions without the help of a translator.  While it is common to bring a child to the appointment, you don’t have to when visiting our office. 

There are many advantages to visiting our office, and it starts with education.  It is important for us to be able to convey how to care for your teeth.  We believe in providing information on healthcare and speaking Spanish allows us to do so for a segment of the population that would otherwise be unable to have in-depth conversations about oral health.  As an example, we like to demonstrate how to properly brush teeth by brushing in a circular fashion. We also like to tell patients about food they can eat to stay in better oral health.  

When it is time for a dental treatment, as a Spanish speaking dentist, we know that it is important to be able to explain how the procedure works prior to getting started. It can be frightening or overwhelming to have dental work done if you don’t know what to expect, why it is necessary, or how the procedure works in general.  We eliminate these anxieties and fears by taking the time to thoroughly explain what we need to do, the steps that we will take, and what the results will be when the procedure is completed.  It is easier for us to explain things directly and answer any questions than it would be to use a translator.  

The level of care, that we provide, is the same for all of our patients, regardless of what language they speak.  We offer the highest quality of dental care for patients of all ages, so the main difference is really in how comfortable a patient feels.  By removing the barriers to conversation, our patients can relax and feel at ease. 

If you have a family member that needs to have dental work completed or hasn’t visited the dentist in a long time, call and schedule an appointment.  Any concerns, that they have, can quickly be put to rest by working with a Spanish speaking dentist.  If they have dental anxiety that goes beyond the ability to converse, we can help with this as well by offering sedation dentistry and pain relief as necessary but it all starts with an initial consultation.

To learn more about preventative dental care or restorations, call and schedule an appointment with our dentist office today. 

As a Dentist We Treat Patients Suffering From Acid Reflux In Order to Prevent Erosion

If you have acid reflux, a trip to the dentist is in order. Acid can erode your teeth as it comes up from your stomach.  The more frequently the attacks occur, the greater your risk of tooth damage.  With seven million U.S. adults suffering from acid reflux, this is a major cause of tooth damage and known as reflux-induced erosion. 

We can help to prevent damage by keeping teeth clean and healthy along with strengthening them.  Regular teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments can help along with bonding procedures to seal in the dentin.  When more serious erosion has occurred, we often recommend dental crowns in order to protect the teeth.  A crown can be made of either silver amalgam or ceramic and will cover all sides of the tooth.  This way the acid cannot directly touch the tooth.  Simultaneously, if bone loss has started due to reflux-induced erosion, a crown can save the tooth, preventing it from being pulled.  

We recommend that you visit our dentist office at least twice a year and more frequently if you suffer from acid reflux.  This allows us to identify any signs of erosion immediately and provide treatment before bone loss occurs.  It is far better to fortify teeth on a consistent basis than to wait until there are holes or other damage to your teeth. 

Additionally, you can reduce your risk of reflux-induced erosion by seeing your family doctor and asking them to prescribe medication that you can take on a daily basis.  Typically, a once a day pill can help to keep your reflux under control.  Otherwise, you can take a drug store antacid to help reduce the acid as the attack begins.  Some patients also find that drinking a glass of soy, almond, or cows' milk can help their stomach to calm down. 

One way, to feel better while reducing the frequency of your acid reflux attacks, is to monitor what you eat.  Keep a food journal and write down every time that you have an attack.  Look for a common denominator.  There may be particular foods you are eating that are causing problems with your digestive system.  Once you know what they are, you can easily eliminate them from your diet until you have the condition at a more controllable level. This is incredibly important because not only is acid reflux uncomfortable, but it can damage other areas of your body like your teeth. 

As a dentist, we also recommend avoiding things that could further irritate your teeth.  This means staying away from foods that have a high acid content like lemons and limes.  You should also practice caution when brushing your teeth and use a soft toothbrush in order to prevent accidental erosion of the enamel.  Even dental procedures like teeth whitening need to be performed with caution so let us know about your condition right away. This will allow us to incorporate that knowledge into any treatment plans that we recommend. 

An Emergency Dentist Can Help With Your Broken Jaw

A broken jaw means a trip the emergency dentist. Like with many fractures, a broken jaw can occur for a number or reasons and is extremely painful. It will also require emergency medical assistance that can be offered by a dentist or at a hospital emergency room. Jawbone fractures, or a broken jaw is the third most common type of fracture after fractures of the nose and the cheekbone. Identifying a broken jaw and realizing that you need to be seen by a dentist, is relatively easy. 

You need to visit our office if you have any of the following symptoms:

•    Severe pain in the joint along your jawbone
•    Inability to open your mouth widely
•    Bruising, swelling, and tenderness along the jaw and under your ear
•    Your jaw being improperly aligned and feeling off
•    Missing teeth or loosened teeth
•    Bleeding from the area of the incident

There are quite a number of ways that a person’s jaw can get fractured. Called the mandible, the jaw bone is often likely to fracture in more than one place. The direct fracture occurs where the jaw made contact with whatever broke it, and a second fracture occurs somewhere else along the jaw. The second fracture will often be close to the joint at the end of the jawbone. There are several ways you can break your jaw:

•    Falling due to an accident. This occurs more commonly with children and also in adults, especially older adults, who can faint.
•    Slamming into the dashboard of a vehicle due to a collision. This can occur even when the airbag deploys if the collision is severe.
•    Falling off a moving vehicle or ride. Any collision to the jaw from a moving vehicle can result in a trip to the emergency dentist with a broken jaw.
•    Contact sports are also responsible for many jaw breaks. An impact collision during the sport or a fall can result in a broken mandible.
•    Getting hit or punched in the jaw can also result in a break.
Once you realize that you may have a broken jaw, as a result of any one of these occurrences, you should contact an emergency dentist immediately. Prolonged time between the incident and getting treatment can further damage the jaw or cause unnecessary complications in the treatment options.
While you are waiting to be seen by an emergency dentist, there are a few steps you should take.
•    Apply a cold compress to the jaw using ice or frozen vegetables. This will help reduce the swelling and will also help with localized pain. Use light pressure so as to avoid more pain and damage to the bone.
•    Create a support to stabilize the jaw. You can easily do this by using a towel. Wrap the towel under the jaw and fasten it, by tying, on your head. This will hold the jawbone in place while waiting for treatment.
•    You can take an over the counter pain medication, just be sure to note what time you take it and the dosage so that you can give that information to us, in our emergency dentist office. 

If you have any type of dental emergency, we can help.  Call to schedule an appointment.

Learn About the Differences Between Dental Teeth Whitening and Whats in the Store

With so many options in teeth whitening solutions is can often be hard to decide what the best treatment method is. Dentists have been working with patients for years in an effort to get whiter, and more importantly, healthier teeth so we know the best way to get the brighter smile you have been looking for. With smiles being important for confidence, it is important that you get the teeth whitening solution that is best suited for you and will quickly give you that smile you have always wanted. While some store bought solutions can have the same effect, there are distinct differences that you should be aware of when deciding how to proceed with teeth whitening. 

Are the chemicals used in teeth whitening the same over the counter as at the dentist’s office?

The main ingredient in teeth whitening is hydrogen peroxide, which serves to remove stains and whiten teeth. In some store bought solutions, there is carbamide peroxide, which consists largely of hydrogen peroxide. The solution that we use at the dentist’s office also has hydrogen peroxide. That is where the similarities end. The chemical make-up of the solution that one can purchase from the store consists of around 3% hydrogen peroxide. This means that you will get whiter teeth, but the process will take longer. On the other hand, dentists have at our disposal gels that have a significantly higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide. Because of the high strength of the bleaching agent, only medical professionals can administer these gels. A dentist can use solutions which have between 15% and 43% hydrogen peroxide and will take care to protect your gums and soft tissue from coming in contact with them so as to ensure that you do not have irritation. 

Some store bought solutions use dental trays, isn’t this the same as the dentist office teeth whitening process?

Using trays is the most effective way of whitening your teeth. Fundamentally a tray is designed to fit over your teeth and stay in place.  This allows for you (or your dentist) to place the teeth whitening gel into the tray and bring it in direct contact with the teeth. As a result, both dentists and over the counter solutions use them. There are differences, however, between the two.

When we make you a tray at our dentist office, it is designed specifically for your mouth. To do this, we will take an impression of your teeth and then use that as a mold to create a custom tray which will fit exactly over your teeth. What this does is it reduces the ability of the gel to come in contact with your gums or soft tissue. It also ensures that the gel remains in contact with your teeth for the most amount of time, leading to better results. On the other hand, the product bought at the store provides you with a one size fits all tray. While this may fit your mouth perfectly, it could also leave gaps which could result in the gel leaking and coming in contact with your gums which can lead to irritation. 

Regardless of what solution you chose, it is always recommended that you meet with your dentist first to discuss your options. This allows you to make an informed decision and reach out to your doctor if some form of irritation should occur while using an over the counter teeth whitening solution. 

It’s Time for Football and Perhaps an Emergency Dentist?

With the arrival of fall sports, an emergency dentist is busier than ever. Most people don’t realize how dangerous playing sports can be for your teeth.  Even a recreational game of football or pickup game of basketball can end with a broken tooth and need for help right away.  According to the American Dental Association, sports injuries are one of the highest, if not the highest, cause of tooth injuries within the U.S.  Additionally, sports injuries lead to 13 to 39 percent of adult tooth loss on an annual basis.  This is a huge percentage when you consider how few adults play organized sports. Even a casual game can lead to an injury.

There are ways to protect your teeth this fall and throughout your lifetime.  Begin by keeping your teeth healthy.  When teeth and gums are free from infection and gum disease, they are stronger than teeth that are infected.  When you think of your teeth, consider a pond that has been frozen over after months of cold winter.  When the ice is solid, it is safe to skate on that pond and hours of fun can be had by children throughout the neighborhood.  When that same pond has a tiny crack, simply walking on it can lead to the ice shattering and someone falling into the icy cold water.  Teeth are similar in that when they are strong and infection free, they won’t break when used or even bumped into.  If, however, there is a small crack or cavity, that same tooth can experience major damage if hit while playing sports.

In order to avoid needing to take a trip to the emergency dentist, we recommend that our patients have their teeth cleaned twice a year so that we can remove bacteria and plaque in order to prevent cavities and gum disease.  If we notice any signs of infection, it can be treated right away so that your teeth can stay strong and healthy.  This preventative step is critical for maintaining strong teeth.

If, however, your tooth does become damaged – we offer restorative solutions that can repair your tooth so that you can eat and speak like normal, without pain.  If, for example, your tooth has been cracked we can use a dental veneer or dental crown to restore it.  A veneer is a thin shell that is placed on top of your existing tooth and good for small cracks or chips.  A crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth and a better option for a tooth with a major crack or one that has lost a significant amount of enamel.  We can also help if your tooth has fallen out.  We offer both dental bridges and dental implants as a way to replace a missing tooth.

Regardless of how your teeth have been damaged, as an emergency dentist we can repair your tooth and help you to get back to life and back in the game as quickly as possible.  If you need help – give us a call, even if it’s on the weekend. 

Wine Drinkers Rejoice – A Cosmetic Dentist Can Keep Your Teeth Looking Beautiful

As a local cosmetic dentist, we can keep our patients’ teeth looking bright, white, and beautiful regardless of what they like to drink.  Most wine and coffee drinkers know that their teeth can become stained but giving up their favorite beverage is simply no fun.  We get it and provide ways to help our patients look great while enabling them to enjoy eating and drinking all of their favorite foods without worry. 

One of the ways we help our patients is by offering a teeth whitening procedure.  This can be done every three months or once a year, depending on how your teeth look now and how white you want your teeth to become. This is an affordable way to keep your teeth looking amazing and will remove the majority of stains while turning yellow teeth into bright white ones.  The challenge with teeth whitening alone is that some stains may not come out with this procedure and in between visits your teeth may become yellow again.  This is not ideal for people that want to continue to drink wine and coffee or smoke cigarettes.  While the whitening effect works, once you start doing these things again – teeth will respond by yellowing.  

Dental veneers are an alternative solution that is excellent for people who want to keep drinking wine without the fear of their teeth becoming stained. Veneers are made of ceramic or porcelain which are stain resistant materials. They don’t respond to the food that you eat or your favorite glass of merlot. Instead, they hold their shade of white fairly well.  This makes it important to work with a cosmetic dentist to select the perfect shade of veneers prior to having them bonded to your teeth.  

The veneer itself is a thin shell that is placed on the top of your natural teeth.  It can cover dark stains, close gaps in teeth, correct damaged teeth, even out the length of teeth and more.  It is an extremely effective procedure and works well if you have teeth that are not responding to whitening, or you want a more permanent way to keep your teeth white.  

Patients that also have damaged teeth may benefit from wearing dental crowns.  We offer crowns in an all-ceramic material that looks completely natural.  They are a cap that surrounds the tooth entirely, making a crown ideal for teeth that are cracked, or a large portion of the tooth is missing. Since they are made in a ceramic or porcelain material, they look beautiful and are also stain resistant.  

Before having dental veneers or crowns placed on your teeth, we recommend that you have your teeth cleaned and whitened.  This allows us to ensure your teeth are healthy and remove any bacteria or plaque.  Additionally, by having your teeth whitened you can make an educated decision as to which teeth you want to have veneers on.  You may only need them on one or two teeth, instead of all of them.  To learn more about your options, call our cosmetic dentist office today.