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Dental Check Ups & Teeth Cleaning in San Jose CA

dental cleaning

Many people today know about the importance of oral health and how it affects your overall health. Optimal oral hygiene requires a combination of proper and consistent daily oral hygiene practices at home and routine professional dental cleanings. This helps to protect your teeth from decay and keep the gums healthy, while keeping your smile bright.

 

However, one thing that may not be clear is why the American Dental Association recommends dental cleanings every six months. Generally, brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every day should help to remove most of the harmful bacteria from your teeth and mouth. But the small quantity of bacteria that remains may still pose a threat to your oral health over time, if it’s not removed.

 

Some of the risks include:

  • Excessive tooth wear and cavities from the acid produced by plaque 
  • Bad breath from improper teeth cleaning 
  • Teeth discoloration from the colored foods you consume and calcification and mineralization of plaque in the form of tartar or calculus, which attracts more harmful bacteria
  • Minor gum infection or gingivitis, which is characterized by gum inflammation, swelling, and reddening. Due to sensitive gums, you may also notice some blood on your toothbrush or when rinsing your mouth after brushing. 
  • Advanced gum infection – If there are no interventions, gingivitis can advance to a more serious case of gum disease known as periodontitis or periodontal disease. It affects the foundation of your teeth – the bone tissue connecting your teeth to the jaw. 
  • Exacerbated health issues – the infection can spread from your mouth to other tissues, making it harder to manage other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia 

 

Cleanings for Optimal Oral Health 

Fortunately, most of these problems can be successfully treated or managed with professional dental cleaning and an improved oral care regimen at home. That said, periodontitis is a chronic, progressive, and episodic gum infection. If not treated promptly, periodontitis can cause severe bone loss that loosens your teeth with some even falling out. Though it’s irreversible, dental professionals can help you manage the symptoms and improve your oral health. 

 

Please visit your dentist today to examine the condition of your teeth and gums and determine the best type of dental cleaning in San Jose CA to improve your oral health and reduce the risk of advanced gum disease and cavities.

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Dental Implant Benefits in San Jose CA

Since the invention of implant dentistry in the 1950s, dental implants have provided patients with a more reliable option to replace one or more missing teeth permanently, allowing them to enjoy the same long-term stability and ease of maintenance associated with natural teeth. 

Getting a dental implant for a tooth replacement gives you a similar feeling to having a natural tooth because it stands firmly alone without requiring the support of adjacent teeth like dental bridgework. In fact, dental implants can be used to support other tooth replacements, like bridgework or dentures if you’re missing multiple teeth. Dental mini-implants can also function as temporary anchorage devices for moving crooked teeth with an orthodontic appliance, after which they’re extracted when the orthodontic treatment is completed. 

Dental Implants are Good for Your Oral Health 

Although there are other dental procedures that can be used to replace teeth or straighten them, dental implants are actually beneficial to your oral health in the following ways:

    • Maintain the Structure of Your Teeth, Jaw, and Face – A dental implant will help to prevent the teeth adjacent to the gap from tilting or shifting, which may cause your bite to shift. The teeth on the opposing jaw may also grow irregularly because there’s no mate to make contact with, causing you to injure the gum tissue in that area and create a chronic sore spot. Moreover, the bone tissue under the gums may begin to shrink away (resorption) due to lack of stimulation during chewing, causing your face to appear aged. Implants can prevent this by integrating with the jawbone and providing stimulation when chewing. 

 

  • Conservative Restoration – Dental implants stand on their own without depending on the support of surrounding natural teeth, as is the case with dental bridgework. Implants are anchored to the jawbone, and do not affect existing healthy teeth. 
  • Safe  – The implant is made from biocompatible materials like titanium, which fuse to the jawbone through a process known as osseointegration, without triggering any allergic reactions. 
  • Natural Look and Feel – Since implants integrate to the underlying bone tissue, they are so stable that they look and feel like your natural teeth. You can continue to eat your favorite foods without any worry and practice your usual oral care routine.

 

Learn More About Dental Implants 

Dental implants were invented in 1952. With the progress of science and technology in dentistry over the decades, the outcomes of dental implant surgical placement have improved greatly, producing a success rate of over 98%.

To find out whether dental implants in San Jose CA are right for you, please visit your dentist today. 

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Dental Implant Treatment – Common Questions | San Jose CA

What can I expect during dental implant treatment planning?

The qualified dentist will:

  1. Physically examine the gap in your mouth where you’re planning to get a dental implant placed.
  2. Capture the necessary dental imaging including X-rays, CT scans, and/or panoramic films in order to assess the quality and quantity of jawbone. 
  3. Review your medical history for things like infections, allergies, bleeding disorders, existing medical conditions, and medications to ensure that you’re healthy enough to undergo dental surgery and heal and recover properly
  4. Carefully plan your dental implant placement procedure

How can you help me relax for the surgical procedure?

During all your surgical procedure appointments, the dental surgeon will administer a local anesthetic to numb the surgical site, as well as any sedatives that you may require to calm your anxiety and make you comfortable. 

Is bone grafting necessary?

If the site has sufficient bone tissue after tooth extraction, the implant may be placed immediately without bone grafting. But if there’re signs of bone loss, the dentist may place a cadaver or synthetic bone at the site in order to build up the bone tissue and achieve a solid base to support the implant. This process is referred to as alveolar bone grafting, and takes 2-6 months to heal before you can proceed with implant placement. 

Can implants be placed in the upper jaw?

Though there is insufficient bone tissue in the upper jaw, especially in the back where the maxillary sinus is located, dental implants can still be successfully placed after building up the bone tissue with sinus augmentation or sinus lift procedure. 

How safe are dental implants?

First, you should note that dental implant placement has been used in dentistry since the 1950s. Second, implants tend to be very successful with a success rate of 98%, and are even considered the standard of care for replacing missing teeth.

For more information on dental implants in San Jose CA and to find out the cost of your individual treatment, please contact us today.

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Dental Crown Types, Procedure, When It’s Done | San Jose CA

A dental crown or tooth cap is a long-term restoration that provides a permanent solution for both restorative and cosmetic dental problems. Dentists particularly recommend them for large cavities, either as the only restoration, or to complement large unstable dental fillings or root canal therapy.  

Crowns for Cavities 

Dental fillings are the most common restoration for cavities. But if the cavity is too large, it may result in a weak filling with no durability. In such a case, your dentist may recommend that you get a crown instead of fillings to repair the cavity. Crowns can also be used to replace previously placed fillings to strengthen the tooth. 

When you have severe decay that has infected the tooth pulp (section inside the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels), the condition is considered irreparable and you may end up losing the tooth. However, it is possible to save the tooth through root canal therapy, whereby the pulp is removed and replaced with dental filling material. The procedure requires a substantial amount of the natural tooth to be removed in order to thoroughly clean the pulp and completely remove the infection. 

While you retain the original tooth, its structure will have weakened considerably, affecting its normal function. As such, your dentist may recommend that you get a dental crown to encase the restored tooth to strengthen it. The crown also serves an aesthetic function as it covers up the filler material, giving your smile a natural appearance. 

Crowns for Cosmetic Dental Applications 

Cosmetic reasons 

Dental crowns are custom-made to restore the shape, size, and even shade of a damaged tooth if you use a tooth-colored crown. As such, your dentist may recommend crowns to enhance the appearance of imperfect teeth such as:

  • Excessively or unevenly worn down – resulting in very short teeth 
  • Badly shaped teeth 
  • Severely stained teeth 
  • Widely gapped teeth 

Other Applications of Dental Crowns 

Crowns can also be used to repair a chipped, broken, or fractured tooth that is experiencing sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks; to support dental bridgework for replacing missing teeth; or to replace a missing tooth with dental implants. 

There are different materials that can be used to fabricate dental crowns. Your dentist will help you choose the best material for your specific need. To learn more about Dental Crowns in San Jose CA please contact us today.

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Invisalign Near Me – Adults | San Jose CA

invisalign

If you’ve been struggling with the embarrassment of having a smile with crooked teeth, perhaps because you don’t want to draw more attention to yourself with traditional metal braces, then you should know that there are some options in modern orthodontics that allow you correct such issues discreetly, like Invisalign. 

 

Invisalign is a revolutionary orthodontic treatment that has increasingly grown in popularity across the globe due to its many benefits that include:

 

  • Nearly invisible aligners – Ability to straighten your teeth without other people noticing – 
  • Removable aligners – Ability to continue enjoying your favorite foods and drinks and maintain good oral hygiene normally  
  • Clear expectations – with 3D Invisalign treatment planning, you can view your own virtual treatment plan before it starts. You know what to expect at the end of your treatment. 

 

Adults of any age with strong healthy teeth that only have minor to moderate orthodontic issues such as crookedness, overcrowding, misaligned bite, overbite, underbite, or wide spaces between the teeth can be suitable candidates for Invisalign treatment to improve the function and appearance of their teeth and smile. For severe bite problems, your dentist may recommend interdisciplinary treatments, whereby Invisalign is used with other techniques for teeth straightening.

 

Planning Your Invisalign Treatment

The necessary procedures will be determined when designing your orthodontic treatment plan. If Invisalign is right for you, the dentist will proceed with your treatment planning using 3D computer imaging technology to design the complete treatment plan from your current teeth position to the final desired position. 

 

This plan will then be used to design a series of custom-made aligners, so that each set is worn for two weeks, within which time it will move specific teeth incrementally towards the desired position. After 14 days, you will switch out that set of aligners with the next one in the series to continue moving your teeth. This process will continue until the final teeth position is achieved at the end of your treatment. 

 

Start Your Invisalign Treatment 

To get started on your Invisalign treatment for Adults in San Jose CA, please visit your dentist to discuss your case and start your treatment planning.

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Dental Cleanings & Checkup in San Jose CA

At your six-month dental checkup, your dentist should perform dental cleaning as a preventive procedure to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Professional teeth cleaning is necessary to remove accumulated plaque and tartar from in between your teeth and gums, which may be responsible for various oral issues such as cavities, gum disease, bad breath, oral cancer, and so on. 

 

During your routine dental visit, which should be every 6 – 12 months, your dental hygienist will first examine your teeth before cleaning them. The examination involves physical assessment of your teeth, gums, tongue, and the entire mouth for any concerns using a small mirror. If there are any noticeable problems, the dental hygienist will consult the dentist to determine whether it’s safe to proceed with the cleaning. But in some cases, it may be necessary to first clean your teeth and then perform the examination in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Your dental professional will determine the right sequence for your specific case.

 

What to Expect

 

Routine dental cleaning takes about 30 minutes depending on how long it has been since your last cleaning. This is because plaque will continuously calcify and mineralize on the surface of your teeth to form tartar. During this time, the dental hygienist will:

 

  • Use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of individual teeth, between the teeth, and around the gum line. 
  • Polish the teeth using a high-powered brush with a soft rubber cup. This not only removes any surface stains, but also makes your tooth surface smooth and shiny to make it harder for plaque to form. 
  • Perform professional flossing in order to thoroughly clean the area between your teeth to remove any leftover plaque and toothpaste from the previous steps. 
  • Rinse your mouth using a solution containing liquid fluoride to remove any debris and clean your mouth. 
  • Apply flavored fluoride by putting it in flexible trays that are then placed over your teeth for 30 seconds. This helps to strengthen your teeth and enhance the protection against plaque and calculus. 

 

Schedule Your Appointment

While many dental procedures can be dreadful, teeth cleanings are easily tolerated by most people because they’re not only simple and painless, but also an important part of maintaining your long-term oral health. To learn more about what to expect from a routine dental cleaning in San Jose CA, please contact our office today.

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Best Value for Dental Implants in San Jose CA

dental implant

Dental implants tend to cost a lot more than alternative tooth replacement treatments such as dentures and dental bridgework. This cost can partly be attributed to the requirement of a skilled oral surgeon to perform the procedure, as opposed to a general dentist. As a surgical procedure, it also requires careful planning to eliminate any risks and ensure successful treatment. Moreover, dental implants often require additional procedures such as tooth extraction, bone grafting, sinus augmentation, crown placement, and so on depending on the position of the implant, individual treatment plan, and the patient’s general health. All of these factors add to the final cost of dental implants placement.

Generally, there is a variety in the price range for a single dental implant. This amount is distributed across service costs, cost of all components involved in the procedure, and the cost of the replacement crown.

 

A costly dental implant procedure may involve the following steps:

  • Tooth or teeth removal – to remove any tooth fragments during site preparation. 
  • Bone grafting – If the implant site has signs of bone loss after tooth extraction, your oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting to build up the bone tissue and achieve a solid base to support the implant. Bone grafting in the upper jaw is known as sinus augmentation or sinus lift 
  • Titanium Implant placement – A titanium post will be inserted into the jaw bone using a special drill and tools, and a “healing cap” placed over the implant before stitching up the gum. 
  • A temporary denture will be placed at the site for aesthetic purposes during healing 
  • Abutment placement – It is connected to the implant using a screw
  • Crown fabrication – Impression of the abutment will be obtained and sent to a dental lab to fabricate your custom crown. 
  • Tooth replacement – When the crown is ready, it will be secured to the abutment by cementing or with a screw.

 

How Much Will the Insurance Pay?

In the cost breakdown above, dental insurance providers only accept to pay for the replacement crown. This is because dental implants are considered an elective procedure by most dental insurance providers, even though it has become a standard of care for tooth replacement. 

 

For more information on dental implants in San Jose and to find out the cost of your individual treatment, please contact us today.

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Types of Dental Crowns, Which To Choose – San Jose CA

dental crowns

When it comes to choosing dental crowns to repair a damaged tooth, there are several dental materials that you can choose from. However, porcelain-fused-to-metal is arguably the most common material because of its unique combination of mechanical strength and aesthetic results. In addition, it’s said to be of an acceptable biologic quality that is needed for periodontal health. 

That said, porcelain-metal blends may not be as readily available because their fabrication requires a high level of workmanship and the use of precious metals which have become increasingly costly. Some patients also dislike the metal framework, which may be visible when you smile depending on the tooth being restored. 

As such, your dentist may recommend alternative tooth-colored materials for your custom permanent crown, such as:

 

  • All Porcelain Crowns – Dental crowns that are fabricated entirely from porcelain are referred to as all-porcelain crowns, while those made entirely from ceramic are known as all-ceramic crowns. 
  • All-Resin Crowns – Dental composite resin crowns are highly affordable, but are arguably the weakest material for crowns since they’re prone to chipping, cracking, and rapid wear. 
  • Zirconium – Crowns made from this material are as strong and durable as metal crowns and natural-looking for an aesthetic restoration. Zirconia crowns are biocompatible and won’t cause allergic reactions, plus they can be fabricated at the dentist’s office for same-day crown restorations. 

 

Which Crown Should You Choose?

Each dental crown material has various pros and cons that should be carefully evaluated before choosing your permanent crown restoration. You can also choose metal crowns made from gold, platinum, and alloys like nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium for a stronger and more durable restoration.  Your dentist will help you make the right choice based on your specific dental needs. 

To learn more about Dental Crowns in San Jose CA please contact us today.

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Invisalign Treatment in San Jose CA – How It Works

Invisalign is quickly becoming one of the popular ways for teens and adults to straighten their teeth and correct a myriad of other bite and orthodontic issues. Invisalign treatment uses a different approach to straighten teeth. Rather than using metal braces, the trained dentist uses a series of clear, plastic, custom-made aligners to gradually move your teeth to the desired position. 

 

This method is as effective as straightening your teeth with traditional braces. Moreover, it offers many benefits, including: 

 

  • Enhanced comfort – no brackets or wires to irritate your mouth 
  • Removable aligners – so you can eat your favorite foods and maintain oral hygiene
  • Discreet treatment – the clear aligners are nearly invisible 
  • Lower risk of dental emergencies so you spend less time in the dentist’s chair 

 

If you have an orthodontic issue, such as crooked or crowded teeth, misaligned bite, or over/under-bite, your dentist will evaluate your teeth to determine whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. 

 

Invisalign Treatment Process

First, the dentist will take a detailed scan of your teeth, photographs, and a full-mouth X-ray that will be used to design your Invisalign treatment plan and custom aligners. When your aligners are ready, you will be invited for your next appointment for fitting and interproximal reduction (IPR) or slenderizing (slimming) to provide a good teeth alignment. Your Invisalign specialist will also instruct you on how to insert and remove them, as well as how to care for your aligners.

 

Each set of aligners is worn for two weeks, so you will be given the next 3-4 sets of aligners in your treatment plan to change at home. Invisalign monitoring visits are scheduled every 6-8 weeks to assess the progress of your treatment and receive the next set of aligners. The number of scheduled visits depend on the number of aligner sets prescribed in your individual treatment plan. 

 

When your treatment is complete, the Invisalign specialist will examine your teeth to determine if further refining (minor bite adjustments) should be done. If the outcome is as projected at the start of the treatment, then you only need to wear custom retainers to maintain the new position of your teeth. 

 

Schedule your Invisalign Consultation Today 

 

To find out more about Invisalign treatment in San Jose CA  and how it can help to address your orthodontic issues, please visit your dentist or Invisalign specialist today.

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Why Teeth Cleanings in San Jose CA are Vital To Your Health

Studies show that as many as 90% of adults experience some form of periodontal disease at one point in their lives. Gum disease is caused by the unchecked build-up of bacteria in your mouth. In severe cases, the bacteria can get into your bloodstream and make its way to various body tissues and exacerbates diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses. Your dental professional can help you manage your oral health and prevent bacteria buildup through dental cleanings. 

 

What Happens When You Don’t Get Your Teeth Cleaned?

 

The warm and moist environment in your mouth is very hospitable for the growth of bacteria, which manifests as either plaque, a biofilm formed by bacteria colonies living in your mouth, or calculus (tartar), which is the calcified and mineralized form of plaque when it stays on your teeth for too long. 

 

Without professional cleaning, the bacteria in your mouth can accumulate to a point where it becomes active and destructive, resulting in: 

 

  • Cavities – plaque is responsible for producing acid that can erode tooth enamel causing uneven tooth wear and even cavities 
  • Tooth discoloration – tartar is a hard substance that forms on your teeth and attracts more harmful bacteria, ruining the appearance of your smile. 
  • Gingivitis – this is the first stage of gum infection, which is characterized by gum inflammation, swelling, and reddening. Due to sensitive gums, you may also notice some blood on your toothbrush or when rinsing your mouth after brushing. Fortunately, gingivitis can be successfully treated with professional dental cleaning and an improved at-home oral care routine. 
  • Periodontitis – If there are no interventions, gingivitis can advance to a more serious and chronic case of gum disease known as periodontitis or periodontal disease. It affects the foundation of your teeth – the bone tissue connecting your teeth to the jaw. If not treated promptly, periodontitis can cause severe bone loss that loosens your teeth with some even falling out. Though it’s irreversible, dental professionals can help you manage the symptoms and improve your oral health.

 

Your dentist can check for cavities during routine visits, and diagnose periodontal disease by measuring the depth of your gum pockets (space between the teeth and gums), which should be between 1 and 3 mm for a healthy mouth. The dentist will also check for bleeding sites, and assess the extent of bone loss through digital X-rays and clinical observation. Based on the results, they will recommend the best type of dental cleaning in San Jose CA to solve any issues and improve your oral health.