A Simple How To Find An Emergency Dentist

Wondering how to find an emergency dentist? You would not be alone because every year thousands of people find themselves in exactly the same predicament. Dental accidents happen all the time and usually when we are least expecting them. This leaves the person in a bit of a panic, wondering how to find an emergency dentist. In the case of a child being injured, playing sports, for example, the need to quickly identify and reach out to an emergency dentist becomes even more important. There are several ways you can find an emergency dentist. Our recommendation is to be proactive and start the search before you ever have the need for these kinds of service. There are a few dentists that offer emergency dental treatment but, unlike hospitals, not all dentists are able to offer emergency medical treatment. You should start your search by talking to your provider.

If you already have a dentist and they do not provide you with dental care in an emergency situation, they will probably have a recommended dentist that they work with who does. Naturally, if that does not work, you can talk to friends and family about their dentist and seek out the ones that do offer emergency dental care. The other option on how to find an emergency dentist is to do a google search, looking for an emergency dentist. This can be hit and miss sometimes so you will want to actually call the dentist office to find out if they do offer emergency dental services. We recommend you read reviews and testimonials before picking your emergency dentist. This can only be done if you are working proactively to select an emergency dentist before the incident occurs. Once you have identified who your provider is, you will want to make sure that they are covered by your insurance. We recommend writing them down along with their contact information in an emergency contact list. That way when, and if, an emergency dental situation arises, you will not be wasting precious time looking for a provider.

People often wonder what to do in certain emergency dentist situations while they are trying to figure out how to find an emergency dentist. Here are a few tips –

For a severe toothache: Take a recommended dose of an over the counter pain reliever, then rinse your mouth out with warm water. If something is stuck in your teeth, try to extract it gently using floss and without using a sharp object. You can also apply a cold compress if the outside of your mouth is swollen.

A chipped or broken tooth: Find the parts of the tooth, as many as you can, and place them into a container with cool milk. You will want to make sure to stem any bleeding that may be occurring with gauze, placed with light pressure for approximately 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.

Lost filling: Place a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity as a temporary measure. Do not use gum that has sugar as it will cause you additional pain.

In each of these scenarios, you want to have the number of your emergency dentist handy and reach out to them as soon as you have taken these temporary measures.

Pediatric Dentistry  >  Oral Surgery

How a Redwood City Dentist Can Improve Your Experience With Dental Care

As a Redwood City dentist, we provide superior dental care and do so in a way that is gentle. This way, you can receive the care that you need without discomfort.  We also use medication and sedation when necessary to ensure that you can remain calm and relaxed during your appointment.  Sedation dentistry is one of those advances in dental medicine that is a huge blessing for a large number of patients. For years, people have been avoiding the dentist office in record numbers because of a fear known as dental anxiety. We are well aware of what dental anxiety does to a person, leaving them in a panic. This panic is so deep that for over 26% of affected people, it translates to them never being able to come in and see a dentist until they have a dental emergency. Sometimes even a dental emergency is not enough to motivate these folks past their fears to come in and see a dentist. This is a serious issue when almost half the people in the world are so afraid of the procedures at the dentist office that they are willing to risk pain and discomfort rather than coming in. Sedation dentistry can correct this by providing you with an alternative to living with the fear, in the form of sedation.

Sedation and dentistry are not new concepts working together. We have used sedation for many things, including procedures that involve a lot of work or in situations where it takes less time to have the patient asleep. Common examples of dentists using sedation are when we do a wisdom tooth extraction or a root canal. Today, however, we have expanded the scope of using sedation with dentistry so that we can help you to alleviate fears, even when you are coming in for less intrusive work. The one thing that you need to be aware of is the fact that we need to evaluate what you are having done, how much fear you have, and how much sedation you are going to need for the procedure.

As a Redwood City dentist and provider of oral surgery, there are four types of sedation that we make the most use of. Our preference is always to use the first three in the case of less intrusive procedures because we do not want to over use general anesthesia. The first, and most commonly used, type of sedation dentistry is called minimal sedation. In this state, you would be fully awake and also completely relaxed. The second state of sedation that we use is known as moderate sedation. When you are under moderate sedation, you will still be conscious but will be slightly more affected. You will probably slur your speech because you have a heavy tongue, and chances are, that you will not remember very much when it comes to the procedure. The next option is deep sedation, where you will be on the edge of consciousness. In essence, you will be asleep, but it will not be a very deep sleep. We can wake you up relatively easily if need be. Finally, there is general anesthesia, in which you are completely unconscious and will need to take some time to recover before being able to head home. As a Redwood City dentist, we are most likely to use this when performing a surgical procedure.

Dentist  >  Dental Implants

Why You Should Visit a Professional Teeth Whitening Dentist

There are many reasons why you should visit a professional teeth whitening dentist, the main ones being safety and efficiency. Before you decide to whiten your teeth, you should discuss the risks and time frame it may take to get the results you want with a dentist. When you whiten at home with store-bought products, you risk tooth sensitivity and enamel and root damage. We can help you determine what the risks are surrounding your individual teeth and what whitening system is best for your needs.

Why a professional teeth whitening dentist?

We can help you alleviate sensitivity as you whiten by recommending certain desensitizing toothpaste designed for vulnerable teeth.

We can also check for discreet signs of root damage that could be the result of tooth whitening or other care regimens.

We can treat any existing conditions that may be inhibiting your ability to whiten your teeth quickly and effectively.

We increase your teeth whitening success rate.

We can determine if your staining is caused by general wear and surface stains or by underlying issues that need to be addressed and fixed, like periodontal disease, smoking, or silver-lined fillings.

If you have existing bonding or other dental enhancements, we can help you whiten areas that can be whitened and find ways to improve your restorations.

Who is a good candidate for teeth whitening?

People whose teeth have naturally become stained due to eating and drinking are excellent candidates for teeth whitening. If you have staining in inner layers on your teeth from medications or fluoride use, we will have to discuss other ways to improve the color of your teeth outside of our normal bleaching techniques. Before we begin your profession teeth whitening process, we will give your teeth a thorough cleaning and checkup to remove any surface stains that may get in the way of our bleaching techniques. Other good candidates are people who are generally unhappy with the current appearance of their teeth.

If you are considering cosmetic improvements for your teeth, you should first pursue visiting a professional teeth whitening dentist for a lightening. A teeth whitening is sometimes all patients need to greatly improve their smiles. A professional whitening will result in amazing results that brighten your entire smile.

Are the costs of professional teeth whitening reasonable?

Teeth whitening is one of the most affordable ways to improve your smile. Many people opt to whiten their teeth rather than having other more expensive improvements made. Our convenient in-office or at-home whitening treatments can give you immediate results that continue to develop with longer use. Instead of spending money on teeth whitening toothpaste and store-bought products, visit a professional to have your whitening implemented correctly at a reasonable price.

Before you visit a professional teeth whitening dentist for a bleaching, you should consider your oral health habits. Are you brushing and flossing your teeth like you should and visiting a dentist twice a year? Even when you have your teeth whitened, you need to maintain these healthy oral hygiene habits in order to elongate your whitened results. Visit our office today for more information.

Cosmetic Dentistry  >  Root Canal Dentist

Learn About How The Dental Implant Procedure Replaces Teeth

If you are missing teeth, the dental implant procedure can replace them in a natural-looking way.

What is the dental implant procedure?

When placing a dental implant, which is a tiny prosthetic device used to help replace lost teeth or a single tooth, we use a dental implant procedure. This procedure consists of an examination, the oral surgery to place the implant into the jawbone and under the gum line, and the placement of a new fake tooth. This dental implant procedure is designed to give you a prosthetic that will help support a strong and sustainable fake tooth. We start every dental implant procedure with a comprehensive examination. This is to determine if there is anything that might delay, hamper, or preclude your dental implant from being placed. While there are very few factors that can actually prevent you from getting a dental implant, there are numerous things that may require our attention before we get to the actual implant portion of the procedure. During the examination, we will use dental imaging to examine the density and strength of the jawbone, check for cavities and decay, and ensure that every aspect of your mouth is healthy enough to proceed with oral surgery. The second step of a dental implant procedure is to place the implant into the jawbone, a procedure carried out by a skilled oral surgeon. During this process, the surgeon will leave an abutment, or a small post, available to connect the outer tooth, which is also known as the dental crown, to the actual dental implant. Typically, there is a healing period after this procedure, and then we will place your new dental crown and you will leave with a brand new tooth or set of teeth.

During the dental implant procedure, why do you measure the jawbone so thoroughly?

Think of the dental implant as the foundation of a house, and the jawbone is the ground into which we must place the foundation. If the ground is weak, then the entire foundation, and thus the house itself, will not be stable. To avoid this, we want to make sure that before we do a dental implant procedure, your jawbone is dense enough to sustain the implant and provide the support the new tooth needs. Often, patients who have experienced tooth loss also find that their jawbone has deteriorated through a natural process known as resorption. Our goal is to make sure that this has not caused your jawbone to become so weak that it cannot withstand the implant. In the event that your jawbone does not have the required density or is too weak, we can perform a bone graft to give us a strong area in which to place the dental implant.

Is the dental implant procedure impacted if I need a bone graft?

A bone graft is a restorative procedure that simply gives your bone the support it needs by augmenting, or building up, the bone. The procedure is done at the dentist office, but does require a healing period of around six months before we can proceed to the next phase of the dental implant procedure.

Pediatric Dentistry  >  Redwood City Dentist

What You Should Know About Dietary Restrictions After Oral Surgery

We perform oral surgery on a regular basis, primarily to place dental implants.  If you have lost a tooth, implants are the best way to replace it because an implant not only replaces the actual tooth but also the root system.  It is the only solution to do so considering that both a dental bridge and dentures only deal with the problem on the outside of the gums.

While highly effective, this is a surgical procedure.  In order to place the implants, we insert a titanium post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone.  This is done in every place where a tooth is missing.  We do this under anesthesia so that you remain comfortable and do not feel any irritation during the procedure itself.  Since it is surgical, there will be a recovery time that is associated with the procedure and the more implants that you have placed, the longer the recovery period will be.

During this time, it is important that you eat a healthy diet so that you can keep up your energy and give your body the best opportunity to recover quickly from your oral surgery.  This can be challenging since your gums will also be sore and there are natural restrictions associated with what you can eat.  You need to focus on eating foods that are soft and will not irritate your gums.

Here are some meals that we recommend you try after having oral surgery.

Breakfast

Be sure to continue to eat every meal, including breakfast.  While cereal and toast are out of the question, you can have oatmeal or cream of wheat that is made with whole milk.  You can also try boiled or scrambled eggs as a nutritious breakfast.  Otherwise, we recommend that you have a smoothie where you combine your favorite fruits and vegetables with yogurt and protein powder.  A smoothie can be used to replace as many meals as you like and will provide you with much of the nutrition that you need as long as you include the correct ingredients.

Lunch

For lunch, many of our patients eat soup.  You can buy soup in the can or make your own potato soup that can be blended for a meal that is delicious, easy to make and eat. You can also try eating a tuna sandwich or a hummus sandwich on soft bread with applesauce on the side.

Dinner

After having oral surgery, this can be the hardest meal to replace simply because most people eat meat as their main dish.  In the beginning, pork, chicken, and beef will be too challenging to eat but you can substitute these with a soft fish or tofu.  Both will provide you with the nutrition that you need while being easy to eat.  Add a side dish of mashed potatoes or soft pasta shells that are easy to chew.

Keep in mind that your dietary restrictions are only temporary.  You will be able to return to a normal diet fairly quickly and once your gums are healed and your new tooth secured, there will be no dietary restrictions.

Cosmetic Dentistry  >  Periodontics

We Keep Children Healthy in Our Pediatric Dentistry Office

As a specialist in pediatric dentistry, we treat many of the same problems that plague adults. In that regard, we are very much like a regular dentist. The biggest difference, as you can imagine, is the age of our patients.  While the challenges that face adults and children are often the same. Addressing these challenges can be more difficult when dealing with children. For an adult, it is usually pretty simple to determine what is going on, for example where they are experiencing discomfort. A child may not be able to communicate this as effectively, sometimes pointing to a region of their mouth instead of a specific tooth or part of the gum. In addition to this we have the challenge that children are typically more nervous of the experience. They are already intimidated coming in to see a dentist, and then there is the chair, all the equipment, and people in white coats. An important part of being a pediatric dentist is learning to pace the child so that we can get all the work that needs to be done completed, without completely overwhelming them. Talking them through various steps, allowing them to pre-touch the equipment, and working at a slower pace are all vital to achieving this goal.

In pediatric dentistry, there are a number of more common problems that we deal with in children. The most common, as many parents can attest to, is the occurrence of cavities. Cavities are also known as tooth decay. For children, and for adults, untreated cavities can cause discomfort and spread to other areas of the mouth. Luckily decay is one of the easier things to prevent, and when it does occur we can fill cavities very easily as well. Decay in teeth is caused by a natural occurrence of bacteria. This bacteria tends to colonize parts of the teeth, and when they are given food they secret acid. The bacteria are particularly partial to foods high in sugar and starch content. The acid secreted will damage the enamel and eventually cause a small hole to appear. The easiest way to avoid cavities is to teach your children great oral health habits so that they never allow the bacteria to build up to damage causing levels. Great oral habits include brushing twice per day, using floss on a regular basis, rinsing after meals and also after snacks, and making it a habit to visit the dentist at least twice a year. For children, this regiment is critical.

Some of the other things we find common to pediatric dentistry and regular dentistry are things like canker sores. Caused by a number of different factors, canker sores are painful for children. They can very easily be dealt with by using an anti-microbial mouthwash. Also, one sure way to tell if you child is having a dental issue is tooth sensitivity. Children will frequently complain of discomfort when they eat something hot, cold, or sweet. This sensitivity can be a parent's best friend as it alerts you to the fact that you need to come in and visit our pediatric dentistry office.

Family Dentist  >  Veneers Dentist

What You Should Know About Oral Cancer Awareness Month

This is Oral Cancer Awareness month, and there are facts that you need to know.  Every hour someone dies of oral cancer.  This is a cancer that gets very little attention so while most people are familiar with breast cancer and lung cancer, oral health tends to be neglected.  Given the number of people that are diagnosed with and die of this condition, you need to be sure to visit our dentist office for a cancer screening.  We highly recommend that you do so on an annual basis since, like most cancers, this can be treated and cured with early detection.  However, if you allow it to grow and spread, it can become difficult to treat.

What causes oral cancer in the first place?

There are many causes of oral cancer, some of which you can control.  At the top of the list is tobacco products.  This includes smoking and chewing tobacco.  We have found that many people tend to stop smoking because they are aware of the danger to their lungs and heart. Some people start chewing tobacco instead.  The problem is that chewing tobacco is a leading cause for oral cancer and can increase your risk of it by sixty times.

Another major cause of oral cancer, though less known, is the HPV virus.  There are around 400 strains of HPV, and while many people think of it in the context of being a sexually transmitted disease, it is taking over tobacco use as the leading cause of oral cancer.  The problem with HPV is that most people never know that they have the virus or how it will manifest.  It can lead to something obvious like warts or go undetected for years until you all of a sudden have signs of cancer.  Additionally, this particular STD is so common that the CDC believes that most adults will contract it at some point in their lifetime. Since this is Oral Cancer Awareness month, you should know that this is one of the reasons doctors are now recommending that children receive the HPV vaccine.

As a dentist, we also know that drinking alcohol in excess can lead to oral cancer.  Most people don't associate the two, but it has a similar risk factor to smoking.  This doesn't particularly apply to casual drinking but drinking excessive amounts on a regular basis.  We also recommend that you avoid overexposure to the sun since this is known to increase the risk of oral cancer as well.

Signs to watch for.

Early detection is critical, and we perform oral cancer awareness month in our dental office.  We are the best medical professional to do so because we know what your mouth should look like and can easily identify any abnormalities.  At home, you can help by watching for red and white bumps inside of your mouth.  You should also use your tongue to check for rough patches or hard bumps and lumps that can also be signs of cancer.  If you notice anything out of the ordinary, give us a call for a thorough examination.

Emergency Dentist  >  Pediatric Dentistry