There are Multiple Benefits to Visiting our Family Dentist Office

What is the importance of a family dentist? There are many ways to answer this question, but perhaps the best way is to pose another question: “Why not have a family dentist?” A family dentist is someone who provides services to the entire family, creating a number of intrinsic benefits common to many service providers who service an entire family. From a dentist point of view, it is even more beneficial when you take into consideration how many people suffer from dental anxiety. We strongly encourage our families to take advantage of the fact that we are a family dentist and to come in together, whenever possible, for routine maintenance and cleaning. What the families who do this have discovered is that when they make it a family habit to visit us, the entire family stays healthier and they have an overall improvement in their oral health and hygiene. In addition, kids learn very young to trust and rely on the family dentist for any dental health needs they may have, much the same way as families have learned to rely on the family general practitioner. As the familiarity between us and your family improves, so too will that critical trust factor, which is something family dentists rely on very heavily.

Consider it from a child's perspective for a second. Coming to a medical service center of any type is something naturally scary for a child. There are unfamiliar surroundings, strange sounds and smells, and the innate fear of the unknown. When, however, you add in the smiling face of a trusted family practitioner in the form of your family dentist, much of that anxiety dissipates. Since the child has previously seen this person as a friend and someone who treats Mom or Dad, they are no longer as concerned about the procedures or what goes on in the chair. Additionally, we have discovered that parents who make it a habit to come in with their children are also more inclined to trust the dentist and have their own oral health needs taken care of.

Besides the ability to build trust with the family, there are other very tangible benefits for a family who sees a family dentist. The first among these is the ability to save time. When you have different services providers for different members of the family, you will find yourself juggling schedules and driving from place to place to ensure everyone is getting what they need. On the other hand, when the entire family sees the same family dentist, we are able to provide you with all the services under one roof. For general services from fillings to extractions and from cleanings to x-rays, we are able to offer all of that in the clinic, so you do not have to go anywhere else. In a the same vein, families do not want to be juggling schedules, so we have a booking system that allows you to book each other's appointments in congruence or relationship with each other. This way, when you and the family come in to see the family dentist, all your bases are covered at the same time.

Emergency Dentist  >  Periodontics

Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures That Will Make You Smile

If you have teeth you are unhappy with, modern cosmetic dentistry procedures make it easier than ever before to attain the smile you have always wanted. If you need a self-confidence boost, want a more attractive smile, or are concerned about health risks due to crowded teeth, we can help. We provide a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures with the ability to improve your teeth. Learn more about the services we offer and how we can give you your best smile.

Teeth Whitening: We offer in-office and at-home whitening solutions that range in effectiveness and simplicity. We have options that can suit any budget while still providing you with whiter teeth by eliminating stains and discoloration. A simple teeth whitening cosmetic dentistry procedure can provide you with surprising results.

Dental Bonding: If you have chipped or cracked teeth or a single discolored tooth, we can provide you with dental bonding, which covers injured teeth and imperfections with a malleable solution that is permanently hardened after being placed in the correct area. This option will quickly and easily fix small dental imperfections.

Dental Contouring: Dental contouring can be employed to align and reshape crooked or misshapen teeth. We will gently buff areas of each tooth to create a more attractively shaped structure.

White Fillings: If you have metallic fillings and would like a tooth-colored update, we can remove your dated fillings and replace them with a more attractive option. Our white fillings will blend in with your tooth color perfectly and look natural when you smile.

Dental Veneers: Our veneers are thin, porcelain shells bonded to the fronts of your teeth. They effectively cover discolored, misshapen, and oddly spaced teeth and also improve the look of jagged or chipped teeth edges. Veneers are customized for your individual needs and attractively cover dental flaws, improving your appearance drastically.

Dental Implants: If you have missing teeth, you should consider receiving our dental implants instead of getting traditional dentures. Dental implants last forever, look and feel more natural, and are created to match surrounding teeth. Our implants are planted into your jawbone for a permanent foundation.

Dental Bridges: If you don't want a removable dental replacement, but prefer to avoid the cost and procedure of dental implants, dental bridges are an excellent option. A fabricated tooth is held in a gap by two crowns placed over abutment teeth. This is a more permanent option than dentures and provides a natural looking replacement.

These are only a few of our most common cosmetic dentistry procedures that can improve the appearance and health of your teeth. Most of our treatments are minimally invasive and do not cause discomfort during or after the process. We use appropriate anesthetics as needed to offer you the most comfortable visit possible. You will be pleased with your improved smile and quick results. Our quality materials, products, and procedures provide long-lasting and beautiful teeth resilient to staining and wear.

Teeth Whitening  >  Oral Surgery

Periodontics Treatment FAQs

When you visit us for periodontics, we can provide you with the care you need to ensure your gums stay in excellent health. If you have already suffered from gum disease or even gum recession, we can assist with that, as well. Many people think of teeth when they think of the dentist, and while this is accurate, we also treat gums. Your gums are critical to your oral health, and if you experience gum disease, it can progress to the point where you begin to lose teeth. In fact, when we see signs of tooth loss, gum disease is the first thing we look for. To ensure you do not have it, visit our dental office for an examination and teeth cleaning. In the meantime, here are some facts you should know about periodontal treatment.

First, how do I know if I have gum disease?

The best way to find out is to visit a dentist. However, if you are looking to self-diagnose, we recommend you pay attention to how your gums look and feel. If they are sore, red, swollen, bleeding, or painful, you could have gum disease. You may notice that your gums have these symptoms when you smile or when you brush your teeth. Some people even notice blood when they spit after brushing. If this happens occasionally, it may not be a cause for concern, but if it is happening regularly, you should certainly give us a call.

What causes gum disease?

As a provider of periodontics care, we warn patients that they need to brush their teeth and floss throughout the day. Many people skip flossing, but this can lead to gum disease because it allows plaque to build up along the gum line and eventually become trapped underneath it. When plaque and tartar form on the portion of the tooth that is under the gums, it will irritate them and cause gum disease. Another cause is restricted blood flow, which is why pregnant women and diabetics tend to experience gum disease more frequently than others.

How do you treat periodontal disease?

If we can catch it early, we can start by performing a deep cleaning. There are several ways to do so, and depending on the amount of cleaning required, you may need to visit us for more than one appointment. Our goal is to remove the plaque and tartar from underneath the gums to eliminate the irritant. This is done with a deep cleaning and is the preferable treatment option. However, if the gums have started to recede or pull away from the tooth structure, this will not be enough. Once gum recession has taken place, you will be in danger of your tooth becoming loose or even falling out. This is because more of the tooth structure and roots will be exposed to bacteria, and as the plaque is created, the acid secreted from it can attack the tooth and lead to bone loss. This is what ends up leading to loose teeth and tooth loss. To prevent this, your gums must be treated. In this case, you may need a gum graft. This is where tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth or from a tissue donor and sutured to your gums so they can be secured back around your teeth. This sort of periodontics treatment can help your gums to return to good health.

Cosmetic Dentistry  >  Pediatric Dentistry

The Role of Antibiotics in Pediatric Dentistry and Our Dentist Office

With pediatric dentistry, perhaps more than any other form of dentistry, we are always looking for the easiest and fastest way to relieve the discomfort of patients that visit our dentist office. This is especially true because, with pediatric dentistry, we are dealing with children who do not understand their discomfort and want it gone quickly. In a sense, the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 was a blessing for the entire profession. Antibiotics have given modern medicine the opportunity to take away most infections very quickly and effectively. This was a huge leap that allowed us to take on even the most stubborn bacterial infections and cure them, which led to other advancements and the ability to treat even more difficult problems. Naturally, as with any great discovery, there are cautions as well. At our practice, we believe in a more holistic form of treating our patients, which means that while antibiotics are on the table, they are not the option we jump to quickly. In fact, the question we often ask is not what antibiotic to use, but rather, if we actually need to use an antibiotic at all. In this regard, we prefer a much more measured and scientific approach to prescribing treatment. There are reasons for our caution.

As a dentist, we have watched the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry has issued a caution about antibiotics. Their overuse by the medical profession as a whole has literally given rise to strains of bacteria that are completely resistant to antibiotics, and this is not something a pediatric dentist wants to risk. So you will find that there are always alternatives we want to explore before going to an antibiotic treatment. With this approach for when we do prescribe them, the antibiotics are highly targeted and usually extremely effective. Being involved in pediatric dentistry, we completely understand a parent's desire to go quickly to antibiotics as a treatment. The results often speak for themselves. If your child has an infection that is causing them discomfort, giving them a fever, or even has swelling at the site of the infection, it is understandable that you would want to do whatever is necessary to eliminate this, and with an antibiotic, many parents will see an almost instantaneous result.

On the other hand, pediatric dentistry knows it is not the antibiotics that kill the bacterial infection. When your child is infected with foreign microorganisms, their immune system goes to war with these invaders. The antibiotics merely provide a way for the body to have balance, giving it a much-needed opportunity to recoup. Once this happens, your body will quickly and effectively neutralize the infection and kill whatever microorganisms are causing the problem. In addition, your child's body will learn what makes this infection tick, so should any similar infection ever appear, their body can very quickly create the solution for it. At the end of day, it is the body that is an ace infection fighter, so our job as a dentist is to provide it with whatever tools it need to fight this, or any infection effectively, even if not in the form of antibiotics.

Dentist  >  Dental Implants

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