The Use of CAD/CAM Technology in Dentistry

Our staff strives to bring you the best possible care along with the latest technological advances in dentistry. One way that we meet this goal is via the use of CAD/CAM Technology (Computer-Aided Design/ Computer-Aided Manufacturing) to simplify the treatment process for many patients.

Our cosmetic dentists skillfully utilize the best dental technology available. One of the very best pieces of technological dental equipment is the CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) system. CEREC takes CAD/CAM technology to the next level with precision, speed, and ease of use.

In the San Francisco area, few dental practices offer patients the option of using CAD/CAM. We not only offers the technology to patients but can ensure great results as well. Our founding dentist belongs to the CEREC Academy. The Academy specializes in mentoring, teaching, and research involved in CAD/CAM restorations. Additionally, our dentist is a CAD/CAM certified dental practitioner.

One of the most significant ways CAD/CAM Technology improves patients’ experience is by making same-day restorations possible.

Before CAD/CAM restorations existed, a patient needing a crown, or some other dental restoration would be in our office a minimum of two visits.

The first visit is an examination followed by preparing the tooth for the procedure. At this point, the dentist cleans away any dead tissue and prepares the tooth for its new restoration. Once the tooth is ready, our dentist takes impressions of the tooth and sends the information to an off-site dental lab for construction.

A patient then needs a second appointment after the restoration arrives. The dentist places the new tooth restoration on the prepared tooth and barring any unusual circumstances, the tooth is ready and the treatment completed.

Using CAD/CAM our dentist can scan the tooth in question and send the information to a computer in our office. The computer, CERIC, takes the information and crafts a suitable restoration from a single block of porcelain. The next step is for our dentist to place and permanently attach the restoration.

If you would like to know more about how CAD/CAM Technology can improve your next dental procedure, please feel free to contact our office. Our staff can give you useful information to explain the many ways CAD/CAM helps in a dental practice.

 

Can Teens Use Invisalign?

One of our most consistently popular treatments is the Invisalign alignment system. For over two decades, Invisalign helped millions of people to experience orthodontic correction with no need for wires, rubber bands, or strict food limitations.

As Invisalign became more popular, teens wanted a chance to use the orthodontic system that seemed to be ideal. They were attracted to the idea that the alignment trays were clear and that teens could enjoy their favorite foods because the aligners are not in during eating. Additionally, many wearers reported that Invisalign was less painful than the traditional wire braces with rubber bands. However, the traditional Invisalign system had a few drawbacks that made it a poor choice for teen orthodontic care.

The clear plastic alignment trays would not allow space for jaw growth. Additionally, the aligners did not provide an option for the eruption of molars. Parents and dental staff expressed concern that teens may not comply with the necessary terms of use. To get the maximum results from Invisalign, patients must wear the clear aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day. Additionally, the Invisalign aligners must never be in when there is eating or drinking. The exception to this rule is aligners are permissible for sips of plain water.

Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign, listened to the repeated requests for an option that teens could use. Eventually, the product known as Invisalign Teen hit the market. Invisalign Teen addressed the biggest roadblocks to teen usage.

The alignment trays had special tabs built-in to make space for growing jaws or erupting molars. Additionally, Invisalign makers added a small blue compliance dot to each set of trays. As the patient wears the aligner, the blue dot slowly fades. When the two week time period for each set of trays is over, the blue dot will disappear if the patient wore the Invisalign Teen system correctly.

If your teen would like to learn more about Invisalign Teen and what results they could get from its use, please feel free to call our office. Our staff can give you helpful information about Invisalign Teen as well as set up an appointment for a no-obligation consultation. Our dentists can answer your questions and explain the benefits of using the Invisalign alignment system.
dentists

Types of Teeth Whitening

One of the most frequently discussed topics our patients ask the staff about here at our practice is teeth whitening. For several decades, people tried various approaches to get a movie-star white smile. Some of these methods did not work, others did more harm than good, and a few became the gold standards of professional teeth whitening.

Our cosmetic dentists use several teeth whitening treatments. The type of treatment varies based on the degree of staining and the preference of the patient.

Generally, there are two types of whitening regimens: at home and in the dental office.

AT HOME TEETH WHITENING-

• Professionally supervised at-home whitening kits obtained by visiting the dentist office- Patients who opt for the at-home professional teeth whitening kits receive a high-quality whitening gel that contains significantly higher concentrations of peroxide than what comes in over the counter teeth whiteners.

• Over the counter whitening kits- Frequently, patients use over-the-counter whitening kits. While these products come in slightly different forms, the bottom line the whiteners in these products are ineffective for stain removal. This is because the products contain very low concentrations of whitener.
• Toothpaste and mouthwash- Many kinds of toothpaste and mouthwashes claim they are a perfect solution for everyday stain removal. However, the truth is that these whiteners have little, if any, stain removing capability. Additionally, the at-home treatments can be very abrasive and damage the tooth enamel.

IN-OFFICE TEETH WHITENING TREATMENTS

• Professional whiteners created for in-office use contain much larger concentrations of peroxide. This is much more effective than using other treatments. Additionally, treatments in our office give you the option to take advantage of specialised treatments such as laser whitening.

If you would like a whiter and brighter smile, please call our office. Our staff can give you helpful information or set up an appointment for a no-obligation consultation with our teeth whitening experts.

How Lasers Improve Dental Treatments

The word laser seems embedded in the realm of science fiction. At least that is what many of our patients tell our staff when they hear a dental treatment will include using lasers.

Laser dentistry is not a new concept. However, using lasers as a part of dental treatments is more common than ever. As laser technology evolved and refined, its practical applications in the dental world multiplied. Today many dental offices use lasers as a part of their daily routines.
laser dentistry
Our San Francisco dentist is a Laser Certified Faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco. Additionally, he received certification by the World Clinical Laser Institute where he holds an Associate Fellowship Certification in Laser Dentistry. Our dentist freely shares his knowledge and skills with his associate dentists.

There are several ways the dental community uses lasers to improve patient treatments.

• Lasers are helpful when used in tooth whitening. The light from a laser increases the speed of the whitening process.

• Our dentists count on the precision focus of lasers when doing delicate procedures such as removing sores from a patient’s mouth or taking biopsy samples.

• Many patients, especially those with dental anxiety, find the sound of dental equipment extremely distressing. Our laser is quiet and generally does not bother patients or cause increased anxiety.

• Laser light has a warm and somewhat analgesic quality. Many patients receiving laser dental treatments require less anesthetic, and in some cases no numbing is needed

• Tooth extractions are much easier when our dentist uses a laser. Lasers are also used to reshape teeth for crowns and effectively remove decayed tissue during root canal procedures.

• Occasionally our dentists will use a laser in combination with traditional dental techniques and tools in order to achieve what is necessary

If you think you could benefit from laser technology as a part of your next dental treatment, please feel free to get in touch with our office. Our staff can give you more information about laser treatments to help you make an informed decision.

Cosmetic Benefits of Porcelain Crowns

Our patients know that our staff is concerned with their dental health as well as their appearance. This is why our dentists do all we can to make sure your teeth look as good as possible.

Porcelain crowns are one way our dentists can improve the health and the look of your teeth. Porcelain crowns have a variety of uses that enhance your dental health while improving how your tooth appears.

Some of the most helpful ways our cosmetic dentist uses crowns include:

*Protection- When a tooth is injured, using a porcelain crown is a way to make sure that your tooth will be safe from further injury. Crowns also keep out harmful bacteria that congregate at the injury site.

*Reinforcement-It is standard for our dentist to place a porcelain crown after a root canal. The crown acts as a reinforcer and also protects the tooth.

*Aesthetics-Porcelain crowns play an important role in cosmetic dentistry. In addition to shielding a damaged tooth, a crown also restores the natural healthy look of a tooth. This use is especially helpful for when teeth have discolorations, chips and cracks. Crowns often help to close gaps between teeth or realign teeth for a pleasing smile. Even when crowns are for protection or reinforcement, they improve or maintain a natural look. This is because our dentist matches the shade of the porcelain to your tooth’s natural color.

It is essential to maintain good oral hygiene after our dentist places your porcelain crowns. It is easy to see healthy-looking crowns and not think about the teeth under the crowns. Be sure to:
*Brush your teeth at least twice daily
*Floss every day
*Use an antibacterial mouth rinse twice a day to help remove bacteria that lodge in hard to clean areas of your mouth, especially around the gum line.

If you are interested in learning more about porcelain crowns for cosmetic or structural reasons, please feel free to contact our office. Our staff is happy to provide helpful information.

How Dental Sedation Can Help

The staff at our dental office knows that some patients have a good bit of anxiety when it is time for a dental procedure. We have patients who tell us that they avoid visiting the dentist because they are terrified of needing some type of treatment. While we promise that we do everything we can to make all of the dental remedies as stress-free and painless as possible, we also offer our patients the option of situationally appropriate dental sedation.

Our patients who typically are quite anxious about dental procedures report that dental sedation made their time in our dentist chair a positive experience. We offer several kinds of dental sedation; our expert in sedation will help you to select the best type for your individual needs and situation.

Our dental sedation options are available in three forms.

• NITROUS OXIDE- This sedative has been a part of dentistry for decades. You may know it by its more popular name, laughing gas. This kind of dental sedation is a gas that you receive through your nose. While it does not provide significant pain relief, it does give patients a sense of calmness and helps with relaxing. Nitrous oxide works quickly and also wears off quickly, so you do not need to feel concerned about being extremely groggy once your procedure is complete.

• ORAL SEDATIVES- Our dentist typically reserves oral sedatives for patients with excessive anxiety or dental phobias. You receive a prescription for a small quantity of anti-anxiety medication to take before your procedure.

• IV SEDATION- This type of sedation works well for complex situations such as dental surgery when a patient needs to be still for a prolonged procedure. With IV sedation, you are unconscious during the procedure and will most likely need to arrange a ride home.

We understand that few patients rush to see us because it is such an exciting experience. Our Huntington Beach dentist and staff hope that knowing dental sedation is an option will set many patients’ minds at ease. If you are interested in learning more about dental sedation, please contact our office. We have a variety of information we are happy to share with you.

When is Pinhole Surgery Effective?

We see patients each day who have problems with receding gum lines. Not only is a gum line that is receding unsightly, but it is a condition that puts the roots at risk of damage. The longer you allow gum recession to continue unchecked, the more potential there is for damage to your roots.

Until recently, when a cosmetic dentist wanted to cover exposed tooth roots from unsightly recession, there was only one option an elaborate surgery called a graft. During a graft, the dentist removes some skin from the roof of your mouth. Next, the skin covers the area where your gums receded and sutured into place. Our dentist sutures the donor tissue into place.

The thought behind this procedure is that, over a period of time, the skin will attach to the receding gum line. This will cover the tooth roots to protect them from damage. Replacing the receded gums also creates an attractive smile. Even though grafting had a high rate of success, the invasive surgery, long recovery, and chance of poorly matched skin tones all cooled the high anticipation for the procedure.

is a relatively new procedure that allows a dentist to cover the exposed root without any surgery. Our dentist starts this procedure by numbing the area surrounding the gum that needs repair. Next, the dentist makes tiny pinholes in the gum need repairing. Our dentist will use very small dental instruments to make holes in the receded gums. The gums are detached away from the gum line and pulled into their correct position where they cover the roots that once were exposed. Patients and dental professionals prefer this method because it is fast, painless, and heals quickly.

If you have a receding gum line, please feel free to contact our office. A member of our staff can set up an appointment for you to speak with our dentist and have your gums evaluated.

What to Expect from Invisalign Treatment

For more than 20 years, dental professionals suggested Invisalign for patients in need of orthodontic treatment. Our dentists are no exception. Even though Invisalign is a popular choice for those seeking orthodontic care, many of our patients ask our dentist and our staff what they should expect from their Invisalign treatment.

During your consultation, we will examine your teeth to see which of the three Invisalign types is best for you. Each person is different, but a general guideline is if you are under the age of 18, you will likely get Invisalign Teen. Those patients with very slight misalignments may expect Invisalign Express to adjust their teeth to an optimal position quickly. Our patients not falling into either category will receive the traditional Invisalign treatment.

Our dentist will design a personalized treatment plan that will move your teeth into their best position. He begins with digital images of your teeth and plots the progress needed to create your best smile. Your set of custom-made alignment trays will be ordered and usually arrive in about two weeks.

Our patients tell us that it takes very little time to adjust to the Invisalign aligners. However, it is crucial to the success of Invisalign treatment that you comply with the instructions from our dentist. These include:
• Wear the alignment trays 20-22 hours every day
• Aligners must not be in when you are eating or drinking
• Clean your aligners carefully before you put them on your teeth
• Maintain good dental hygiene and brush your teeth before you insert your alignment trays
• Keep your scheduled appointments with our office so we can monitor your progress and address any problems or questions

These few directions must be followed to ensure a smile with straight and healthy teeth. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact our office. You are in excellent hands. Our Invisalign expert is one of the first dental providers to be certified by Invisalign’s maker Align Technology. He also serves on an elite advisory group, the Align Technology Innovation Leadership Panel.

Early Signs of Sleep Apnea

Here at our office, we find that many of our patients are surprised to hear that a dentist first identifies the majority of sleep apnea cases. While a formal diagnosis requires a sleep specialist, dentists may see several signs pointing to sleep apnea during routine exams. Normally, after a few questions to confirm the dentist’s suspicions, the dentist suggests the sleep disorder as a cause and refers the patient to a sleep specialist.

Our sleep apnea dentist in San Francisco has years of experience helping patients dealing with sleep apnea. He knows that it is a serious medical condition and urges our patients not to take the possibility of the illness lightly.

As is true with most disorders, sleep apnea responds best to treatment when it is still early in the course of the illness. Many people still think that sleep apnea is a problem with loud snoring. While snoring is a part of the equation, sleep apnea increases a patient’s risk of developing one or more serious chronic illnesses.

To help your awareness of the signs of sleep apnea, here are some of the early signs that you may have sleep apnea.

• Daytime sleepiness- Patients getting eight hours of sleep should not be continually sleepy. If you sleep a reasonable amount of time each night, and you are still sleepy during the day, sleep apnea may be the cause.
• Chronic, long-lasting headaches- If you experience headaches on a daily basis and you notice they are lasting longer than a normal headache, talk to our dentist.
• Choking and gasping for air during sleep
• Depression or agitation
• The need to urinate during sleep
• Restlessness
• The inability to focus, retain information, concentrate, or other learning-related problems
• Falling asleep during daily activities such as during class or while driving

If you have signs pointing to sleep apnea, do not hesitate to contact our office. Our dentist can check your symptoms and, if necessary, refer you to a sleep specialist for a formal diagnosis. You deserve to rest well, and we are here to help you enjoy sound sleep again.

Effectiveness of Invisalign

For more than 20 years, the Invisalign system has discreetly and effectively improved the smiles of millions of dental patients, including many who visit our Torrance dentist.

Invisalign is one of our most requested treatments because it has such a wide appeal. The alignment trays are clear, so most people will not notice you wearing them. Patients must remove Invisalign trays before eating or drinking anything except water. Because the trays are removable, the food restrictions common for other braces are not a problem. Invisalign patients receive new alignment trays about once a month; this eliminates painful tightening and adjustments endured by patients wearing traditional braces. It is easy to see what attracts patients to Invisalign. However, many patients ask our Invisalign dentist in Torrance if the Invisalign system is effective.

The treatment is highly effective and receives excellent reviews from patients and professionals. There are a few circumstances where Invisalign excels as the best option for orthodontic care.

• PROPERLY ALIGNING TEETH- Our patients with misaligned teeth love the fact that Invisalign repositions their teeth without the pain and inconvenience of metal braces.
• CORRECT VARIOUS BITE PROBLEMS- Invisalign is a great option for our patients with the following bite problems:

 

• Crossbites
• Overbites
• Underbites
• Openbites

There are a few situations where our dentist would not suggest Invisalign as a treatment option. These include:
• A tooth rotation of more than 20 degrees- Invisalign cannot compensate enough to turn a tooth that is greatly rotated
• A tooth incline of more than 45 degrees- For an extreme incline, traditional braces are the best patient option
• Patients with dental implants- Because Invisalign works by pushing teeth into their best position, the stationary nature of implants means they will not move
• Patients who have dental bridges- Dental bridges are not meant to move, as we see with implants, the Invisalign system works by moving teeth and Invisalign would be a poor choice for those with bridges.

Invisalign is a wonderful option for many of our patients. If you would like to learn more about how Invisalign can help you, please contact our office.