How Do I Know If I Need A Crown?

When people visit a cosmetic dentist and the dentist mentions the word “crown,” many probably think of a painful surgical procedure.

But that’s just cultural conditioning — we don’t usually understand complex dental processes, and we fear what we don’t understand.

The process of getting a crown is pretty painless. And a crown can save your teeth, if it’s the right procedure for you.

Get to know crowns and get over your fears! Read on…

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown refers to a tooth-shaped permanent covering on damaged teeth. The crown material can vary from metal, ceramic, resin, gold, metal fused to porcelain. Cosmetic dentists use crowns to restore the size, shape, strength, and appearance of a tooth.

Typically, we’ll place the crown over a dental implant or a tooth that undergoes a root canal. Below are four reasons you may need a dental crown:

1. You have Chipped Teeth

Crowns can take up the place of large cavities, which the standard filling materials cannot efficiently cover. Placing artificial material in the decayed part of a tooth can also strengthen the affected tooth. A crown is the ideal way to seal cracked teeth, strengthen fragile teeth, or protect a tooth that is at the risk of breaking.

2. Protection after a Root Canal Procedure

Root canal procedures involve the removal of nerves and pulp inside the tooth. Your doctor may recommend a root canal if there is excessive tooth decay, or you are at risk of an infection. Root canals remove the nerve within the tooth to eliminate pain or sensitivity, so it may be necessary to restore the weak tooth’s functions and ability to chew. This is often done by using a crown.

3. Improve the Aesthetic Appearance of Teeth

Crowns can restore smiles by covering discolored, brown, damaged, or small teeth. Modern crowns made of natural-looking composite resin or porcelain help teeth look more uniform and help create a more beautiful smile.

This is different from teeth whitening – read about that procedure here.

4. Crown Following Dental Implants

You may need crowns after getting dental implants, which are substitutes for missing teeth. The crown is placed above the implants.

A cosmetic dentist can also use a partial crown to replace a part of a tooth made of gold or tooth-colored ceramic. A full crown can be used to cover one or more teeth that have silver, gold, or ceramic material.

But a crown is not just something you pick up at the store. You do need an expert dentist to first examine and determine if a crown is right for you.

We can help make that determination with you. Contact Studio City Dental Center to make an appointment today to see how we can help you.

Source URL: https://studiocitydentalcenter.com/know-need-crown/

Make Your Smile Turn Heads With Dental Bonding

Got a tooth that’s noticeably chipped or discolored? Need to find a good cosmetic dentist in Studio City?

You may want to consider dental bonding as an option. Our experienced dental staff can get your teeth back to normal again in no time with this relatively simple procedure.

About Dental Bonding

You might be wondering what this popular cosmetic procedure is all about. Well, in a nutshell, it’s about using a material to cover discolored or damaged teeth.

The dentist will apply a resin material to the tooth (or teeth) in question. This is a sturdy plastic substance that looks like the color of your own teeth. A blue light is then used to set the material on the tooth.

A Simple Process

A dental bonding procedure is less invasive than alternatives, such as a crown procedure. Also, it’s less complicated and done more quickly. A dental bond can generally be performed in one visit to your cosmetic dentist right here in Studio City.

Does it hurt?

Nope. Not at all. No anaesthesia necessary.

Taking Care of Bonds

You can expect most bonding to last from three to seven years. Remember that the composite resin is not as hard as your actual tooth enamel, so you do have to care for your bonds. If you like hard foods such as hard candies or nuts, a dental bonding could make eating these a little bit tricky. Biting down on hard foods like these could potentially cause the bond to chip or even break. Over time, the edge of the bond can also sometimes feel a bit rough. You may also begin to notice a slight unevenness when you bite down on food.

Overall, dental bonding offers plenty of benefits, but it’s not the right solution for everyone. To find out if you are a good candidate for dental bonding, we recommend you get a professional cosmetic dentist’s opinion. Make an appointment with Studio City Dental Center at your earliest convenience!

Source URL: https://studiocitydentalcenter.com/make-smile-turn-heads-dental-bonding/

A Pain-Free Guide To Dental Extractions

It was like pulling teeth!”

You’ve probably heard or used this phrase before. Pulling teeth has become synonymous with unpleasantness in Western culture. However, there are times when dental extraction is the best, or even the only, solution to a dental emergency.

Today we’ll teach you about the process of dental extraction, tell you what you can expect from one of these procedures, and help you find the best dental extractions Studio City has to offer.

When Should You See a Dentist About Tooth Extraction?

In most cases, a full tooth extraction is considered the very last resort for a dentist – after all, your permanent (“adult”) teeth were meant to last you your entire life.

However, dental professionals know that dental extractions are sometimes necessary in severe cases. Here are a few of the signs dentists look for before they decide to extract a tooth:

• Advanced tooth decay and infection
• Intense trauma to a tooth or teeth
• An overcrowded mouth

Before removing the tooth, you’ll be administered a local anesthetic to numb your mouth. If the tooth is impacted, or if you are having more than one dental extraction, a stronger, general anesthetic will likely be administered.

After Tooth Removal: Important Things to Know

To ensure dental health, proper healing, and a pain-free future, there are several steps you should take after a tooth extraction. While your dentist can provide you with a detailed list after dental extractions, Studio City residents should remember the following:

• Only take pain pills as prescribed (follow all warnings)
• To reduce bleeding, bite gently but firmly on a gauze pad
• Ice is okay, in ten-minute intervals
• Avoid straws, rinses, or forceful spitting for at least a few days following a tooth extraction

Takeaway Points

Los Angeles residents have many dentistry choices, but if you have a tooth that needs some attention, you owe it to yourself to choose the dental extractions office Studio City residents have trusted for years. Call, email, or visit our website to book an appointment today!

Source URL: https://studiocitydentalcenter.com/pain-free-guide-dental-extractions/

Dental Extractions: What you need to know"

Dental extractions in Studio City are very common. Though unpleasant, this improves a person’s oral health. Working with professionals makes this procedure as quick and easy as possible. Tooth removal relieves pain and prevents serious issues from happening. The following are some basic things to know about tooth extractions.

Reasons for Tooth Extraction & How It Works

Teeth extractions happen for a variety of reasons. For example, there could be tooth decay or nerve issues, or there could simply be too many teeth in the mouth. Patients could also be suffering from gum disease. Extractions happen because a person is in pain or because the tooth or teeth are affecting a person's bite, eating, or overall oral health. The overall procedure should not take long at all. People can go about their days after the extraction.

When a patient comes in for a tooth extraction, local anesthetization is used to prevent against pain. This numbs the area so the patient is comfortable during the procedure and prevents against any sudden movements. Patients should know that there will be some bleeding, but that dentists will manage that. If more than one tooth is removed, then there could be a stronger anesthetic used. An impacted tooth may mean that some gum or bone tissue is cut away. The dentist uses forceps to steady and grip the tooth, usually rocking it back and forth to remove it. Hard pulls are uncommon, though sometimes necessary. The tooth is carefully removed and self-dissolving stitches are used.

Precautionary Steps After Removal

After the tooth is removed, the dentist will give the patient gauze. This absorbs any of the bleeding. The gauze pads may need to be replaced every so often. Additionally, it is recommended that people avoid smoking or using straws during this time. No one wants the extraction site to be irritated or infected. It is common for there to be some swelling and irritation, but proper care will lessen these side effects. Patients are also given mouthwash and it is recommended that they take painkillers and avoid hard foods for a while.

Following the procedure, it is normal to have a follow-up appointment. Dentists will want to monitor swelling and talk patients through next steps. Professionals may recommend further treatment to protect the person's mouth. For example, a dentist may walk patients through replacement tooth options to protect the mouth and make it easier to eat or less embarrassing to smile.

Tooth removal may be unpleasant but it is necessary for a person’s health. No one wants pain or affect their future oral health. Delaying extraction can only make issues worse, so it is important to talk to a dentist sooner rather than later. These procedures are quick and easy thanks to the latest advances. Professionals know how to keep patients comfortable while managing this. There are many options for dental extractions in Studio City that will benefit patients in the long run. Book an appointment today if you have some tooth pain, infection or gum disease issues.

How Dental Implants Keep Your Other Teeth Healthier

Dental implants are the modern solution to missing teeth. In addition to improving your smile and, in the process, your entire facial appearance, they can improve your dental health — and even your general health. Here are some of the primary advantages dental implants have over other prosthetic devices:

•    Permanence: Unlike dentures, implants are permanent and can be treated like natural teeth.
•    Strength: Dental implants are attached to the bone, which avoids the problems associated with dentures.
•    Comfort: Dental implants feel like real teeth and, once in place, will soon go unnoticed by the wearer.

Although teeth are more durable than most other parts of your body, they are usually not perfect. Ravaged by decay or damaged by accident, one or more teeth of them may have to come out. The loss of even one tooth can cause surrounding teeth to shift, resulting in their misalignment, and can also cause gum problems. Dental implants make it possible to restore your full set of teeth after such a loss.

The implant will serve as the root of whatever is being used to replace the missing tooth. Normally made of titanium, the implant is inserted directly into the jawbone. Through the process of osseointegration, it will soon become part of the bone. This technique will also help promote bone growth, which is good for the rest of your mouth. Additionally, it will make the replacement crown or bridge permanent.

The procedure is done in two steps, the first of which involves the placement of the implant itself. After a healing process that may take from four to six months, the artificial tooth or teeth will be attached to the implant. If you have lost any of your teeth, you should consider a dental implant procedure at Studio City Dental Center.

We can fill those gaps in your teeth and give you a beautiful smile! Schedule an appointment at 818-762-2977.

Source URL: http://studiocitydentalcenter.com/dental-implants-keep-teeth-healthier/

Mistakes to Avoid in Caring for Your Teeth

There is a lot of advice out there on what to do for your teeth. A simpler approach might be to let you know which mistakes are the worst and how to avoid them. Here is a list of things to avoid, with useful links to more in-depth information:

Forgetting to Clean Your Gums
Gingivitis results in diseased, inflamed, bleeding, and sore gums. Gingivitis is reversible if it is treated. If left untreated, it will turn into periodontitis, which is not reversible.

More on Periodontal Disease

With all the advice to floss, brush, use waterpiks, chew gum, drink water, avoid sugar, and use mouthwash, we hear a lot about what to do, but seldom about how best to do it.

It’s important to know how to brush gums adequately. The best method for brushing teeth at the gum-line is with a soft-bristled toothbrush with rounded bristles and at a 45-degree angle.

Moving the toothbrush in small circles helps to dislodge bacteria and food particles from the gum-line and helps to prevent and reverse gingivitis.

Allowing or Advancing Yellowing of Teeth
Yellowing teeth are a huge concern for some people. There is a never-ending selection of teeth-whitening products on the market, and they’re also available at the dentist.

However, you hardly find anyone who tells you how to avoid yellowing of the teeth beyond avoiding foods and drinks that can stain your teeth.

For instance, brushing your teeth immediately after you have any acidic food or drink will strip away your enamel, which makes your teeth more susceptible to yellowing. It’s best to wait 30 minutes after eating and drinking to brush your teeth.

How to Choose the Right Toothpaste

Don’t Underestimate Water
Whether you ingest water or use it to rinse your mouth, you may not be doing either enough. Waterpiks are especially useful in blasting away bacteria around the teeth and gums, but simply rinsing your mouth works wonders too. Drinking an adequate amount of water helps to keep saliva at a low viscosity, which helps to prevent bacteria from forming plaque. The average American doesn’t drink the right amount of water. Try having 8 cups of water a day.

More on Beverages and Brushing

There are many things to do for your teeth, but aim at the basics of brushing, flossing, and try to use a waterpik to adequately clean your mouth.

Remember to visit Studio City Dental Center twice a year to avoid dental issues down the road. Click here to schedule an appointment today.

Source URL: http://studiocitydentalcenter.com/mistakes-avoid-caring-teeth/

Save Your Smile: Oral Hygiene Best Practices

One of the most important aspects of your health is having good oral hygiene. It results in healthy teeth and gums, allowing you to enjoy a beautiful, long-lasting smile. Here are some easy steps to take to ensure that your teeth are the healthiest they can be.

Brush Your Teeth Twice Per Day
Brushing your teeth twice a day is important. It will eliminate plaque and prevent cavities as well as help fight bad breath and gum disease. When you brush your teeth, be sure to also brush your tongue. Doing so will eliminate even more bacteria.

Floss at Least Once a Day
Floss at least once a day to eliminate excess bacteria from between your teeth. It will prevent bacteria from getting under your gumline and minimize the amount of plaque in your mouth.

Drink Plenty of Water
One of the reasons you may have bad breath is that your mouth is too dry. Drinking plenty of water may help to prevent this problem. Six eight-ounce glasses of water are recommended each day. You should also cut down on drinks like soda and coffee, which can dry out your mouth.

See Your Dentist Regularly
You must always keep up on regular checkups with your dentist. Appointments should be scheduled once every six months. The dentist will take X-rays of your teeth, examine them, and give you a thorough cleaning. He or she can also perform additional procedures if necessary.

Limit Sugar Intake
Of course, sugar can harm your teeth if you eat too much of it. To avoid cavities, limit the amount of sugar you eat. This may be difficult if you have a sweet tooth, but a sugary snack should only be eaten as an occasional treat. And if possible, always brush your teeth after eating a sweet treat. The sooner you get that sugar off, the better!

Need a checkup and cleaning? Studio City Dental Center can help you out. Click here to schedule an appointment today.

Source URL: http://studiocitydentalcenter.com/save-smile-oral-hygiene-best-practices/