When you lose a tooth, it can have an unfortunate impact on your life, causing difficulty with speaking and eating certain types of foods. In addition you may experience the resulting lack of confidence in your appearance. But at the San Bruno, CA Dental Implants Dentist Office you have more tooth replacement options with modern cosmetic dentistry than ever before, and one option in particular, the dental implant, is quickly becoming the preferred course of treatment for missing teeth.

A dental implant consists of a small titanium post surgically implanted into the bone. During the initial phase of the implant process, the titanium bonds with your jaw bone to form a strong foundation for a natural-looking dental restoration. Once the post is firmly seated in the jaw, the restoration is affixed to the implant. Because the titanium post takes the place of the tooth’s missing root, dental implants are actually integrated into the structure of the bone to mimic the appearance and strength of your natural teeth.
 
Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth or multiple teeth. They are an exceptional tooth replacement option when used alone, but they can also be used to help improve the stability and comfort of existing dentures or bridges.
 
Our San Bruno Dental Implants Dentistry Office can strategically place dental implants to stabilize bridges and dentures. Bridges stay in place because they are affixed to adjacent teeth, but this can cause unnecessary strain and structural stress on a patient’s natural teeth. Now, a patient’s bridge can be anchored to a dental implant, ensuring a comfortable fit, and taking the pressure off of healthy, natural teeth.
 
Dental implants can be used alone or with dentures and bridges to improve the appearance and functionality of a patient’s smile. They are a versatile tooth-replacement option providing stability and a natural-looking restoration.

A beautiful, healthy smile can make a great first impression, but if you have crooked or uneven teeth, you may be less than confident about your smile. If you’ve been putting off having this corrected because you don't want to endure the process and time involved in wearing traditional braces, you are not alone. But there are options to correct alignment issues and give you back your beautiful smile. Today, let's take a look at some of the advantages of using the Invisalign™ system.

What makes Invisalign aligners preferable to traditional braces?

• Easy Treatment Plan: Your Invisalign™ treatment starts when we take the X-rays used to create a 3-d digital image of your mouth.  Next, you’ll be given a series of custom-made aligners that you will take home and change about every two weeks. You will see the difference in your smile every time you change aligners! You will be scheduled for checkups every six weeks or so at San Bruno Dental Medicine so we can monitor your progress.
• Convenient: Simply wear your aligners throughout the day, removing them to eat. This allows you to eat foods you love without the worry of particles getting stuck in wires and brackets.
• Easily removable: You will continue to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. Your Invisalign™ aligners can simply be brushed and rinsed in lukewarm water.
• Adaptable to your active lifestyle: Since Invisalign™ aligners are nearly invisible; most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them. You don’t have to worry about the discomfort of metal braces and wires that can poke and irritate your mouth, and if you’re involved in contact sports, Invisalign™ aligners are easily removed, enabling you to wear a protective mouth guard if necessary.

How long does the entire process take?
It’s difficult to say exactly how long you will need to wear your Invisalign™ aligners since everyone is unique. Contact the San Bruno General Cosmetic Dentist for a free consultation to evaluate your individual situation. Generally speaking though, Invisalign™ treatment usually takes about a year for adults. For teens, the length of treatment is comparable to that of traditional braces, with less discomfort and the added advantage of seeing the improvement every time you change aligners!

Modern cosmetic dentistry has brought about so many innovative and smile-enhancing procedures that it’s sometimes difficult to sort it all out. You’re smile is just not as appealing as it once was, and you know that you need some kind of enhancement in addition to your routine oral care. But which procedures will treat your underlying oral problems as well as create the smile you desire? Today I’d like to speak to you specifically about crowns, their uses and benefits.

What is a dental crown?
Dental crowns ("caps") are one of dentistry's most versatile types of restorations. Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place, fully cup over the portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface. There are several types of crowns but porcelain is the most popular.  Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth. They are highly durable and will last many years.

When is a dental crown used?
A crown may be used to strengthen broken, fractured teeth, cover large or fractured fillings or for cosmetic enhancement. In addition, all teeth that have root canal treatment should have a crown (cap) placed.  This protects the tooth, prevents it from breaking, and restores it to its full function.

What does getting a crown involve?
A crown procedure usually requires two appointments.  Your first appointment at CA Restorative Dentistry will include the taking of several highly accurate molds (or impressions) used to create your temporary crown as well as your permanent custom crown.  The tooth is prepared by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit the crown.  Your temporary crown is then placed.

During your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed, the tooth will be cleaned, and your new crown will be carefully placed so that we can ensure proper spacing and an accurate bite. You will receive instructions for care and cleaning before you are sent home with a beautiful, enhanced smile.

Are you less than happy with the appearance of your smile? Do you shy away from business situations and social interactions because you’re self-conscious about your appearance? You may be surprised to learn that many issues that people think are purely cosmetic can also have an impact on your overall oral health.

Teeth that are cracked, decayed, missing, or incorrectly aligned not only mar your appearance and make you feel self-conscious, but they can lead to a variety of other problems including periodontal disease, jaw pain, and difficulty with chewing. Cosmetic dentistry can correct these issues, restoring your oral health and beautiful smile.

Cosmetic Dental Solutions

At San Bruno General Dentist we understand that every patient’s needs are unique. When you visit our office, we will work closely with you to find the solution that is right for you, correcting potentially harmful dental issues and giving you a smile you can be proud of.

Cosmetic dentistry offers several solutions for perfecting your smile:

• Porcelain Veneers can cover discolored teeth and correct problems like uneven spacing, gaps, and crooked teeth
• Dental Implants can be used to replace missing teeth and offer additional support against shifting teeth and jaw collapse
• Porcelain Crowns offer a strong, aesthetically pleasing solution for patients with cracked or chipped teeth
• Tooth-colored fillings prevent further decay while appearing natural, unlike amalgam fillings
• Tooth bonding corrects the appearance of broken, misaligned, or crooked teeth

There are almost unlimited options for creating a smile you can be proud of. In addition to correcting potential dental problems and ensuring your overall oral health, San Bruno General Cosmetic Dentist offers a wide range of cosmetic services from basic teeth whitening to more complex procedures such as dental implants. This combination of sound general dentistry combined with cosmetic dentistry offers a solution for every smile.

Sleep Apnea is well-known as being related to snoring, but most people are unaware that it is also a potentially life-threatening disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. Continued disruption of breathing causes an imbalance between carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the bloodstream, as not enough carbon dioxide is exiting and not enough oxygen is entering the body. People with Sleep Apnea partially awaken many times a night as they struggle to breathe, often accompanied by loud snoring or a choking sensation.
 
Sleeping masks were traditionally used to keep the patient’s airways open while they slept, but advances in sleep dentistry provide some less intrusive options such as dental devices that gently coax the lower jaw forward. San Bruno Dental Medicine, highly trained in the area of sleep dentistry with over 20 years’ experience, utilizes these devices and they have proven quite effective in preventing the tongue from blocking the main air passage.

Benefits of Using a Dental Device to Treat Sleep Apnea:

• Considerable reduction in paused breathing for patients with mild-to-moderate apnea, especially if the patient sleeps either on their back or stomach.
• Improved, healthier sleep
• Reduction in the frequency and volume of snoring
• Higher compliance rates than with CPAP masks

What does sleep apnea treatment involve?
Initially, we conduct tests in order to investigate, diagnose, and pinpoint a suitable treatment. San Bruno Dentistry utilizes the Sleep Solution test to treat Sleep Apnea. This is a comfortable, reliable at-home sleep study, offering an alternative to traditional laboratory sleep studies. We may also advise that you discontinue habits that aggravate Sleep Apnea such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and tranquilizer use.

If you suspect you have Sleep Apnea, contact a dental professional immediately who has specialized training in the area of sleep dentistry as this is a serious and potentially life-threatening problem if left untreated.

Many new patients come to me expressing fear and hesitation because of dental phobia. If you suffer with a similar problem, you should know that this issue is fairly common for many people. However, dental phobia can result in neglected oral care and long-term problems that become difficult and costly to repair. But there are is an easier way, and you now have many options available to you through Sedation Dentistry.

When you arrive for your consultation, we will begin by discussing advancements in modern sedation dentistry and how it has improved the experience for patients like yourself who suffer from dental phobia. Sedation Dentistry refers to the practice of administering specific sedatives that will reduce your anxiety and enable you to become quite relaxed. Through the use of Sedation Dentistry, your visits to San Bruno Dental Medicine will be anxiety-free from start to finish.

Everyone reacts differently to different types of sedation so there are many factors to take into account (such as physical structure and mindset) when choosing your best sedation option. We work closely with you to match your needs with the appropriate sedation option for you. We also keep you fully informed every step of the way about the specific type of sedation chosen for you. Some of these include:

• Inhalation Sedation
• Oral Sedation
• IV (Intravenous) Sedation
• General Anesthesia (GA)

A controlled and regulated approach to your chosen level of sedation allows us to monitor your comfort throughout the duration of your treatment and ensure that your post-procedure experience leaves you feeling refreshed and renewed. With Sedation Dentistry at our Restorative Dentistry, CA Office you can now achieve the beautiful smile that you have always wanted without fear, stress or anxiety.

There’s a huge selection of tooth whitening tray kits available in your supermarket.  But did you know that choosing a customized at-home tooth whitening kit from a qualified cosmetic dentist may prevent other dental issues arising from the use of over-the-counter whitening agents?

 

Home whitening tray kits cannot provide the exact fit obtained when using a custom made whitening tray provided by your dentist.  A custom tray is designed to minimize the contact of bleaching gel with gum tissue.  Trays that don’t fit properly can also cause irritation when the edge of a bleaching tray rubs against the gums.

 

When custom bleaching trays are used gum irritation can be kept to a minimum, helping to protect you against more serious gum issues (periodontitis, gingivitis) down the road. For this reason a custom-fit whitening tray is most important in instances where a relatively higher concentration whitener is being used. In order to provide a perfect-fitting customized tray, your San Bruno Tooth Whitening Dentist takes an impression of your teeth. The resulting custom-made tray is trimmed so that it covers the entire surface of each tooth, falling just short of the gum line. This special contouring not only protects the sensitive gum tissue but also eliminates irritation caused by tray edges rubbing against the gum line.

 

The fit of a custom-molded tray from your cosmetic dentist has other advantages:

 

Contact with the entire tooth surface: A uniform whitening effect is best achieved when the whitener being used remains in contact with the entire surface of a tooth.

Proper tray retention: It’s important that the whitening tray stay in place for maximum whitening action.  A custom-fabricated tray can virtually guarantee this type of fit.

 

Contact San Bruno Cosmetic Dentistry to determine if you’re a better candidate for an in-office whitening procedure such as the Sapphire Whitening System or a customized, take-home bleaching kit. Your cosmetic dentist is highly trained and dedicated to your overall oral health as well as helping you achieve a brighter smile.

An increasing number of patients in my practice are reporting a problem with dry mouth. This condition is termed "xerostomia." Xerostomia can be a side effect of the medications a person is taking for illnesses such as high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, allergies, weight loss, Parkinson's disease, pain and many more. However, there are many other factors that contribute to a decrease in salivary production including the aging process, radiation treatments and depression.

 

At San Bruno Dental Medicine we know that, aside from being annoying, the symptoms of dry mouth can cause significant dental hygiene problems. Saliva is the body’s natural cleansing mouth rinse.  Each time we swallow, saliva washes away bacteria, as well as the food and debris on which they feed. Saliva contains compounds that kill bacteria in the mouth, and without proper dental hygiene dry mouth enhances the conditions for bacterial growth (and associated periodontal disease) as the ability to neutralize bacterial waste products is reduced.

 

If you’re experiencing chronic dry mouth and you suspect that it may be due to medication, consult with your medical doctor who may be able to adjust your dosage to help alleviate the problem. Some other steps you can take to reduce symptoms are:

• Using sugar-free candy or gum
• Drinking plenty of water to help keep your mouth moist
• Using a vaporizer to add moisture to the air in your bedroom
• Using an artificial saliva substitute available at your pharmacy

 

The reduction in saliva production leads to the very conditions on which the bacteria in your mouth thrive, allowing bacteria lingering at the gumline and between teeth to cause serious damage, periodontal disease or gingivitis. Since patients with Xerostomia (dry mouth) are at increased risk for periodontal disease, good dental hygiene - brushing regularly with fluoride toothpaste, using a fluoride rinse, and visiting your San Bruno California Dental Office frequently for cleanings and examinations - are critically important to your oral health.

If you’ve shopped for over-the-counter tooth whitening products lately, you were probably overwhelmed by the number of products available that claim to whiten your teeth. But how effective are they in reality? Let’s take a look at some of the more popular products on the market today and see how they stack up.

 

Whitening Strips

Whitening strips purchased at your local pharmacy have drawbacks. They do contain a peroxide-based whitening agent, but it is not nearly as potent as those safely used in our San Bruno Cosmetic Dentist office. Also, whitening strips only touch the front surface of your teeth, missing the spaces between your teeth. Though it is possible to remove stains over time with whitening strips it may take months to see any significant results.

 

Whitening Rinses

Whitening Rinses are similar to mouthwashes. They kill bacteria, refresh your breath and may help remove plaque. Unlike mouthwashes, whitening rinses contain hydrogen peroxide. Manufactures advise you to rinse your mouth twice a day for one minute each and state that it may take 12 weeks to see results. Most consumers report no difference after using, probably because the rinse barely touches your teeth for two minutes a day.

 

Whitening Gels

Whitening gels are clear, peroxide-based gels applied directly to the surface of your teeth. Instructions generally call for twice a day application for 14 days. Initial results are seen in a few days and final results are sustained for about four months. However, application can be difficult since teeth are required to be completely free of saliva before use.

 

Whether you choose a home whitening treatment option or an in-office whitening procedure such as the Sapphire Whitening System, you should consult with your dentist first. Our San Bruno, CA Cosmetic Dentist can examine your teeth and determine if there are any underlying issues with your teeth or gums that would cause problems as a result of using over-the-counter whitening agents.

When one of my patients comes in asking which mouthwash I would recommend to cure bad breath, I often surprise them by answering, “None of them.” The reason is that mouthwash is just a temporary mask and should not be considered a “cure” for bad breath. In fact, the best-selling mouthwashes have a significant amount of alcohol, which can help cause bad breath by drying out the mouth.

 

Millions of people suffer from chronic halitosis, or bad breath. It may be caused by digestive or other medical conditions, but for the majority of people it originates from the gums and tongue. The odor is caused bacteria in the mouth, the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth and poor oral hygiene.

 

The only way to eliminate bad breath is to find the cause. The first place to start is with a diligent routine of proper oral hygiene to get rid of hidden bacteria multiplying between your teeth. It’s also important to remember that those bacteria are also a breeding ground for infection and periodontal disease. Our team at San Bruno Dental Office can show you how to maintain proper at-home oral hygiene. But here are some general tips:

 

• Brush for at least three minutes. There is a lot of area to cover on multiple planes so the most effective cleaning is achieved by brushing every reachable surface of every tooth.
• Floss carefully around each and every tooth, pulling the floss down into the space at the gumline on both sides.
• Brush your gums, sides of mouth, palate, and tongue, also. You may also want to consider the use of a tongue scraper, a cleaning tool that scrapes bacteria and food particles off the surface of the tongue.

 

Jump-start your oral hygiene program by scheduling a cleaning at our San Bruno General Cosmetic Dentist. We will be happy to give you pointers on brushing techniques as well as which cleaning products may be most appropriate for you.