Veneers Aren’t Forever: Three Tips for Getting the Most Life Out of Your Porcelain Veneers

On average, porcelain veneers last about ten years. However, they can last much longer than that if you take good care of them. In fact, they can remain beautiful for up to fifteen years.

Studies have shown that most porcelain veneers need to be repaired or replaced due to some sort of crack, fracture, or chip in the veneer itself. Fortunately, these types of damages are entirely preventable. Here are some tips for keeping your veneers beautiful and damage-free for years to come.

Be Mindful of Your Bite

Biting or chewing on hard objects can damage and fracture your veneers. Not only should you avoid biting down on non-food items, such as your nails or a pencil, you should avoid hard foods as well.

Biting into hard candy, ice and, even an apple may damage your veneers because they are not as strong as your natural teeth.

If you eat hard foods, do not bite into them with your front teeth. Instead, cut your food into small bites and chew with your back teeth.

Ask for a Night Guard

If you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep, be sure to ask your cosmetic dentist to provide you with a night guard to protect your veneers. If you notice that you grind your teeth when you’re awake, take immediate steps to stop the habit.

Constant grinding places pressure on veneers and will shorten their lifespan. If you are a grinder, be sure to bring it up when you have your first consultation for cosmetic dentistry and veneers here in Studio City.

Avoid Certain Dental Tools

Some electronic at-home dental tools may harm your veneers. For example, ultrasonic scalers have metal tips that will gouge and scrape your veneers, causing cracks and chips.

But not all electronic tools are bad. Electronic toothbrushes, for example, are usually safe to use.

A good rule of thumb to follow when it comes to home dental tools is to avoid any tool that is made of metal or any other kind of hard material. If you have any doubts as to whether or not you can use a certain tool, talk to your dentist.

If you want your veneers to remain beautiful for more than a decade, you have to take great care of them. In addition to following the above tips, be sure to see us regularly, so we can correct small problems before they become huge ones.

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Root Canal: Not the Bad Scary Thing You Think

A root canal has long been a procedure feared by even the most comfortable of dental patients. However, in the last ten years significant technological advances have made the procedure relatively easy and pain free, eliminating the anxiety that once was the hallmark of this routine procedure.

A root canal is needed when the soft nerve tissue underneath the tooth becomes infected. The process is viewed as difficult because the tooth must be opened to reveal the nerves.

But new techniques in this area make the procedure virtually painless. A root canal begins with the numbing process. While a patient may feel some pressure on the tooth during this process, there is little, if any, pain. In fact, given that the patient was likely in pain before the procedure, the numbing process offers a welcome respite from the pain; and it only gets better from there.

The next step is the extraction. The offending nerve is revealed and then removed. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned in order to prevent additional infection or pain. Once cleaned, the area is filled with a rubber-like material – another technological advancement that adds to the long-term success of today’s root canal procedure.

The last step in the procedure is to cap the tooth, which covers the area within the tooth that has been cleaned and filled. A normal crown or filling is used for this process. Here too, technological advances in tools and materials help streamline this step and make it quick and easy.

After the root canal procedure and once the numbing wears off, there is a healing process that may cause a small amount of discomfort.  However, any minimal discomfort is easily resolved with a little Advil or Tylenol.

Contact us for a consultation.

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Why Do I Need a Root Canal?

Many dental patients do not understand why their dentist recommends a root canal procedure. These patients are likely scared and want to avoid anything related to a root canal.

The bad news is a dentist only recommends a root canal when it is necessary. A root canal is required if the root has suffered so much damage that an alternative procedure will not solve problem. Short of a root canal, the only option is to extract the tooth. The best way to avoid a root canal procedure is to have a careful and consistent dental hygienic plan.

What Causes a Tooth to Need a Root Canal?

Many things can cause a person to need a root canal, but the most common is lack of proper dental care. An avid candy lover may have a sweet tooth and forget to take the time to rinse the sugars out. Worse, some people maintain poor health and lack proper nutritional habits. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can destroy all parts of the teeth.

A root canal may also be necessary because of a person’s genetic makeup. Unfortunately, people who vigorously perform hygienic rituals may still find their teeth have deteriorated.

Signs That You May Need a Root Canal

A sign you may need a root canal may first appear as a throbbing pain around the tooth, signaling something is wrong. The pain usually progresses and worsens unless a dentist is seen for assistance. As a Studio City dentist, we want to make sure the area is served to stop pain as soon as it arises.

In the case of a patient with throbbing mouth pain, we may recommend a small procedure such as a filling during this first stage of this pain. A root canal is usually suggested if the mouth and tooth pain persists, or if a filling is too large for the tooth cavity. Please call us for recommendations if you develop these symptoms.

Preventing a Root Canal

Dental patients can do their part to prevent root canals by brushing and flossing their teeth twice daily, taking vitamins and minerals, and drinking eight glasses of water a day to maintain hydration and decrease bacteria.

And, of course, make an appointment to see a dentist right away!

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Foods That Won’t Break Your Teeth

A toothache is enough to completely ruin your day. That’s because these tooth pains you’re experiencing leave your mouth feeling sensitive and irritated. When you need some soft, tooth-friendly foods to carry you through until you are able to see your dentist, try these options:

1. Baked Potatoes

If you’re suffering from some kind of tooth problem, a baked potato is one of the best foods you can eat. That’s because a baked potato is packed with a soft and smooth filling that won’t hurt your tender teeth. You can even add some cheese or spices to get more interesting flavors.

2. Cheese

When you’re experiencing problems with your teeth, you want to stay far away from hard, sticky, and overly-sugary foods. That’s why cheese is so perfect. It’s not only very soft and tasty, but it also protects your enamel. Plus, cheese comes in a variety of types so there’s bound to be a kind for every food palette.

3. Ice Cream

Ice cream is also ideal if you are experiencing a toothache because it does not require any chewing. Instead, it is creamy and soft, so it goes down easily. In fact, ice cream is even said to relieve toothaches.

4. Yogurt

Yogurt is another food people tend to eat when they are suffering from a toothache. Like ice cream, it doesn’t require chewing, since it’s totally smooth. As an added benefit, Greek yogurt is packed with protein and is filling, so you won’t have to worry about getting hungry again soon.

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Proper Treatment for Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease, commonly referred to as gum disease, is caused by bacterial growth in the mouth. Gingivitis usually takes place before periodontal disease. In the early stages, bacterial growth results from plaque buildup. If left untreated, it can progress into periodontal disease. The disease can result in tooth loss if not properly treated in time. There are both non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment options available. Both options can be performed by a local dentist in Studio City.

Non-surgical treatment options are suitable for cases that are not as severe. One of the most common non-surgical treatments involves a deep-cleaning method. This is called scaling and root planing. Scaling consists of scraping off tartar from the gum line and surrounding areas. With root planing, rough spots are removed from the teeth. Germs regularly gather around these rough spots. Thus, bacteria is removed that could otherwise progress the disease. Depending on the severity of the disease, multiple visits may be required to complete the procedure.

Surgical treatment may be required if the case is more severe. There are several surgical treatment options available. Also, more than one surgical treatment may be used in order to achieve the desired results. The most common ones are flap surgery and bone and tissue grafts. Flap surgery is performed to remove tartar deposits and reduce the size of the periodontal pocket, which makes it easier for the area to be cleaned. The surgery consists of pulling back the gums, removing the tartar, and then suturing the gums back in place. Bone and tissue grafts are performed to promote bone growth and tissue regeneration. This is sometimes necessary due to bone and tissue loss resulting from periodontal disease.

Preventing plaque and tartar buildup is the best way to avoid gum disease. If you suspect excessive plaque and tartar buildup around your gums, visit your dentist as soon as possible. It is easier to deal with the problem the earlier you catch it! Contact Studio City Dental Center to set up an appointment.

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What Kinds of Foods Can Patients Eat After a Dental Extraction?

If your tooth is severely decayed and can’t be saved, it will probably need to be extracted. It is a fairly routine procedure, and does not involve much pain or discomfort. However, the area will be tender afterward, so you will have to avoid hard foods for a brief time. Here are some of the foods you can eat after a dental extraction:

Ice Cream

Ice Cream After a Dental ExtractionIf you enjoy ice cream, you are in luck. Ice cream is safe to eat after a dental extraction because it does not require much chewing. Its cold temperature is also good at numbing any pain or discomfort. After you eat a cup of ice cream, the pain should subside, so go for it!

Bananas

Bananas are excellent to eat after a tooth extraction because they are so soft. They also contain loads of potassium.

Pudding

Pudding is a delicious snack and great to eat after a dental extraction.

Eggs

Eggs are not just easy to chew; they are also full of protein. If you include protein in your diet, you will recover quicker from your tooth extraction.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes melt in your mouth, so they are great to eat after a dental extraction. They also contain potassium and B-vitamins.

Soup

Soups of all kinds are good to eat after a dental extraction. Many soups and bisques contain loads of vitamins and minerals, and the variety of readily available flavors makes it a great option any time.

Yogurt

Yogurt is another wonderful food you can eat after a dental extraction. It is filled with protein and calcium, so it is beneficial for your body.

Avocado Slices

Avocado slices are very soft and contain omega-3 fatty acids.

Contact us for a consultation on teeth extractions in Studio City.

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How Can Cosmetic Dental Implants Help?

In the past, dentures were the only option available to remedy an unhealthy smile. Otherwise, a patient just had to deal with it. But missing teeth can cause speech problems, difficulty eating, shifting of other teeth, and even malformation of the jaw, so it’s important to get your smile fixed, not just for cosmetic reasons, but for health reasons, too! Thankfully, times have changed. Dentures are no longer the only option when you have broken or missing teeth. If you’ve been living with a smile you’re unhappy with, dental implants can be a quick and relatively easy way to give you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.

Candidates for Dental Implants

To be a good candidate for dental implant surgery, you should have healthy gums and enough bone in the jaw to hold the implant. You’ll also need to have good oral hygiene and commit to regular dentist visits. If you’re a heavy smoker, suffer from diabetes or heart problems, or have had radiation therapy to the head or neck, you’ll need to be individually evaluated to determine if dental implants are right for you.

The Dental Implant Process

The actual tooth-root implant is just a small post made with titanium. The post is put into the socket in place of the missing tooth, and as your jawbone heals, it secures the post in place. This part of the process takes about six to twelve weeks.

Next, a small connector post will be attached to the existing titanium post to hold the new prosthetic tooth. The new tooth will be made with impressions of your teeth, so your current bite won’t be affected. The new tooth is then attached to the connector post. Your dentist will ensure your new prosthetic tooth matches the color and appearance of your other teeth.

When you’re considering cosmetic dental implants in Studio City, you’re taking the first step towards a healthy and beautiful smile. Don’t wait any longer to schedule your consultation! Call us at (818) 762-2977.

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