When Getting Dental Implants is a Wise Idea

Dental implants are one way to help resolve the dental issues that adults may struggle with. In fact, it is normal to suffer cavities and an occasional infection throughout your lifetime. However, some adults are more prone to damage, infections, and even tooth loss, than others. Very often, the root cause is genetics. Essentially, people are either born with good teeth or are not. In other cases, things like using an inhaler for asthma can actually cause oral health problems. The same is true for diabetes and taking certain medications.  If you fall in this category, there is a good chance that you are going to be struggling with oral health problems on a regular basis. Eventually, it becomes time to consider whether or not you should continue as is or take more permanent action to resolve the oral health issues.

How You Feel Matters

We like to tell patients that how he or she feels on a daily basis matters a great deal. If you find that your teeth are causing you an incredible amount of pain or discomfort, then it is often wise to consider replacing them. Discomfort to this degree can make it difficult for you to eat what you need to or to speak clearly. It can also have a negative impact on your performance at work or how you behave in social settings. This is understandable when you consider how difficult it can be to do anything when you are in pain.
For this reason, we encourage you to call our office and schedule a consultation when you are experiencing a significant degree of discomfort. This will allow us to examine you and then to determine whether or not replacing some of the teeth with dental implants is the best course of action.

Reasons to Replace Teeth with Dental Implants

• The teeth  are damaged. Dental damage can often be restored using solutions like dental veneers, dental crowns, and even fillings. In most cases, restorative solutions work excellently for solving the problem and eliminating the discomfort. However, when the damage is severe, this may not be enough. At this point, you will need to look for a better solution. Removing the damaged tooth or teeth and replacing them with dental implants may be it. Once a tooth is damaged beyond repair, regular cleaning methods will not be enough.
• The teeth may fall out.  If there is a chance that your teeth are going to fall out because they are already loose or you have severe gum disease, it may be wise for you to schedule an appointment to have them extracted. Instead of waiting for the embarrassing moment when your teeth fall out, you can have them removed in a sterile environment. During this process, we can provide patients with the benefit of anesthesia and schedule the procedure at a time frame that you control.
• Your teeth continue to get infected.  If you are constantly struggling with infection and need root canals on a regular basis, it may be better for you to replace them. We will let you know the best course of action during an examination.

Schedule a Consultation

Remember that you do not have to live with a missing tooth or teeth that are constantly becoming infected. There are options that extend far beyond a dental crown or dentures. You can choose dental implants to give you a new smile that is durable, beautiful, and healthy. To learn more about this solution and to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants, call our dental office and schedule a consultation today.

Implant Dentist  >  Oral Surgery

How a Sleep Dentist Can Relieve Your Anxiety

Going to visit a sleep dentist is nowhere near as stressful as seeing a traditional dentist. With a sleep dentist, there is the potential for you to get relaxing medication that will help you relax during the procedure. As a sleep dentist, we want you to be completely comfortable in the environment while we can perform the procedures necessary to keep your teeth and mouth in optimum health. We also have the ability to give you the type and level of medication you need to completely relax depending on the type of procedure you will be getting.

However, you will benefit even more from attempting to set some of your dental anxiety aside before the beginning of the procedure. We find that many people psych themselves out even before they visit the dentist, regardless of whether it is a sleep dentist or not. Even worse, sometimes it can prevent people from keeping the appointment they have already made.

People have different ways of preparing themselves to go in and see the dentist. We give you an excellent advantage, in that you have the opportunity to take the necessary medication to relax and relieve your dental anxiety. In addition to this, we always recommend that you make it a habit to visit the dentist at least once every six months. With the regularly-scheduled visits, we are able to not only treat any problems that may be arising but also gives you a psychological advantage. The more often you receive dental care, the more comfortable  you will be with it over time.

One of the most important things you can do from a dental anxiety and psychological point of view is to have a positive view of the experience after you are done getting your sleep dentist treatment. In other words, celebrate the fact that you successfully completed your dental appointment and enjoy the benefits from it. This will help you to feel better about receiving dental care and ensure that  you feel better about visiting the dentist next time.

How a Sleep Dentist Can Help You

When you visit our office, we can provide you with medication that will put you to sleep during the procedure. This is ideal for anyone that needs to have major dental work done. Instead of sitting in the dental chair for hours, wide awake, you can go to sleep and wake up with everything complete. Many of our patients find this helpful when:

• Treating gum disease
• Replacing teeth with dental implants
• Having restorative work completed

To learn more about how we can help you, call and schedule an appointment.

Oral Surgery  >  Gum Recession

Read This Before Your Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is significantly more common than you would think. When people think of the word surgery, they often conjure up images of a doctor standing under an operating light, performing heart surgery. However, oral surgery can involve simple things like removing a tooth or extracting impacted wisdom teeth.  Both simple and complicated surgeries can be performed under the banner of oral surgery. However, what is important for you to remember is that when you come in oral surgery, you are in fact having surgery. As such, you will get detailed instructions from our oral surgery team as to how you should prepare for the surgery, as well as getting post-operative instructions. It is absolutely vital if you are scheduled for oral surgery that you follow the preoperative instructions precisely. Actually, we will go over all of these in the final consultation before the day of your surgery. If you have specific concerns or questions about the process, you should make sure to ask in the final consultative visit before the surgery is scheduled.

Here are a few common practices that will help you prepare for the oral surgery. These are not intended to supersede the specific instructions given by our oral surgeon but rather, to give you a general guideline of how to best prepare for your surgery.

• If you have been scheduled to have general anesthesia with your oral surgery, it is critical that you do not eat or drink anything for a minimum of eight hours before the surgery. If you have any liquid or solid food in your stomach during the anesthesia, this can pose a life-threatening situation. In the event you have actually consumed something in the eight hours before the scheduled time of the surgery, you need to let your oral surgeon know as soon as possible. Similarly, we recommend that you do not smoke or consume alcohol for at least eight hours before the surgery.
• We highly recommend that you brush your teeth prior to your appointment. Brushing your teeth will help greatly reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth and hence lower your chance of catching an infection.
• For the day of the oral surgery itself, we recommend that you wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothes. It is highly recommended that you wear a short-sleeve shirt so it is easier for us to take your blood pressure and apply any necessary monitors. Many patients find that a t-shirt, sweatpants, and gym shoes are the most comfortable way to come in for surgery. It is also recommended that you bring a responsible adult with you, somebody who can drive you home while you are still under the effects of anesthesia. You will be groggy for several hours after the appointment and will be unable to drive.
• Finally, we recommend that you take care of all financial arrangements, ask any questions, make arrangements to collect your prescriptions, and use the restroom before the start of your oral surgery. You may be a little too sleepy to remember these things afterward.

We will prepare you for your surgery during your appointments but feel free to ask questions of our surgeon at any time.

Implant Dentist  >  Periodontist

Cosmetic Dentist in Sunnyvale: Improving on History

When you visit our clinic to see a cosmetic dentist in Sunnyvale, you are joining millions of Americans who are coming to see a cosmetic dentist with the hope of improving their smile. This is this is because in modern western society we place a great deal of importance on the image. Even more important than your outward image, is your inward image, and a beautiful smile helps with both of these. Think about it. A smile can really change the mood in a room, help you introduce yourself to people you've never met before, and even help make a good impression when you are on a job interview. Because of this high level of importance that is being placed on a great-looking smile, where it is an essential commodity both socially and professionally, the field of cosmetic dentistry has really bloomed and helped many people get the smile that they want.  However, many people who come in to get cosmetic dentistry do not realize the incredible history of our profession.

It is true that as a cosmetic dentist in Sunnyvale, the treatments we offer use some of the most sophisticated  and modern advances in dentistry. This is because cosmetic dentistry is often at the cutting edge of all the dental sciences and arts. However, the idea of improving one's look through one's teeth is not an invention of the modern age. While it is true that our current cosmetic dental technology, like porcelain veneers or dental veneers, have developed over the last few years, people have known that oral health and hygiene with a good-looking smile is an important asset since ancient Rome. You might be surprised to learn that as far back as 700 BC the Etruscans crafted dentures which were made from ivory and bone. They used these dentures in much the same way as dentures are used by a cosmetic dentist today, to replace missing teeth. The Etruscans also practiced cosmetic dentistry, using gold for crowns and fillings.

One of our favorite tools as a cosmetic dentist in Sunnyvale, are dental implants. Dental implants are more durable than bridges and more secure than dentures. While dental bridges are still very popular among some patients, we prefer dental implants because, as a cosmetic dentist, we know that dental implants are a much sturdier and longer lasting solution to tooth loss. Dental bridges were initially invented to hide the gap caused by missing teeth. Dental implants are a permanent solution that replaces the lost tooth with a crown and implant which look and feel exactly like the natural tooth itself.  This is because the implant is a titanium post that is secured to the jawbone.  It essentially replaces the lost root through the process of osseointegration.  This allows your new tooth (dental crown) to have the same benefits that your natural teeth have.  The chewing force offered by your jaw is provided through the implant and so is the security.  When you eat, speak, run, or laugh, your dental implant will remain secure.  For these reasons and more, patients visit our office for dental implants on a regular basis.

Dental Implants  >  Implant Dentist

LANAP Laser Dentistry in Palo Alto, CA Is Safe for Pregnant Women

The benefits of LANAP laser dentistry in Palo Alto CA cannot be overstated. If you are pregnant and suffering from gum disease, you need to treat it. Your OBGYN will likely advise you to do so immediately because of the risks gum disease poses to an unborn child. If you have gum disease, you are at a greater risk for having your baby premature, which can lead to a variety of health complications for them, including difficulty breathing, heart problems, etc. This condition can also lead to your baby being born underweight. This is why pregnant women are encouraged to receive regular dental care throughout their pregnancy.

The challenge is that while pregnant, you also must be careful with the types of medication you use and whether or not you are given anesthesia. Traditional gum disease treatments require this. That is because metal dental tools are used to scrape away the plaque and tartar, and this is incredibly uncomfortable. Simultaneously, if you have gum recession and need to have your gums restored, cuts and sutures will be made. Naturally, this too requires anesthesia. This is not the case with our solution, and that is what makes it safe for pregnant women.

Reasons to Schedule an Appointment for LANAP Laser Dentistry in Palo Alto CA
#1 - Your gum disease must be treated.
Leaving it alone is not a wise option, given the risk gum disease poses to your unborn child.
#2 - It is safe.
We use lasers to treat gum disease, and LANAP allows us to take the process one step further. We can actually restore your gum tissue safely and without needing to give you anesthesia.
#3 - The recovery process is fast.
Since we are not cutting into your gums or placing sutures, we can complete the process quickly so you can get in and out of our office. If you suffer from some form of dental anxiety, you will find this to be advantageous. Once you leave our office, the recovery will be fast as well, since you are unlikely to have any bleeding, and any swelling will be very minor. By the next day, your gums should look and feel better than they did when you first visited our office.
#4 - You will be protecting your teeth.
If you allow your gum disease to advance, your teeth will be put at risk and you may develop infections that must be addressed or you will eventually lose your teeth. Being proactive now can save you time, money, and effort in the future.

Visit Perio & Implant Center Silicon Valley for LANAP Laser Dentistry in Palo Alto CA
We believe that you can have excellent oral health and that your gums can be healthy and free from disease. We use modern dentistry techniques and lasers in order to achieve this goal because we understand how this solution is far superior to traditional means. Still, it is up to you to make the choice to experience the benefit of laser dentistry for yourself. Whether you are currently under the care of a general dentist or looking for a new one, call Perio & Implant Center Silicon Valley today and schedule your appointment for LANAP laser dentistry.

Dental Implants  >  Cosmetic Dentist

How You Can Benefit from Implant Dentistry

Implant dentistry is one of the modern marvels associated with today's dental care. With implant dentistry, we have been able to recreate the natural function of teeth in a way that makes sure your teeth look and feel exactly like your natural teeth. What is even more amazing is that with dental implants, we are not only giving you the effect of having natural teeth but are actually mimicking the biological functions of the various elements of teeth. In addition to this, and potentially the most important, you do not have to live with tooth loss anymore.
Dental Implants Are -

• Strong and allow you to eat like you would with normal teeth.
• Durable enough to last a lifetime. 
• Natural-looking so that your smile appears intact. 
• Beautiful like your natural teeth.
• Mimic your natural teeth so that your jaw also benefits. 

Tooth loss adversely affects a large portion of the population, and while it is common that tooth loss is mostly in the domain of people of a certain age, it is also true that people of any age can lose the tooth. This is because gum disease, accidents, etc. can happen to anyone at any time. All of these can lead to you losing a tooth and needing to have a replacement. If you do need to get a tooth replacement, you have several choices, including dental implants or dentures. There are pros and cons with every method of replacing teeth, and the good news is that no matter what method you chose, you will not have to live with tooth loss. With implant dentistry, however, you also do not have to live with the sticky, gooey mess that is associated with the adhesives used to bind dentures.
Implant dentistry functions on a very simple concept. If we are able to duplicate the natural functions of the teeth, its roots, and its interaction with the jawbone, you will have far better chances of having a strong and stable replacement tooth. As such, implant dentistry uses titanium, one of the few materials known to man that can actually fuse with human tissue, to replace the root of your tooth in a procedure known as placing an implant. The implant itself is actually a tiny titanium screw that screws directly into your jawbone. There are several reasons why a dental implant is placed directly into the jawbone. First and foremost, it allows the jaw to support the dental implant in much the same way as it supports the natural tooth root structure. Secondly, this added stability and support allows for you to have a dental implant that is strong, stable, and more importantly, able to sustain a dental crown, or fake tooth, for a much longer period of time. The third and most important reason from a biological standpoint is that when we place the titanium screw into the jawbone, it duplicates the functions of your naturally occurring tooth root. Essentially, what this does is stimulate the jawbone, allowing for the body to continue supporting its functions, which in turn makes the jawbone healthier and stronger.

Dental Implants  >  Cosmetic Dentist

Visit a Periodontist if Your Dentures Are Loose

As a periodontist, we treat patients suffering from gum disease. If you are currently wearing a partial set of dentures or even a full set of dentures, it is important that you pay attention to your health. In both cases, the health of your gums is going to directly impact how comfortable your dentures are to wear and whether or not they will fit securely. If you suddenly have loose-fitting dentures, this could be a sign that you have gum disease or that you are suffering from resorption. In either case, we encourage you to visit our dental office so that we can examine you and determine if there are any health conditions that need to be addressed right away.

A Periodontist Can Inspect Your Gums

If you are demonstrating signs of gum disease, we encourage you to call our office and schedule an examination. This is necessary for ensuring that we can catch gum disease in its early stages and provide you with fast treatment. Doing so will ensure that your teeth are not at risk of becoming infected as well.
Here are some signs that you can watch for:

• Bleeding gums. When you brush your gums at night look for signs of bleeding. A little blood on your toothbrush is nothing to be alarmed about as long as it happens infrequently. However, if your gums are bleeding every night or they are bleeding significantly, this is a clear sign of gum disease that demands attention and you should schedule an appointment.
• Red and swollen gums. If your gums are red and swollen they could simply be irritated by your dentures or you could be suffering from gum disease. Again, it is best if we catch gum disease before it causes a serious infection so schedule an appointment for your examination.
• Teeth that look long or larger than normal.   If you have noticed that your remaining natural teeth are looking significantly longer than they used to, it could be a sign of gum recession. This happens when gum disease has advanced and your gums begin to pull away from your tooth structure exposing more of your actual tooth, and sometimes your roots. At first, your teeth will appear larger or longer than they used to so this is an important sign to watch for.
• Loose teeth or dentures.  If your dentures or any remaining teeth are loose this could be indicative of you having gum disease. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss so this is nothing that should be ignored.

Non-Invasive Treatments from a Periodontist

We can treat gum disease using lasers. This is a non-invasive way to treat your gums and restore them to good health. Laser dentistry allows us to produce incredible results by improving your health without causing irritation or discomfort.

Schedule an Examination Today

We will be happy to assist you, so give us a call anytime that you notice your gums are irritated or if you are concerned that you are showing any signs of gum disease. We can examine you and discuss the treatment options that are available to you.