Category: San Diego Dentist Association

Tooth extractions can be required for many reasons, and your San Diego dentist can help you decide if it’s the right course of action in your case. Teeth may have to be extracted because of decay, damage, orthodontic concerns, or, in the case of wisdom teeth because there isn’t room for them to come incorrectly.

Having a tooth extraction is a significant dental procedure that requires aftercare for success. You can reduce the risk of infection and increase the chances of a positive outcome when you follow these instructions immediately after tooth extraction:

• Ensure that bleeding is stopped and a clot is forming at the removal site by biting down on the gauze provided by the dentist. You must maintain constant pressure for at least an hour. If bleeding starts again at any time, use new gauze and apply pressure again until bleeding stops.
• Make sure you restrict your movements and keep your head elevated as much as possible for several hours.
• Starting 48 hours following extraction, very gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water each hour. Don’t use mouthwash that contains alcohol, which could cause pain and irritation.
• When you brush your teeth, you should avoid the stitches and avoid the extraction site completely at first. You should not touch the gap with your fingers or tongue because this could introduce bacteria into the site.
• If you have any swelling, use an ice pack on your face near the surgery site.
• Continue using previously prescribed medications as usual, but if you feel any additional swelling or itching start to happen that hadn’t happened before, contact your dentist or visit an urgent care clinic to rule out a potentially dangerous complication.
• Consume soft, protein-rich foods as well as lots of water and other fluids. For at least a week, don’t use a straw to avoid dislodging the clot at the tooth extraction site.
• Avoid smoking for at least 4 days because this can lead to dangerous infection or a condition called a dry socket, which is very painful and required treatment by a dentist.
• Be careful of stitches. Some will fall out within 2 weeks while others may need to be removed by your dentist.

Possible Complications From Tooth Extraction

The following complications sometimes happen after tooth extraction, but none are common. Take action as indicated:

Bleeding. Some bleeding immediately after extraction is expected, and it’s possible that you may see pink or red saliva for a couple of days. If bleeding is excessive or frequent, you can probably stop it by biting down on damp gauze to apply consistent pressure until you’re sure bleeding has stopped. If you don’t have gauze, try biting on a cool, moist tea bag. You’ll benefit because tea contains tannic acid which can help the blood vessels and slow bleeding. You may need to apply pressure for 30 minutes or more. Exercising, emotional upset and moving around increases blood flow and should be avoided while you’re at risk of bleeding. If still have bleeding after 48 hours from the surgery time or bleeding you can’t stop, you need to contact your dentist.

Dead tooth fragments. Even the most careful dentist may leave behind tiny tooth fragments that can cause problems. Bone and other dead tissue can be left behind as well. These tiny pieces will try to surface through your gums and may be painful, so you should contact your dentist if fragments cause you pain. This is a normal part of healing and not harmful otherwise.

Dry socket. When pain from a tooth extraction increased rather than decreases over time, you may be experiencing a problem called a dry socket. Food, debris or sucking through a straw can cause the normal clot inside a tooth socket to go away. Smoking and birth control pills can also contribute to dry sockets. This is not an infection, but a dry socket is painful and requires immediate treatment. Fortunately, your dentist can fix it by packing healing materials inside the empty socket.

Light-headedness. Especially if fasting was required before your extraction, you may experience a low blood sugar episode that makes you feel light-headed. Then if you can’t or don’t eat soon after surgery, you can experience further problems. Sitting up or standing up quickly can trigger more light-headedness. Eating something soft that’s also sweet can help even out your blood glucose level and make you feel better right away.

Numbness. Because a strong local anesthetic is often used for tooth extraction, you may still feel numbness for up to 12 hours after the procedure. This is normal and not of concern. In fact, it may keep you from needing pain medication.

Swelling. Swelling is normal at first, but it should not continue for more than 10 days or so. An ice pack applied to the face near the extraction area can help reduce swelling at first. Starting about 36 hours after the extraction, switch to moist heat as needed, perhaps a warm, damp cloth. Ice will no longer help at this point.

Difficult jaw movement. Normal at first, this side effect called trismus can last for up to 5 days and may make eating or drinking difficult. It should resolve on its own.

For more information or professional help following your extraction, contact the dentist who performed the procedure or a San Diego Dentist Association member. You should not have to suffer following a procedure.

Pocket reduction surgery, flap surgery and gingivectomy are procedures periodontal dentists use for removing or closing pockets around teeth that have developed because of plaque, bacteria, tartar and gum disease.

Everyone’s mouth has bacteria in it, but leaving the yellowish plaque that forms on teeth in place instead of cleaning it away allows bacteria to form that feeds on food and debris and generates acid that causes tooth decay and gum disease. If not treated by a dentist, decay continues, and so does the irritation and inflammation that are often the first signs of gum disease.

As gum disease progresses, deep pockets form around teeth that eventually allow bone tissue to be destroyed and teeth to become loose and fall out.

Gum disease doesn’t go away on its own. It will get worse and worse if not properly treated. Large bacterial colonies will set up in the gum pockets, decreasing oral and overall health. Pocket reduction surgery breaks the cycle by closing pockets and removing as much bacteria as possible.

Reasons For Pocket Reduction Surgery

Pocket reduction surgery, also known as osseous surgery, isn’t as scary as it sounds

Pocket reduction surgery is a proven, time-tested way to remove bacteria from the mouth, reduce gum inflammation and save teeth and tissue. Your dentist may recommend this procedure as the right treatment to accomplish these things:

Reduce bacteria. Bacteria that have established themselves in your mouth cause oral disease and more, potentially spreading elsewhere in the body. Bacteria can even cause a heart attack or stroke.

Reduce bone loss. If bacteria are not removed, they can destroy your jawbone, loosen your teeth and make it possible for them to fall out even if the teeth themselves are healthy.

Improve oral hygiene. Thoroughly cleaning deep gum pockets can be nearly impossible with only a toothbrush, so bacteria continue to grow and make the problem worse if your dentist doesn’t take action.

Make your smile better. Sometimes, gum inflammation shows. Lost teeth certainly do. By preventing unsightly impacts from gum disease, pocket reduction surgery can improve appearance as well as health.

What Pocket Reduction Surgery Involves

Your San Diego Dentist Association dentist begins gum disease treatment by taking digital x-rays of your mouth and jaw as well as visually examining teeth and gums to find out what treatment you need. If pocket reduction surgery is the right choice for your needs, the dentist will discuss with you whether general or local anesthesia is best.

When you have the surgical procedure, your gums are pulled away from your teeth, then the plaque, tartar, and bacteria are cleaned away. Root planing is performed to smooth your teeth and deep scaling is performed to clean away calculus on the tooth root. Next, an antimicrobial liquid is applied to kill the remaining bacteria and give the healing process a good start. Finally, the gums are replaced and held into place with stitches that must remain for 5 to 10 days.

Your gums will be more sensitive after the surgery for a while, which means you must be careful what you eat for several days. In most cases, however, pocket reduction surgery leads to a significant improvement in your oral and dental health as well as your health in general.

If you’re ready to discuss this and other periodontal disease treatments, please reach out now to a gentle, caring SDDA professional. You deserve the best possible oral health, and our San Diego dentists can help you look and feel your best.

To make an appointment or a free consultation about Pocket Reduction Surgery, call (619) 745-6870.

Teeth cleaning is officially called dental prophylaxis, and it’s essential preventative care that reduces the likelihood you will develop gum disease. It’s also the right treatment if you already have gum disease and want to mitigate the symptoms by slowing the growth and spread of bacteria for better oral health. Teeth cleaning removes slimy yellow plaque as well as plaque that has hardened into calculus or tartar, a substance that can keep gums from properly adhering and make teeth look dull.

The primary purpose of teeth cleaning is to prevent disease and help treat the disease that’s already present. In most cases, the cleaning takes less than an hour – maybe only 30 minutes or so – and is recommended every six months unless you have an unusual buildup of tartar or already have gum disease. For some, more frequent cleanings are a good idea; for a few, less frequent cleanings are okay.

Benefits Of Teeth Cleaning

Professional Teeth Cleaning

Among the best defenses against periodontal disease is a professional dental cleaning to complement the daily oral hygiene you do at home. Gum disease is the top reason that adults in the United States lose their teeth, making preventative care critically important for overall dental and oral health. Most adults have some type of gum disease at some point in life, and it won’t get better or go away unless it’s treated. Cleaning also prevents tooth decay and associated cavities.

Specific benefits of preventative professional teeth cleaning include:

• Removal of tartar and plaque from visible tooth surfaces
• Removal of plaque, debris, and tartar from below the gum line
• Assessment of overall oral health
• Examining of gums for signs of gum disease
• Examination of teeth for signs of decay
• Providing instructions about how to brush and floss correctly
• And more.

If the examination portion of a regular teeth cleaning determines that gum disease is present, there are at least four options for treating it that your San Diego dentist may suggest:

Frequent in-office cleaning. This is the standard treatment explained above and maybe all that’s necessary to treat and prevent mild gum disease.

Deep cleaning. More intensive than simple dental cleaning, a deep cleaning, scaling, and planning procedure removes bacteria and plaque from pockets that have formed between teeth and gums.

Laser gum treatment. Quicker and less invasive than surgery, laser gum treatment takes a gentle approach to ridding pockets of bacteria, plaque, and debris and allowing gums to heal and seal better around teeth.

Gum disease surgery. A variety of surgical procedures can treat gum disease, and your dentist can recommend a surgical procedure for you if it’s necessary after deep cleaning and other less invasive treatments.

Get on the path toward a healthier smile by reaching out to a San Diego Dentist Association member today. You deserve clean, healthy teeth and gums, and dental cleaning is the right step toward establishing and maintaining oral health.

Talk to San Diego Dentist Association at (619) 745-6870 today about how a good dental clean could improve your teeth and oral hygiene.

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea or related sleep and snoring issues and aren’t sure what to do, help may be available from a San Diego Dentist Association member. If you’re tired of CPAP, find it difficult to use or don’t get good results from it, there may be a smarter way to deal with your obstructive sleep apnea. Useful, proven sleep apnea appliances are available from our featured San Diego dental offices.

You may not realize that these oral appliances are a sensible alternative if you have mild or moderate sleep apnea. These simple devices are small pieces of plastic that you put inside your mouth when you’re getting ready for bed, similar to a retainer or sports mouthguard. But instead of offering protection for your teeth, a sleep apnea oral appliance keeps your tongue from falling backward or sideways, naturally opening your airway and making it easier to breathe. This type of appliance can sometimes help with sleep apnea even when CPAP can’t and can be used in conjunction with CPAP if desired.

A custom-made oral appliance may be the right solution if you have these conditions:

• Snoring that has not been diagnosed as sleep apnea
• Mild obstructive sleep apnea that has not responded well to behavioral modification therapy
• Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and want better results than with CPAP
• Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and cannot use or don’t get good results from CPAP
• Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and you cannot for whatever reason have surgical treatment like tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, tracheostomy or craniofacial surgery.

Oral Appliance Therapy For Sleep Apnea

Oral sleep apnea appliances improve the ability to breathe while asleep by helping keep the airway open and the throat free of obstruction, but for good results the appliance must be custom-made for you. A dental sleep specialist like one of the SDDA dentists can help you with your oral appliance.

The process of getting the appliance made may involve several exams and fittings, and there may be choices to make about what type of appliance is best for you. Because this is not an exact science, this should not be considered a quick fix and adjustments may be necessary to find the best treatment in your situation. Follow-up appointments will help track progress and success.

You may want to consider speaking with a dentist about an oral sleep apnea appliance for the following reasons:

• They’re comfortable. After using one of these devices for a few days, you may not even notice it in your mouth anymore and can sleep peacefully.
• They’re small. They’re an easy choice for travel instead of a bulky CPAP machine.
• They’re non-invasive. You don’t need surgery if oral appliance therapy is successful.

Here are some specifics about how an oral sleep apnea appliance works to help keep your tongue where it should be:

• It moves your tongue as well as your uvula and the soft palate into proper positioning so that your airway stays open all night.
• It strengthens your tongue’s muscles so that the tongue is less prone to falling into the wrong position.
• It helps keep your lower jaw in position as you adjust your sleeping position so that your mouth remains in a healthy, sleep-friendly position.

Sleep Apnea Appliance Types

There are primarily two types of oral appliances used for sleep issues, and your SDDA dentist can determine which is best for you after your full exam. Each category has within it several variations, but the primary categories are:

• Tongue-retaining appliances. These are like suction bulbs that move the tongue forward and therefore stop the back of the mouth from closing up, obstructing the airway, and creating sleep disturbances.
• Mandibular-retaining appliances. These shift the jaw forward during sleep, stabilizing the jaw in a position that allows the throat to stay open.

Additionally, CPAP machines are sometimes prescribed by sleep specialists to manage sleep apnea. These machines force air into your mouth through a mask and under pressure. It may also be suggested that you try dietary and behavioral changes, weight loss, and changes in sleep position to help resolve sleep issues. If nothing else works, surgery to remove excess tissue can make a big difference.

To learn more about sleep apnea appliances and to find a dentist who can help you with sleep issues and many other overall wellness concerns, reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association professional today. Every oral and overall health concern has a solution, and they can help you find it.

For a free consultation about sleep apnea appliance options, call (619) 745-6870 today.

Beautiful, well-fitted dentures are possible when art and science come together at San Diego Dentist Association member offices. A skilled dentist who has experience with dentures and an artist’s eye can create dental prosthetics for you that look better than your natural teeth ever did. The process begins with a facial analysis and an assessment of your overall oral health to understand your needs. The results are not just beautiful but will allow you to eat and speak without impairment.

SDDA dentists are experts in dentures who deal with teeth replacement issues every day. When you visit the caring team at one of these dental offices, you’ll get excellent results and never have to worry about that “denture look” that so many people get from inexperienced or unartistic dental practices.

What Are My Options For Dentures?

Depending on whether you need a full arch of teeth restored or only part of an arch, you may need a complete denture or a partial denture. You could require one solution for the top and the other for the bottom. A complete denture takes the place of all teeth on an arch while a partial is the right solution if some healthy teeth remain on an arch. Partials allow you to keep the teeth surrounding missing or damaged teeth – and it’s usually considered better to have healthy natural teeth than replacements, if possible.

For complete dentures, there is an additional way to divide them into subsets: immediate or conventional. Immediate dentures are made in advance of having remaining teeth extracted so that they can be placed in your mouth during your extraction appointment, meaning you never have to go without teeth. Frequent checkups during the healing process are necessary. Conventional dentures, on the other hand, aren’t made until after your gums heal from extractions and are placed 4 to 6 weeks following extractions. That means you will not have teeth for that time.

Are There Viable Denture Alternatives?

If you’re opposed to dentures or have them now and don’t like them, there are other options. You might choose dental implants, which can support permanent bridges. Getting implants is a complex and lengthy process, but many patients who are good candidates find them well worth it. You can also select the most modern option, a permanent fixed denture supported by implants. The most common and appealing version of implant-supported dentures is called All-on-Four and is available at SDDA dentists. This option is more expensive than traditional dentures, however.

Dental implants combined with fixed bridges can also give you the feel and look of natural teeth and are a popular choice of those who don’t care for dentures or don’t want to go down that path. Your dentist can tell you if you’re a good candidate for implants, which can be expensive.

At this point, patients often ask: Are dentures covered by insurance? The good news is that dental insurance usually covers all or a portion of denture costs, although it may not cover some other types of missing teeth restorations. When you speak with the dental office of your choice, the team there can help you determine exactly what’s covered by your dental insurance plan.

What Does Getting Dentures Involve?

No matter the type of dentures, you need to visit a dentist first to see if you’re a good candidate for dentures. During treatment, you will need to visit the dental office several times over 6 weeks or so. The process involves any needed extractions plus impressions, wax models in some cases and perhaps temporary dentures. Your dentist can help you select the color, fit and tooth shape that’s right for you. After getting your permanent dentures, follow-up appointments will be necessary to make sure they are fitting well.

In all cases, patient comfort and satisfaction is the top priority. If you believe dentures may be the right choice for you, reach out to an SDDA dentist now for a consultation and information on other choices you may not have considered. You always have choices, and you can depend on these dentists to help you make the right ones.

For an appointment, call (619) 745-6870.

If you have a missing tooth or teeth, a dental bridge could be the right solution to fill the gap to restore beauty and function, especially if the teeth on each side need crowns anyway. This permanent restoration has the look and feel of a natural tooth.

When you visit a San Diego Dentist Association member, you can discuss bridge options. Most common is a traditional bridge made of a porcelain tooth fused to a metal base. The closest tooth on each side of the missing area is ground down for a crown, then the metal bridge that holds the missing tooth or teeth is attached to the crowns to fill the gap.

Bridges can remain functional and beautiful for years with regular checkups. They’re the perfect solution if you have any of these problems:

• Missing teeth in a single section of the mouth
• Altered facial shape because of missing teeth
• Drifting teeth
• Trouble chewing or speaking
• An embarrassing gap when you smile
• A part that doesn’t meet your needs.

What’s Involved In Getting A Bridge?

Placing a bridge usually required two appointments with the SDDA dentist you choose after it has been determined that a bridge is a right choice for you. At the first, the adjoining teeth are ground down to accommodate the bridge and temporary crowns are placed. If these teeth don’t need crowns or restorations anyway, healthy enamel and dentin will be lost, a major downside of a fixed bridge. The dentist will take an impression that will be used to create the permanent bridge.

At the second appointment, your permanent dental bridge will be cemented into place, and your dentist will check to make sure the fit is right for talking, chewing, and biting. The dentist will also explain to you the best ways to keep your dental bridge in excellent condition for many years of use as a regular tooth or tooth.

For an appointment with an SDDA dentist to discuss a dental bridge, please reach out now for an opening that fits into your schedule. You don’t have to live with missing teeth when this and other solutions are available right here in San Diego.

For an appointment to discuss a dental bridge as a possible solution for you, call SDDA dentist at (619) 745-6870.

Traditional root canals have a big problem: They involve removing the inside pulp and nerves of a tooth and replacing it with a substance called gutta percha, a thermoplastic material made from a Malaysian plant. This material is combined with zinc oxide, heated and pressed into the cleaned-out canal. This toxic sealant reacts badly with the moisture of the mouth, eventually pulling away and breaking the seal at the bottom of the canal, allowing infection to invade.

Fortunately, there’s an alternative: a calcium hydroxide sealer with a beneficial side effect: it encourages the growth of bone. This substance is also more biocompatible than the traditional toxic thermoplastic sealant and reacts to moisture by swelling rather than shrinking, making it the smartest choice today for root canal therapy.

There is also another choice: BeeFill, a root canal sealant with a pH of 12.8 that doesn’t harden right away, allowing it to continue sterilizing the treated tooth area for days after the procedure. For some dentists, it’s now the standard.

Because the quality and type of sealant are the primary factors in the success and safety of a root canal, it matters which sealant is used. When you choose a dentist randomly or based on what your friends tell you, you never know what products they might be using. San Diego Dentist Association members make smart, biocompatible dentistry choices and are willing to discuss them with you openly.

What To Do If You Need A Root Canal

Biocompatible root canal therapy is better than a traditional root canal, but it still may not be the best choice in every situation. Root canal alternatives are available as well, and you should always consult with your chosen dentist and consider the many options before making a decision. Your dentist can help you decide if your chronic health conditions and overall wellbeing make it likely that root canal treatment will have side effects.

Any tooth for which you decline a root canal will almost certainly need to be extracted and replaced, so you should consider whether a root canal makes more sense than having to have a tooth replacement procedure instead.

If you live in the San Diego area and a dentist has recommended a root canal to you, consider getting another opinion from one of the top SDDA dentists. This will help you make sure you’re making the right choice for short-term results and long-term health considerations.

Understanding Biocompatible Root Canals

Root canal therapy can be confusing to patients because it is usually done as the last resort to save a decayed or heavily damaged tooth, but there are other alternatives as well. If you’re faced with having a root canal, you should ask yourself two questions:

1. Will the tooth need to be extracted if I don’t have root canal therapy? Keep in mind that extraction has consequences, including the potential risks of the procedure as well as teeth spreading and other concerns later.
2. Is root canal treatment safe? The treatment plan a dentist recommends to you may involve toxic materials and could have other side effects and consequences that are not immediately evident.

Good holistic dentists will tell you that a holistic root canal is better than a traditional one. Additionally, they may recommend that you consider other options as well. It’s your body on which the root canal procedure will be done and your body into which potentially toxic sealants will be placed, so you need to make an informed decision.

Holistic dentists find significant guidance regarding the root canal controversy in the book Root Canal Cover-Up by Dr. George E. Meinig, which is based in part on research by Dr. Weston Price. It’s available from Amazon and may help you with your decision.

In some cases, patients have been led to make the permanent, irrevocable decision to have one or more teeth extracted without understanding the consequences of that decision. Before deciding firmly on extraction as an alternative to root canal therapy or to get rid of an old, toxic root canal, speak with your SDDA dentist about the consequences of having a tooth extracted, including the mental unease it can cause. You may even experience balance issues.

You should never feel pressured by any dental professional to choose one treatment type over another, and you should feel free to reject suggested treatment plans. The job of a dentist is to advise and treat you, not to force or upset you.

Holistic dentists Dr. Meining and Dr. Price explored the many possible problems with root canal treatment, and their findings and conclusions are accepted by most holistic dentists. The problem, however, is that many patients don’t know there’s any controversy about root canals and don’t know that they can access information about the topic on websites like this one and books like Root Canal Cover-Up. The book offers 25 years of research and insights into root canal therapy issues, including the prevalence of root canal infection.

Root Canals And Infections

At the time the book Root Canal Cover-Up was first being compiled, dentists and other medical professionals were getting concerned about the possibility of focal infections – an infection involving one part of the body that causes an infection in another part of the body. While these infections are considered to be rare by some in the scientific community, research has proven that they are of concern. That means a small, seemingly insignificant infection of the gums can spread to other places in the body, creating an infection in a place that you may not immediately know needs treatment.

Dr. Weston Price showed through his research that an infection originating in a tooth could reach the kidneys. Based on his research, other scientists found that 95 percent of focal infections came from either the teeth or tonsils and had traveled to a new infection site through the lymphatic system. The bacteria spread continued in some cases even after traditional root canal treatment when the sealant was not properly applied. The new infection could usually be treated, but the tooth may have still been infected.

Teeth have a hollow space at the root called the nerve canal, but isn’t just a single canal. There are many small branches that go off within the tooth. Bacteria may be present in all those offshoots. During root canal therapy, the goal is to remove all bacteria and seal off all branches. The canal must be completely sterilized and filled with a dental material to prevent the bacteria from reestablishing themselves.

This sealing offshoots and leaving bacteria with nowhere to live works in a general sense, but research has shown that teeth root nerves are more complicated than dentists realized in years past. Small nerve branches don’t just peter out, they get smaller and smaller and run throughout the entire tooth. That means bacteria can spread into areas where dentists can’t get with their drills and sealants – and continue to grow.

Root canal therapy needs to be done as soon as a problem with a tooth is diagnosed to have a chance at success in resolving the issue before bacteria spreads any more than it already has. As the nerve goes from merely inflamed to infected, it may be too late to prevent bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body. A calcium hydroxide sealant can kill any remaining bacteria and keep it from spreading. Most dentists have this substance within their reach, but they still may choose other less effective sealants in root canal therapy that do not fight infection.

Alternatives To Root Canal

Extraction is the primary alternative to root canal, but this treatment has its own problems. If you choose extraction, you should replace the tooth in some way to prevent additional problems. Long-term impacts of unreplaced tooth extractions include gum disease, spreading, bite issues, complications with chewing and problems talking normally. You could even experience loss of bone mass in your jawbone that will leave you vulnerable to yet more problems.

One option for missing tooth replacement that can mitigate some, but not all, of these problems is a clip-in partial denture. This solution provides some restoration of function and limited cosmetic benefit, but it’s usually noticeable and rarely the most desirable solution.

A more appealing alternative for replacing a missing tooth is a dental implant – a false tooth crown mounted on a titanium post that is implanted into the gap left from the extraction. The downside of dental implants, however, is that they are fairly expensive and require a surgical procedure to place. You may need bone mass augmentation and other surgical procedures to prepare for an implant as well.

Implants can also support a dental bridge. If you have natural teeth on each side of the gap, they can support a bridge instead. The downside in this case is that the closest tooth on each side must be ground down and crowned, which means healthy tooth will be lost unless you needed crowns on these teeth anyway.

The Bottom Line

To make the right choice, you must take into account your own preferences, the advice of your dentist and the research and findings of Drs. Price and Meinig regarding the downsides of root canal therapy.

If you decide to get a root canal, ask what sealant will be used. If you choose an SDDA dentist, you can rely on them making the right choice – which is calcium hydroxide in most cases. This is the best sealant for root canal treatment, and it’s the one you should request from your dentist. By being informed and stating your knowledge and preferences, you can be sure that you get the treatment that you deserve.

Because of research pioneered years ago by Dr. Price, many dentists across the nation and around the world know about the remarkable properties of calcium hydroxide for dental patients who need root canal therapy. In fact, it was Dr. Price who proved that using calcium hydroxide during root canal treatments caused treated teeth to remain at a pH of about 10 for at least 120 days, and that’s the perfect pH level for teeth, the right level for the healing process and where the acid level needs to be to prevent bacterial growth.

In addition to cleaning a tooth and eliminating bacteria, calcium hydroxide can stimulate bone to repair itself while also reducing the level of inflammation present around the tooth. Killing bacteria is surely the primary reason that dentists know about it, but research has proven that it has a range of other useful and intriguing properties. By using this substance for root canal therapy, dentists can enable patients to experience reduced recovery time so they can fully use their teeth much sooner than if they had had a root canal using a different kind of filler and sealant.

There are additional options out there, but none so far live up to the remarkable natural properties that calcium hydroxide has to offer. Research continues, of course, but no substance currently available shows any more benefits than calcium hydroxide.

We generally advise calcium hydroxide for root canal treatment, but new options become available all the time – and additional research could prove there’s an even better treatment. That’s why we recommend having a discussion with your dentist to understand their recommendations before you rule in or rule out any options.

To help you decide if a biocompatible root canal could save your decayed or damaged tooth or if you would do better if you considered a root canal alternative, reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association member now for a consultation. Some dental decisions aren’t clear at first, but with research and expert advice you can make a sensible decision that will serve you well now – and well into the future. Our members are here to help you at every step of the way.

To find out if a biocompatible root canal or root canal alternatives are right for you, call Us at (619) 745-6870.

When a tooth has decayed so much that it cannot be repaired and extraction seems the only option, it may be time to turn to root canal treatment – a last-ditch, final-hope method of saving a tooth. This process removes remaining pulp and nerves along with decay and bacteria and replaces them with special dental materials that return the tooth to normal function without the pain, infection and other problems that it previously had.

Non-toxic, biocompatible dentists are divided on whether this method of saving a tooth is a good idea, but you can be sure that San Diego Dentist Association dentists will help you understand the pros and cons of any restoration you may be considering and help you decide if root canal therapy is right for you and your damaged tooth.

As far back as 2,000 years ago or more, medical men and women knew that they could sometimes lessen pain in a tooth by drilling a hole in it to allow it to drain. The first instance of root canal treatment, however, was offered in 1756 by Phillip Pfaff. He put gold inside painful teeth to restore them. By the 1950s and 1960s, the method had progressed to the point that root canals had a success rate of up to 80 percent. Dentists realized that in many cases, a root canal could save a tooth that could not otherwise be saved. In 1963, the field of endodontics was developed to focus on root canal therapy.

Root Canal Treatment: The Pros And Cons

Root canal treatment is popular because it’s often the only option for a heavily decayed or damaged tooth. It’s a good choice because it:

• Gets rid of pain
• Allows you to keep your tooth
• Prevents teeth from spreading.

If you have an extraction instead, you could experience problems eating and talking. Surrounding teeth could even begin to move apart, causing your problems with biting and chewing. Bone loss is likely over time as well.

Root canal treatment has its downsides, however. Since there is no longer a blood supply to the tooth, infection is possible. It can also lose its structural integrity and begin to degrade. In many cases, a crown is necessary to cover the hole made by the root canal procedure and maintain the integrity of the tooth. For those with compromised immune systems, additional problems are possible.

Alternatives To Root Canals

If you’re considering root canal therapy, you must take into account your overall health and the risk of complications. For some, a root canal is a bad idea. A biocompatible root canal may be possible, bringing with it reduced risks now and in the future. Some dentists don’t offer this option, however.

Another possibility is extraction of the tooth to get rid of infection. If the tooth is a back molar or wisdom tooth, this may be the simplest and best solution. It’s a decision you must make for yourself in consultation with your dentist.

If a tooth in a visible or important functional location extracted, a fixed bridge could be the right treatment option for you, but this option requires placing crowns on the teeth on each side of the missing tooth, and that’s not necessarily desirable unless those teeth need crowns anyway. A partial or removable bridge could work also.

Another possibility is a safe, small, modern dental implant. This surgical procedure is not possible for everyone, however.

To discuss root canal treatment and other methods of saving or replacing damaged or decayed teeth, reach out to an SDDA dentist now. These caring professionals have a choice that’s right for you, no matter your situation. You deserve the very best treatment available in your circumstances.

To find out if root canal treatment is best for you, call (619) 745-6870

When the portion of a tooth above the gumline has a large filling that is failing, is heavily decayed, has a large chip or is cracked, a crown is often the right solution. Also called a cap, it covers the visible portion of a tooth completely to strengthen and protect it while restoring function and beauty.

Many kinds of crowns are available from San Diego Dentist Association members. The most common in recent years has been porcelain, porcelain over metal or zirconia, all strong and durable choices that look like natural teeth and improve your appearance if used on a visible tooth.

With regular dental care, a crown can last for many years. It may be the right choice for you if you have any of these situations:

• A heavily decayed tooth
• A fractured or broken tooth
• A large filling that is failing
• A tooth that has had root canal therapy
• Misshapen or damaged teeth that need cosmetic improvement.

What’s Involved In Getting A Dental Crown?

Once you and your dentist have decided that a crown is the best choice for you, only two dental appointments are needed to make the crown a reality. The first may be part of the assessment appointment and involves having the damaged or decayed part of the tooth ground away and having an impression made. A temporary crown is also placed.

Once the crown is ready for you, which could take up to 2 weeks, your second appointment starts with the removal of the temporary crown. The permanent crown is checked, fitted, and permanently cemented in place. The dentist will make sure that you can bite and chew properly with the crowned tooth and explain how to take care of it between dental appointments.

A dental crown is just one way to restore a damaged tooth, and it could be the right solution for you. Every dental problem has a gentle solution that’s available at SDDA dental offices. To discuss your needs with a gentle, professional dentist in a caring environment, please reach out now for an appointment. You deserve the right restorations for your damaged teeth – and a beautiful, healthy smile.

Would you like to know if a dental crown is a right solution for you? Call (619) 745-6870

An onlay restoration is like a large filling made in advance and is sometimes called a partial crown. These restorations are available from San Diego Dentist Association members and offer you an alternative to a large filling that preserves as much natural tooth as possible. An onlay may be made from many substances, but the most commonly used today are zirconia and porcelain.

Big areas of decay, big areas that have previously been filled and certain kinds of damage to teeth caused by trauma can often be fixed with an onlay. Onlays are a smart solution when a tooth is otherwise healthy and in good condition because most of the original tooth can be preserved. An onlay is similar to an inlay, but inlays never cover the cusp of a tooth as an onlay can.

Like fillings, these restorations don’t last forever, but they can perform well for many years. You and your dentist may decide this is the right option for you if you have a:

• Fractured or broken tooth
• Tooth with a single large area of decay
• Broken filling
• Large filling that needs to be replaced
• Tooth that has had certain kinds of root canal therapy
• Tooth that needs to be improved cosmetically.

What’s Involved In Getting An Onlay?

Usually, getting an onlay restoration requires two dental visits. During the first visit, the dentist prepares the area and takes an impression of the teeth and gums in the area. Then, the impression is sent to a dental lab that custom-designs the onlay for you. While in the office, a temporary restoration is put in place.

When the piece is ready, often in about 2 weeks, you’ll be notified so you can return. The custom onlay is carefully checked and fitted into the space prepared at the previous appointment. The dentist can adjust the restoration at that time if it isn’t yet perfect, making sure you can chew, bite and speak properly.

Taking care of an onlay restoration is about the same as taking care of a natural tooth. Your SDDA dentist can speak with you about oral hygiene to ensure the longest life of the onlay and your other teeth.

To find out if an onlay is the right choice for you, reach out to an SDDA dentist now. You’ll find a caring, friendly professional who’s right for you.

Would you like to know if onlay restorations are right for you? Call (619) 745-6870