Category: SDDA

Every San Diego Dentist Association member is a safety-minded, responsible, patient-centered San Diego dentist with an office where you and every member of your family can expect pain-free treatment with modern equipment and nontoxic materials. Whether it’s been a long time since your last dental visit or you’re looking for someone more caring and more attentive than your current dentist, you’ll love the SDDA dental team you choose.

Regardless of the challenges you face with your dental and oral health, the right dentist can help. They’ve seen it all and helped with it all, and they’re ready to offer you solutions you can depend on. Please reach out now for your first appointment with a trusted SDDA dentist.

San Diego Painless Dental Treatments

No matter which SDDA dentist you choose, the experienced staff takes advantage of state-of-the-art equipment for painless diagnosis and treatment. When you visit, they may use the following gentle tools to assess your needs:

• DIAGNOdent laser cavity detection. You’ll never be subjected to an unnecessary procedure or work that’s more extensive than necessary. For shallow cavities, they may be able to treat you with no drilling or anesthesia needed.
• The Dental Wand single-tooth anesthesia. Computer-controlled dental injections with a special wand mean they can numb an area for treatment with precision – without pain from the injection. They may also use topical anesthetics to prevent injection pain and pH-neutral formulas warmed to body temperature. Oral conscious sedation is usually available too.
• Low-heat drilling and microabrasion. When there’s no heat, there’s no pain, and when there’s reduced healthy tooth removal, time in the chair is reduced. These things are possible with microabrasion (which means no drilling) and low-speed, low-heat motors when drilling is required.

Depend on a San Diego Dentist Association member to do whatever is necessary to ensure your complete comfort, no matter how extensive the work you need.

Simple Procedures, Stunning Results

At SDDA, we’re as committed to cosmetic dentistry as we are to restoring the damage and decay you may have experienced. Some of the cosmetic dental services our dentists can provide at their San Diego offices include:

• Reshaping teeth for more aesthetically pleasing and functional size, shape and alignment
• Closing ugly spaces between teeth
• Correcting bite alignment for better looks plus easier chewing and elimination of pain
• Whitening and brightening services
• Restoration of decay as well as unsightly cracks, chips and breaks
• Replacement of missing teeth with dental implants or bridges
• Undoing of subpar services performed by bad dentists
• And more.

With veneers, bridges and dental implants, for example, the right dentist can allow you to have the full smile and full mouth of stunning teeth you want while helping you eat and talk better – and feel better about yourself too. And keep in mind that when you select an SDDA dentist for your cosmetic dental needs in the San Diego area, they practice pain-free, nontoxic dentistry for your comfort and safety.

Nontoxic, Biocompatible Dentistry

Our dentists are focused on more than just dental health. Each San Diego Dentist Association member is focused on maintaining and restoring the overall health of every client. For that reason, they use nontoxic, biocompatible materials for restorations and cosmetic work. They don’t put things in your mouth that can hurt you now or damage your health later.

Trust them to remove potentially harmful silver-mercury amalgam fillings and replace them with attractive tooth-colored composite fillings or other appropriate restorations using proven procedures that don’t release harmful mercury or other substances into your bloodstream during the removal process. The safe, reliable composite material they use doesn’t contain harmful BPAs as some dental materials do.

They also place many restorations made of porcelain, a hard-baked ceramic product. They often choose porcelain when its use is indicated because it doesn’t interact with saliva and therefore nothing harmful is released into your system as the porcelain restoration ages.

You can be sure that they always put you in control of choosing restoration and cosmetic dental materials, and they’ll never take any action that might compromise your health. There’s simply too much at stake.

Gentle, Predictable Treatment For Anxious Patients

As scientifically minded medical professionals, they understand that human brains are wired to experience fear and anxiety in some situations, and some of us experience it more often or more intensely than others. As your chosen dental team treats you, they always pay attention to your needs. Here are three promises they make to every patient:

• Always well-informed. You won’t be surprised by anything they do, and they won’t take any actions without your knowledge and approval – because you’re an active participant in your care.
• Always in control. All you have to do is raise your hand if you want them to stop, slow down or answer a question – or if you have a little pain. It helps reduce your anxiety when they put you in control.
• Always pain-free. They don’t allow patients to be in pain and stop pain before it happens for a comfortable, pleasant and anxiety-free dental experience. Barbaric dentistry is a thing of the past.

They make these promises to reduce your anxiety to a level you can manage and that will allow them to perform necessary and desired dental procedures for an attractive, healthy, functional mouth and teeth.

Let’s Work Together For Your Good

You can look all over San Diego, but you won’t find dentists that are more dedicated to serving you than San Diego Dentist Association members. Each respected professional offers a focus on painless, great-looking and safe dentistry that puts you in the driver’s seat.

No matter why you’re looking for a dentist, SDDA dentists are here with beautiful, nontoxic dentistry you can trust. Please reach out now for your first appointment.

If your circumstances are right, same day dental implants can allow you to spend only a brief time in the dentist’s chair and leave with beautiful, functional teeth you’ll love. When you select same day dental implants from a San Diego Dentist Association member, it really is possible.

Remarkable same day dental implants restore a whole upper or lower arch – not just a single missing tooth – and are a fixed, nonremovable prosthesis mounted on only 4, 5 or 6 implants. They’re the right choice when it’s time to step up from a removable denture or you’re having extractions done and aren’t sure which restoration option is the best idea.

Following an assessment and consultation appointment, you can visit your chosen SDDA dentist for a single treatment session and leave the office with both your permanent implants and your temporary dentures to beautifully replace your upper or lower natural teeth.

Same day dental implants are popular today because they save money, hassles and time while providing astonishing results. The success rate is high, the amount of pain is minimal, and this one-day procedure can restore a complete arch quickly and efficiently.

How Same Day Dental Implants Work

The first step in getting same day, full arch replacement dental implants at a San Diego dental office is usually taking x-rays and CT scans. These scans generate a 3D model and provide most of the details needed to plan your procedure. In addition to creating a surgical guide for our team, these scans also provide the details necessary for the fixed provisional prosthesis to be made for attachment the same day as the implant surgery.

These things are done in advance of your surgical day:

• Preparations for extracting your remaining teeth on the arch to be replaced
• Planning for the length, size, location and number of dental implants to be done
• Creation and review of the complete surgical guide based on the 3D model made from the scans
• Creation of temporary teeth to be inserted immediately after the implant surgery
• Preparation of anesthesia so that it’s ready when you arrive
• And more.

Using the materials prepared in advance, your SDDA dentist places your same day dental implants precisely. In most cases, you will be fully awake when your new teeth are placed on the implants installed during the surgery. Please understand that the procedure takes several hours from your arrival at the dental office until your departure, but the process is completed in one day. Follow-up visits are necessary, of course, to see that your mouth is healing and that everything fits and works as it should. Adjustments can be made if necessary.

Remarkable Improvement From Full Arch Implants

You will experience a remarkable enhancement to your quality of life when you choose to replace missing or failing teeth with San Diego same day dental implants. Patients are usually stunned by the beauty of their traditional dental restorations, and this amazement is amplified by the fact that it was all made possible by a single day in the dental chair.

When you’re ready to take action and put right your failing or missing teeth or get rid of your badly fitted dentures for good, same day full arch dental implants from a San Diego dental office may be the solution for you – and other solutions are available for situations when these won’t work for you.

Please arrange your appointment at an SDDA dental clinic soon and let the caring professionals there explain to you the dental restoration options available. The team can improve your smile and restore function in many ways. Reach out now and let a San Diego Dentist Association member be your guide toward a better smile.

Remarkable Mini Dental Implants – or MDIs – have changed how people think about dental implants. Old-fashioned implants called for surgery and often bone grafts as well as many office visits. Today’s MDIs eliminate the necessity for a big surgery and can be handled in just one visit. They are the perfect choice for stabilizing full-arch dentures and more.

Understanding MDIs

Mini dental implant system utilizes a self-tapping threaded screw design and employs minimally invasive surgical intervention

Mini dental implants are the latest technology in implants: very small titanium implants designed to take the place of a natural tooth root better than older, bigger choices and with reduced healing time. In most brands and models, the exposed part of the implant is rounded and fits into a retaining mechanism for holding prosthetic teeth so that they hover just above the gums. Unlike unfixed dentures, implant-supported dentures can withstand more than the necessary amount of force for biting and chewing.

These implants to support dentures are perfect for patients who have had problems with regular dentures and need an alternative that doesn’t involve extensive surgery. A primary advantage of mini dental implants from a San Diego Dentist Association member is that they work even if you have significant bone loss, which can make larger implants impossible to place.

Depending on the bone available in your jaw and other factors, four or more mini implants can be placed without surgery in a single visit, and that’s enough to support an entire upper or lower arch. For traditional single-tooth implants, invasive surgery and multiple visits are necessary, adding to discomfort, dental visits and cost.

Among the advantages of visiting a caring, professional SDDA dentist for mini dental implants are these:

• Better, easier to understand speech
• Greater ease of chewing
• Simpler, more effective cleaning
• A better fit than unsupported dentures
• Increased comfort
• No need for adhesives
• Less chance of food lodging under dentures
• Permanent results
• And more.

How Mini Dental Implants Are Placed

Mini dental implant placement usually takes an hour or perhaps less. For the best results and stability, the four implants are inserted about 5 mm apart. Before the day of the procedure, the dentist will want you to do a dental visit so they can use some diagnostic tools to determine the right MDI placement.

The actual procedure is done under local anesthetic only and involves drilling small holes in the bone at each implant position. The implants are essentially screwed into the holes and tightened. Special tools made for the purpose make this process a breeze for your dentist and for you.

A rubber O-ring on each mini dental implant snaps perfectly into place in the corresponding holes of the dental prosthetic that is made for you. The denture rests just millimeters above the gums comfortably, securely, and permanently – except when removed for cleaning or any needed repairs.

You will have very little discomfort and can probably eat just fine right after the procedure, although you will need to avoid tough food for a few days. To learn more about MDIs, now’s the time to reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association member.

Once referred to as TMJ after the joint that’s impacted, the painful condition Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction – now more often called TMD or TMJ disorder – impacts as much as a third of the United States, and millions have symptoms bad enough that they want treatment. Each San Diego Dentist Association member has an office staffed with a team who can help you with TMD and related jaw problems.

The temporomandibular joint is the fancy name for the jaw joint. Problems with this joint can impact facial nerves and tissue, causing debilitating headaches, severe jaw pain, teeth grinding, ear ringing and more. Many people with TMD have trouble getting a proper diagnosis of their condition and don’t even know that treatments are available.

TMJ disorders occur when something goes wrong with your jaw joints and jaw muscles

Yet symptoms of TMJ disorder may be severe and limit sufferers’ ability to get things done. When your San Diego dentist is treating TMJ disorder, the primary focus is on increasing your comfort by decreasing your symptoms so you can live a better life. They can test for this condition, formulate a treatment plan, address causes, reduce pain and let you get on with life.

Sufferers of TMD often report suffering from stress as well, and we recognize that times of stress make TMD worse. During stressful times, TMD pain may extend to the neck, cause dizziness and lead to a range of other symptoms that may not seem related to the jaw.

Among the most common causes of TMJ disorder is misaligned teeth, meaning the condition falls within a dentist’s domain to fix. Fixing the alignment issue can ease symptoms. Additionally, TMJ disorder can cause grinding of teeth during sleep that wears away tooth enamel and leads to serious teeth problems. When left untreated, the jawbone can begin to break down, eventually causing tooth loss. That’s why diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorder are so crucial.

Treating TMJ Disorder

While bite problems are the most common cause of TMD, injury can also cause the disorder. Treating begins with an exam of the teeth, jaw and bite that includes digital x-rays as well as a medical history. Once diagnosed, several treatments are possible. One is a bite guard to protect teeth from teeth grinding. Your dentist may also discuss relaxation techniques with you to help reduce physical symptoms and the emotional stress that causes TMD. If necessary, muscle relaxants can be prescribed.

Your SDDA dentist may also recommend realignment, which improves the way the upper and lower teeth meet when biting and chewing.

If you have symptoms of TMJ disorder, please reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association member today to make an appointment. Each is there to help you feel better and provide treatment you can rely on.

A periodontist is a dentist that can help you with gum disease and related conditions of the soft tissue and bone of the mouth and jaw. You need to see a periodontist or a periodontal dentist when you have tenderness, pain, bleeding or one of the other symptoms explained below. San Diego Dentist Association members are caring professionals ready to serve your periodontal and total mouth health needs.

Most people turn to periodontal treatment because of gum disease, which is at least partly caused by neglect. Periodontal or gum disease usually starts when food and debris left on teeth becomes plaque and causes pockets that harbor bacteria. These bacteria attack the soft tissues around your teeth. Once the infection begins, it goes deeper and deeper unless treated, eventually getting down to the underlying bone and destroying it. As gum disease progressed, deep pockets form around teeth, and bone is lost, threatening the stability and health of teeth.

When To See A Periodontist Or Periodontal Dentist

When a dental professional finds gum disease symptoms or you believe you may have symptoms of periodontal problems, it’s time to start a treatment program. Here are some of the symptoms that mean a periodontist or periodontal dentist may be necessary for you:

• Bleeding when eating or brushing. Bleeding is never normal, and it’s often the first and most common sign of gum disease.
• Bad breath. Called halitosis, bad breath is evidence of infection and is caused by all that bacteria present in pockets around teeth that brushing doesn’t clean away.
• Gum recession. If you notice gums pulling away from teeth, this is a sign of gum recession that can lead to tooth loss. It’s also a sign that gum disease has been present for a while and is progressing.
• Particularly difficult to diagnose yourself, gangrene is serious because it is the localized death and decomposition of soft tissue. In the case of gums, the tissue won’t heal or grow back by itself.
• Other health problems. The same bacteria that result in gum disease can travel throughout your body via your bloodstream and cause or worsen diabetes, heart disease, osteopenia, osteoporosis and many other conditions.

Periodontal Diagnosis And Treatment

The right dentist or periodontist is a San Diego Dentist Association member. Our dental professionals can examine your gums as well as your teeth and jawbone to diagnose your gum disease or whatever other oral health concerns may be troubling you. Once diagnosed, your dentist and their team can talk you through the treatment options available in your situation, which may include both surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Here are some of the possible treatments:

• If you have only gingivitis or mild gum disease… When pockets reach 4 mm or larger, the recommendation may be to perform root scaling and planing to remove debris and bacteria from the pockets and allow for healing. You will also be given instructions on home oral care.
• If you already have moderate gum disease… When gum pockets reach 6 mm or larger, your dentist may recommend applying a local anesthetic and performing deep root planing and scaling. Healing takes a bit longer, but results are often very good.
• If you have symptoms of advanced gum disease… When gum pockets are well over the 6 mm size and you also show other signs of gum recession and bone loss, deep root planing and scaling are still recommended, and your dentist may also suggest pocket reduction surgery to reduce the size and number of places in your mouth where bacteria can accumulate and grow.
• If you have experienced tooth loss… We know that untreated periodontal disease and other oral health concerns can cause tooth loss and well as loss of gum tissue and bone. In many cases, safe, effective dental implants are recommended, but only in cases where bone is sufficient. If there are bone issues, a bone graft can help provide a stable base for dental implants.

If you’re concerned about periodontal disease, how and when to treat it and the options that are available for treatment, including dental implants, please reach out to an SDDA dentist now. Delay only makes things worse. Our dentists are here for you now, and each want to become the San Diego dental office you trust for periodontal care and so much more.

Crown lengthening is done for two primary reasons: to improve oral health or as a cosmetic procedure that makes teeth look longer and better. For patients with a gummy smile, a crown lengthening procedure from a San Diego Dentist Association member is the right choice to remove excess gums and improve the appearance of the mouth and teeth. The procedure contours and reshapes the periodontal tissue allowing for more exposed tooth near the gum line, and it can be done for a single tooth, several teeth or the whole top or bottom arch.

Reasons To Have Crown Lengthening

A common and relatively easy procedure, crown lengthening can make a big difference and provide remarkably satisfying results in a variety of cases. Crown lengthening is the solution you need for these and other situations:

• Filling a damaged tooth. When a tooth is damaged below the gum line, crown lengthening can be performed on a single tooth to prepare the area for a filling or other restoration work. The tooth could have been damaged by decay, disease or trauma.
• Dental crown. If you have a cracked, broken or decayed tooth that needs a dental crown, you will very likely require crown lengthening so the prosthetic crown can properly fit over the remaining portion of the natural tooth without gum damage or infection.
• Cosmetic issues. If you have a gummy smile or for any other reason have a smile where too much of your gums show, crown lengthening can improve your looks and reduce pocket depth around teeth for better oral health.

What Does Crown Lengthening Involve?

When you come to the San Diego dental office you choose for crown lengthening, the process begins with a consultation to make sure the procedure will meet your needs and desires. The procedure itself is done under local anesthesia and can take from 30 to 60 minutes or longer, depending on whether bone as well as gum tissue needs to be removed and how many teeth are involved. In many cases, a dental crown already in place will need to be removed and replaced, adding to the time involved.

Your SDDA dentist begins with small incisions into gum tissue so that it can be gently tugged away from teeth, allowing for access to tooth roots and the bone below. Often, only a small amount of gum tissue needs to be removed. Sometimes, however, some bone must also be removed with a drill.

Once the procedure is done, the treated area is protected with a special periodontal bandage to fight infection, and you may be given both a prescription for pain as well as an antimicrobial rinse. The site may take up to 3 months to fully heal. When surgery is done for cosmetic benefit, you will see a remarkable difference in how the treated teeth look – longer and more natural.

To learn more or for your crown lengthening consultation, reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association member today.

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of gums and the bones of the face and jaw that support the teeth. At each San Diego Dentist Association member, you’ll find a team of dental professionals who can treat your teeth, gums and overall oral health with caring attention. From small pockets of irritation and infection to complex, severe gum disease cases, they’re ready to help.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to periodontal disease. SDDA dentists are trained and experienced in both surgical and nonsurgical methods of treating gum disease and bone loss, and no dentists have a broader array of tools and expertise available to serve you.

What A Periodontist Can Treat

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease

A San Diego periodontist works to help dental patients in three primary ways:

• Gum disease prevention
• Gum disease treatment, including gingivitis and bone loss
• Dealing with any condition related to the gums and jawbone

Gum disease, officially called periodontitis, is the top cause of tooth loss in American adults, according to recent statistics, and if left untreated it only gets worse. A periodontal dentist diagnoses and provides treatment for gum issues, and the earlier any disease or condition of the gums is caught, the easier, less expensive and less painful the treatment will be. A periodontist also works with their patients on oral hygiene to prevent the disease from coming back once treated.

Specifically, a San Diego Dentist Association periodontist can help you with these conditions:

• A mild inflammation of the gums, gingivitis symptoms may include pain and bleeding when brushing.
• Categorized as mild or moderate, periodontitis involves infection that leaves behind pockets around gums of at least 4 mm.
• Advanced periodontitis. When labeled advanced periodontitis, this condition is characterized as having created pockets in the gums of at least 6 mm. At this stage, if untreated bone loss and teeth shifting are likely.
• Missing teeth. Once teeth are lost because of gum disease, a periodontal dentist can replace them with dental implants, bridges or dentures that look good and function well.

Periodontal Procedures You May Need

Each San Diego Dentist Association member that you may choose can perform many different types of procedures to restore the look and function of your teeth and improve your gum health. Here are some periodontal procedures that may be necessary for treating and preventing gum disease and replacing teeth already lost:

• Dental implants. Involving a metal tooth root capped in much the same way as a natural tooth that requires a crown, implants look like natural teeth and are placed into bone for amazing stability.
• Hard tissue recontouring. Called osteoplasty, this process involves the reshaping of bone so that your teeth look and function better than before.
• Soft tissue recontouring. Called gingivoplasty, this process is the reshaping of a gum line to eliminate a gummy smile or straighten a gumline that appears uneven.
• Bone grafting. This process involves adding or growing bone in a location where more is needed for denture stability or most often for the placement of dental implants.
• Deep pocket cleaning. Gum disease progression can make it difficult for you to adequately clean inside deep pockets around teeth. Deep pocket cleaning can include root planing and scaling.
• Crown lengthening. Often done for aesthetic purposes, gum tissue can be removed by the dentist to make teeth look longer and more appealing.

Your chosen San Diego Dentist Association member can do these and other services for you. Reach out now to learn more or make an appointment.

An astounding 4 million people in the United States have braces, according to recent statistics, and 25 percent of those are adults. Because braces are better than ever – plus smart alternatives to braces like Invisalign are available too – it seems that orthodontic treatment isn’t just for kids anymore.

Straightening and realigning teeth can be remarkably easy and effective with braces, and dentists have known for decades that braces work for adults just as well as they do for kids and teens. At the right San Diego Dentist Association member for you, you’ll find a dental team who understands that while braces for adults may take a little longer, they provide results that are just as dramatic as for children.

How Adults Benefit From Braces

Adults are often surprised to hear that braces can not only fix their crooked teeth but can also correct other linked dental problems

Braces and clear aligners like Invisalign can successfully treat problems of teeth and bite in adults. For example, malocclusion – poor positioning of teeth when the mouth is closed – is a primary issue treated with braces. It can take the form of an underbite when the lower jaw extends under the upper one, an overbite when the upper jaw extends over the lower one or overcrowding when there isn’t enough room for all teeth. All three conditions and others can be treated with orthodontic work, but gum disease and tooth decay must be treated first.

Crooked and poorly aligned teeth in adults can impact talking, eating, and self-confidence. SDDA orthodontic dentists understand that how our teeth look plays a big role in how we think of ourselves, and since straighter teeth are usually healthier teeth overall, braces can make sense for a better, happier life.

Braces bring adults the following positive impacts:

• Potential reduction of tooth decay since cleaning teeth is easier
• Reduced possibility of gum disease since teeth are spaced better
• Reduced likelihood of injury since teeth are in line and protect each other
• Fewer stomach and digestive problems caused by improper chewing
• And more.

The look of braces has changed significantly in recent decades, making them more appealing for adults, even those who can’t afford to let braces impact their working lives and other everyday activities. There are even removable options like clear aligners, which work well for mild to moderate repositioning.

What Are The Main Types Of Braces?

There are three primary types of braces that the San Diego Dentist Association member you choose may recommend to you:

Traditional. Involving metal, clear or tooth-colored brackets attached to each tooth and interlinked with an archwire that connects and applies pressure to them, traditional braces are tightened regularly over months or more than a year to encourage teeth movement.

Aligner trays. Instead of having braces, you can choose Invisalign or other clear aligner trays, which are removable and nearly invisible when worn. These trays can be taken out for cleaning, eating, and important events or dates. Not everyone is a good candidate for this option, however.

Lingual. Attached to the backs of teeth so they can’t be seen, this type of fixed braces can make speaking temporarily difficult. This option is also more expensive than braces on the visible side of teeth.

If you would like to explore your options for braces, Invisalign, and other orthodontic treatment, reach out now to an SDDA dentist for affordable, quality care.

The decision to get braces can be difficult for children and their parents because there are concerns that have to be weighed. At San Diego Dentist Association member dental offices, you’ll find people who can help you and your family balance the desire for straight, beautiful teeth with concerns about pain, difficulty eating and disruptions to the ability to speak clearly. They can explain to you and your child that properly fitted braces and alternatives to braces for children don’t have to be painful and are almost always worth the inconvenience.

It’s possible to benefit from braces and other orthodontic treatments at any age, but they work faster in young patients whose teeth and jaws are already moving and changing as part of the normal growing-up process. Braces work with the growing process to guide teeth gently to their best positions. Most dental organizations recommend that all children see an orthodontic dentist by age 7 for assessment and to see if concerns are forming.

What Causes Teeth Alignment Concerns?

Some issues that children have with teeth and oral health are caused by genetics or by developmental problems. The inability to bite, chew or speak clearly can result. In other cases, dental concerns are triggered by or made worse by habits or behaviors. Some behaviors that can cause crooked or misaligned teeth include:

• Breathing only through the mouth, not the nose
• Frequent thumb or finger sucking
• Use of a pacifier for a longer-than-average period
• Poor brushing, flossing, and oral hygiene from a young age
• Bad nutrition causes teeth not to get the nutrients they need
• And more.

What Is Involved When A Child Gets Braces?

Orthodontic treatment will help your child bite and chew, and contribute to clear speech. When teeth function properly, they tend to look nice

The orthodontic process for a child begins with a consultation and visual examination of the gums, teeth and jaw. Then, some tests will be needed, usually including panoramic and regular digital x-rays to see below the gum line. Impressions of the teeth are also necessary for precise information about position. Pictures may be taken with a digital camera too. Computer analysis of this information can help your SDDA dentist understand what treatment program is necessary.

In some cases, especially when issues are severe, the right course of action is traditional fixed braces, which can make big changes in tooth positioning and don’t come out during treatment, so they can’t be forgotten or lost. This kind of treatment for children is also sometimes the quickest. If alignment problems aren’t severe, clear aligner trays are less intrusive and work just as well. Your San Diego dentist can explain options that may include:

• Braces or aligners. Braces have clear, tooth-colored or metal-colored brackets on every tooth and a wire between to connect and guide teeth in place. Fixed braces require frequent dental office visits. For mild problems, clear aligners like Invisalign offer nearly invisible treatment, fewer dental visits and fewer hassles too.
• Often used to treat developmental problems, headgear is custom-made for your child and is attached to wires and braces to encourage teeth movement. Headgear usually needs to be worn for at least 12 hours a day and possibly more.
• Almost always required after primary treatment is completed successfully, retainers stop teeth from moving back to their old positioning and undoing results achieved. A retainer works to support newly moved teeth and may be required for months or even years after treatment is complete.

To learn more about braces for children as well as other orthodontic treatments, reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association member. You can meet with the dentist you choose and their team to learn how treatments are better than ever and achieve remarkable results. Your child deserves a beautiful smile, and the right dentist can help make that a reality.

Orthodontics is a subfield within dentistry that’s focused on tooth placement, jaw abnormalities and bite problems – and it’s an area in which many San Diego Dentist Association members focus. Each is ready to make sure you get the treatment you need for the beautiful, healthy, functional teeth and smile that you deserve. Originally developed for children’s dental health needs, orthodontics also work well for adults who didn’t have successful orthodontic treatment when they were children. Orthodontics can be adapted to work at any age.

Concerns with crooked teeth, an underbite or an overbite, for example, can make functions like chewing, eating and even speaking distinctly quite difficult. Over time, significant medical problems can also develop, including digestive issues as well as gum disease and tooth decay from not being able to clean teeth properly.

Exactly What Can Orthodontics Treat?

Orthodontic dentistry offers techniques which will realign the teeth and revitalize the smile

How teeth are arranged and how they can be moved into better arrangement is the primary study and purpose of orthodontics. The San Diego Dentist Association member you choose can treat a wide range of oral and overall health problems at their San Diego dental office using modern orthodontics. Treatments available include solutions for these concerns and more:

• Caused when your upper jaw extends more than usual over the lower jaw, this condition can make you look toothy and your chin look weaker and smaller than it is.
• Caused when your lower jaw extends under your upper jaw, this condition makes it look like you have a very prominent jaw, and you may struggle to eat correctly.
• Caused when your mouth has so many teeth that they don’t seem to fit in naturally, the condition can lead to misalignment, rotation or tooth displacement.
• Crooked teeth. Sometimes teeth are simply positioned in an aesthetically unpleasing manner and can be adjusted with braces, Invisalign clear aligners or other procedures.

Understanding The Orthodontic Treatment Process

Orthodontic dentistry provides a range of choices to realign teeth, enhance function and improve a smile. The treatment you need depends on the specifics of your situation. Following a visual examination, your SDDA dentist can determine what additional tests and diagnostics are necessary. These might include panoramic digital x-rays to see the whole mouth and jaw in a single image, a bite impression to help the team understand how your teeth function in relation to each other and more. With these tests, they can make a firm diagnosis and recommendations. You may have several treatment options.

In the past, dental braces were the most common orthodontic treatment, but Invisalign and similar clear aligners are more popular today because they don’t involve wires or metal brackets. Clear aligners are appropriate for mild to modern issues, and braces are still the standard for severe alignment issues. In the case of braces, brackets may now be ceramic instead of metal. They are connected together with a wire that is gradually tightened over a period of several months, spurring teeth to move to the correct positioning.

Other orthodontic treatments available from the San Diego dentist you choose may include headgear for severe bite problems, retainers, tooth movers, palate expanders and more. Your dentist can work with you to determine the best course of action and the most conservative way to achieve your goals with the least impact on everyday life. They can discuss costs as well. For most people, the solution may be simpler than you think, and all it takes is a consultation to find out.

To learn how orthodontics can work in your favor, reach out to an SDDA dentist now. Each is a gentle, friendly professional with a knack for helping and can assist you with your tooth straightening and aligning needs in a pleasant, professional environment.