How Can I Improve My Smile?
Posted on | December 29, 2011 | Comments Off
A very common question that people have all the time:
How can I improve my smile?
What are the main components of a good smile?
1. Clean teeth
2. Aligned teeth
3. No bad breath
All the above things can be achieved within 2 appointments at California Shine Dental. The dentists at California Shine dental are trained and maintain the highest skill levels with continuing education. We also have before and after photos of other patients. References are also available.
Clean teeth:
Teeth cleaning are covered by most insurance for every 6 months. This has to be used up by each and every family member so that your teeth get their regular checkup. Any cavities that are detected at early stages are easiest to fix. The cavities are filled with porcelain and they are made to look like your other teeth. Teeth which have large cavities need a root canal. A root canal procedure at our office requires 2 visits. The first visit is where the teeth are cut and the nerve is sealed and then the remaining teeth are sealed with a temporary crown. The final crown is fitted at the next appointment which is within 3 weeks.
During the cleaning visit, your mouth is scanned for any possibility of oral cancer. The jaw bite is also examined.
While you’re cleaning procedure at the dentist these are the things to take care of
- Is it covered by insurance?
- Do my teeth need deep cleaning?
- If your teeth are extra sensitive ask for a numbing lotion. This lotion numbs your teeth for 15 minutes and it makes the procedure pain-free
- Make sure you the doctor examines you to rule out oral cancer
Aligned Teeth:
Many patients have teeth that are not aligned. There are teeth that are one in front of the other, the teeth are crooked. This can be fixed very easily by having the teeth crowned. It is again a simple procedure and kind of similar to root canals.
If the teeth are not of the same size or color long then the problem can be fixed by porcelain veneers. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic placed over the front teeth to change the color or shape of your teeth. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked.
The other way to fix the teeth of different color or sizes is bonding. Bonding is a process of using a resin material to fill in gaps between the teeth or to change the shape of the teeth. They last for several years.
While your appointments at the dentist make sure you ask the following questions
- How much will it cost? Even though insurance covers about 50% of the procedure, different dentist will have different quotes for the same procedure
- What materials are being used? Some dentist use cheap materials to make the procedure cheaper. It is best to know what materials are used and compare the quotes of different dentist for the same material.
- What will you do if I run into issues with the procedure – is the fix covered for free? And if it is free for how many years?
- When will I be back for a check up?
Teeth Whitening:
Over age and with drinking coffee or tea or smoking, our teeth tend to stain and the stain color is yellow or brown. The staining of teeth makes them look unclean as if there has been a lot of plaque covered on them the stains can be easily removed with teeth whitening. It is one visit to the office and the results will make you look and feel better.
While your appointments at the dentist make sure you ask the following questions
- How much is covered by the insurance?
- Since there are many whitening techniques make sure you know which one is the doctor going to use on you.
Gum Diseases and bad breath:
Gum diseases cause the gum lining of our teeth to recede and make our smile not beautiful. The sign of gum disease is usually bad breath. The gum disease is caused by bacteria build up due to plaque and hence it is essential to get the plaque removed during cleaning appointments so that the gums stay healthy.
While your appointments at the dentist make sure you ask the following questions
- Will my isurance cover deep cleaning to remove the plaque built up?
- What is the best way to get my gums fixed and in such a way that it is most economical.
Dentists have different ways to fix a single problem. Work with your dentist so that you can get the best service out of your dental plan.
Dental health and heart disease
Posted on | December 29, 2011 | Comments Off
Dental health and heart disease
Heart ailments have a high rate of occurrence. The heart regulates blood circulation in the body. Any disturbance in its normal functioning can lead to disastrous consequences. All the organs of the body function as a single unit. If any part of the body malfunctions, it effects the whole system. Dental patients usually are perplexed as to why before any dental treatment their dentist makes a detailed history of their medical problems. More so, of their cardiac status.
The most common question asked to a dentist is: Is there any connection between the heart and teeth? What difference is it going to make on the dental treatment plan?
In a cardiac patient, a dental treatment plan is much more conservative and extra precautions are taken compared to a case of a systemically normal, healthy patient.
Cases of heart attack
In such cases, patients are usually put on anti-coagulant drugs (drugs used to prevent blood from clotting) such as Ecosprin, Disprin, Colsprin, etc. These drugs prevent blood from clotting. This implies that if due to some reason bleeding results, then it is likely to occur for a longer period of time than normal. In some cases, there may even be difficulty in controlling such bleeding.
If in such a case a dentist has to perform a surgical procedure such as extraction of a tooth, then under cardiological guidance the patient is instructed to stop the intake of such drugs a week before the procedure. Also the dentist may get bleeding and clotting time checked for such a patient before performing the procedure.
Moreover, the dentist advocates plain local anesthaesia that is free of adrenaline as the latter can adversely effect the heart’s functioning. Also, dental procedure may stress the patient and since stress can adversely affect the heart, patients are given anti-anxiety drugs. It is also extremely important that the patient’s blood pressure is normal.
A written cardiological clearance before undertaking dental treatment is mandatory.
Valvular disorder
Microbial infection of the heart valve leads to a condition called infective endocarditis. Bacteria causing this infection are similar to those causing dental periodontitis (which is an infection of the supporting structures of the teeth). During various dental procedures such as teeth cleaning (scaling) or extraction, these bacteria can enter the blood stream and reach the heart valves where they may cause infection. Hence in such cases dental procedures are undertaken only after proper antibiotic administration.
Patients having pacemakers
Dental instruments which are electrically operated are usually avoided in such cases as they may hinder in the functioning of pacemakers thereby leading to complications. Therefore, it is important that the patient discloses that he/she has a pacemaker fitted.
It is necessary for cardiac patients undergoing dental treatment to avoid shortcuts and follow the proper instructions of both the cardiologists and the dentist to avoid complications.
San jose dentist dds
Posted on | November 23, 2011 | Comments Off
With winter comes a common problem with most patients.
Dry Mouth
Saliva is one of your body’s natural defenses against plaque because it acts to rinse your mouth of cavity-causing bacteria and other harmful materials. Dry mouth (also called Xerostomia) is a fairly common condition that is caused by diminished saliva production. People with medical conditions, such as an eating disorder or diabetes, are often plagued by dry mouth. Eating foods such as garlic, tobacco use, and some kinds of medications, including treatments such as cancer therapy can diminish the body’s production of saliva, leading to dry mouth. Other causes are related to aging (including rheumatoid arthritis), and compromised immune systems.
Some of the less alarming results of dry mouth include bad breath. But dry mouth can lead to more serious problems, including burning tongue syndrome, a painful condition caused by lack of moisture on the tongue.
If dry mouth isn’t readily apparent, you may experience other conditions that dry mouth can cause, including an overly-sensitive tongue, chronic thirst or even difficulty in speaking.
If you don’t have a medical condition that causes it, dry mouth can be minimized by sipping water regularly, chewing gum and avoiding smoking. Of course, there is no substitute for regular checkups and good oral hygiene.
We have a great promotion for new PPO patients.
Call our office and schedule an oppointment.
Enter the information below to schedule an online appointment.
Visit the office for a treatment and receive a FREE ORAL B automatic toothbrush
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LIVE DENTAL TALK SHOW ON THE RADIO
Posted on | October 27, 2011 | Comments Off
Now you can hear me or ask Dental related questions LIVE ON AIR AT 1170AM EVERY THURSDAY and FRIDAY 1:00PM TO 1:30PM. Feel free to call at 408-912-5565 ON AIR for your questions.http///www.californiashinedental.com 408-223-9600.
California Shine Dental
Posted on | October 7, 2011 | Comments Off
Dr.Sandhu practices a full scope of general and cosmetic dentistry with expertise ranging from porcelain veneers to dental implants,crowns,bridges,dentures and Invisalign.
Dental Health
Posted on | September 16, 2011 | Comments Off
CALIFORNIA SHINE DENTAL BRINGS THE LINK MENTIONED BELOW FOR YOUR GOOD DENTAL/MEDICAL HEALTH.
Can Oral Care For Babies Prevent Future Cavities?
Posted on | August 24, 2011 | Comments Off
Can Oral Care For Babies Prevent Future Cavities?
Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children’s Health
Article Date: 17 Aug 2011 – 1:00 PDT
New parents have one more reason to pay attention to the oral health of their toothless babies. A recent University of Illinois study confirms the presence of bacteria associated with early childhood caries (ECC) in infant saliva.
ECC is a virulent form of caries, more commonly known as tooth decay or a cavity. Cavities are the most prevalent infectious disease in U.S. children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“By the time a child reaches kindergarten, 40 percent have dental cavities,” said Kelly Swanson, lead researcher and U of I professor of animal science. “In addition, populations who are of low socioeconomic status, who consume a diet high in sugar, and whose mothers have low education levels are 32 times more likely to have this disease.”
Swanson’s novel study focused on infants before teeth erupted, compared to most studies focused on children already in preschool or kindergarten – after many children already have dental cavities.
“We now recognize that the “window of infectivity,” which was thought to occur between 19 and 33 months of age years ago, really occurs at a much younger age,” he said. “Minimizing snacks and drinks with fermentable sugars and wiping the gums of babies without teeth, as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, are important practices for new parents to follow to help prevent future cavities.”
In addition, his team used high-throughput molecular techniques to characterize the entire community of oral microbiota, rather than focusing on identification of a few individual bacteria.
“Improved DNA technologies allow us to examine the whole population of bacteria, which gives us a more holistic perspective,” Swanson said. “Like many other diseases, dental cavities are a result of many bacteria in a community, not just one pathogen.”
Through 454 pyrosequencing, researchers learned that the oral bacterial community in infants without teeth was much more diverse than expected and identified hundreds of species. This demonstration that many members of the bacterial community that cause biofilm formation or are associated with ECC are already present in infant saliva justifies more research on the evolution of the infant oral bacterial community, Swanson said.
Could manipulating the bacterial community in infants before tooth eruption help prevent this disease in the future?
“The soft tissues in the mouth appear to serve as reservoirs for potential pathogens prior to tooth eruption,” he said. “We want to characterize the microbial evolution that occurs in the oral cavity between birth and tooth eruption, as teeth erupt, and as dietary changes occur such as breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, liquid to solid food, and changes in nutrient profile.”
Swanson said educating parents-to-be on oral hygiene and dietary habits is the most important strategy for prevention of dental cavities.
“Comparative analysis of salivary bacterial microbiome diversity in edentulous infants and their mothers or primary care givers using pyrosequencing” was published on August 10 in PLoS ONE. Researchers include Kelly Swanson, Kimberly Cephas, Juhee Kim, Rose Ann Mathai and Kathleen Barry of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Scot Dowd of the Research and Testing Laboratory and Medical Biofilm Research Institute in Lubbock, Texas; and Brandon Meline of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. This study was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture-Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (project ILLU-538-396).
Air Abrasion (No Needles)
Posted on | August 15, 2011 | Comments Off
Air Abrasion (No Needles)
By San Jose best dentist Dr Sandhu at CaliforniashineDental
What is Air Abrasion?
How Does Air Abrasion Work?
During air abrasion, an instrument that works like a mini sandblaster is used to spray away decay. During air abrasion, a fine stream of particles is aimed at the decayed portion of the tooth. These particles are made of silica, aluminum oxide, or a baking soda mixture and are propelled toward the tooth surface by compressed air or a gas that runs through the dental handpiece. Small particles of decay on the tooth surface are removed as the stream of particles strikes them. The particles of decay are then “suctioned” away.
What Are the Advantages of Air Abrasion?
Compared with the traditional drilling method, the advantages of San Jose air abrasion by CaliforniaShineDental San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers – Dr Sandhu are many and include the following:- Air abrasion generates no heat, sound, pressure, or vibration. - Air abrasion reduces the need for anesthesia, particularly if the cavity is shallow. - Air abrasion leaves much more of the healthy tooth tissue behind. - Air abrasion leaves the working area relatively dry, which is an advantage during the placement of composite fillings. - Air abrasion reduces the risk of micro-fracturing and chipping of the tooth, which some experts believe can lead to premature restorative failures. - Air abrasion allows the dentist to treat multiple sites in the mouth during a single visit.
Please call our office to schedule your appointments and get treated with the latest techniques
How Pregnancy Affects Your Dental Care
Posted on | July 29, 2011 | Comments Off
Here’s a very good informative article that I found written by Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO
Thinking about your baby and prenatal care is normal during pregnancy; however, thinking about your oral health and dental care may not be forefront on your mind, but dentistry is still very important. Women need to pay special attention to their teeth and gums especially during pregnancy to avoid the increased risk of dental problems.
Your Changing Body and Changing Dental Care Needs During Pregnancy.
Pregnancy brings a change in oral health and hormones, especially increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are linked to plaque buildup on teeth. Plaque that is not removed can cause gingivitis and swollen gums that are tender and prone to bleed. Most pregnant women experience gingivitis to some degree, but it doesn’t usually surface until the second trimester.
If you had gingivitis before becoming pregnant, your condition will likely be aggravated; untreated gingivitis can lead to a more serious problem — periodontal disease. Swollen gums that become irritated can also lead to pregnancy tumors, benign growths that will usually shrink and disappear without treatment. However, if the tumor causes discomfort or interferes with chewing or brushing, the dentist may suggest removing it.
Special Preventive Dental Care Tips for Pregnant Women
- Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and after each meal, if possible.
- If brushing your teeth causes morning sickness, rinse with anti-plaque and fluoride mouthwashes or water.
- Pay close attention to your gum line and keep it clean.
- Floss daily.
- Focus on nutrition, including plenty of vitamins C and B12.
- Visit your dentist for a check-up and cleaning in both your first and second trimesters to control plaque and maintain good oral health.
Handling Dental Care Emergencies During Pregnancy
If you experience dental emergencies causing pain, you can be treated at any time; however, consult your doctor if anesthesia is required or a medication is prescribed to you. Avoid X-rays during pregnancy, unless they are critical to emergency treatment.
It is recommended to schedule elective procedures after your baby’s birth. While you’re expecting, have great expectations for maintaining good oral health. By doing so, you’ll keep your beautiful smile and share it with your baby!
Tags: Best Dentist in San Jose > Cosmetic Dentist San Jose > Dental Care during Pregnancy > Dentist Open Saturday and Sunday > Indian Dentist San Jose > Invisalign Dentist San Jose > San Jose Dentist
Teeth Fillings – Studies and Recommendations
Posted on | July 11, 2011 | Comments Off
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), up to 76% of dentists use silver containing mercury to fill teeth. The ADA also states that silver fillings are safe and that studies have failed to find any link between silver containing mercury and any medical disorder.
Over the years there has been some concern as to the safety of amalgam (silver) fillings. An amalgam is a blend of copper, silver, tin and zinc, bound by elemental mercury. Dentists have used this blended metal to fill teeth for more than 100 years. The controversy is due to claims that the exposure to the vapor and minute particles from the mercury can cause a variety of health problems.
Although studies indicate that there are no measurable health risks to patients who have silver fillings, we do know that mercury is a toxic material when we are exposed at high, unsafe levels. For instance, we have been warned to limit the consumption of certain types of fish that carry high levels of mercury in them. However, with respect to amalgam fillings, the ADA maintains that when the mercury combines with the other components of the filling, it becomes an inactive substance that is safe.
The general consensus is that amalgam (silver) fillings are safe. Along with the ADA’s position, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization, the FDA, and others support the use of silver fillings as safe, durable, and cost effective. The U.S. Public Health Service says that the only reason not to use silver fillings is when a patient has an allergy to any component of this type of filling. The ADA has had fewer than 100 reported incidents of an allergy to components of silver fillings, and this is out of countless millions of silver fillings over the decades.
There are numerous options to silver fillings, including composite (tooth-colored), porcelain, and gold fillings. We encourage you to discuss these options with your dentist so you can determine which is the best option for you.
California Shine dental is a mercury-free practice and hence we do not recommend Mercury Amalgam fillings.
More information and to schedule an appointment, please visit
http://www.californiashinedental.com/dentalfillings.html
Tags: amalgam > Dental fillings > white fillings