Tag Archives: cosmetic dentistry San Diego

Revive Your Smile with Dental Implants

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shutterstock_121130050Dental implants are the best solution for patients in need of replacing damaged or missing teeth. Dental implants permanently attach themselves to the jawbone, without disrupting or impairing the individual’s ability to bite or chew. Not only that, but dental implants maintain the appearance of a youthful smile as well as restore lost functions from decayed or broken teeth.

When to Consider Dental Implants

Most people opt for dental implants because they do not want to go with flimsy dental bridges or removable dentures for the fear of losing them. Dental implants are a long-term solution to replace missing teeth that are secure and function perfectly alongside the rest of your natural teeth.

There are a number of reasons why patients consider dental implants over dental bridges or removable dentures. Assuming that your dentist agrees you are a good candidate, you may need to replace a single tooth without jeopardizing the strength or health of surrounding teeth. People missing multiple teeth consider permanent implants because they do not wish to wear more than one dental apparatus that may affect their speech and bite.

Dental Implant Procedure

Dental implants work through a process of osseointegration, a process of fusing the dental implant with the jawbone. Titanium metal is used which makes the replacement tooth stronger and permanent as long as the patient maintains good dental health. Once the implant is securely bonded to the jaw, a crown that matches the shape and color of your teeth is capped on top to look and function just like normal teeth.

Usually the procedure takes an hour for a single implant, for multiple implants time will vary, but no more than a couple hours are needed. Typically the implant must heal over the next four weeks, and after the oral surgeon agrees that the implant has healed the crown can be put in place.

Reduce Future Bone Loss

Leaving empty spaces in your mouth after losing a tooth to deterioration or injury can lead to additional health issues such as bone loss in the jaw bone where the tooth used to be. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the jawbone deteriorates slowly when a natural tooth is removed, losing firmness and strength in the empty space. Dental implants are the only dental restoration option that preserves and stimulates the natural bone, and prevents bone loss.

If you need more information about dental implants for missing teeth, contact an experienced San Diego cosmetic dentist to schedule a consultation. Dr. Tin can help show you the way to a healthy and complete smile that will last you a lifetime.

Debunking The True Meaning of the Color Bars on Toothpaste

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There is much speculation and concern growing on social media sites about toothpaste and its safety. Many have pointed out the bottom of toothpaste tubes, a square printed with a specific color to indicate contents as natural or mixed with chemicals. People are coming to the belief that the color marked on toothpaste can be dangerous to your body as you could be ingesting harmful chemicals. In reality the squares do not possess a specific purpose or indicate the ingredients in use. The squares are called eye marks and do not measure up to beliefs of toothpaste color codes of the industry.

Taking a step back from the labels and contents, we will remind you what toothpaste really does for our smile. Toothpaste, or dentifrice, is an important staple to a person’s daily oral hygiene. They are approved products from the American Dental Association, to help remove bacteria and plaque from teeth and gums that build up throughout the day. The ADA seal is placed on packages of common toothpastes sold in the United States, symbolizing their safety and effectiveness to help maintain healthy teeth.

The Talk of Toothpaste Color Codes

There are a many blogs and articles circulating that tell a story of color markings on the bottom of a toothpaste tube which indicate an important detail that people are unaware of. Authors of these articles suggest the following as a description of colors marked on toothpaste tubes:

  • Green = Natural

  • Blue = Natural and Medicine

  • Red = Natural and Chemical composition

  • Black = Pure Chemical

Many pass on this information to their friends and family alike, warning each other to watch out for toothpastes with the red or black square as they are noted as unsafe. Do you think there is some truth behind this claim?

Color Bars on Toothpaste Are Falsely Accused

The squares marked on the toothpaste do not classify or indicate anything about the contents of the paste at all. They are not placed there by the paste manufacturer, but the companies who design toothpaste packaging. The term used for the color squares are eye marks. They are placed on the plastic packaging of the tube as markers for sensors at the packaging industry, so the machines know where to cut and crimp the individual tubes.

Color bars are also found on most newspapers and other color printed items. This is solely for aligning color during the printing process. Most manufacturers who print in color use this method of colored squares to help in the process of alignment. The labeled color does not indicate anything other than where printers should align the labels of color packaging items.

For more information about ADA approved toothpaste and their ingredients for a brighter smile, meet with your San Diego dentist. The labels on toothpaste tubes are placed on the bottom for label alignment purposes only. Each color does not indicate hidden meanings of material blended in the paste. Read the labels of toothpaste at your local retailer and find the products marked with the ADA seal, approved for consumer use which in no way harm the body when ingested.

The Secret to Choosing Smile-Friendly Candy

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Halloween is just around the corner and with costume season upon us, children grow ecstatic for all the candy they get to sink their teeth into. This year parents should pay a little more attention to their children’s candy choices as their teeth could be exposed to more danger than it can normally handle. We all know that candy is bad for our teeth, but some candy is actually worse for your teeth when exposed to.

Research shows that the worst candy for teeth comes in varieties of hard candy, gummies and sticky candy. Parents and kids need to be aware of the effects that their candy is having on teeth, which makes it difficult for trick-or-treaters to cope with every year. The dental procedures that your dentist provides is at an increased risk of damage when exposing the mouth the tasty treats. Explore healthier alternatives this year and choose candy that is safer for your smile and trick-or-treaters.

Reduce Time with Sugar Exposure

Halloween treats that can be eaten quickly are the best for adults and children. Candy such as chocolate and sugar-free substances are the simple solutions to avoid lengthy exposure of to sweets. The less amount of time that sugar spends with teeth, the better, because small pieces of non-almond chocolate break down quickly and reduces contact with teeth. Almond and peanut chocolates should be avoided as they require the individual to crunch the candy apart which makes the sugar penetrate deeper into teeth and consumes more time.

Avoid Getting Stuck On Hard and Chewy Candy

After returning from trick-or-treating, parents and children should separate the bad candy from the good. This will help avoid temptation of eating the cavity-makers. Dentists agree that hard and chewy candy should be avoided as much as possible, so the contents do not stick on teeth. Halloween candy that should be avoided includes:

  • Hard candy (jawbreakers, lollipops and mints)

  • Chewy candy (candy corn, gummies and dried fruit)

  • Sticky candy (caramel, taffy and gum)

These treats may taste good for a short time, but their effects leave bad results in the long run. They take too long for the mouth to completely dissolve and expose the teeth to sugar longer than other candy. The longer that candy sticks around on teeth is the more likely it is to integrate with bacteria, which will then lead to acid production. The more acid that gets generated from candy is the more risk the individual has to develop cavities.

Serve Halloween Treats Not Tricks

According to Delta Dental, sticky and chewy candy results in long contact with teeth. The candy that gets stuck to the surface of teeth is increases the risk of sugar producing enamel eating acid. Thus far increasing the amount of trips to the dentist every year. The best solution to fight against plaque is to adopt healthy candy consumption habits, such as:

  • Consume small candy portions

  • Avoid eating hard candy or sticky and chewy candy

  • Brush teeth or drink water after every candy serving

  • Have children eat dinner before trick-or-treating

  • Pass out sugar-free candy or miniature plain chocolates

This Halloween do not allow yourself or your kids to expose their teeth to the sticky and hard candy. Dried fruits can even get stuck to teeth causing sugar build up. Limit time to eat candy to avoid lengthy sugar exposure. This will help fight off the spooky cavities and extend the lifespan of dental work. Long after the costumes are put away, everyone in the household should make smarter and healthier choices with smile-friendly candy.

Benefits of dental implant surgery

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A gap in your teeth can be quite devastating both emotionally and physically. Thankfully, technological and scientific advancements have provided us with solutions to lost teeth. Dental implant surgery, for example, has allowed individuals to regain control of their lives. So what are dental implants? Dental implants act as a root device for a replacement tooth or a set of replacement teeth. There are numerous benefits for those interested in dental implant surgery including improved appearance, improved eating and speech, and are better than other teeth loss alternatives (removable dentures).

Missing teeth can especially be embarrassing for those who love to smile. With dental implants, you can smile beautifully once more. Because dental implants are fused into the bone and are permanent, they will appear natural and like real teeth. Those who have missing teeth may feel self-conscious and have lowered self-esteem. They may refrain from smiling in pictures due to lowered confidence. They say that pictures last a lifetime so why not smile radiantly?

Dental implants aims to restore and improve eating and speech. Without teeth, we cannot chew our food properly and as a result, are limited with our food choices. Individuals who experience teeth loss may also experience pains with eating. Dental implants will allow patients to finally enjoy eating their favorite foods again. In addition to food, dental implants also improve oral speech for individuals. Those who get dental implants are able to speak without worrying about whether or not their removable dentures are going to slip away at any given moment.

Compared to dentures, which are removable, dental implants are more durable. They do not slip and last a lifetime with proper care. In addition, dental implants are more comfortable since it is not like removable dentures. Removable dentures are often inconvenient and like the name suggest, require removal. Your implant dentist can give you more details regarding the benefits of dental implants compared to other teeth loss alternatives.

Our teeth were designed to last, but sometimes things in life prevent that from happening. If you or a loved one is interested in dental implant surgery, be sure consult your local cosmetic dentistry today. Missing teeth does not have to be permanent. To determine whether or not you are the right candidate for dental implants surgery, contact your dentist. See lasting results with dental implants today!