White Fillings
Are you tired of seeing dark metal in your mouth? At Milpitas Smile Design, you can now replace those old metal fillings with translucent, tooth-colored composite fillings. Enjoy a more natural-looking smile with fillings that have as much strength and durability as silver ones.
One consultation with Milpitas Smile Design could be all you need to decide if tooth-colored fillings are for you. Call (408) 934-0693 to schedule an appointment with us. If it’s time for a smile makeover whether big or small, we’ll be able to help!
Crowns & Bridges
Crowns are “caps” that cover damaged teeth. At Milpitas Smile Design, we use porcelain crowns that cover these problem teeth without dark, unpleasant metal lines. Our crowns will blend in well with your other teeth, feel comfortable, and protect what remains of your natural tooth.
Dr. Sandhu and Dr. Yim can tell you if dental crowns are the cosmetic dentistry makeover solution best suited for you. Just schedule an appointment with us to find out! If you suffer from one or more completely missing teeth, we may also suggest dental bridges—another “fixed” dentistry solution that, like crowns, offer greater advantages than partial dentures or removable appliances.
Dental bridges are a great way to replace missing teeth. Your existing teeth are used to literally create a bridge to cross the area where any teeth are missing. Bridges are made from gold, metal, alloys, or porcelain to ensure that they are strong and durable.
The process of creating a bridge begins by creating abutments out of your existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. The existing teeth are recontoured to provide a base for the bridge. After the abutments have been created, a mold is taken of the area which is sent to a dental lab. The lab is able to use the mold to create a bridge that will fit properly and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. The bridge consists of two crowns on either end to place on the abutments and a pontic, which is the new tooth that replaces your missing tooth.
The bridge may take a little while to get used to, but after a few days it should feel like you have your own teeth back again. You should eat soft foods for the first few days after having your bridge placed. And after the initial phase, you will be able to eat whatever you want with no issues.
If you’re missing a tooth, you should strongly consider having it replaced. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, tooth loss can also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw, as well as make it difficult to eat or speak properly.
When it comes to tooth loss, don’t go it alone! Set up an appointment with Milpitas Smile Design, and we’ll bridge the gap between your present and future smile.
Inlays & Onlays
What are inlays and onlays exactly? These are often referred to as partial crowns. They use the existing tooth as a base and fit the inlay or onlay onto the tooth. This is done to strengthen the tooth, restore its shape, and prevent further damage. An inlay is done when there is no damage to the cusps of the tooth, and when the inlay can be placed right on the tooth. An onlay is used when the damage is a little more extensive.
The decayed area of the tooth is first removed during the procedure. A mold of the tooth is then taken and sent to a dental lab. They create a restoration made from porcelain, gold, or a composite resin. The restoration takes about 2-3 weeks to make, so a temporary inlay or onlay will be placed on the tooth for that time. During your next visit, the inlay or onlay will be placed into your mouth and set with cement. Your renewed tooth will look natural and you or anyone else won’t be able to tell the difference.
Are inlays and onlays right for you? There’s only one way to find out—call us at (408) 934-0693 to set up an appointment today!
Root Canals
When you think of the phrase “root canal,” what comes to mind? For many Americans, they aren’t positive thoughts—that’s for sure!
Root canals are probably the most notorious procedure in dentistry and the most common procedure relating to endodontics—the dental specialty that deals with tooth nerves. This procedure is all about repairing and saving teeth that are badly decayed and infected—and the nerves of your teeth are at the root of the issue (no pun intended!).
When a tooth becomes infected, the infected nerves need to be removed somehow. If left untreated, the pain isn’t the worst part—an infection can turn into an abscess, which is a much more serious problem that includes bone loss in the jaw.
The Root Canal Process
The area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic to start the procedure. The dentist will then drill down into the tooth to create an opening into the canal. They will then be able to remove infected tissue and clean this canal. After the infection has been removed, the space is filled with a sealant called gutta percha. It is highly recommended that a tooth that has undergone a root canal is fitted with a crown. This will improve the appearance of the tooth, and prevent the tooth from fracturing.
While the phrase “root canal” has struck fear in the hearts of many patients, the benefits of the procedure and advances in dental technology and comfort have made it much less frightening today. Local anesthetics and proper pain medication allow the procedure to be performed with little to no pain in most cases. While there may be some soreness following the procedure, that’s normal for most dental procedures. Over the counter painkillers are usually enough to relieve any discomfort afterward, but your dentist may prescribe medication as well.Here’s the good news: a successful root canal will relieve you from pain caused by infected nerves, allowing you to fully enjoy all the foods you love. Heat, cold, and biting strongly will no longer adversely affect your tooth like they did before. And you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your oral health has been preserved!
Extractions
About Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions (“pulling teeth”) are a fairly common procedure. Wisdom teeth in particular often cause problems as they try to protrude through the gums. And when a wisdom tooth is impacted, it means the tooth is coming in at an angle and not straight through the gum line. This can cause pain, the tooth can come in unevenly, or the tooth may emerge only partially.When a wisdom tooth only emerges partially, a flap of skin called an operculum may form over the tooth. This can make the tooth hard to clean, and pieces of food may be caught under the skin. This also makes it easy for an infection called pericoronitis to develop. It will usually go away on its own, but it causes swelling and pain in the area.
Post-Surgery Protocol
After the surgery, you will need to rest. You can expect the extraction site to bleed for a little while after the surgery. Gauze will be applied at the completion of the surgery, and you will need to change it when it becomes soaked. If bleeding continues for longer than 24 hours you should call your dentist or seek urgent care of bleeding is excessive or uncontrolled.Rest when you return home, but don’t lie flat. This could prolong the bleeding. Prop your head up on a pillow when lying down. Your dentist may prescribe you pain medication, so if you become sore take as directed. You can also use an ice pack if swelling occurs during the first 48 hours after procedure.
You will be limited to soft foods for a few days after your surgery. Here are some recommended foods:
- Gelatin
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Mashed Potatoes
- Ice Cream
- Thin Soups
- Other food you can eat without chewing
Lastly, when drinking, make sure not to use a straw. The sucking motion can remove the clot and cause a dry socket. The same goes for smoking. If you have prolonged pain, bleeding, irritation, or don’t feel that the extraction site is healing properly, call your dentist for a follow-up.
Partials & Dentures
Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that can be removed and put back into your mouth as you please. Depending on each individual patient case, they may receive full or partial dentures. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth and replaced with a full set of dentures. There are two types of full dentures.
- Conventional Full Dentures – This is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed. It could take a few months for the gum tissue to heal completely, and during this time you will be without teeth.
- Immediate Full Dentures – Prior to having your teeth removed, your dentist takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth. After removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. The benefit is that you don’t have to spend any time without teeth. You will, however, need to have a follow-up visit to refit your dentures, because the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heels. The dentures will need to be tightened or relined after your jaw bone has healed.
- Partial Dentures – This is another option when you are missing a few teeth This is a removable tooth replacement option. It stays it by clasping to existing teeth.
Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don’t have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose. These feelings will affect the way you eat and talk for a little while. Over time, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures and they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it’s much better than the alternative of not having teeth.
Even though dentures aren’t real teeth, you should still care for them like they are. You should brush them to remove plaque and food particles before removing your dentures. After they have been removed, you should place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don’t drop them. Also, never try to adjust your dentures yourself. You could ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from your dentist if they feel uncomfortable or loose.
Contact Milpitas Smile Design to See Which Dentures Will Work For You!
There are tons of options when it comes to tooth replacement treatments, and different kinds of dentures as well. Milpitas Smile Design can help you make sense of your options and help you select a treatment that is right for you, no matter how old you are or what your oral health looks like today. Set up an appointment with our office and we’ll help you recover a healthy mouth and smile today!