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Find out the best way to handle gum disease if it happens to you..png)
Gum disease affects about half of the American population, according to the CDC, and yet many people don’t even realize that they have it. Since gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss it’s important that you visit our Pasadena, CA, periodontist Dr. Peter Cooper if you notice any changes in your gums. Luckily, if you do have gum disease, treatments are available.
There are many ways in which to treat gum disease depending on the severity of your condition. In fact, if we are able to catch gum disease in its earliest stages (known as gingivitis) then it can actually be treated with the proper care; however, not everyone experiences symptoms of gum disease and if they don’t visit a dentist regularly they won’t often know until the disease has advanced.
Our Pasadena, CA, gum disease specialist offers both surgical and non-surgical treatment options for helping you get your gum disease under control. The most common gum disease treatment is known as scaling and root planing. Simply put, this treatment is just like giving your teeth, gums and even tooth roots a deep professional cleaning. This is a non-surgical procedure performed right here in our office.
During scaling and root planing, we will remove plaque and tartar buildup that sits above and below the gumline with special scaling instruments. We will also smooth down the roots of the teeth to make it a less hospitable environment for bacteria to thrive and grow. Also, by smoothing these rough areas of the tooth roots we also make it easier for the gums to reattach to the teeth after treatment.
If your symptoms are more severe or if your gum disease has caused extensive bone, tooth and gum loss then you may require surgery in order to manage your gum disease symptoms and improve the health and appearance of your smile. The most common surgical treatment is flap surgery in which incisions are made in the gums to open them up and remove the tartar buildup underneath.
After the tartar has been removed we will pull the gums taut so that they fit tightly around the tooth (gum disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth and recede). In other instances, soft tissue grafts or bone grafts may also be necessary to rebuild the jawbone and tissue.
If you have questions about getting gum disease treatment in Pasadena, CA, or if you have questions about any other dental services we offer, don’t hesitate to call our office today to schedule an appointment. Call (626) 796-1241 today.
Oral surgery may sound like a complex, invasive procedure. However, not every surgery requires an operating room and drawn-out .png)
process. Dental implants, while considered oral surgery, can benefit your smile in more ways than one and even take place right in your dentist’s office. Find out more about dental implants and if they are right for you with Dr. Peter Cooper at Pasadena Dental Implants in Pasadena, CA.
Do I need dental implants?
You can benefit from a dental implant if you have a missing tooth, several missing teeth, or even if you are missing all your teeth. While an implant can benefit anyone who has a missing tooth, unfortunately, not everyone is a good candidate for the procedure. A missing tooth causes bone atrophy, which causes the bone underneath the tooth to degrade and break down. A dental implant needs an adequate amount of bone in which to secure itself, meaning that patients with severe bone atrophy may require a bone grafting procedure prior to receiving their implants.
How can dental implants benefit my smile?
One of the most outwardly obvious benefits of dental implants is the boost to your confidence by replacing your missing teeth. Having a smile you love will make you feel as great as your new teeth look. Additionally, dental implants are permanent and remain in the mouth for years to come. There is no need to remove and soak or clean the implants in any other way than you would your natural teeth by simply brushing twice a day and flossing once. Implants function just like your natural teeth and, thanks to their high-quality porcelain materials, blend in seamlessly with your existing smile.
Dental Implants in Pasadena, CA
Dr. Cooper is an expert in dental implants and ensuring that his patients receive quality, friendly care. If you think dental implants are the right choice for tooth-replacement treatment for you, Dr. Cooper can help you better understand the procedure, what to expect, and how you can benefit in the long run.
For more information on dental implants, please contact Dr. Cooper at Pasadena Dental Implants in Pasadena, CA. Call (626) 796-1241 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Cooper for a consultation for dental implants today!
The most romantic holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day is celebrated each February 14th. It’s a time when many look forward to giving (and receiving) cards, flowers, and other tokens of love. On special days like this, it’s natural to want to look your best—and many surveys rank a person’s smile as his or her most noticeable (and appealing) physical feature. But what if you are unsatisfied with your smile?
Don’t worry! Today, cosmetic dentistry can resolve smile problems as never before. Here are some popular and effective dental treatments that can quickly brighten up your smile.
Tooth Whitening
In just one visit, dull or stained teeth can often be lightened by up to 10 shades! How? We use special bleaching solutions that are applied safely, under our careful supervision, in the dental office. You can’t use these concentrated solutions at home. But if you‘re not in a rush, we can prepare custom-made take-home bleaching trays and whiteners that are safe for home use. The same results can be achieved, but the process may take weeks instead of hours. After months or years, depending on lifestyle factors (like whether you smoke or drink coffee, red wine, etc.) your teeth can have whitening treatment again.
Cosmetic Bonding
Small chips, cracks, or other minor irregularities can be quite noticeable in an otherwise flawless smile. Fortunately, these problems can often be resolved with a treatment called cosmetic bonding. In a relatively simple in-office procedure, we can apply tooth-colored bonding material to restore teeth to better appearance. Layers of high-tech bonding material are built up and cured with a special light to form a tough, natural-looking tooth surface. Bonding isn’t as long-lasting as some other types of restoration, like veneers or crowns, but it’s an easy and inexpensive way to resolve some smile problems.
Professional In-Office Cleaning
Remember that feeling you get after your regular checkup? Your mouth feels squeaky-clean, your breath is fresh and you’re ready to show that sparkly smile. So why wait until your next routine appointment? You can schedule a hygiene visit any time. We will remove plaque from your teeth, check your gums for signs of periodontal (gum) disease, and make sure you’re on track for good oral health. If any problems are found, we’ll take care of them right away. And if you have questions about cosmetic procedures, it’s the perfect time to ask. A professional cleaning can help your smile look (and feel) great.
If you have questions about brightening up your smile, please contact our office or schedule a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Artistic Repair of Front Teeth with Composite Resin” and “Important Teeth Whitening Questions Answered.”
Even though an implant is now as close to life-like as modern dentistry can produce, it won’t surpass the function of your own natural tooth. That’s not to say implants are an inferior choice—in fact, it’s often the best one if a tooth is beyond reasonable repair. But first, let’s consider saving your existing tooth.
We first need to know why your tooth is diseased—more than likely either from tooth decay or periodontal (gum) disease. Although different, these infections both begin with bacteria and can eventually lead to tooth loss.
While your mouth is teeming with millions of harmless bacteria, a few strains that live in dental plaque (a thin biofilm on your teeth) can cause disease. As they proliferate—feeding mostly on leftover sugar—they produce acid, which can erode the protective enamel on teeth. This can create cavities, which must be cleared of decayed material and filled.
Sometimes, though, the decay spreads deep within the pulp and through the root canals putting the tooth in danger. We may be able to save it, though, with a root canal treatment. In this common procedure we access the pulp chamber and clean out all the diseased or dead tissue. We then fill the empty chamber and root canals with a gutta percha filling and then seal the tooth. We later cap the tooth with a crown to further protect it.
Dental plaque can also give rise to a gum infection that triggers chronic inflammation. The inflammation can cause the gums to weaken and detach from the teeth to form large, infection-filled voids called periodontal pockets. This could lead to bone deterioration, further loosening the tooth’s hold.
But we can effectively treat gum disease by removing the plaque, which is fueling the infection. We normally do this with special hand instruments, but may also need to use surgical measures for more advanced cases. After plaque removal the inflammation subsides, giving the tissues a chance to heal and strengthen. We may also need to provide further assistance to these tissues to regenerate through gum or bone grafting.
These efforts can be quite involved, but if successful they could give your tooth another lease on life. And that could be a much better outcome for your dental health.
If you would like more information on the best treatment choices for your dental health, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Save a Tooth or Get an Implant?”
Twice a year dental cleanings are an important aspect of optimal oral health. But if you’re not brushing and flossing every day, your dental visits could change from regular maintenance to teeth rescue missions.
These two hygiene tasks don’t take long—a single trip with floss around each tooth and a couple of minutes of brushing at least twice a day—but you’ll need to perform them effectively to get the most out of them. Not to worry, though: with a little practice and helpful advice from us, this small investment in time and effort could save your teeth—and your money.
The first thing to know, though, is the reason behind brushing and flossing: to remove disease-causing bacterial plaque that can build up daily on teeth. Bacteria produce acid, which at elevated levels can erode enamel and lead to decay; and some bacterial strains can cause periodontal (gum) disease. These infections could ultimately lead to gum recession, bone deterioration and tooth loss.
Daily brushing and flossing lowers your risk of this occurring. It’s your preference in what order you do them, but for now let’s start with flossing.
There are a number of techniques—and tools—for effective flossing. If you’re using thread floss, simply cut off about 18 inches and wrap each end around the middle finger from each hand. Use the remaining fingers to create a small amount of floss between the two best fingers for a particular area of the mouth and gently pull the floss in between the tooth gap. Form a “C” shape around one of the tooth sides and rub up and down until you hear a squeak (which you’ll only hear if you use un-waxed floss). Now, repeat the action with the adjacent tooth, then move to the next and each succeeding gap and do the same until you’ve cleaned each side of each tooth.
When brushing, hold your toothbrush gently like a paintbrush or pencil at about a 45-degree angle with just a small amount of toothpaste on the end bristles. All it takes is a gentle scrubbing or wiggling motion and the abrasives and detergents in the toothpaste will do the rest. Just make sure you fully brush all your teeth and gum surfaces, which should take about two minutes.
Along with regular dental visits and a low-sugar diet to discourage bacterial growth, brushing and flossing will help you avoid disease and enjoy the best oral health possible.
If you would like more information on keeping your teeth and gums clean, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Daily Oral Hygiene: Easy Habits for Maintaining Oral Health.”
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Pasadena Dental Implants
Pasadena, CA 91101
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