Cleanings & Prevention
General Dentistry
At our Laguna Hills Dental Office, we offer comprehensive dental care options to help meet your needs. Our entire dental team aims to give you the highest quality of dental care as comfortably as possible. Using the latest technology in dental care, we are able to offer treatments that are effective, fast, and gentle. We are a local, trusted dental practice offering cosmetic and general dentistry, teeth whitening, implants, veneers & other dental care. Call today to make an appointment!
Please review the information we have provided below to learn more about the variety of treatment options available at our dental office.
Oral Exams
Routine oral exams are the best way for patients to avoid infection, disease and decay. Regular at-home care is important to maintain healthy gums and teeth, but oral exams allow us to inspect your mouth more thoroughly, so we can detect any signs of dental issues that may become a larger problem down the road. Some of these issues may not display obvious signs or symptoms in their earliest stages, so we recommend that patients come in for an oral exam at least twice a year.
Dental Cleanings
In addition to routine oral exams, dental cleanings are an integral part of maintaining good oral hygiene. Dental cleanings are also an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about the state of your oral health. This time allows you and your dentist to discuss ways you can adjust your at-home care so you can improve the health of your gums and teeth. We recommend for patients to have at least two dental cleanings every year. They can even be part of your routine oral exam.
Fluoride Treatments
At our dentist office in Laguna Hills, we offer fluoride treatments for adults as well. These treatments can help you maintain good oral hygiene through greater prevention of tooth decay. We often recommend a fluoride treatment after completion of a regular dental cleaning.
Sealants
Due to the contour of your back teeth, bacteria can often get into small crevices and lead to tooth decay. Sealants are a great way to protect against these threats to your oral health. Dental sealants are made of a strong, long-lasting plastic material, and are placed over the surface of your molars so they are strengthened and protected. This procedure is often highly recommended for children as a defense against cavities.
Dental Fillings
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.
By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay. The material that is non-mercury that we use is called Composite Resin.
Composite Resins are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired. The ingredients are mixed and placed directly into the cavity, where they harden. Composites may not be the ideal material for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time. They can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco, and do not last as long as other types of fillings generally from three to 10 years.
If decay or a fracture has damaged a large portion of the tooth, a crown, or cap, may be recommended. Decay that has reached the nerve may be treated in two ways: through root canal therapy (in which nerve damaged nerve is removed) or through a procedure called pulp capping (which attempts to keep the nerve alive).
Dental Crowns
A crown is a type of dental restoration that fully cups over that portion of a tooth or dental implant that lies at and above the gum line. Once placed, it in effect becomes the tooth’s new outer surface. In comparison, a dental filling just fills in or repairs a portion of a tooth. Dental crowns are permanently cemented into place. The tooth-crown unit that results is cared for and functions like any natural tooth.
Root Canals
A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.
“Root canal” is the term used to describe the natural cavity within the center of the tooth. The pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the root canal. The tooth’s nerve lies within the root canal.
A tooth’s nerve is not vitally important to a tooth’s health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its only function is sensory — to provide the sensation of hot or cold. The presence or absence of a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of the too.
To schedule an appointment, please contact us today.