Dental Implants Have Certainly Come a Long Way

Your Dentist in Fountain Valley, Dr. Peter Hagen, will tell you that today’s Dental Implants are a far cry from the Dental Implants used by your ancestors.

Dental Implants in Fountain Valley provide you with an alternative to complete or partial dentures, but Dental Implants have not always been so comfortable, in fact, you may be surprised to learn what people actually had to go through just to replace a missing tooth.

According to archaeologists, Dental Implants date back to the early Mayan Civilization around 600 A.D. Archaeological digs have uncovered ancient skulls whose teeth have been replaced with seashell fragments and semi-precious stones. Although these early attempts at DentalImplants seem crude and primitive, some of those Mayan Dental Implants did fuse to the jawbone. The most well known discovery happened in 1931 when an archaeologist uncovered a Mayan woman’s mandible bone. Thought to be in her mid 20’s the mandible held three seashells that were carved into the shape of a tooth before being hammered into the sockets of her teeth.

Your Dentist in Fountain Valley uses the most advanced Dental Implant technology available but also finds it curious that the ancient Mayans were not the only early civilization to use Dental Implants.

Egyptian mummies that have recently been unearthed have gold wires that have been implanted into the jawbone. A more recent discovery by an anthropologist shows iron being implanted into a Roman soldiers jawbone. Archaeologists in the Middle East have found skeletons that contain ivory Dental Implants.

These early Dental Implants have paved the way for modern Dental Implants, giving Dental Implants in the OC a success rate of 95 to 98 percent.

If you have been thinking about Dental Implants,schedule an appointment with your Orange County Dentist who will be able to determine if you are a good candidate for Dental Implants. If deemed suitable Hagen Dental can replace one or more teeth, restore your smile, enhance facial tissue, support a bridge or denture, and get rid of bite problems and joint pain once and for all.

Call your Fountain Valley Dentist for a no obligation Dental Implant consultation today.

It Really Is Impossible to Check Your Own Breath

If your breath is sending others running for the hills, it could be your teeth and gums. Chronic halitosis could be caused from physical ailments, but the majority of the time, poor oral hygiene is to blame. You will be the last one to know if it’s your breath that is turning people away as it’s impossible to smell. Regular checkups with your Dentist in Fountain Valley will alleviate your bad breath for the last time.

Unless you have diabetes, a chronic liver disease or suffer from kidney failure, bad breath is usually caused from not brushing, flossing, or seeing your Orange County Dentist regularly.

Bad diet could also be to blame for your chronic bad breath. Indulging in spicy foods that include lots of onions and garlic will cause more than indigestion. According to studies, onions will stay in your system up to three days after digestion. That bloomin’ onion that you enjoyed at your favorite restaurant could be absorbed by your stomach and lungs causing halitosis.

If you enjoy the occasional glass of wine with dinner, or consume alcohol on a regular basis, your teeth and gums could suffer for it. Not only will it stain your teeth, but it could also be a contributor to bad breath.

Your sleeping patterns could also be causing your chronic halitosis. If you sleep with your mouth open or snore, you probably suffer from dry mouth, another cause of bad breath.

When Dr. Peter Hagen checks your mouth for bad breath, he will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums looking for signs of gingivitis. Gingivitis and periodontal disease are more common than you think, and could be the reason that you are suffering from chronic halitosis.

Gingivitis is a disease of the gums that occurs when food particles are allowed to sit below the gum line and in between your teeth. If you do not brush twice and floss once a day, bacteria will form creating plaque and eventually tartar. Once tartar has developed below the gum line, you may have to schedule an appointment with your Dentist in Orange County for a deep cleaning, or scaling and planing treatment.

If you are tired of turning away from others when you speak, it is time to schedule an appointment with your OC Dentist, Dr. Peter Hagen.

Cross off Your New Years Resolution List with a Check Up in Fountain Valley

Your Fountain Valley Dentist Dr. Peter Hagen and his staff are just as guilty as you are of over-indulging during the holidays. Tighter fitting skirts and jeans that will not zip are just a couple signs that you may have had too much Christmas cheer. You may think that your New Year’s resolutions, which include weight loss and exercise, are complete, but if you are really trying to take a positive approach to your mind, body and spirit connection in 2014 you need to include oral health on your New Year’s resolution list as well.

  

Tooth decay can happen, even if you brush twice and floss once a day. Eating and drinking too much over the holidays has probably done some damage to your teeth and gums as well. The only way to be sure is to sit down with your OC Dentist for a complete check-up.

Dr. Hagen with examine your teeth and look for any signs of tooth decay. If cavities are present, your Dentist in Orange County will take care of the damage and look for any other restorations that need to be dealt with. Dr. Hagen may even recommend Cosmetic Dentistry treatments to improve your smile.

The best way to start the New Year is with a healthy grin. After your check-up, you and Dr. Hagen can discuss the next step towards a healthier smile, whether that means whitening, filling replacements, crowns, bridges, veneers or implants.

It’s January 1^st and that means the start of a new year. Pick up the phone or go online and make an appointment with your Dentist in Fountain Valley today for General Dentistry or Cosmetic Dental Procedures. 

A New Smile in Just One Appointment

These days you do not have to spend months at the Dentist in Fountain Valley if you have chipped, discolored, or misshaped teeth. Thanks to the best Orange County Dentist, Dr. Peter Hagen, you can show off your smile in as little as one appointment with CEREC Veneers.

Traditionally, it would take two or more appointments for Porcelain Veneers, but not anymore. With CEREC, there is no need to come back to the office to have your temporary veneer removed before attaching a permanent veneer.

Thanks to 21^st century technology, your Fountain Valley Dentist can work on your porcelain veneer in the office while you wait saving time and money. With the new process, there is no need to bother with the cost of a temporary veneer. Because CEREC’s design is made with the help of a computer, you will get an exact fit eliminating additional appointments and a bad fit.

Not all Orange County Dentists have CEREC training or equipment, and that is where Hagen Dental can help.

CEREC literally is futuristic dental technology.

Chair side: CEREC is used while you are in the chair

Economical: CEREC is much more affordable for you and your Dentist in Fountain Valley

Restorations: CEREC will restore your tooth back to its original natural beauty, strength, and function

Esthetic: CEREC restorations are made to match the color of your teeth and free from metal

Ceramic: CEREC is made from high-strength ceramics that are almost identical to the natural structure of your tooth.

CEREC technology is the most advanced restorative system available and allows your Fountain Valley Dentist to restore your decayed teeth, remove silver amalgam fillings, place crowns, or fit you with veneers in one single appointment.

If you are tired of your closed mouth smile, schedule a consultation with the Best Dentist in the OC, Dr. Peter Hagen. With just one appointment, you can flash your new pearly whites thanks to Hagen Dental and CEREC technology. 

Your Fountain Valley Dentist Can Remove your Amalgam Fillings

For more than 150 years, dentists have been using silver amalgam fillings unbeknownst to them that these same fillings could be wrecking havoc with their patient’s health.

Back in the 1980’s, the American Dental Association claimed that the mercury that was used in silver amalgam fillings was perfectly safe and could never leak, but new research has shown that that is not entirely true. A recent episode of the Dr. Oz show featured experts on the subject who say that mercury can leak out of your silver amalgam fillings causing health problems such as excessive tiredness, anxiety, mood swings, migraine headaches, and even autoimmune disorders. Some dental experts claim that silver amalgam fillings can lead to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and even multiple sclerosis.

Other issues that can happen with silver amalgam fillings include tooth structure weakening. Over the years, your silver amalgam fillings can wear down and actually break causing your entire tooth to become weak making it a breeding ground for tooth decay.

According to your Dentist in Fountain Valley, every silver filling in your mouth contains 50 percent mercury. Silver amalgam fillings are made out of silver, other metals, and of course mercury. Why mercury? Because it actually binds the metals together.

There are certainly some who would debate the topic claiming that silver amalgam fillings are perfectly safe. The American Dental Association continues to support the belief that silver amalgam fillings do not cause health issues, but if you are having second thoughts about your silver amalgam fillings and suffer from any of the issues listed above, you may want to schedule an appointment with your Orange County Dentist who will be able to assess your situation.

Of course, even if you don’t believe the hype about silver amalgam fillings, there is still the issue of cosmetics. Silver fillings will turn gray and sometimes black over the years, and if you want to maintain a white and healthy looking smile, schedule an appointment with Dr. Peter Hagen who can replace your old silver amalgam fillings with tooth colored restorations.

How to Brush your Teeth

Everyone knows that brushing your teeth is important. The American Dental Association and your Dentist in Fountain Valley recommends brushing twice a day for at least two minutes with fluoride toothpaste to help prevent cavities and gum disease. Periodontal disease is the number one reason people lose their teeth. Recent studies also indicate that advanced gum disease to could to strokes and heart attacks.

Most people believe that a hard bristled toothbrush is better for teeth, but Hagen Dental will tell you that isn’t the case. Hard bristled toothbrushes can actually hurt your gums. Use a soft bristled tooth, which is much gentler. Make sure that your toothbrush is comfortable when holding and that the head is small enough to reach all of your teeth.

Before you begin, brushing wet your toothbrush first. Squeeze a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a pea, onto your toothbrush. Putting too much tooth gel or paste on your toothbrush will cause it to over suds, which could tempt you to finish too soon.

Your Dentist in the OC recommends that you set the bristles on your toothbrush just at your gum line or a 45-degree angle. Instead of brushing across your teeth, brush in a circular motion.

According to your Fountain Valley Dentist, it is important that you spend about 15 seconds in each spot and brush two or three teeth at a time while working around your mouth making sure that you brush every tooth. It may help to divide your brushing into quadrants. Bottom right, bottom left, top right and top left. By dividing into quadrants, you will be able brush for 30 seconds on each quadrant getting your two minutes worth of brushing time.

Make sure that you brush your molars by positioning your toothbrush so that your bristles rest on the top of your molars on the bottom. Work in and out and move from the back to the front. Repeat on the opposite side. Once you have cleaned your bottom molars flip over your toothbrush and repeat on the top.

Dr. Hagen cannot stress enough how important it is to brush the insides of your teeth, as it is the most commonly skipped. Tip your toothbrush with the head pointed towards the gum line brushing each tooth on both your upper and lower teeth.

After you have finished brushing your teeth, use your toothbrush to brush your tongue being careful not to damage your tissue by brushing too hard. Brushing your tongue helps with bad breath.

Rinsing after you brush is optional as is mouthwash as there are conflicting debates. Some studies show rinsing has no impact on fluoride toothpaste, while others say it reduces the fluoride treatment of the toothpaste.

By following these simple instructions twice a day, flossing once a day and seeing your Orange County Dentist on a regular basis, you can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. 

Periodontal Disease Could Lead To Dementia

Everyone, including your Fountain Valley Dentist, knows that gum disease can cause serious problems, but recent research is proving that there may be a direct link between Alzheimer’s disease and poor dental health.

A recent study conducted by the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom has discovered that people who have gum disease and poor oral health could be at a much higher risk when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease. When the brains of patients who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia were examined, they discovered Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is a bacteria or bug that has long been associated with people who suffer from periodontal disease.

The study took 10 brain samples from dementia patients and 10 samples from people who did not suffer from the disease. The Porphyromonas gingivalis was only present in the brains of the patients who had been afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.

Your Orange County Dentist is well aware that the bacteria lurking inside your oral cavities will eventually enter your bloodstream from eating, chewing, brushing, and flossing. Every time the Porphyromonas gingivalis enters the brain, it could actually release excess chemicals that could kill your brains neurons. Once that happens it could cause Alzheimer’s symptoms like memory loss and confusion according to the study.

Brushing twice and flossing once a day is essential for healthy teeth and gums as is regularly scheduled appointments with your Dentist in the OC.

During your check-up with Hagen Dental, you will be given a thorough dental exam. The comprehensive exam will include x-rays, oral cancer screening and gum disease evaluation. Your Fountain Valley Dentist will also look for tooth decay and make sure that your restorations are still doing their job.

After your x-rays, your OC Dentist will diagnose your radiographs looking for bone loss, cysts, tumors, and tooth decay. The x-rays will also help your Hagen Dental determine your root and tooth positioning.  

If your Fountain Valley Dentist detects gingivitis or periodontal disease, Dr. Hagen will schedule a professional deep cleaning or scaling and planing.

Gingivitis and Periodontal disease can be hard to detect, especially without a professional examination. If you are experiencing red or swollen gums, persistent bad breath, or bleeding gums after brushing and flossing it is time to schedule a thorough dental exam with Hagen Dental. Research is still being conducted and no one knows for sure if poor oral health causes dementia, but are you willing to take that chance?