Preventive Dentistry in Fountain Valley

Preventive Dentistry is the first step towards healthy teeth and gums, and if you are not sure if you are doing the best that you can for your oral health, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can help you come up with a better plan for Preventive Dentistry.

Most people know that brushing twice and flossing once each day helps keep your teeth healthy, but according to the American Dental Association and your dentist, a well-balanced diet can also keep your teeth strong and white and your gums healthy. Stay away from starchy and sticky foods. Cookies, bread, crackers, and chips create less acid when you enjoy with the rest of a meal. Saliva is increased when you eat, which helps to neutralize the acids and wash away food particles.

Stick foods to avoid include granola bars, chewy fruit snacks, dried fruit, and sticky candy such as gummy bears.

Eat more cheese, nuts and onions for healthy teeth and enjoy tea as resent research has indicated that certain teas will slow the growth of the bacteria that causes tooth decay.

Your dentist also recommends that you brush with fluoride toothpaste. If you are unsure about the brand that you are using visit the ADA website where you will find a list of approved toothpastes, flosses, and mouthwashes.

Adults over the age of 35 lose their teeth because of gum disease, not cavities. In fact, three out of four adults will be affected by gingivitis or periodontal disease at some point.

Plaque is the colorless film that sticks to your teeth at your gum line. Although plaque is constantly forming on your teeth, daily brushing and flossing can help keep it at bay.

It is also important to schedule annual cleanings with your dentist. Professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar that you may have missed. Regular checkups and professional cleaning should be a part of your oral hygiene program.

For information regarding good oral hygiene, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can help you brush up your skills. 

Create the Smile of your Dreams

With the holidays come lots of party invitations, and if you would rather crawl in a hole than attend your work Christmas party or the annual Thanksgiving Day meal at your sister’s house because of your smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist.

According to the American Dental Association, a healthy smile can help increase your self-esteem and boost your confidence.

When you schedule an appointment with your dentist for a smile makeover, your teeth and gums will be checked to make sure that everything is as it should be. If you do have gum issues or cavities to deal with, your dentist will fill your teeth or schedule you for a scaling and planing procedure, or refer you to a periodontist before recommending any cosmetic dental procedures.

Your dentist offers several restorative dental procedures that can improve your smile and your outlook on life. Tooth Whitening, Dental Implants, Porcelain Veneers, Porcelain Crowns, or Porcelain Fixed Bridges may be recommended. If you have always been ashamed of your crooked teeth, your dentist can find out if you are a suitable candidate for invisible braces made by Invisalign.

If you are dealing with a gummy smile, talk to your dentist about dental lasers. The tissue laser used can easily recontour gumline or gum problems. This eliminates the need for scalpels, sutures, and return visits. Because the laser is much less invasive, it is gentler. This results in less postoperative discomfort.

One of the most amazing cosmetic dental procedures is only offered by a few dentists in Fountain Valley. Dr. Peter Hagen can give you a brand new smile in as little as one appointment using computerized dentistry and an amazing restorative technique known as CEREC.

This innovative technology available in Orange County can restore your smile back to its natural beauty and strength in as little as one dental appointment. With CEREC you can have your old fillings replaced, that chip in your tooth repaired or that gap filled between your front teeth.

Stop avoiding parties, social events and people, and schedule an appointment with your dentist in Orange County who can help you create the smile of your dreams. Call now. 

A New Smile in as Little as Six Months with Invisalign®

If you have never been happy with your smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist. These days you do not have to resort to traditional metal braces to straighten your teeth.

Invisalign® truly is the clear alternative when it comes to metal wires and brackets, and because the series of clear plastic aligners are custom-molded to your teeth, the only person who will know you are wearing plastic braces is your dentist.

Invisalign® consists of a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually reposition your teeth. Every two weeks you will replace one set with the next and so on. You can have an average of between 18 and 30 sets of aligner’s custom made. Straight teeth can be yours in as little as six months once you start wearing your Invisalign® aligners.

Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign® is removed when you eat, brush and floss, which helps prevent tooth decay. Unfortunately, your dentist will tell you that metal wires and brackets are permanent and difficult to brush. Your dentist will tell you that people who wear traditional dental appliances have a higher risk of cavities than people who wear Invisalign® clear plastic aligners.

Millions of people all over the world have a smile to be proud of thanks to Invisalign®. Invisalign® will not disrupt your lifestyle, is suitable for teens and adults, and is virtually unnoticeable.  

Thanks to dental technology and Invisalign®, you can see beforehand what your teeth will look like after your Invisalign® treatment.

During your appointment, your dentist will evaluate your teeth in order to make sure that you are a good candidate for Invisalign®. If you and Invisalign® are a good match, your dentist will take impressions and photos of your teeth. From the impressions and photo’s a Computed Tomography or CT scan will be made giving your dentist an accurate 3D digital model of your teeth. CAD or Computer Aided Design software will then be used to simulate how your teeth will move during your Invisalign® treatment. Once your dentist approves the treatment plan, your new Invisalign® aligners will be created.

If you would like more information regarding the clear alternative to braces, schedule an appointment with your dentist for a no obligation Invisalign® consultation. A new smile may just be around the corner.

The Real Dangers of Oral Piercing

If you or someone you love is considering oral piercings, there are some things that you should know before you or a family member or friend has tongue, cheek, or lip piercings.

Your dentist explains that oral piercings can cause all sorts of problems including infection, blood loss, and gum disease and jewelry aspiration.

The American Dental Association agrees with your dentist about the dangers of oral piercings. In fact, oral piercings could cause your tongue to swell so much that it blocks off the air passageways making breathing extremely difficult.

Infectious diseases are just one of the issues that could occur from oral piercings. The Herpes Simplex virus and hepatitis can happen if you have your tongue, lip, or cheek pierced.

Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria and if that bacteria enters your bloodstream after the piercing infection and swelling will occur. This could also cause excessive bleeding.

Because your mouth is moist and a breeding ground for bacteria, infection can happen, which could be life threatening. If that bacteria enters your bloodstream and you have undetected heart problems Endocarditis, or inflammation of the valves of the heart and the heart itself, could be a real issue.

Your dentist has seen permanent nerve damage thanks to oral piercings. Numbness is normal after you have your tongue, cheek, or lip pierced, but that numbness could be permanent. That injured nerve could affect how your mouth moves and your taste buds.

If you are sensitive to metals, oral piercings could cause allergic reactions once the jewelry is placed at the site of the piercing.

Crowns, fillings, and caps could also be damaged because people who have oral piercings tend to bite or play with the stud, ring, or barbell. Damage to gums could also occur which could lead to gum disease, gum recession and eventual tooth loss.

Oral piercings could increase your saliva production. This may cause excessive drooling that could be permanent.

Jewelry aspiration happens when part of the jewelry becomes loose. This could lead to choking if swallowed leading to lung or digestive track injury.  

If you would like more information regarding the dangers of oral piercing, schedule anappointment with your dentist who may be able to persuade you or someone you love against oral piercing. 

You May Need a Root Canal and Not Even Know It

Some people would rather have a tooth pulled than deal with a Root Canal, but thanks to the advances of modern dentistry, you can be in and out of the dentist’s chair in one, or two appointments without having the pain that is normally associated with Root Canal Therapy in Fountain Valley.

Root Canals are performed by dentists to remove the dead nerve in a badly decayed or broken tooth or a tooth that has had multiple fillings. Teeth that have experienced severe trauma may require Root Canal Therapy as well.

You may need Root Canal Therapy if you are sensitive to cold and hot, are experiencing a severe toothache, or notice an abscess, which looks similar to a pimple on your Gums. Root Canal Therapy may also be necessary if you notice swelling or tenderness in the area. Dr. Peter Hagen will thoroughly examine your teeth looking for any signs of pulp damage. If nerve and pulp damage are detected, your dentist may recommend a root canal.

According to Wikipedia, the pulp is located in the center of each tooth. The pulp is made up of cells, known as odontoblasts and connective tissue.  

The main function of dental pulp is the formation of dentin. Other functions include sensory, changes in temperature, trauma, pressure, and pain. Your dental pulp is an alarm system when it comes to tooth decay and will certainly let you know if a cavity is present. However, according to your dentist, once your tooth erupts, the nerve located in the middle of the tooth is not necessary.

Root Canals can involve one appointment or additional appointments depending on where the tooth is located and how much therapy is involved. During your Root Canal Therapy, your Orange County Dentist will numb the area before placing a sheet of rubber, also known as a rubber dam, around your tooth to keep it dry. Your dentist will make an opening at the top of your tooth placing root canal files into each root canal in order to remove the pulp and the nerve tissue along with the damaging bacteria. 

After your tooth has been cleaned, your dentist will seal the area with either a temporary or a permanent filling. After the Root Canal Therapy has been completed, your dentist will place a cap or crown over the top of the Root Canal restoring it back to its original function. Without a crown, Root Canals can break or become damaged requiring additional treatment.

If you would like more information regarding Root Canal Therapy, schedule an appointment with your Orange County Dentist who can determine if you need a filling of a Root Canal. 

Tooth Restoration in One Appointment with CEREC

Even as little as 35 years ago, restoring teeth could be a long and drawn out process, but now thanks to modern dentistry technology and your dentist in Orange County, you can have a beautiful smile in a single dental appointment with Dr. Peter Hagen.

Dr. Hagen truly is a pioneer when it comes to cosmetic dental techniques and was one of the first dentists in the OC to be trained using the CEREC System. As a member of the Academy of Computerized Dentistry in North America, Dr. Hagen can give you that toothy grin that you have always dreamed about using the CEREC system and the CAD-CAM computer.

These days you do not have to deal with temporary fillings or crowns while your new smile is sent to the lab. Thanks to 21^st century cosmetic dentistry and the CEREC System you can have your old fillings replaced, that crack in your front tooth repaired or that annoying cavity filled with long-lasting ceramic that is matched to your natural tooth or teeth.

The CEREC System allows your dentist to preserve more of your natural teeth, which in most cases eliminates the need for full crowns.

According to Wikipedia, W. Mormann and M. Brandestini from the University of Zurich developed the Chair side Economic Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics in 1980. The revolutionary process allowed dentists to produce, construct, and insert ceramic restoration chair side in one appointment. Carried out on test patients in 1985, the CEREC System quickly became the number one restorative technique on the planet.

If your dentist determines that you are a good candidate for the CEREC System, a digital impression will be made after your old fillings, cavities or cracks have been removed. After scanning has been completed, the CEREC System milling machine will create your solid ceramic restorations in about ten to fifteen minutes. Once created, the restorations are chemically bonded to the tooth or teeth restoring it to its original condition and strength.

For more information regarding the revolutionary CEREC System schedule an appointment with your OC Dentist who will be able to determine if you are a good candidate for the revolutionary CEREC System.

Finding a Dentist Doesn't Have to Cause a Migraine

Relocating to a new neighborhood is stressful enough for anyone, but especially families. Single folks may find it easy to choose a new dentist in the area, but what about moms and dads who need a good family dentist who can look after their four-year-old daughter’s new baby teeth one week and their teenage son’s wisdom teeth the next.

Asking your dentist before you move is the first step if you are moving house. Your dentist may refer you to a colleague or know of someone whom you can trust. Family and friends can also help you choose a dentist. Ask old neighbors if they know friends or friends in your new town, or get to know your new neighbors. Talk to the teachers at your kid’s new school and don’t forget to call the town or city council.

If you forgot to ask before you moved, go online. The World Wide Web can help you find a new dentist, but can sometimes be overwhelming. Any dentist can have a website, but with so many to choose from how can you narrow it down?

You can narrow your search by heading over to the ADA. The American Dental Association has a list of recommended practices. Whether you are looking for dentists in Fountain Valley or an Orange County Family Dentist that you can depend on to be available for family emergencies as well as regular checkups, the ADA can help.

Once you have cross-referenced the list that you found on the ADA to your list of dentists in your area dentist search on Google, choose five that you really like. Check out each dental practice website and fully research the office and its staff. Pay careful attention to the dentist’s qualifications and ongoing education. You want to make sure that the dentist you choose is up on the latest dental technology with classes, seminars, and product knowledge courses.

Most dental websites will have ongoing information with a news or blog page and fully detailed service pages that explain what to expect whether you are looking for a family dentist or in search of a Cosmetic Dentist for CEREC One Visit Restoration.

Call the offices of the dentists on your list and listen carefully to the person on the other end of the line. If the voice greets you with a welcoming hello and seems happy to hear your voice it is a good sign the rest of the office is run smoothly and efficiently. Ask questions. Find out the offices policy on financing and make sure that the hours are suitable for your needs. If you are satisfied, make your appointment and go with your instincts.

Going to a dentist for the first time doesn’t have to give you a migraine if you do your research. Dial the number, make an appointment and trust your instincts, chances are the dentist you choose will be the right one for you and your family.