Teeth On Vacation

Vacations mean different things for different people. Some simply want to stay home and not have a watch or schedule to dictate their day. Some others may want to visit family or go to far off destinations while some others like the pampering of cruises and resorts.  Some others may like to use the extended daylight hours to to catch up on pending projects and tasks including medical and dental check ups.

 June officially begins the summer vacation season and as preparations begin, you want to put your plan to action.

 

Tips for dental health during vacations.

If an exotic vacation spot is your destination, ensure that you and your teeth are healthy enough to travel. Schedule you annual health and semi annual dental check up well before your planned trip.  Tooth pain is exaggerated in higher altitudes and a remote island may not be the best place to be treated for excruciating tooth pain.

Even while you are on vacation, remember your dental hygiene cannot be on one as well. Stay on top of your brushing, flossing and rinsing routines and enjoy a bright and healthy smile.

While playing outdoor sports, always wear athletic mouth guards. In the event of an injury, immediately apply ice to reduce swelling and leave severed or fractured teeth is a clean liquid medium and see dentist as soon as possible.

If you have put off making an appointment because your schedule has been busy, this may be the best time to invest in getting a routine examination out of the way or if extensive treatment with multiple appointments is needed, summer or vacation time will be the best time to get the long pending procedures like wisdom extractions or orthodontics (braces) out of the way.

Call 909 627 6699 to make an appointment or visit www.mydentistchino.com for more information.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Thirty to fifty percent of adults snore.  Snoring increases with age and is more common in men than in women.  Forty percent of men and twenty percent of women over thirty snore habitually.  Fifty percent of them have obstructive sleep apnea which can be life threatening. Alarmingly, eighty percent of them are undiagnosed.

Proper diagnosis for sleep apnea is necessary before treating snoring.  Snorers don’t necessarily have OSA or OSA patients are not necessarily snorers.

 Most common form of sleep apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA.   Mild to moderate OSA can be effectively treated by dentists using oral appliances.  Favorable compliance with use of oral appliances makes it a more successful option of treating OSA than the more cumbersome and the less favored medical options. 

Causes of air passage restriction include that cause snoring and/or sleep apnea include-

Obstruction of nasal airway

Weak throat muscles with advancing age or use of medications and alcohol.

Sleeping position

Obesity

It is said that we can live three weeks without food, three days without water but only three minutes without oxygen. OSA can take off twelve to fifteen years of one’s life while smoking and Type 2 Diabetes shorten by five to ten years.

Consult your dentist or sleep physician for more information on the condition and treatment options.

 Call 909 627-6699 for appointment or visit www.mydentistchino.com  for more  information on our services.

Teeth Whitening at a Glance

 Teeth Whitening has become a popular dental trend with an abundance or even an over abundance of professional and over the counter options.  It is an effective and inexpensive option for smile enhancement and makeover. In a trendy esthetic society, white, bright smiles have become an integral part of the fifty six billion dollar cosmetic industry of the US economy.


Professional Options

One Hour Whitening:  The result is fast and dramatic. Under the direct supervision of a dental professional; chemically activated 40% hydrogen peroxide is placed on the teeth at periodic intervals in a monitored setting. This method delivers whiter teeth in less than an hour of sitting in the dental chair. The outcome is instant gratification with exceptional whitening. Some patients may experience post procedural sensitivity, especially if their teeth are generally sensitive to temperature changes.

Take Home Whitening: The patient is fitted with custom whitening trays that are lightweight and comfortable.  The trays, one for the upper arch and another for the lower are delivered to the patient with choice of various whitening concentrations ranging from 10 to 35 percent carbamide peroxide. These trays are worn with a light coat of whitening gel for a few hours each day. The whitening process is more gradual and this option is more suitable for patients with very sensitive teeth.

Besides these professional options, there are several choices of over the counter whitening toothpastes and gels with mild formulas that are good maintenanceoptions.

Visit our website www.mydentistchino.com for more details.

Dental Fear, Phobia or Dental Anxiety?

Going to the dentist triggers feelings of anxiety and fear. It is estimated that around 15 percent of Americans, over 45 million people; suffer from dental anxiety or dental phobia.     
The causes of dental anxiety and phobia can range from a fear of pain, fear of needles or doctors to past experiences of stress and discomfort.  An individual's predisposition to anxiety can also play a key role.

Dental Fear, Phobia or Dental Anxiety?
Though the phrases dental anxiety, dental fear and dental phobia are often used interchangeably to describe a range of symptoms and reactions to dental practices in general, important distinctions can be drawn between them, which can be useful in finding effective dental treatment options.
Anxiety refers to the sense of unease associated with the unknown. If you suffer from dental anxiety, you may find that working with a dentist who is sensitive to your needs and communicates with you to create a comfortable atmosphere can greatly improve your experience and help you to overcome your anxiety.
A phobia is an intense and possibly irrational reaction to a specific situation or object that is perceived as threatening. If you suffer from dental phobia you may react to the sound of a drill, the expectation of pain or another aspect of dentistry for which you have a strong dislike or fear.
Overcoming dental phobias, especially if they are particularly intense, can be more complicated than dealing with anxieties and may require professional assistance. Dental fear is the term often used for a more mild form of dental phobia.
“Our office has had great success with addressing dental fear by simply spending one on one time with our patients.  This builds trust and confidence quickly overcoming fear and apprehension” says Dr. Cherukuri from her Chino, California dental practice.

Is Invisalign for me?

 Our Hygienist and I are routinely asked by patients what they can do to reduce plaque and deposits on their teeth- especially lower front teeth.  Often times, we notice  more deposits around crowded teeth and narrow arches. By simply changing the arrangement of teeth where the  patient can access all surfaces of their teeth with their tooth brush, their teeth are cleaner and healthier.

A mere suggestion of straightening teeth brings about a heightened response” What! Braces! at my age?”

 Yes!! It’s certainly an age defying treatment option. 

Invisalign, a gentler approach to tooth movement is an option for adults as well without the “metal braces look”. While not all orthodontic corrections ( like bite discrepancies) are possible with Invisalign, as long as the periodontal health of the teeth is stable, invisalign opens the doors to beautiful, straight teeth options at any age without crimping your life style.

A beautiful smile  and a healthy mouth can be a reality at any age.

Call our office and ask for Janice for your FREE, no obligation consult.

909 627-6699