The definitions of common dental procedures to help you speak dentist!

While there are many different types of dental procedures, there are some which are much more common then others. Below you may find a comprehensive listing of the most common dental procedures, along with brief details as to what each procedures comprises.  Doctor Saliba in Newport Beach CA, centrally located in Orange County hopes this list will empower you to ask the right questions during your next dental visit.

• Bonding. This is done by applying composite tooth bonding, which is tooth colored, to repair teeth which are decayed, fractured, cracked, or chipped. It is a very basic procedure which is done in a dental office.
• Braces. Braces are a device placed on the teeth in order to gradually shift the teeth into a straightened position. The device is most commonly used on children in their teenage years, and those who have mild to severely crooked teeth.
• Bridges. False teeth anchored in place by the teeth on either side of the gap. This is used to replace one or two teeth which have been pulled or knocked out.
• Crowns/Caps. Crowns, also sometimes referred to as caps, are another type of tooth restoration procedure. This process places a ‘cap’ over top an entire tooth.
• Dentures. Dentures may be seen in partial or full sets. They are often referred to as ‘false teeth’ and are devices which temporarily adhere to your gum line so that you have the feeling and appearance of real teeth. Dentures are removed each night, which is where they differ from implants, which are permanent.
• Dental Extraction. A dental extraction is where a damaged tooth or teeth are removed from your mouth. Teeth may need to be removed from multiple reasons, including that they may be so severely damaged that restorative dental procedures are not possible, or that a person may require dentures and has only one or two good teeth left.
• Fillings. Fillings are done using a type of restorative material to repair teeth. This may be done after a cavity is drilled, or because a tooth has been damaged.
• Implants. Implants are false teeth which are artificially rooted to your gums in much the same way that your natural teeth would be.
• Root Canal. A root canal is used to treat dental diseases or teeth which have been abscessed. The process opens up the tooth and cleans out the infected tissue in the center, before filling in the space and sealing the opening.
• Teeth Whitening. This process does exactly what it sounds like- it whitens your teeth. This is a cosmetic procedure which is becoming more common. Teeth darker for multiple reasons, and regular teeth whitening can help to keep your smile fresh, white, and beautiful.
• Veneers. These are thin but strong pieces of either ceramic or resin which are bonded to your teeth. This process is used to repair teeth that are chipped, decayed, or even stained. Veneers have also proven useful in closing in gaps between teeth. Depending upon which reason you have for getting Veneers, the process can be either restorative or cosmetic.

 

A tall order of Eggnog Latte without the extra pump of cavities?

December is here and that means all things “SWEET” are upon us…

The nights are colder the mornings are dewy and Starbucks seems to know exactly what our holiday spirits are craving. Sweet, spicy, sinful is the motto and if you are not a Starbucks fanatic all year round, there is no resisting a Caramel Brulee Latte or Peppermint Mocha.

Although these delightful beverages tend to warm the heart and better the long gloomy days, they are not so friendly on our smiles. What most of us coffee drinkers don’t realize is the amount of sugar that goes into making each delicious concoction.  Even if we try and cut the amount of syrup that each drink contains, what is left is still plenty to do damage.

Another factor lies in the way we sip our beverages. Coffee house drinks are usually made quite hot, therefore we tend to take smaller sips, which sit in our mouth longer before we swallow. This also makes the drink taste better and last longer.  This method is what causes damage to our teeth. The sugar and milk tend to sit on the surface and unless we brush after every sip, it slowly eats away at our pearly whites.

If you do not find yourself carrying a toothbrush, and you’d like to save your mouth from treatments such as composite fillings or porcelain crowns, it is a good idea to sip water after you have finished your drink. Swirling the H2O in your mouth can help remove some of the left over sugar. Also, drinking through a straw can prevent some of the beverage from hitting your teeth.  If you are one to keep up on your teeth whitening, an H2O swirl or rinse is a must!

Corona Del Mar Dentist, Doctor Saliba, owns and operates Selective Dentistry, a Newport Beach dental office located in beautiful Corona Del Mar, he believes that educating his patients on the importance of oral health is at most, number one priority. His private office Selective Dentistry has surpassed the highest level of service so the patient no longer has to feel a dental visit is a nuisance.  He creates beautiful smiles by educating the patient first on proper in-home care which leads to lasting beautiful natural smile enhancements long after the patient leaves his office.

Relied upon as the anxiety-free dentist in Newport Beach and Corona Del Mar, Doctor Saliba wants to create a “team” relationship between him and his patients along with presenting them with the resources for proper at home prevention paired with annual x-rays, exams, cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatments. 

Unfortunately, our beverages, sweets and pastries don’t come with warning labels. Yet, inquiring about proper oral health can make that smile last a lifetime.  Cheers to you and your family this holiday season!

 

How to choose a good dentist!

In Search of a new dentist

Some ideas to help you choose the right dental office

On many occasions you may require a new dental office, your regular dentist retired, your might be in need of a special service that your current dentist is not able to provide or the most common reason, you’ve recently moved.

Most of us know we need a dentist but don’t really know how to select a good one. Unless you are very familiar with the dental industry, it’s difficult to know what questions to ask or what to look for when choosing a good dentist. I wrote this article based on my personal frustrations over the years and I hope it will give you some insights and ideas the next time you have to select a dental office.

Before you begin the selection process, ask yourself a few questions:

1. Do you prefer to have a dentist near your home or work? – if you have treatments, you may need to visit the dental office multiple times. A dentist near your work may offer you more flexibility and less time off work.
2. Do you prefer to have a dentist near your home that accepts early morning, late evening, and weekend appointments? – Many dental offices close on Friday and Saturday, this is usually listed on their website or their online listings and will help you in making your selection.

Source to collecting a prospective list of dental offices:

Dental refferral service – These services allow you to find prospective dental offices based on criterias you define, but try to remember these are services that charge each dentist a monthly subscription in order to direct new patients to them. You still need to make your own evaluation to ensure you picked the right office for you.

Friends and Family: If you are searching for a dentist near your work, ask your co-workers who they go to and what they like about them. A personal referral is generally the best. Again, your criteria for a good dentist might be different.

Online Search: A quick Google search should lead you to plenty of results for the specific area you’re searching for, read what other people have to say about the dental office, look at their office hours to make sure it will fit your schedule. Beware of controlled reviews, services such as DemandForce are available to dental offices. These services allow the dentist to review and only choose the good reviews to post, they also block the general public from placing a review directly on Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. So if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. There are many other sites specific to the health industry such as wellness and healthgrades. These sites allow users to rate health professionals based on criterias specific to the patient’s needs.

Dental Office Website: Most online listings link back to the dental office website, the dental office’s website should be more informative and less commercial. It should give you an overview of the office, the staff, the services provided, and provide educational material to help you understand your oral health. Many sites offer online dental videos that help you visually understand dental treatments and what to expect on your first visit.  If you are seeking cosmetic enhancements, look for actual before and after pictures.  You can easily determine if the photographs are enhanced or purchased.  Many dental websites come pre-packaged with before and after pictures. If you’re not sure, call and ask the office.

Once you’ve compiled a list of few dental offices, it’s time for you to make your own evaluation and judgement by placing a call. If your schedule allows it, stop by the offices you’ve selected to make a first impression evaluation.

QUESTIONS TO ASK OVER THE PHONE OR IN PERSON:

1. How many dentists work in this office? – It’s important to have an ongoing relationship with the same dentist and not have to see multiple dentists. Your personal dentist will have a better understanding of your needs as a patient, you prefer to have vaseline on your lips to minimize cracking, your back doesn’t allow you to sit in the chair for very long, you have to take a break standing up every so often. Your dentist will know these details from the first visit and stay within your comfort zone. Since these personal details are not generally documented by most dentists in the patient chart, seeing a different dentist the next time can be quite frustrating.
2. Is the dentist a professional member of industry organizations? – Having a dentist involved in professional organizations such as American Dental Association, allows the dentist to meet with colleagues and stay up to date on the latest innovations and techniques by dedicating his time to many continued education courses. Many dentists have a respect for the profession they serve but you want a dentist that is willing to advance with the times and offer you the best available in the industry.
3. What other dental services are offered besides the general services? – Incase you are in need of a special service such as root canal or an extraction, it’s quite convenient and less costly to have all your needs met in one office and not have to go through the process of evaluating someone else. Many experienced dentists are qualified and capable of performing these special services without referring you out to someone else.
4. Is the dentist accepting your dental insurance and is he a preferred provider? – This is quite a comfusing subject for most patients, almost all dental offices will tell you they accept your dental insurance if you have a PPO plan. Finding a contracted dentist means the dentist has agreed to accept the discounted fees from your insurance company. This decreases your co-pay responsibilities, 20 percent of $700 is a lot less than 20 percent of $1000. Most dental insurance plans have a yearly maximum such as $1500 per year, by finding a contracted dentist your yearly maximum will last longer. It is always the patient’s responsibility to understand their dental plan, but a good dental office, should take the time to answer your questions and explain your coverage in detail.
5. Does the office offer a payment plan? – Many dental offices require immediate payments, some may offer payment plans such as CareCredit. You need to make sure you are comfortable with their financial policies.

OBSERVATIONS (on the phone or in person)

First Impression – Most of us are equipped with a “gut feeling”, and should listen to it. If you were able to visit the office, Did you feel comfortable when you walked in? – The thought of visiting a dentist is stressful enough for most, the office should have an anxiety-free, friendly environment, this usually helps to ease a lot of the anxiety most of us feel when visiting the dentist for treatments. Did the office look clean and organized?, was there many patients in the waiting room that looked frustrated for waiting too long.

Staff- Did the staff greet you or were they pre-occupied with their daily routine. During your relationship with the dental office, you will have to interact with the staff just as much as the dentist, it’s best to feel comfortable and at ease, otherwise you will run into uncomfortable situations in the future.  If you get the chance to meet the doctor, trust your gut feeling, what was your first impression, did he look genuine and friendly?

Now that you’ve evaluated the few dental offices on your list, pick the one that fits your needs the most and make an initial appointment where you can evaluate the dentist himself.  It seems like a lot to think about, but remember you want to make sure that who you choose will be responsible for your oral health and you want them to care about it as much as you do.

Good Luck!