Dentist

Think You’re Too Old For Orthodontics? Think Again!

Posted on by rkasiridds

Do you think orthodontics are only for children or teens? Think again! Now, more than ever, adults are looking for orthodontic treatment for a variety of reasons. Some people want to improve their smiles or correct their bites, other people are seeking to improve their health or to boost their self-esteem. Today, well over a million Americans over the age of 18 wear braces, per the Academy of General Dentistry.

Every day adults are getting braces, even celebrities. Country music singer Faith Hill wore braces to the Grammy Awards in 2013, when she was 45 years old. And when he was 40 years old, Tom Cruise wore ceramic brackets to improve his teeth. In our suburban offices, about 25 percent of our patients are adults. But in our downtown San Diego office,  a lot of  of our patients are adults, which means you won’t have to worry about being the only adult in our office getting work done on your teeth. Our San Diego orthodontic office has 30 years’experience in the smile industry.

  1. Adults should get orthodontics because every smile is important.

Your smile is one of the first things people notice. When you smile, you can have a positive impact on the people around you. But if you’re afraid to smile or you try to cover your teeth when you grin, you won’t have the same effect. Maybe you’ve always had crooked teeth, but you could get orthodontics when you were younger. Or maybe they’ve just recently started to get crooked. Maybe you have serious jaw pain or are having trouble cleaning your teeth properly.

Many people say their crooked or unattractive teeth are holding them back from living life to the fullest. Your oral health can impact your ability to get a job and can have a direct impact on your social life. Why not explore orthodontics and fix your mouth now? The results will amaze you, and you’ll no longer feel self-conscious about your teeth in the future.

  1. Adults should consider orthodontics because teeth can move at any age, even if they are healthy.

Teeth can shift at any age. Maybe due to an injury, a health condition, or simply natural growth. Perhaps you had straight teeth in the past, but are now facing a crooked and overcrowded smile. Even if you had braces in the past, you may need them again. Why? Some people have mouths that change naturally. Other people neglect to wear their retainers as much as they should. Orthodontists now tell people to wear retainers much longer than they recommended in previous decades. Some people even need to wear one for life.

  1. Adults should get orthodontics because today, orthodontic options are better, cheaper, and less noticeable.

Braces have changed over the years. Today, wearing braces is less painful and requires less time. Almost all our adult braces patients are happy they made the commitment to correct their teeth. No longer do you need to suffer the embarrassment of being a metal mouth. The brackets used today are smaller and bands that wrap around the tooth are no longer used. Ceramic braces are popular with adults due to their cosmetic appeal because they are made of a translucent (clear) material.

Maybe your parents couldn’t afford braces when you were growing up, but now you can. Many medical and dental insurance plans cover part of the cost. Or maybe you make enough money to save and pay for orthodontics out of pocket. Our orthodontic office in San Diego offers many financing options to accommodate your needs, and we would be happy to go over these with you. We can also review your insurance policy and help you maximize your benefit and file your claims.

  1. Adults should get orthodontics to avoid serious problems with their teeth and mouth.

Study has shown that the frequency of misalignment in adults is comparable to the frequency in children and teens. When you have a cross bite or misaligned teeth, you have an increased chance of plaque and food buildup between your teeth. This means you may get periodontal disease or gum disease. You can also possibly avoid tooth decay, gum and bone loss, irregular wear of the tooth enamel, and TMJ/TMD pain (or chronic facial discomfort). Also, if you’re thinking about getting dental implants, the rest of your teeth will need to be straight first, so you’ll want to get orthodontics before you can consider that treatment option.

  1. Adults should consider orthodontics because people are living longer.

People are living longer, and many people are keeping their teeth for life, so it makes sense to pay the price to straighten crooked or crowded teeth. Even older adults are getting braces. Per the American Association of Orthodontists, more and more people who are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s are using braces.

Are you ready to smile a lot more? What’s holding you back from getting braces as an adult? If you have trouble biting, chewing, or speaking, or you have teeth that are crowded or protruding, why haven’t you decided to explore orthodontics yet? Are you worried about the pain? Improvements in technology make the process of getting braces much more gentle and pain is no longer a question. Adults often do a better job caring for their orthodontic appliances and following the instruction of their orthodontist, which means their results can be more impressive than those of a child or teen.

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Tooth, teeth, oral pain. What is it?

Posted on by rkasiridds

Symptom: Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and liquids.

 

Possible problem: If discomfort lasts only moments, sensitivity generally does not signal a serious problem. It may be caused by; a small area of decay in a tooth, a loose filling or an exposed root surface resulting from gum recession and possibly toothbrush abrasion.

What to do: If a root surface is sensitive, keep it clean and free of dental bacterial plaque. Use a soft toothbrush, cleaning very gently at the gum line, and brush no more than twice daily. Try using fluoride-containing toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. You can even try using toothpaste like an ointment, rubbing it into the root surface for ten minutes or so at a time. If the sensitivity continues, see your dentist.

Symptom: Sensitivity to hot or cold foods after dental treatment.

 

Possible problem: Dental work may result in tooth sensitivity due to inflammation of the pulp tissues inside a tooth.

What to do: This sensitivity should last no longer then a few days; however, if decay has recently been removed or a filling or crown recently has been placed, a tooth may take a week or two to settle. Mild pain relievers like acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen should help. If the pain persists or worsens, see your dentist.

Symptom: Sharp pain when biting down on food.

 

Possible problem: Decay, a loose filling and/or a cracked tooth are possible causes.

What to do: See a dentist to diagnose the problem before the pain worsens. Decay will need to be removed, and a loose filling replaced by your dentist. If the pain is caused by pulp tissue damage, your dentist may send you to an endodontist (“endo” – inside; “dont” – tooth), a specialist who will perform a root canal treatment to clean out the damaged pulp, disinfect the root canal and fill and seal the remaining space to save the tooth. A cracked tooth may be difficult to treat not only if it involves the pulp, but also depending on the location and depth of the crack. (See the Dear Doctormagazine article on “Cracked Tooth Syndrome”)

Symptom: Lingering pain after eating hot or cold foods and liquids.

 

Possible problem: This probably means the pulp is inflamed and/or dying, and may be irreversibly damaged usually as a result of deep decay or physical trauma.

What to do: See your dentist or endodontist to diagnose the problem before the pain becomes severe due to the development of an abscess. The tooth will likely need root canal treatment to remove the dying or dead pulp tissue to save the tooth.

Floor of the sinus

Symptom: Dull ache and pressure in the upper teeth and sinus area of one or both sides.

 

Possible problem: Pain felt in the sinus area of the face is often associated with the upper back teeth because they share the same nerves. The origin of this “referred” pain consequently may be difficult to determine. Therefore, sinus pain can feel like tooth pain and vice versa. That’s why sinus congestion from a cold or flu can cause pain in the upper teeth. Additionally it’s also important to determine if clenching or grinding is a factor, as they too cause similar symptoms.

What to do: See your dentist or endodontist to find out if the symptoms are dentally related; otherwise, you may need to see your family physician. However, don’t wait until the pain worsens.

Schedule An Emergency Appointment: http://www.24-7emergencydental.com/

858.552.0052

 

 

 

Holiday Dental Care Tips

Posted on by rkasiridds

  1. Avoid Desserts and Sweets – Okay well maybe don’t avoid the sweets. The party may offer a multitude of sugary snacks and holiday desserts, but don’t forget that drinks like eggnog, hot cocoa, punch and most liqueurs contain a high level of sugars. Take a quick trip to the restroom and brush. By limiting your consumption, you can deter unwanted tooth decay while reducing any harmful effects to your waistline.
  2. Try Not to Stress – If the season is stressing you out, you may find yourself grinding or clinching your teeth during stressful situations and often while you sleep. This can cause headaches and jaw pain, as well as damaged teeth and dental work. The best way to address this problem is to use a dental mouth guard, which won’t stop the grinding but can prevent it from causing pain.
  3. Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush – Holiday parties with friends and family are about gathering together where lots of food and beverages are on hand. By bringing a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss, you can periodically excuse yourself to take care of your teeth. If you cannot do this, at least try to rinse your mouth with water between dinner courses or chew sugar-less gums.
  4. Have an Emergency Dental Contact – The wrong bite into a candy cane can result in a dental disaster. You may chip a tooth, lose a filling, or break a crown while on vacation or when the dentist’s office is closed. Contact Dr. Kasari’s office to see if they can provide you with emergency dental care over the holiday season.
  5. Take Care of Your Teeth – The holiday fun can keep you distracted, but as long as your oral health care becomes a habit, you can continue the holiday fun without fretting about your teeth. Make a resolution to brush and floss regularly and schedule routine check ups with your dentist.

If you are in the San Diego area this season for the holidays we are here for all you’re emergency dental needs.

 

Braces Early On

Posted on by rkasiridds

When your child gets braces, there can be a lot of new things to get used to for both them and you. One of the major lessons to learn is how to take care of the braces. Once the orthodontist actually puts the braces on and your child is back at home, you inherit the role of the oral care expert. Teaching your children how to brush with braces gives them the tools to protect the braces and keep their teeth clean. Here’s how to do it.

The Right Tools

Making sure they have the right utensils in the bathroom encourages your child to do his part in keeping teeth clean. Here are some of the things you’ll need for brushing with braces:

  • A soft-bristled toothbrush, like the Colgate SlimSoft™, which has thinner, soft bristles that are perfect for cleaning braces, brackets and the wires, as well as along the gum line and teeth.
  • A fluoride toothpaste. Let your child choose a flavor he loves so he’s more likely to brush.
  • Floss and a floss threader to clean in between the teeth.
  • An oral irrigator to blast out stuck food particles.

By making your kid an active participant in choosing oral care products, you’ll have a more willing subject when it comes time to clean teeth before bedtime.

Brushing Technique

It’s important to teach your child the right way to brush with braces because braces create areas in which food can hide, and that can lead to tooth decay and gum problems. Here are the steps to follow:

  • Remove any elastics fitted to the braces.
  • Using the soft-bristled toothbrush, have your child brush at a 45 degree angle where the gums meet the teeth, using back and forth motion.
  • Gently brush the braces, but use enough pressure to push the bristles onto the brace brackets on the top and bottom surfaces and to clean the wire.
  • Once each tooth has been brushed, rinse and examine the teeth to make sure there are no food particles still stuck in the braces.
  • Reinsert the elastics for the braces.

The brushing process should take about two minutes, or the length of your child’s favorite song. Try loading up a tune on your MP3 player to make sure your braces-wearer is brushing for the right amount of time.

How to Floss

Obviously wiring across each tooth makes flossing between them much more difficult, but it’s still an important part of the process. You can use an oral irrigator to remove food particles, but the NYU College of Dentistry suggests flossing should be done at least once a day. Lend a hand until your child gets the hang of it; the floss will need to be used with a floss threader and your child would place the floss through the floss threader, which looks like the eye of a needle. Gently place it under the wire and between the teeth using a push pull stroke to remove any plaque or food debris between the teeth. Make sure you use a fresh piece of floss between each tooth so your child is not moving plaque from tooth to tooth. It takes alittle time and effort to get used to flossing with braces on. There are also thin interdental (in between the teeth) cleaning brushes that can also be used if using a floss threader is a challenging experience.

Making it Easier

The more attention your kids pay to keeping their braces clean, the easier their oral care routine will be. Teeth can be sore after an adjustment, so soft foods and gentle brushing will feel best. It’s also important to avoid sticky foods that can cling to braces. It’s hard to enforce, but keep your kids away from snacks such as popcorn, taffy and gum.

By showing your child how to brush with braces, you are helping him create good habits for the future and ensuring his teeth will be healthy long after the braces come off.

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Toothache 101

Posted on by rkasiridds

A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth that may be caused by:

Symptoms of a toothache may include:

  • Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
  • Swelling around the tooth
  • Fever or headache
  • Foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth

    When Should I See a Dentist About a Toothache?

    See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:

    • You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
    • Your toothache is severe
    • You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide

    Proper identification and treatment of dental infections is important to prevent its spread to other parts of the face and skull and possibly even to the bloodstream.

    What Happens When I Go to the Dentist for a Toothache?

    To treat your toothache, your dentist will first obtain your medical history and conduct a physical exam. He or she will ask you questions about the pain, such as when the pain started, how severe it is, where the pain is located, what makes the pain worse, and what makes it better. Your dentist will examine your mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, tongue, throat, sinuses, ears, nose, and neck. X-rays may be taken as well as other tests, depending on what your dentist suspects is causing your toothache.

    What Treatments Are Available for a Toothache?

    Treatment for a toothache depends on the cause. If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or possibly extract the tooth, if necessary. A root canal might be needed if the cause of the toothache is determined to be an infection of the tooth’s nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner aspects of the tooth cause such an infection. An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw. Occasionally, phototherapy with a cold laser, usually in conjunction with another treatment, may be used to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the toothache.

    How Can Toothaches Be Prevented?

    Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once daily, rinsing once or twice a day with an antiseptic mouthwash, and seeing your dentist twice a year for professional cleaning. In addition to these practices, eat foods low in sugar and ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride applications.

Book Appointment today

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/toothaches for more on toothaches