Ramona Dentistry of Chino

Commonly Asked Questions on Mouth Guards | Everything You Need to Know

Posted on October 1, 2022November 20, 2025 by adv-admin

What is a Mouthguard?

Mouthguards are customized and flexible mouth protectors designed to be worn over teeth. It helps people participating in recreational and athletic activities from damage and potential trauma to the mouth. They serve as a barrier between cheeks and braces or teeth, between tongue and lips. Speak to our dentist or orthodontist near you about choosing the mouthguard that offers the ultimate protection for your needs.

How Do I Wear a Mouthguard?

Put the mouth protector in hot water (not boiling) to make it soft. Now, insert it into the mouth and use your fingers to press it onto the front and molar teeth. Then, bite down for 20 seconds to fit the mouthguard properly.

Can I Drink Water with the Mouthguard?

Yes, you can drink water while wearing the mouthguard. But it is important to brush and floss your teeth before wearing them. It will help to eradicate the bacteria and leftover food bits accumulated between the teeth, reducing mouthguard staining and decay.

Can I Soak my Mouthguard in Listerine?

No, avoid immersing your guard in the Listerine mouthwash because it can result in damage.

Should I Clean My Mouthguard Daily?

Yes. Like your oral hygiene routine, it is vital to follow a good mouthguard cleaning routine. So, cleaning every night and morning stops the transfer of mouth bacteria onto the guard.

Use toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush to clean your guard with cool water. Avoid scrubbing the guard harshly. It’s because it can form timely scratches where bacteria could thrive.

How Long Does the Mouthguard Last?

When you maintain or store the mouthguard properly, it stays for 3 – 5 years. A good rule of thumb is to replace your custom device every year.

Do Mouthguards Straighten Teeth?

A tailored mouthguard does not offer straight teeth. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of mouth trauma, jaw clenching, tooth grinding, etc.

Can I Talk with the Mouthguard in?

Yes. A proper fit and slim mouthguard let you communicate with others effectively while you are wearing it.

Do Mouthguards Stop Snoring?

Yes. These mouth protectors help patients prevent teeth clenching and grinding at night. They are also effective in treating snoring.

How Often Should I Replace My Sports Mouthguard?

It is crucial for teens or kid athletes to replace the guard every six months or at the end of the sports season. It’s because their mouths are in the growing stage. The use of a mouthguard prevents injuries.

Should You Wear the Mouthguard Every Night?

Yes. If you have severe bruxism, our dentist in 91710 suggests wearing the guard every night. Wearing it every night prevents damage to the teeth.

Does a Mouthguard Help with TMJ Symptoms?

Mouthguards are an essential part of TMJ treatment. They minimize or eradicate the condition that causes TMJ pain. A daytime mouthguard works by addressing teeth clenching and biting behavior that makes TMJ symptoms worse. However, if the TMJ signs are severe, it is vital to wear the guard both night and day.

Who Might Need a Mouthguard?

Adults and kids require a guard that:

Take part in contact sports such as soccer, football, hockey, and lacrosse.
Clenches or grinds teeth.
Plays non-contact sports or physical activities with a high-fall risk such as biking or ice skating.

How Do You Sleep with the Mouthguard?

The dental professional advises wearing a mouthguard during sleep if you grind teeth or have OSA. Check out how to sleep with your mouth protector:

a) Identify the Reason for Discomfort

Is your guard causing a gag reflex? Does it feel too large or make your whole mouth shift? Get in touch with a dentist if any of these problems causes discomfort.

b) Do Preparation

Wear a lower and upper guard if you are a light sleeper. They are smaller and help you adapt to the bulky mouthguard.

c) Use it Before Going to the Bed

It will take some time to adapt to the new guard. You can begin using the mouth protector before sleeping.

Can Mouthguards Make Your Gums Recede?

Mouthguards protect the gums. But, when your device does not have a proper fit, damaged or dirty, it can damage the gums.

Get Mouthguards Near You

Are you searching for mouthguards in Chino, CA? Give us a call or make an appointment with our dentist in Chino at Ramona Dentistry of Chino today!

Different Types of Dental Implants: Choosing One Suitable for You

Posted on September 8, 2022September 13, 2022 by adv-admin

Is tooth loss making it challenging for you to manage everyday activities like eating, speaking, and smiling? You might consider replacing your missing teeth with dental implants. However, you will likely encounter challenges because of the different types of implants available on the market when choosing one best suited for your needs.

Perhaps this article can help make your choice more straightforward by explaining the different types of dental implants on the market and your options.

Dental Implants Explained

Pure titanium helps create dental implants making them tiny enough to fit into your jawbone to function as an artificial tooth root. Dental implants help with any situation of tooth loss because they are customized to suit your needs. Now that you understand implants better, let us explain the different types of implants to help you make an informed decision.

Types of Dental Implant

The three most common types of dental implants you can choose are endosteal, subperiosteal, and zygomatic. Endosteal implants are the most popular, followed by subperiosteal and zygomatic as the last and most complex implant type. Zygomatic implants are rarely used.

1. Endosteal Implants

The most familiar type of implant is the endosteal implant, suitable for most patients with a healthy jawbone for the implant to integrate. Endosteal implants function like placeholder posts shaped like screws. They are embedded in your jawbone to hold your false teeth.

If you prefer endosteal implants, the procedure requires three to six months to heal in a process called osseointegration to create a stable base for a dental crown to function as your artificial tooth. On the other hand, if you dislike the idea of having an alien post embedded in your jawbone, you might prefer the second most common option explained below.

2. Subperiosteal Implants

The popular alternative to endosteal implants is a subperiosteal implant. This variety is not embedded in your jawbone but rests on the bone after placement beneath your gums. The implant dentist places a metal frame under your gums with posts. After your gums heal around the frame to securely hold it, your false teeth are secured to the protruding posts from your gums.

Subperiosteal implants are appropriate if you don’t have sufficient healthy jawbone for endosteal implants or don’t want to undergo intensive oral surgery to augment bone in the area. However, if you have insufficient jawbone, subperiosteal implants may suit your needs better.

3. Zygomatic Implants

Zygomatic implants are not popular because they require a complex procedure and are best suited for patients without sufficient jawbone. They are placed in the cheekbone instead of the jawbone.

Which Option Is Best Suited for Your Needs?

An implant dentist can suggest alternatives if you have complications and your jaw cannot support dental implants making even zygomatic implants unsuitable for you.

You can have bone augmentation procedures to restore bone because the process helps hold endosteal implants in your jaw. Alternatively, you can have a sinus lift that involves adding bone below your sinus if you experience bone deterioration in the upper jaw because of missing molars.

If your jaw isn’t wide enough for implants, our implant dentist in Chino, CA can perform ridge expansion to add space along the top of your jaw. These three procedures can help you receive dental implants to replace teeth in your mouth permanently.

Dentistry advances now make even more alternatives to replace missing teeth with this excellent solution. For example, you can consider having mini dental implants, tiny posts that help stabilize lower dentures, or the all-on-4 technique for an entire arch of top or bottom teeth with merely four dental implants placed in strategic locations.

When seeking dental implants to replace missing teeth, please do not visit a specialist with a predetermined mindset. Instead, expect the dental professional to work closely with you to find the best-suited implant for your specific situation.

Choosing different types of implants can become daunting unless you are familiar with them and the procedures involved in getting them as tooth replacement solutions. Therefore you must seek advice from our implant specialist in Chino and receive the best implants suited for your situation.

Visit an Implant Dentist Near You

We at Ramona Dentistry of Chino provides different dental implants in Chino, CA 91710 after evaluating your jawbone and physical health. If you prefer this excellent solution and looking for dental implants near Chino Hills to replace missing teeth, we suggest you schedule an appointment with us today to start the process of replacing your missing teeth.

Digital Dental X-Rays, Their Procedure, Purpose & Types

Posted on August 1, 2022August 9, 2022 by adv-admin

Different dental issues necessitate the dentist to recommend a digital dental x-ray be performed. Some of these dental issues include tooth decay, root canal infection, and bone loss in the jaw, among other dental problems. These images are essential as they will help the dentist identify the problem and recommend a suitable treatment plan for your condition.

There are different digital dental x-rays that can be performed, and this article will take a closer look at each type and help you know their purpose and how digital x-rays are performed.

Why are Digital Dental X-Rays Performed?

It is imperative to note that there are factors that affect how often your dentist can recommend a dental x-ray to be performed. Some of these factors include your current oral health if you have symptoms of the oral disease if you’ve had a history of recurrent gum diseases or tooth decay, and your age.

However, the dentist can also recommend an x-ray if there are no previous digital x-rays of your teeth. This procedure is done regularly on kids more than on adults as dentists require to monitor the growth and health of their teeth and curb any disease that might affect their oral health in the future.

This is essential as our dentist in Chino, CA may recommend tooth extraction to prevent the spread of the disease or bacteria to healthy teeth.

Therefore, the purpose of digital dental x-rays is to examine the condition of teeth and come up with a recommendation that can treat an issue if there is any and prevent other dental issues from arising in the future.

Risks of Dental X-rays

Before looking at what goes on during an x-ray procedure, it is essential to know the risks associated with this type of dental process:

First, dentists recommend that pregnant women or women who believe they are pregnant should steer away from any kind of x-ray. This is because the radiation produced by the x-ray machine can harm the developing fetus.
In addition to that, digital dental x-rays are regarded as safer than the traditional film x-rays as digital x-rays are viewable in seconds meaning your body is exposed to radiation for a shorter period than the traditional x-ray.

What is the Procedure of Digital Dental X-Ray?

Prior to your dental x-ray, it is vital that you brush your teeth as this creates a more hygienic environment for the dentist that will be working on your mouth.
This is because x-rays are done before cleanings and therefore brushing your teeth before leaving the house is essential.
When you get to the dental clinic, you will sit on a chair that has a lead vest that crosses your lap and chest.
The x-ray device is positioned above your head to take images of your mouth.
There are dental clinics that have a different room for performing x-rays, while for others, the procedure is performed in the same room where extractions and cleanings are done.
The x-ray machine takes images of your mouth, which are then recorded in a computer from which your dentist will study your teeth.

What Are the Types of Dental X-Rays?

Here are the types of dental x-rays:

Periapical X-Ray

The first type of dental x-ray we will look at is a periapical x-ray. This type of x-ray shows the whole tooth. The images taken from a periapical x-ray show the crown, tooth root, and where the tooth attaches to the jaw.

Occlusal X-Rays

Next, there is an occlusal x-ray, and this type tracks the growth and placement of an entire jaw of teeth: either the lower or upper jaw.

Bitewing X-Rays

There is also a bitewing x-ray, and this shows the details of the lower and upper teeth in one section of the mouth. A bitewing image shows the tooth from its exposed surface to the level supporting it. The advantage of this type of x-ray is that it can detect any changes in the thickness of the jaw bone brought by gum disease and decay between teeth.

In addition, the dentist in Ramona Dentistry of Chino can carry out a bitewing x-ray to determine the proper fit of a crown or dental bridge. On top of that, a bitewing x-ray can show if the dental filling applied has worn out.

Visit a Dentist Near You

Are you looking for dental x-rays near Chino Hills? Call us now or book your appointment with Ramona Dentistry for getting digital x-rays in Chino, CA!