Category: Blog

With advancements in dental practice and dental care, tooth decay remains the most common dental problem that affects both children and adults. If tooth decay is not properly taken care of or treated in time, it may lead to tooth loss or abscessed gum. That’s why it is important to visit your dentist near you at least twice a year for them to conduct oral exams to detect earlier signs of tooth decay. They can prevent it by using dental sealants or treat them before they spread.

Definition of a dental filling

A dental filling is a type of treatment for tooth decay to restore its functioning and shape and prevent further decay or damage. Fillings also repair broken, chipped, or cracked teeth that may have been worn down from misuse, such as tooth grinding or nail-biting.

Types of dental fillings

There are different types of fillings available at our dental fillings in Chino, CA. Your dentist will consider the size of the decay, the location of your tooth, any allergies to the filling, and how much it will cost before recommending any dental filling. The following are some of the available choices:

• Silver Amalgam fillings

These types of fillings are relatively inexpensive, and they are made of various materials. They are very strong and sturdy, though not aesthetically pleasing to most individuals. They have different from your teeth and can be easily noticed. It can withstand heavy chewing forces, therefore very suitable for molar teeth. Amalgam is good for areas that are difficult to keep dry, such as the gumline. It also has no allergic reaction.

• Gold Fillings

Gold fillings are made in the laboratory after an impression of your teeth has been taken. It requires more than one appointment with your dentist. You will visit your dentist for them to be cemented to your teeth. Gold fillings are strong, durable, and relatively expensive.

• Composite resin

Composite resins match the color of your teeth, therefore they can be placed on the front part of your teeth as they cannot be easily noticed. However, they are not suitable for large cavities as they are less durable than amalgam and can therefore chip off easily. Everything that has pros has cons, the drawback with this type of filling is that they are easily stained from food or tobacco products. They are also relatively expensive compared to amalgam fillings.

• Porcelain Fillings

It is a type of indirect filling that requires more than one visit to the dentist. They are very similar to gold fillings. Porcelain fillings are also expensive, like gold, but it defers as porcelain is more fragile and looks like your natural teeth. With porcelain fillings, your teeth will look natural, and you will have a natural, healthier smile and appearance.

What happens when you get a dental filling?

The procedure is so simple, and it is done in a dental office. When getting dental fillings, your tooth-filling dentist will numb the area to be filled with local anesthesia. Then they will use a drill to cut through the enamel and remove the decay. As the drill hits the dentin, the dentist reduces the speed as the dentin is made up of soft tissues. The space is then shaped to prepare for the filing, and a liner or a base might be put to protect your tooth pulp. A special light hardens some composite fillings.

How can you take care of dental fillings?

Just like any dental appliance, dental fillings need to be taken good care of for them to last for a long time. Your Pomona dentist will advise you to take care of your fillings by doing the following:

• Brush and floss at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste
• Avoid intake of sugary or sticky foods and opt for healthier ones.
• Rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouth rinse to reduce bacteria.
• Avoid the use of tobacco products
• Limit the intake of beverages that can stain your teeth, such as tea, coffee, or alcohol. When you use them, rinse your mouth with water immediately.
• Avoid intake of acidic drinks like soda and juices, instead, opt for water.
• Avoid chewing ice or hard foods
• Adhering to regular dental check-ups and cleanings.

If you are still confused about the dental filling procedure, call us now to book an appointment with our dentist near you. If you are residing in nearby communities like Chino Hills, Rolling Ridge, Pomona, Narod, and Chino Avenue, you can also visit our dentist for a consultation.

Since the invention of lasers in the 1960s, they have largely been incorporated in everyday life all across the globe. The lasers are particularly attractive to the medical experts, ranging from surgeons to dentists. A Chino dentist will tell you that laser dentistry in Chino is not novel. It has gone one for a while, with different procedures now being more successful than ever before. Over the past couple of years, lasers have become popular in dentistry becoming commonplace for most dentists in Chino CA. If you want to know why lasers are the new best thing in dentistry, read on for that and much more.

What Is Laser Dentistry?

It is an area of dentistry that is concerned with the use of laser technology to effect change in the oral cavity. LASER is an acronym that stands for light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation. It is a method of conducting both invasive and non-invasive treatment plans for patients most conveniently and effectively.

Lasers feature a beam of light that is focused on a central point, thanks to the fine-pointed shape of the tool. This is why a major characteristic of laser is precision, focus, and effectiveness. A dentist near you can cut and coagulate your mouth at the same time. The results are, therefore, far much better as compared to traditional methods.

Even then, many still detest the idea of using laser technology. While this concept has existed for many years, it is still taking time for all patients to be receptive of their importance is bettering dental health care.

Treatments Performed by Lasers

When lasers are used in dentistry, they can be used for two main types of procedures, that is, soft tissue and hard tissue procedures. These are the defining categories for all types of dental problems that can be treated with laser technology. Different treatments are possible through laser technology, including the following few:

• Whitening teeth – lasers are used to speed up the bleaching process, for faster and better results.
• Removing lesions and infections – lasers can be used to kill any harmful bacteria in your mouth. This means that tumors and lesions in your oral cavity can be removed with laser technology.
• Gum treatments – many gum procedures are done in dentistry. Some include reshaping the gum tissue, gum grafting, gum reduction, treating periodontitis, to mention a few.
• Tooth fillings – they are used to prepare a tooth to receive a dental filling.
• Dentin hypersensitivity – lasers help to seal tubules in the roots of sensitive teeth, hence reducing hypersensitivity.
• Detecting dental decay and cavities in the early stages.

Top 5 Benefits Of Laser Dentistry

Now that you understand what lasers are, here is a breakdown of the top 5 benefits of using them in dentistry:

• Versatility – lasers make for versatile tools to be used in dentistry. They can be used to conduct different treatments, ranging from non-invasive procedures like teeth whitening to surgical procedures like gum grafting and reshaping. A dentist near you will always find a way to make good use of the laser tools.
• Tissue protection – when a d surgical dental procedure is performed, some of the healthy tissues end up being damaged during the dental works. However, with the use of lasers, there is minimal invasion when operating on a patient. The precision offered by the focused beam of light reduces damage to the healthy tissues.
• Reduced pain and discomfort – while lasers are not painless, they are a lot more comfortable than traditional methods. Technically, precision reduces the surface of impact. This then reduces the need for local anesthesia during procedures.
• Speedy healing and recovery – once your procedure is done the only thing in your mind is the healing process. Most patients can’t wait to get back in their fit and resume their normal lives. With laser dentistry, there is less swelling and bleeding, because if minimal invasion during the procedure. This translates to a short and relatively smooth healing process as compared to traditional methods.
• Faster procedure – your treatments do not have to take an entire day before you are discharged from the dental facility. Laser tools work with precision, allowing the attending dental expert to work faster and more effectively than ever.

If your dentist has recommended laser treatment and if you are planning for the same, call us now to schedule a consultation with our dentist near you and learn more about the benefits of laser dentistry. We also cater to patients residing in nearby communities like Pomona, Chino Hills, Chino, Spadra, Rolling Ridge, Ontario, Narod, Ballou, and Ontario Ranch.

Dentists are routinely extracting teeth like impacted wisdom teeth or a severely decayed molar. The extraction leaves behind a tiny hole where the tooth existed. This is a socket of the tooth which can be highly sensitive after the extraction. Therefore dentists will recommend socket preservation after the extraction. It is important to protect the socket for many reasons and therefore you are suggested to read this article to understand the importance of socket preservation.

Why Preserve The Socket?

The socket needs to be protected to avoid the development of a dry socket which forms if the blood clot protecting the healing area dislodges for any reason to expose the nerve beneath it. Safeguarding the socket as well preserve the alveolar bone which is a strip of the bone surrounding the roots of the teeth to which they are attached to. If you do not preserve the socket it creates a deformity in the alveolar ridge you will find things difficult when you decide to have replacement teeth in the form of a dental implant. The dentist near you will have to ensure that adequate bone level is present to replace the extracted tooth in the future.

What Can Socket Preservation Do?

The Journal of Canadian Dental Association has noted it is common for the bone that supported the extracted tooth to melt away after extraction and therefore does not serve any purpose. When the bone melts away gaps form between the teeth moving the teeth out of alignment. It is the reason why a socket preservation is recommended by the dentist in Chino, CA, at the same time as the tooth extraction procedure.

The procedure of preserving a socket or alveolar ridge requires placing a bone graft into the socket where the tooth earlier existed. The graft can be made from synthetic materials like a bone from other animals or human bone. After the dentist inserts the graft into the socket he or she generally covers it up with a collagen membrane before stitching the opening to close it.

Is Socket Preservation Essential?

The aim of preserving the socket is to improve the appearance of the remaining teeth and gums and to ensure the process of getting a dental implant at some point in the future is not complicated. Not every dentist offers this procedure when they are approached for tooth extractions because many practices do not consider socket preservation as necessary or valuable.

Research conducted by the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants has suggested that opinion may be shifting for the preservation of the alveolar ridge. The study concluded their findings after examining 13 papers which stated that the procedures socket preservation helped to reduce vertical and horizontal alterations in the alveolar ridge at the site of the extraction. If you are interested in this procedure it would be worth discussing the pros and cons of socket preservation with Ramona dentistry that can provide you adequate information and advice.

How to Care for Socket Preservation?

After having a tooth extracted you need to take good care of the area around the socket not just to protect your gum line but also to improve your comfort during the healing process. You may be recommended by the dentist in Chino, CA, not to brush your teeth using an extra soft toothbrush for at least 24 hours after the extraction. Advice will be provided to avoid activities that can create additional pressure in your mouth like smoking or using a straw after the extraction to prevent the clot from dislodging. These items are similar to hard foods and knockout the blood clot to cause a dry socket.

If you are concerned about a dry socket resulting from an extraction regardless of whether you have had the preservation procedure you should not be afraid to reach out to Ramona dentistry for advice. The dentist can advise you about what you can do if you are experiencing excessive bleeding or extreme pain. The procedures of tooth extraction and alveolar ridge preservation are pretty straightforward. However, you need to follow the advice provided by the dentist without exceptions if you intend to recover without a hitch. Socket preservation can help you after tooth extraction especially if you are planning to have replacements for the extracted teeth.

Still confused about Tooth Extractions & Socket Preservation, call us now to schedule an appointment with our dentist near you and learn more about tooth extraction and socket preservation. Our dentist also welcome patients from nearby localities like Pomona, Sunsweet, Ontario, Ontario Ranch, Chino Hills, Rolling Ridge, Diamond Bar, and Chino.