San Diego Smiles in El Cajon CA 92020 is pleased to offer the following dental services: children's, cosmetic, family, general, implant, orthodontics and sedation dentistry.
What is Dry Mouth? Dry mouth means you don't have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth moist. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, especially if you're nervous, upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to more serious health problems or indicate that a more serious medical condition may exist. That's because saliva does more than just keep the mouth wet -it helps digest food, protects teeth from decay, prevents infection by controlling bacteria in the mouth, and makes it possible for you to chew and swallow. There are several reasons that the glands that produce saliva, called the salivary glands, might not function properly. These include:
Side effects of some medications - over 400 medicines can cause dry mouth, including antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers, diuretics and medicines for high blood pressure and depression.
Disease - diseases that affect the salivary glands, such as diabetes, Hodgkin's, Parkinson's disease, HIV/AIDS and Sjogren's syndrome, may lead to dry mouth.
Radiation therapy - the salivary glands can be damaged if your head or neck are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment. The loss of saliva can be total or partial, permanent or temporary.
Chemotherapy - drugs used to treat cancer can make saliva thicker, or "ropey," causing your mouth to feel dry.
Menopause - changing hormone levels affect the salivary glands, often leaving menopausal and post-menopausal women with a persistent feeling of dry mouth.
Smoking - many pipe, cigar and heavy cigarette smokers experience dry mouth.
To read the entire article , please visit Colgate.com
We use only digital X-rays that emit much less radiation – 75% less – and the image is produced immediately on our computer screen. We simply place a digital sensor in your mouth to obtain either a shot of a specific area or a panoramic view of upper and lower dental arches. There is no polluting the environment with this technology, as no chemicals are used in the process. San Diego Smiles Kurt Christensen, DDS - Steven Krause, DDS, MAGD 337 West Madison Avenue El Cajon, CA 92020 Phone: (619) 442-8841 Website: www.SDSmileStudio.com
More Accurate, Less Invasive Procedures with Dental Microscopes
Our doctors keep on the cutting edge of dental technology, and their use means they are able to detect minute fractures and minimal decay. When treatment begins at an early stage of the problem, more tooth structure can be preserved allowing the tooth to retain its natural support and strength. Because of this superior capability in identifying these types of problems, there is certainty that all the decay is taken out before any restoration is placed into or over the tooth. Also, the accuracy in fitting a crown or filling is greatly increased. Other benefits include faster healing time and less post-operative discomfort. San Diego Smiles Kurt Christensen, DDS - Steven Krause, DDS, MAGD 337 West Madison Avenue El Cajon, CA 92020 Phone: (619) 442-8841 Website: www.SDSmileStudio.com
Dental veneers are thin pieces of tooth-colored porcelain cemented to the front surfaces of your natural teeth, and are an easy way to address a variety of physical and aesthetic problems. Because they're also permanent, however, you'll need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of the procedure before you decide to get them. Here are six things to think about and discuss with your dentist. Pro #1: Easily Whiten Your Smile Years of drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes or eating highly pigmented foods eventually take their toll on your teeth, turning them an unattractive shade of yellow or brown. Stained enamel can be bleached at home or by your dentist, but it can become stained again. If you're looking for an easier way to whiten your smile for good, dental veneers may be a good fit for you. Veneers are largely stain-resistant, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), so you won't have to worry about discoloration or needing to have your veneers whitened. To read the entire article written by Jennifer Mitchell , please visit Colgate.com San Diego Smiles Kurt Christensen, DDS - Steven Krause, DDS, MAGD 337 West Madison Avenue El Cajon, CA 92020 Phone: (619) 442-8841 Website: www.SDSmileStudio.com
A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. Many people call it a cap. Crowns may be placed for several reasons. Usually the tooth has been broken or severely damaged by decay. As a result, a filling can't replace enough of the tooth or make the tooth strong enough. A crown may hold together parts of a cracked tooth. It also can be used to hold a bridge in place. Crowns can be used to improve appearance as well. They may be placed to cover misshapen or badly discolored teeth. Crowns can be made ahead of time (prefabricated) or made to order in a laboratory. Prefabricated crowns are made of plastic or stainless steel. They can be used on a temporary basis until a permanent crown is made. Crowns can be made of:
All metal
Zirconia
Porcelain fused to metal (PFM)
Porcelain fused to zirconia
All ceramic
Metals include gold alloy, other alloys (palladium) or a base-metal alloy (nickel or chromium). The all-metal or PFM crowns are stronger and are better choices for back teeth than ceramic crowns. PFM and all-ceramic crowns are the same color as your natural teeth. They look just like normal teeth. To read the entire article , please visit Colgate.com
Dry mouth means you don't have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth moist. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, especially if you're nervous, upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to more serious health problems or indicate that a more serious medical condition may exist. That's because saliva does more than just keep the mouth wet -it helps digest food, protects teeth from decay, prevents infection by controlling bacteria in the mouth, and makes it possible for you to chew and swallow.
We use only digital X-rays that emit much less radiation – 75% less – and the image is produced immediately on our computer screen. We simply place a digital sensor in your mouth to obtain either a shot of a specific area or a panoramic view of upper and lower dental arches. There is no polluting the environment with this technology, as no chemicals are used in the process.
Our doctors keep on the cutting edge of dental technology, and their use means they are able to detect minute fractures and minimal decay. When treatment begins at an early stage of the problem, more tooth structure can be preserved allowing the tooth to retain its natural support and strength. Because of this superior capability in identifying these types of problems, there is certainty that all the decay is taken out before any restoration is placed into or over the tooth. Also, the accuracy in fitting a crown or filling is greatly increased. Other benefits include faster healing time and less post-operative discomfort.
Dental veneers are thin pieces of tooth-colored porcelain cemented to the front surfaces of your natural teeth, and are an easy way to address a variety of physical and aesthetic problems. Because they're also permanent, however, you'll need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of the procedure before you decide to get them. Here are six things to think about and discuss with your dentist.
A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. Many people call it a cap.