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Are Composite Fillings Permanent?

Posted on September 20, 2017 by admin

composite filling expectency

Well, no. But any of the different dental fillings types are permanent. Some last longer than others. Some have other advantages to them besides lasting a long time. It really depends on which type of filling is used, where it’s used, and how well you care for your teeth that can all impact the life expectancy of your dental filling.

How Long Does Composite fillings Last?

Composite fillings in Irvine are originally designed to match your teeth and blend seamlessly into your smile, they are in fact basically invisible.

These restorations also usually require less drilling, which means more of your healthy tooth can be kept intact.

However, while they’re definitely more aesthetically pleasing, they may not always be an option. Composite fillings don’t last as long as silver fillings, and on average sustain for about 7-10 years. Nonetheless, they’re still an incredibly strong, successful treatment for most cavities.

So even if composite fillings are not permanent and may someday have to be replaced. They are very durable, and will last many years, giving you a long lasting, beautiful smile.

Advantages of Composite Fillings

Because composite fillings are tooth colored, they can be closely matched to the color of existing teeth, and are more aesthetically suited for use in front teeth or the more visible areas of the teeth.

Here are some of the advantages of getting composite fillings:

Chipped teeth.
Closing space between two teeth.
Cracked or broken teeth.
Decayed teeth.
Worn teeth.

Contact Us Now

For more information about Dental Fillings or other Cosmetic Dentistry services, please call our office at (949) 551-9999 or Contact Us online. We will be happy to assist you with any questions or inquiries!

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Are Composite Fillings Safe?

Posted on September 20, 2017 by admin

What are Composite Fillings Made of?

Composite fillings in Irvine consist of a customizable plastic material that is designed to match your teeth. Because composite materials contain absolutely no mercury, some experts feel it is a safer option than the old black amalgam fillings of the past.

Composite Fillings vs. Amalgam Fillings

While most dentists believe amalgam fillings to be completely safe and appropriate treatment for dental decay, some dentists would rather not take that risk. Some patients complain of hot and cold sensitivity with amalgam fillings, as well. Because they are metal, they are better conductors than composites.

Additionally, we preserve more of your tooth structure when placing a composite filling as opposed to an amalgam filling because less prep work is necessary. While composites generally take a little more time because of the curing process, your filling will be as hard as it will get when you leave our office. That means you can chew on it right away, unlike amalgam fillings that must cure for hours before chewing on them.

How are composite fillings placed?

Composite fillings in Irvine are usually placed in one appointment. While the tooth is numb, your dentist will remove decay as necessary. The space will then be thoroughly cleaned and carefully prepared before the new filling is placed. If the decay was near the nerve of the tooth, a special medication will be applied for added protection. The composite filling will then be precisely placed, shaped, and polished, restoring your tooth to its original shape and function.

Composite Fillings Cost in Irvine

While composites fillings tend to cost a little more, the benefits of using them are many. Aside from the obvious aesthetic advantages, composite materials and techniques constantly improve making them as long lasting and reliable as amalgams.

Contact Your Irvine Dentist

We encourage you to contact us with any questions about Composite fillings in Irvine. Please call our office or schedule an appointment now.

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Do You Need Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Posted on August 20, 2017 by admin

Why do we have to deal with wisdom teeth?

Wisdom Teeth Background

The third molars, or wisdom teeth, can cause a multitude of problems. So why do many of us have to deal with wisdom teeth? Before modern dentistry, adults usually lost several of their adult teeth to decay or having them knocked out, and these third molars conveniently helped fill in those gaps. Unfortunately, today they are not necessary with the technology available to retain natural adult teeth, and can be an inconvenience in many cases.

When do we need an Removal ?

If you are lucky enough not to have wisdom teeth, you won’t have to worry about them growing in and moving your other teeth out of place. Sometimes wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to fully rotate and break the surface of the gums, and instead push on the second molars, causing excessive pressure. In other cases, the wisdom teeth come out at odd angles, creating gaps between teeth where food can get caught and cause cavities.

What can you do?

Since wisdom teeth can cause so many unnecessary dental issues, many opt to have them removed. Depending on your case, you may benefit from extraction, or you may not have a problem with your wisdom teeth. To learn more about wisdom teeth and the extraction process, visit our Wisdom Teeth Removal page.

Contact Us

Don’t wait until you get dental issues. Schedule an appointment now or call us at (949) 551-9999 to get a consultation with Dr. Sohrab Rahbar.

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Common Problems in the Mouth that Adults Experience

Posted on August 20, 2017 by admin

Throughout your adult life, you will most likely suffer from at least one of the common problems in the mouth that we’re about to list. We’re not saying that it’s inevitable these will happen, but rather reporting on what has already happened to many adults – all of which require the expertise of your dentist to correct.

Chipped Teeth

You would believe that chipped teeth would be something akin to children who love to roughhouse and get into things they shouldn’t, but surprisingly chipping a tooth is a phenomenon that occurs most often in adults. Our chances of chipped teeth become greater with age. With age, we chew on more ice, more hard candies, etc. Also, our enamel isn’t as strong with age – despite being the strongest mineral in our bodies. If you chip a tooth, salvage the missing piece if you can, and bring it with you to an emergency dentistry appointment.

Stained Teeth

Over time, we expose ourselves more and more to common foods and drinks that are known to cause stains on our teeth such as wine, coffee, tea, soda, dark berries, spaghetti sauces, etc. No matter how many store bought teeth whitening trays your purchase, or whitening strips, the result will not be as fast and effective as teeth whitening performed by a professional dentist.

Amalgam Tattoo

While the American Dental Association has deemed amalgam as a safe solution for dental fillings, there are potential problems associated with them such as “amalgam tattoos”.You’ll notice these on the inside of your cheeks appearing as blue-grayish spots. They occur when a small piece of amalgam finds its way into the soft tissue of your mouth. They’re harmless, but you should consult your dentist on removing your amalgam fillings and replacing them with more advanced options.

Gum Disease – Experienced by Many Adults

Gum disease is the one of the main reasons dentists constantly nag you to brush and floss your teeth. When you don’t – you begin to enter the world of gum disease, which can be reversed in it’s early stages (known as gingivitis), but is non-reversible if it gets out of control. Many young adults are recommended to undergo deep cleaning procedures because they were not staying consistent with their routine. Listen to your dentist: brush and floss!

Many other common problems exist within our mouths as adults, but these seem to bear the most weight. Always make sure to visit your dentist every six months, not just for a routine cleaning, but for a chance to have a professional examine your mouth for any abnormalities. Dental exams are more important than you may realize.

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How To Keep Your Breath Fresh – Doctor2th Irvine

Posted on July 29, 2017 by admin

When you prepare to meet someone new and want to make a good impression, do you check your breath?

Ways To Overcome Bad Breath

Many people chew gum or pop a mint when they want their bad breath to smell better, but what do you do when your have chronic bad breath?

There are many other ways to cover up the smell of bad breath. Some people chew parsley (which has anti-microbial properties) and eat yogurt (to replenish good bacteria) to help reduce bad breath odor.

It can be frustrating if Chronic bad breath persists even after practicing good dental hygiene. Chronic bad breath may be a sign of other underlying oral health problems. If you have Chronic bad breath that won’t go away, schedule a consultation with Doctor2th to find out more about what to do.

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5 Dental Warning Signs Your Teeth Might Be Communicating to You

Posted on July 29, 2017 by admin

When it comes to oral hygiene, the two main components that you need to watch closely are the teeth and gums. It is easy to take the roles they play for granted, at least until you start experiencing pain and discomfort. Even when you experience problems that may seem small, like some yellow stains or sore gums, it is important that you investigate what the problem could be, and rectify it as soon as possible to avoid serious complications in future.

Some common dental complaints include:

1. An achy tooth

An achy or throbbing pain may not necessarily mean that something is wrong if it goes away in a day or two. But if the pain persists, it may be an indication that you are clenching or grinding your teeth. Seeing a dentist can help you manage the pain by getting a customized mouth guard. If the pain is accompanied by swollen glands or gums, the problem could be an abscessed tooth or root infection. To know the exact cause of an achy tooth, you should visit your dentist.

2. Sharp tooth pain

A sudden pain in one or more teeth when eating or drinking may be an indication of tooth decay or cavities. These holes in your teeth are created when bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar you consume (from your diet) and convert it into acid. If the decay gets deep enough, you may experience tooth sensitivity when biting down. If the pain occurs occasionally, and is not confined to only one spot, there’s no need for alarm. But if it is consistent for a week or more, it is best that you visit your dentist.

3. Yellow or stained teeth

Fortunately, stained teeth are rarely a sign of serious dental concerns. The tint is caused by some foods and drinks, like wine, coffee, or tea. Smoking and the use of antibiotics, like tetracycline, can also cause brown stains. The problem is fairly easy to address using whitening toothpastes or in-office whitening procedures. But it is best to prevent staining by rinsing or brushing your teeth after consuming such foods or drinks.

4. Loose teeth

If one of your teeth suddenly becomes loose or crooked, or it falls out, it could be an indication of a big problem. Your teeth can loosen because of gum disease, which results in bone loss around your jaw and teeth. Periodontal disease is caused by the buildup of plaque, due to improper brushing and flossing and failure to get professional cleanings. If you notice loose or crooked teeth, contact your dentist immediately.

5. Soreness

Another oral concern worth mentioning is soreness in your mouth. Soreness caused by consuming too much spicy fare, citrus, or very hot food should disappear in a couple of days. But if it persists, it could be due to a serious vitamin A deficiency. This can be addressed by eating more carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes.

Discuss Your Best Option with Our Irvine Dentist!

Improve your smile today as we offer many options that may be discussed during a consultation with our Irvine veneers dentist, Dr. Sohrab Rahbar – Doctor2th. Schedule your Consultation now!

Posted in Educational, how to improve oral hygiene, Irvine Dentist, what is good oral hygiene | Tagged dentist in irvine, healthy dental signs, teeth problems | Comments Off

Healthy, Festive July 4th Party Snack Options

Posted on June 30, 2017 by admin

july 4th healthy snack options During July 4th, it’s not uncommon for people to host parties to celebrate America’s birthdate as a nation. Unfortunately, you typically do not see many healthy options at parties of this nature. Common fourth of July food items include hamburgers, hot dogs, coleslaw, baked beans, lots of BBQ sauce, cheese, chips and salsa, sugary snacks and drinks, alcoholic beverages, etc. For those looking to stay healthy for this 4th, we encourage you to bring the following snack items to the party. We believe they will be a home run!

American Flag Fruit or Veggie Platter – Intermediate

Most times the host may provide a fruit or veggie platter. However, you can take it a step further by adding a festive touch to it. Arrange blueberries, strawberries or watermelon slices, and white bananas to resemble our national flag as best as you can. If you pull it off, you’ll be a star. Of course, A for effort.

Festive Yogurt Parfait – Easy

festive fourth of July snack Yogurt contains great bacteria for balancing the gut flora contained within your stomach. It also contains calcium, which is beneficial for re-mineralizing tooth enamel. And of course fruit is both tasty and healthy provided you do not overdo it.

Get a hold of some clear plastic cups, basic white tart yogurt, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries and begin layering one of top of the other. The end result is a cup-filled yogurt parfait that contains our flag’s colors of red, white, and blue! You can keep the cups covered with saran wrap. Serve with plastic spoons for easy disposal. This will be a winner.

Tomato and Cheese Skewers – Easy

Not as festive, but close enough are tomato and cheese skewers. We recommend using a blend of white cheese and grilled tomatoes for the festive touch. The hardest part is putting them onto the skewers – which isn’t too hard! This one’s simple and will be a hit.

Truth is most people love splurging on the fourth of July. If that’s you, then we won’t sit here and stop you. We’ll just kindly remind you to brush and floss your teeth that night! ☺

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Do You Grind Your Teeth?

Posted on June 16, 2017 by admin

Do you grind your teeth? Some of us are aware of the issue, but others aren’t. If you aren’t, then it is most likely happening during your sleep at night. And if you are, it’s because you may be doing it as a nervous habit, or it could be a disorder that should be looked at.

How Do I Know if I’m Grinding My Teeth?

One way to observe whether or not you are grinding your teeth is pay attention to the common symptoms that often occur when people grind their teeth at night:

Sore jaw
Sensitive teeth
Feeling tired and achy on a consistent day-to-day basis
Morning headaches

Please keep in mind that these symptoms may also resemble other issues or ailments that you could be experiencing.

Why is Teeth Grinding Harmful?

To help put this into perspective, think of teeth grinding as a way of applying sandpaper to your teeth. After awhile, you begin to wear the teeth down – all the way to stumps in severe cases. But most people are able to detect problems before that could occur. However, this wearing down of the teeth could result in weakened enamel structure leading to fractures, loosened teeth, or even loss of teeth.

On top of this, teeth grinding also affects your jaw, causing TMJ (or worsening existing TMJ), and could even change the entire appearance of your face.

Why People Grind Their Teeth?

People grind their teeth for a variety of reasons, often reasons that are not easily controlled:

Stress – stress is almost always a cause for many different ailments, issues, and diseases we face. Most often people that experience grinding and clenching of their teeth as they sleep are because they are experiencing a high amount of stress.
Jaw disorders – disorders such as TMJ may cause clenching and grinding.
Alignment issues/malocclusion – if our teeth are not aligned properly, then our jaw muscles attempt to solve the issue through sliding teeth and clenching of the teeth.

What the Best Way to Correct this Issue?

First off, it’s important to see a professional to see whether or not it’s teeth grinding that you are suffering from. If this is the case, then they can discuss various non-invasive treatment options such as custom-fitted mouth guards and lifestyle changes.

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When Should You Buy a New Toothbrush?

Posted on May 23, 2017 by admin

You may have wondered at some point as you stared at a dirty looking toothbrush, “When should I replace this thing?”. Well, our dentist will give you insight into this common question.

Clinical Research

Research has actually been done on toothbrushes and we’ll jump straight to the conclusion: a new toothbrush can remove more plaque compared to a worn out one. So how often should you replace your old toothbrush?

The Answer: every 3 months.

Even if you take good care of your toothbrush – you should still replace it around the 3-month mark because the bristles are probably splayed and not nearly as effective, even if you give your brush a thorough clean.

Look at the bristles. If you see they are bulging to the side instead standing erect and firm, then you should begin considering replacement.

Have you been sick lately? When you recover, replace your toothbrush. The reason is because the harmful bacteria that occurred as a result of the sickness has left its mark on your toothbrush and it’s better to do away with the germs at that point.

If you suffer from periodontal disease, then your dentist has probably recommended a new toothbrush every 4-6 weeks to prevent bacteria from spreading wildly throughout your mouth.

I use an Electric Toothbrush?

Electric toothbrushes are actually preferred by dentists because their oscillating heads are far more efficient than what the human hand can produce. However, is the extra effectiveness worthwhile? Many people have used a manual toothbrush for years and have excellent teeth. Pick your preference.

How often to replace electric toothbrush heads? Every 3-6 months. These heads are designed to last much longer – and if you take care of them, they will last you awhile. However, read your manufacturer’s instruction manual for clarification as the heads may be made differently.

New toothbrush or not, you should always practice excellent oral hygiene by brushing and flossing every day and night, but preferably after every meal for best results!

Posted in Doctor2th, Educational, how to improve oral hygiene, Irvine Dentist | Tagged how often to replace toothbrush, replace toothbrush head, when to replace my toothbrush | Comments Off

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