Tooth-Colored Fillings = Composite Fillings

                                            

Tooth-colored fillings are the same as composite fillings. Composite is a blend of plastics and small glass particles that are used to do small and large fillings for front and back teeth. 

1.     Why people like tooth-colored fillings?

·       Good color match; very natural bonded to the front teeth, cannot tell that there is a filling done.

·       Bonds directly to the enamel

·       Strong, resist wear

·       Tooth-colored or composite filling can be completed in one dental visit

·       Composite fillings for chipped, fractured, discolored, decaying teeth

·       Less drilling is involved than with other types of fillings (amalgam/silver)

**Consult with Glendora cosmetic dentist, Dr. Anna Lee about which type of filling will function best for you.

2.     What to avoid with tooth-colored fillings?

·       Hard candy, ice cubes

·       Opening food packaging, chewing pen caps, biting fingernails

·       Stain inducing beverages: tobacco products (smoking), tea, and coffee, red wine, blueberries and others. Avoid these drinks and foods for the first 2 days after bonding procedure.

**practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth 2 times per day and flossing daily. Dr. Anna Lee recommends that you visit your dentist at least every 6 months. 

How long do they last?

·       Tooth-colored or composite fillings last more than 5 years.  With current advances in composite materials, many are holding up even longer.

·       Taking good care of the bonded teeth by having good oral hygiene, avoiding certain foods, drinks and habits would increase the chance of longer, lasting fillings in your mouth.

What is the procedure?

·       Local anesthesia: to numb the area around the tooth

·       Tooth decay removal: the dentist removes the decay with a drilling instrument and shapes the space to hold the composite filling

·       Etching: the dentist etches the tooth with an acid gel before placing the composite filling

·       Composite application: the dentist places the composite filling material into the space and hardens it with a bright light.  This makes the filling strong.

·       Polishing: after the composite filling has been placed and hardened, the dentist polishes the tooth and filling.

Are tooth-colored fillings covered by insurance?

·       Most insurance companies cover tooth colored fillings when done on the anterior (front) teeth

·       Some insurance companies pay the allowance for an amalgam if the tooth-colored fillings are done on the posterior (back) teeth. 

·       Call Dr. Anna Lee’s dental office, our office treatment coordinator will call for your dental benefits

**Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  If you have any questions about tooth-colored fillings, please visit us at www.annaleeddds.com or call for a FREE consultation at 626-335-5114.

What is the association between periodontal disease and heart disease?

    Some patients and healthcare providers continue to claim that periodontal disease is linked to heart disease. 

A 2014 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine claimed patients who were treated for periodontal disease have lower medical costs and fewer hospitalizations for coronary artery disease.

Another study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine: Tooth loss in adults may be linked to a greater risk of heart disease.  Here are the test results:

·       Study participants possess all of their natural teeth                           4.7% have heart disease

·       Study participants missing 1-5 teeth                 experienced 21% increase of heart disease

·       Study participants missing 6-31 teeth               experienced 60% increase of heart disease

·       Study participants with no teeth                                   experienced 81% increase of heart disease

Results of this study are consistent with other research that links periodontal disease and tooth loss to an increased risk of heart attack.  However, researchers note these results do not prove tooth loss and periodontal disease cause heart disease and that more research is needed.

           For more information on preventing periodontal disease contact Dr. Anna Lee & her team today.

Oral Hygiene Habits That Can Save Your Smile!

This time of year is full of happy trips, time with family and long vacations. But traveling can take its toll on your smile. You may have the best of intentions but find when you are on the road, you forget to brush, eat unhealthy food that sticks to your teeth and enjoy beverages that are high in sugar. But these tips can help you keep your smile healthy, during road trips and for a lifetime.

Maintain oral care routine

·      brush 2x per day, floss daily, use mouthwash

·      if unable to brush, rinse the mouth with water to help get rid of food from the mouth

·      take brushing breaks; take a moment to brush the teeth when stopping for bathroom breaks

·      if unable to keep up with brushing 2x/day, make sure to do a good job brushing and flossing at the end of the day

Foods to Avoid on the Road

·      eating sugary foods, sodas/sweet fruit juice

·      chewing ice, hard candy (avoid dental emergency)

Dr. Lee recommends people to schedule an appointment for a dental checkup and a cleaning before the trip.  The best way to start out the vacation is with a clean and healthy mouth.  Call Dr. Anna Lee for a dental checkup at 626-335-5114 or email at drannalee1@gmail.com

Cons Of Veneers

Are you unhappy with your smile? Do you look in the mirror and imagine yourself with a beautiful, healthy smile that you used to have? You can reclaim that. But weighing your options on what restorative process is right for your smile is important prior to jumping in. Veneers are a thin piece of porcelain that is placed on the outer layer of your teeth. They cover your existing teeth and help to restore your smile. While there are tons of positives to making the choice to get veneers there are a few negatives that you should be aware of prior to making this choice says, Dr. Anna Lee.

Dental veneers are more costly than standard fillings because they require the dentist to evaluate your smile, place material on each of your teeth that is shaped correctly and fits properly in your mouth. The cost of veneers depends on multiple aspects and can be determined once you and Dr. Lee evaluate your smile needs.

They are not repairable if they chip or crack, and if not done correctly veneers can make your teeth look large and unnatural. If you have chipped or cracked a veneer contact the dentist immediately, they may be able to just reapply the porcelain if it is bonding that has just come off. Otherwise, you may need to have a new veneer made for that tooth.

If you are struggling with your smile, talk to Dr. Anna Lee and her team about the possibility of veneers. If you have any questions about treatment options of broken, fractured or chipped teeth, please call Dr. Anna Lee at 626-335-5114 for a complimentary examination.

Visit us at www.annaleedds.com

4 Options For Making Your Smile Beautiful

Teeth are designed to work together to help with chewing, speaking and smiling.  When teeth are missing, it is difficult to do these things.  Even the loss of a single tooth may cause adjacent teeth to shift and cause spacing between other teeth.  Fortunately, missing teeth can be replaced. If you are struggling with your smile, don’t wait for treatment, contact Dr. Lee and her team today and enjoy a beautiful smile tomorrow.

Here are a few treatment options the dentist may suggest, depending on your needs.

1.     Implants can help to replace missing teeth. While this process may seem extensive, depending on how many teeth you have missing, it can provide you with the smile you deserve.

2.     Fixed Bridges can help to increase your smile back to its full function. If you are impacted by missing teeth it may be difficult to consume some of your favorite foods. A bridge is a device that is placed in the mouth and attached to the teeth on both sides of the missing teeth. It is important to take care of your bridge once it is placed in order to keep your smile looking healthy.

3.     Removable Partial Dentures, are another possible option depending on what you and Dr. Lee decide is best for you. Removable partial dentures may be just the option you are looking for.

For more information on creating a beautiful and healthy smile, contact Dr. Anna Lee and her team today.

What are Sealants?

When your child visits the dentist for their regular check-up you may hear the word sealants. Don’t panic, this is a dental procedure that the dentist is recommending for their own health. Sealants can help to keep your child’s smile as healthy as possible.  They keep bacteria away from deep ridges in the teeth that hold onto the food they are consuming.  Dr. Anna Lee and her team suggest that children get sealants in order to decrease their chances of decay.

Sealants are a clear or tinted plastic protective coating applied on the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars to prevent cavities.  Molars and premolars have grooves and crevices and food can get stuck on or in these surfaces.  Sealants are applied to ‘seal’ the grooves and crevices so that food cannot get into them to cause cavities.

The longer that food is able to stay on the surface of the teeth the more likely it is to negatively impact the surface of the teeth and create a cavity. Once a cavity is forming the only way to take care of the problem is to remove the cavity. Depending on the size of the cavity will depend on the pain and the cost of the procedure. That’s why sealants are so beneficial and recommended, especially for children who sometimes have more difficulty brushing well.

For more information on sealants contact Dr. Anna Lee & her team today.

Ready to Snack? Think about:

Snacking may have become a regular part of your routine. While snacking can help decrease the large meals you eat that pack on the pounds. You don’t want to go crazy during the snacks. “If you’re going to reach for a snack there are three things to think about in order to keep your smile healthy,” suggests Dr. Anna Lee.

The number of times a day you eat sugary snacks is critical to the health of your smile. An increase in sugar snacks increases the likelihood of cavities and decay.

How long the sugary food stays in your mouth is critical to think about when you are reaching for that snack. You can easily travel with a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss in your purse, to decrease the amount of time that sugar stays on your teeth. But if you can’t brush right away, Dr. Lee encourages you to reach for something healthy instead.

Are the snacks sticky? Chewy? If the snack is sticky or chewy it is more likely to stick to the surface of the teeth making it more difficult to remove from the teeth. It can also stick between the teeth, which increases your risk of periodontal disease.

For more information contact Dr. Lee & her team today.

How often should x-rays be taken?

Each patients individual health needs may be different from others. With new patients, I usually recommend a full mouth set of x-rays (18 films) to determine the present dental status and use it as the baseline to analyze changes that may occur later. I recommend a set of full mouth x-rays every three to five years.

For recall visits, the need for x-rays varies according to your age, risk for disease, signs and symptoms. X-rays may be needed to detect new cavities, or to determine the status of active gum disease. I recommend x-rays (4 bite wings and 2 periapicals-upper front and lower front teeth, every twelve months during check up.

Children may need x-rays more often than adults, because their teeth and jaw are still developing. I recommend every six to twelve months.

The benefits of a dental radiograph examination:

                                                    -small areas of decay between the teeth

                                                            -Developmental Abnormalities

                                                                    -Some types of tumors

                                                                    -Infection in the bone

                                                                     -Periodontal disease

                                                                      -Abscessed or cysts

                                                                  

Anna Lee, D.D.S.

Glendora Dentistry

Preventing ECC/BBTD

In order to prevent ECC/BBTD: 

- Remove the bottle when baby falls asleep

- Put water in baby's bottle at nap/bed time

- Wipe off baby's teeth/gum with a damp washcloth at least twice a day and when the baby is done eathing

-Stick to a feeding schedule and limit between meal snacking 

- Try not to share saliva with the baby through common use of feeding utensils (spoons)

- Lift the child's lip to look for signs of decay

- Take the child to a CDA member dentist by age one

ECC/BBTD is an infectious and transmittable disease. The good news is that the disease is preventable. The American Academy of Pedodontics and the American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that prevention of ECC begins in the prenatal and perinatal period. 

Anna Lee, D.D.S