The Importance of Visiting a Dentist in Manteca, CA
/What Can a New Patient Expect?
After taking a medical history, the dentist will perform a clinical exam or routine check-up. He will need to assess the patient’s overall dental health and look for potential problems. He will examine the patient’s face and neck to look for abnormalities like swelling or lumps.
The dentist will also examine the inside of the patient’s mouth. He will perform an oral cancer screening and look for abnormalities affecting the gums, palate, tongue, and other soft tissues. He will look for signs of gum disease and bone disease. The dentist will examine the patient’s teeth. If the patient has concerns, the dentist will pay particularly close attention to that area.
The dentist can order X-rays to look for problems that are invisible to the naked eye. X-rays can help us determine the severity of any gum disease. If the patient has missing teeth, X-rays can help us look for any resultant bone loss.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
In sedation dentistry, some type of sedative is administered before a procedure is performed. Millions of people are afraid of going to the dentist, and sedation dentistry keeps them calm during their appointment. The patient is still able to respond to the staff and to physical stimuli.
Sedation dentistry can also help patients with the following problems:
• Fear of needles and shots
• Overactive gag reflex
• Jaw problems that make it difficult to keep the mouth open for a long time
• Extremely sensitive teeth
• Difficulty in getting numb
Sedation dentistry can also help people undergoing long and complicated procedures or several procedures during a single visit.
Generally speaking, there are three types of sedation dentistry: inhalation sedation, oral sedation, or IV sedation. Inhalation sedation is the mildest type. The patient will breathe in nitrous oxide, which is also known as laughing gas. Inhalation sedation is often paired with a local anesthetic to keep the patient comfortable.
In oral sedation, the patient will take the sedative in pill or liquid form before treatment. The sedative will keep the patient relaxed and sleepy. While nitrous oxide wears off quickly, the sedatives used in oral sedation typically take hours to wear off. The patient will, therefore, need somebody to drive them to and from the dentist.
We are proud to offer various types of oral sedation at our office in Manteca, CA. During an initial appointment, we can discuss all of your options and decide which one is best for you.
What Does Pediatric Dentistry Involve?
Pediatric dentistry describes dental services for children. The patients can be anywhere from newborns to 18 years old. In addition to looking for common problems like tooth decay, the dentist will monitor the growth and development of the child’s teeth and jaws. He will also help the child break bad habits like thumb-sucking.
Children need to be X-rayed more often than adults do, for the structure of their jaws and teeth can change dramatically as they grow. Children are also more susceptible to tooth decay than are adults. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children who are particularly vulnerable to tooth decay get X-rays every six months.
We can use a panoramic X-ray that gives us a view of the entire jaw area. The dentist will usually order one after the patient’s 6th-year molars emerge and then order more panoramic X-rays every three to five years. He can use the panoramic X-ray to check for abnormal growths, extra teeth, missing teeth, and other problems. He may also order a panoramic X-ray if the child has severely injured their jaw.
The dentist can use a sealant to reduce a child’s risk of developing tooth decay. A sealant is made of transparent plastic and fits snugly over the chewing surface of a tooth. Some teeth have deep grooves on their chewing surfaces that a child may have trouble cleaning. The dentist can fill in the groove with the sealant to prevent tooth decay. Assuming the child practices good oral habits, the sealant can last for many years. Other services provided include fillings, extractions, crowns, and root canals.
When are Extractions Performed?
Extractions are generally performed when all other treatments for a diseased or damaged tooth have failed. Most professionals now try to save a natural tooth wherever possible, for a missing tooth can cause problems. For example, the other teeth will gradually shift to fill the gap, and that can affect the patient’s bite. This is particularly true with children whose jaws and teeth are still developing.
In addition, if a tooth is lost, the body will gradually reabsorb the bone in the jaw that had been supporting it. The jawbone will become thinner and weaker as a result.
Sometimes, though, the dentist will have to extract a tooth. He will do so, for example, if the tooth is too severely decayed or damaged to be saved. In some cases, he will remove teeth before orthodontic treatment or relieve crowding. He may also extract a stubborn baby tooth that is preventing a permanent tooth from emerging.
Dentists can also extract wisdom teeth that are impacted or have only partially emerged. Impacted wisdom teeth are extremely tough to clean and are vulnerable to decay. They can also damage neighboring teeth and increase the risk of an infected gum. They can also cause pain and swelling.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which the patient periodically stops breathing while they sleep. It can be accompanied by such symptoms as loud snoring, choking during sleep, and a sore throat or dry mouth in the morning. The patient may wake up during the night in order to restart breathing and will, thus, be poorly rested. That can cause problems like daytime sleepiness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Sleep apnea can be caused by a problem with the central nervous system or an obstruction in the airway. The latter type is called obstructive sleep apnea, and it is by far the more common type. In obstructive sleep apnea, the soft tissues around the airway relax and expand, and the resulting blockage keeps the patient from breathing. The dentist can help a patient with obstructive sleep apnea by offering the use of devices like Silent Nite.
What are Fillings?
A filling of any type is the most common form of tooth restoration. Fillings are used to replace the part of the tooth that has been damaged by decay and to protect the sensitive pulp inside. Once upon a time, a silver amalgam was the most commonly used material. The amalgam had the advantage of longevity and could last over 15 years. Understandably, many people found the silver aesthetically unappealing, especially if it was used on a front tooth. In addition, some people are allergic to the metals used in the amalgam.
White fillings, by contrast, are made from a composite resin that can be formulated to match the color of the patient’s teeth. It is also more flexible than the amalgam, so the dentist has to remove less tooth to make it fit. The composite resin also bonds firmly to the tooth.
What is ClearCorrect?
ClearCorrect is a treatment used to straighten teeth. It is often used by adults who don’t want conventional metal braces. It consists of a set of transparent plastic aligners that fit snugly over the patient’s teeth and are far less noticeable than braces. The aligners are also removable, which means the patient will have a much easier time cleaning their teeth, and they will be able to eat whatever they like.
The dentist will begin the treatment by examining the patient’s teeth. He can then have the aligners custom-made for the patient. It’s a simple and convenient process that offers discretion for the patient.
What Does Teeth Whitening Involve?
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure. The dentist will examine the patient’s teeth and advise them on if the Opalescence Go treatment would work best for them. Teeth whitening is designed to be simple and easy, even for those with busy schedules. The treatment can make the patient’s teeth multiple shades lighter. However, results vary from patient to patient. In most cases, the teeth are significantly whiter and brighter by the end of the treatment.
What is Periodontics?
Periodontics is the branch of dentistry concerned with the tissues surrounding the teeth. Gum disease treatments are among the more common services provided.
Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection. Bacteria in the mouth form a thin film on the teeth called plaque that can be reduced through brushing. If the plaque remains on the teeth for too long, however, it will harden into tartar or calculus, which can’t be removed through brushing. The tartar can form at or below the gum line, and it will release toxins that inflame and irritate the gums. Untreated gum disease can eventually lead to loose teeth or tooth loss.
Symptoms of gum disease include the following:
• Red and inflamed gums
• Chronic bad breath
• Gums that bleed when being brushed or flossed
• Receding gums
• Pus in the gums
• Separating or loose teeth
Treatment for gum disease will depend on its severity. If caught very early, the patient may need nothing more than a dental cleaning. More severe cases will require a more involved approach.
Get the Smile You Deserve
Whether you haven’t had a cleaning in a while or you want to address a specific issue with your teeth, reach out to the office of Mas’ood Cajee, DDS, MPH to get started on your journey to improving your smile. Our experienced dental team in Manteca, CA stands at the ready to help. Contact us today to book a dental appointment!
