Dental Express, Author at Dental Express

Tips to Find the Best Dentist Near Me in San Diego

Posted on May 20, 2020July 27, 2023 by Dental Express

best dentist near me

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we understand that coming to the dentist for regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings can cause many of our patients’ anxiety. However, it is these visits that help keep your teeth and gums healthy. The mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, which means that these exams and cleanings help keep your overall health at its best too. When determining what makes a good dentist, consider the most important general dentistry services that patients of all ages need to maintain their oral health.

Tips for finding the best dentist

The American Dental Association offers many suggestions for finding the best possible dentist for your oral health needs. First, ask family, friends, and coworkers for recommendations for San Diego, CA dentists. Next, contact local or state dental societies for lists of certified and recommended dentists for routine dental examinations and dental cleanings.

Questions to ask a general dentist

Before committing to working with a dentist near you, you should have a consultation where you can learn more about their experience, skills, and training. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we offer these visits to answer any questions that potential patients may have about our services.

Some important questions to ask during this informative visit include:

Do you submit claims to all insurance companies? Finding out if they take your insurance coverage is perhaps one of the most important questions to ask before having any procedures at their San Diego, CA office.
Do you have payment plans for those who are uninsured? If you don’t have dental insurance, you will want to work with someone that offers patient financing options, such as Credit Care. Understanding your financial obligations ahead of time will help you to make an informed decision.
Are they members of professional associations? Members of the American Dental Association follow a code of professional conduct, the principles of ethics, and advisory opinions. They also complete continuing education courses that make them up to date on the latest technologies and techniques for the dental industry.
What are your office hours? This is especially important for those with limited schedules. If you need an office that has late hours or extended weekend hours, this may be a major determinant on which general dentist you choose in Smile Dentistry San Diego, CA.
Do you offer emergency dental care services? Unfortunately, emergencies do happen, and understanding the protocol associated with emergency dental care helps you be better prepared in the future.
Are cost estimates given for treatment plans upfront? When discussing treatment, you will want to know what to expect in terms of what your financial obligation will be (if applicable) and how many visits does the treatment take?

These are just some of the many questions that can help patients determine the Best Dentist San Diego near them to meet their needs.

Understanding general dentistry services

General dentistry covers many oral health needs. Our general dentists evaluate oral conditions that involve teeth, jawbones, jaw joints, gums, and soft tissue. Our goal is to preserve your natural structure as much as possible. General dentistry services include comprehensive dental exams, routine dental cleanings, diagnostic x-rays, fillings, crowns, gum disease treatment, sealants, and mouth guards. Our goal is to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible through bi-annual dental cleanings and annual cleanings. We advise our patients to visit us before a dental problem becomes severe as, oftentimes, this will lead to pain and lengthy procedures that could have been prevented.

Choose Dental Express in San Diego, CA for professional dental care

Comfort, professionalism, and a caring approach are just some of the many qualities that many patients look for in a dentist. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we pride ourselves on putting safety first for our patients. We never compromise quality at our office and provide personalized care for patients of all ages. To learn more about our dentists and what our team can do for your oral health, call today to schedule a consultation.

When Can You Eat Again After a Tooth Extraction?

Posted on May 13, 2020October 11, 2023 by Dental Express

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, there are times when we cannot save a tooth and we must extract it. Permanent teeth are meant to last a lifetime; however, there are times when tooth extraction is necessary. Our professional dentists can examine your teeth and gums to determine if you need a tooth extraction. Our goal is to offer you superior dental care that benefits your oral health and your overall health into the future.

Reasons why you may need a tooth extraction

There are many reasons why you may need a tooth extraction:

Crowded teeth: When there’s not enough room in the mouth for teeth to erupt, it can lead to impacted wisdom teeth.
Severe damage: This damage can be caused by trauma, injury, or tooth decay.
Infection: If there is tooth decay or damage that extends deep into the pulp chamber – the center of a tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues – can develop an infection. Dental root canal therapy is usually the best option, but when an infection is severe, tooth extraction may also be the right treatment option. For those with compromised immune systems, any risk of infection may be reason enough for our oral surgeon to extract a tooth.
Presence of tooth decay or gum disease: Because these molars are found far back in the mouth, it can be difficult to clean them properly.

The tooth extraction process

Our professional oral surgeons perform tooth extractions for dentures at our San Diego, CA office. Before we pull the tooth, local anesthesia is used to numb the area. If the tooth is impacted, we will have to remove the gum and bone tissue that cover the tooth by cutting it away. Next, we gently grasp the tooth and rock it back and forth to release it from the jaw. When this doesn’t work, the tooth may need to be extracted in several pieces. Once we extract the tooth, a blood clot forms inside the socket. We apply a gauze pad to help stop the bleeding. Sometimes, we may need to apply stitches to close the gum edges. We will provide post-op instructions that include what to eat and for how long to maintain that diet after tooth extraction.

How Long After Tooth Extraction Can I Eat?

Most of the time individuals asks “When can I eat after tooth extraction?” Your dentists recommend you avoid eating solid food instantly after tooth extraction as it may disturb your extraction process (for the first 24 to 48 hours).

But the short answer to your query is you will be able to eat after a few hours of your surgery, and unitl then, you can have foods like,

Soft foods that do not require long chewing
Liquid foods

You should not be chewing any food, which can lead to pain. Here are some examples when you ask after a tooth extraction when can I eat solid food after tooth extraction? The simple answer is, after proper recovery of the tooth, you can get your regular solid diet as usual. you can eat immediately following tooth extraction include yogurt, applesauce, smoothies, blended soups, pudding, ice cream, mashed potatoes, and Jell-O.

As you continue to recover, you can slowly re-incorporate other foods into your eating routine. On day three, you can try semisoft foods, such as scrambled eggs or oatmeal. If you can eat these foods without pain, you can move on to solid foods, such as fruit, chicken, or vegetables. Most of our patients at Dental Express in San Diego, CA can resume normal eating within a week following their tooth extraction.

Learn how to heal effectively following a tooth extraction

When tooth pain is affecting your daily life, our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA can examine your teeth and gums to determine whether or not you need a tooth extraction. We use the latest dental techniques to remove teeth with the least amount of discomfort as possible for our patients. Our goal is to restore your oral health and to give you professional advice, including when you can eat again after tooth extraction. Improve your oral health by calling today and making an appointment with our professional team to discuss tooth extractions.

What Are the Advantages From Flossing Your Teeth Daily?

Posted on May 4, 2020July 20, 2023 by Dental Express

flossing teeth san diego

Flossing Your Teeth Daily doesn’t just keep your teeth and gums healthy; it also influences your entire health. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, our professional team teaches our patients the best way to care for their teeth at home. There is evidence that periodontal disease can increase one’s risk of other health issues, such as heart disease, stroke, and infections. This makes it important to maintain an efficient oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing from home.

Benefits of flossing daily

While periodontal disease isn’t necessarily the main reason for pulp necrosis, the death of cells and tissues in the pulp chamber, unhealthy gums can lead to an increased risk of tooth loss or the need for a tooth root canal. Brushing twice a day is good; however, brushing alone cannot protect you from developing gum disease. For those who suffer from bleeding or sensitive gums, you may think that you don’t need to floss often. However, when you don’t floss, you allow both plaque and tartar to accumulate, which leads to gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease, and causes this bleeding and sensitivity of the gums. Flossing at least once daily helps keep your gums healthy day in and day out.

When is the best time to floss your teeth?

Any time is a good time to floss your teeth. Pick a time that is most convenient for you so that you never skip flossing, even during a busy day. If you have children, they need to floss as soon as they have two teeth that touch. Gently floss their teeth for them so you don’t damage the tissue between their teeth.

The proper way to floss

To floss the best, we suggest the following technique:

You can use either dental floss or a floss pick. If using floss, break off about two feet and hold the floss with most of it wrapped around your middle fingers.
Place the dental floss or a floss pick between two teeth. Glide it up and down gently rubbing against the sides of each tooth. Never glide it into the gums.
Curve the floss or floss pick at the base of the tooth being treated to form a C shape. This allows you to enter the space between both the gums and the tooth, which removes the most food particles and plaque.
Repeat these steps until you have flossed your entire mouth.

How flossing affects your health

More than half of all Americans have periodontal disease. This gum inflammation disease occurs when bacteria in plaque below the gum line is left in the mouth. This can lead to tooth loss and even gum recession. Gum disease is associated with many medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. The connection between periodontal disease and overall health is very clear.

The bacteria that is left in your mouth can end up in your bloodstream, which can lead to more serious health issues. This makes it important to maintain a good at-home oral hygiene routine that includes daily flossing. Regular dental exams in San Diego, CA and routine dental cleanings are also important as they can detect dental issues early on as well as properly clean your teeth and gums. While flossing removes debris that contains harmful bacteria that can lead to gum disease, flossing alone cannot prevent gingivitis from progressing.

Flossing also improves the breath and is one of the easiest ways to keep fresh breath. Halitosis is common and, while some people joke about it, it may signal a serious oral health issue.

Learn about the long-term benefits of flossing

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we pride ourselves on promoting good oral hygiene routines. While our professional team provides comprehensive dental exams and routine dental cleanings, our patients must maintain their oral hygiene at home in between these visits for optimal oral health. Flossing removes bacteria, plaque, and food particles from between the teeth and reduces the chances of developing periodontal disease. It also reduces the chances of tooth decay development. To schedule a comprehensive examination with one of our professional general dentists, call our office today.

Tips for Keeping Healthy Teeth at Home

Posted on April 27, 2020July 20, 2023 by Dental Express

To have the best possible health, you must consider your oral health too. The mouth significantly impacts your general health. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we teach our patients optimal oral hygiene tips that allow them to keep their teeth healthy from home. While regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings are important, maintaining oral health from home helps ensure that no dental issues arise in-between visits. With dental offices closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, except for dental emergencies, it’s increasingly important to keep your teeth healthy from home. Our professional team can offer important preventive dentistry tips that assist you to maintain oral health from your home.

What is preventive dentistry?

Preventive dentistry helps our patients in San Diego, CA minimize their risk of tooth decay or gum disease. An effective at-home oral hygiene routine of regular brushing and flossing can achieve that outcome. Our experienced team approaches dental care by creating a healthy mouth that provides overall health. Regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings assist our patients with keeping their teeth and gums healthy. Our staff can also provide useful tips on how to keep your teeth healthy between office visits.

How oral health influences overall health

Maintaining oral health will decrease your risk of developing many health problems. To make sure that you have the best possible health, you will want to visit our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA who will collaborate with your physicians when any issues occur that can affect your overall health. Without efficient oral hygiene, many health problems can arise, including:

Heart disease
High blood pressure
Type II Diabetes
Stroke
Dementia
Premature birth
Some cancers

Uncontrolled tooth decay or gum disease can lead to tooth loss, which can impact your health too.

How to correctly brush your teeth

For a healthy mouth and smile, the American Dental Associates suggests that you brush your teeth twice a day. Replace your toothbrush every few months or as soon as the bristles become frayed. Use ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. To brush correctly, place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle at the gums. Gently move the brush back and forth. Brush all surfaces of the teeth for 30 seconds for each of the four quadrants of the mouth.

Why is flossing important?

Unhealthy gums can increase your risk of tooth loss or the need for a tooth root canal. While brushing at least twice a day is important, brushing alone can’t protect you from developing gum disease. When left untreated, gum disease can lead to receding gums or tooth loss. Bacteria left in your mouth can even end up in your bloodstream.

This makes a good at-home oral hygiene routine that includes flossing important. To floss the most efficiently, we suggest holding the floss with most of the floss around both of your middle fingers. Leave just an inch or two for the teeth you’re working on. Hold the floss tightly with the thumbs or index fingers. Place the dental floss or your floss pick between two teeth and gently glide it up and down, rubbing the sides of each tooth. Curve the floss at the base of the tooth to form a C shape, which allows you to enter between the gums and the tooth. Repeat these steps for your entire mouth.

Learn how good oral hygiene and flossing keep you healthy

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, our professional team can teach our patients how to best care for their teeth at home. Oral care tips help us keep your teeth and gums healthy at home and not just during routine dental cleanings and regular dental exams. Flossing removes bacteria, plaque, and food particles stuck between the teeth. It reduces your chance of developing tooth decay or gum disease too. To schedule a dental examination to learn more about oral hygiene, contact our office today. We pride ourselves on helping our patients to achieve healthy teeth at all times.

What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?

Posted on April 20, 2020July 20, 2023 by Dental Express

When you’re experiencing severe dental symptoms, such as a persistent and acute toothache or a cracked tooth, it’s important to quickly seek emergency dental care. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many dental practices are only seeing patients with dental emergencies. This makes it important for you to understand what warrants an immediate dental visit at Dental Express in San Diego, CA. Our professional team wants to help resolve your pain and discomfort as quickly as possible.

Signs that you are experiencing a dental emergency

It’s difficult to know when something is severe enough to need help from an emergency dentist. An untreated dental issue can impact your overall health. This makes it vital for you to contact our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA immediately after experiencing a dental emergency. We are committed to offering urgent dental care 24/7 for our patients.

Here are some signs that you may be experiencing a dental emergency:

Tooth damage: Generally, cracks or chips can wait until regular hours. However, if you have a large break in your tooth, it is considered a dental emergency. A severe break can lead to damage inside the tooth, which may increase your risk of needing a root canal later.
Severe pain: If your tooth pain or sensitivity has continued to get worse over time, it could mean you’re experiencing an infection. In cases where a toothache doesn’t go away, it’s important to contact our emergency dentist at Dental Express in San Diego, CA. When left untreated, an infection in the tooth could get into the bloodstream and lead to serious health problems.
Lost tooth: If you have lost a tooth, place it in milk and saliva to best preserve it. The faster you can get your tooth back into the socket, the better the chance it will be functional for you again.
Abscess: Any signs of an abscess warrant a visit to our emergency dentist. An abscessed tooth means there is an infection at the root of the tooth. This will require a procedure where the tooth is thoroughly drained in order to treat it.
Swollen jaw: Swelling in the jaw can also signal an infection. Other signs of infection include bad breath, trouble breathing or swallowing, or fever. These symptoms warrant the need for urgent dental care at our office.
Metal taste: If you’re tasting metal, an old filling may have cracked or loosened. Emergency dental care can fully restore your tooth before any bacteria gets inside, leading to the need for more extensive dental procedures in the future.

When should I seek emergency dental care?

Many injuries or situations are considered dental emergencies. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we specialize in treating these situations to properly restore our patients’ oral health. Loose or dislodged teeth, gum injuries, and lost fillings or crowns are just a few examples of when urgent dental care is needed. Depending on your dental emergency, our emergency dentist may provide immediate treatment or prescribe antibiotics to resolve an infection before going further. Once the infection has cleared, they can provide the necessary treatment.

Treating tooth pain

The type of treatment we will use to treat your tooth pain will depend on its cause. After a thorough dental examination, we can recommend the best solution.

Some treatment methods we use to root canal pain treatment and dental emergencies can include:

Fillings
Crowns
Root canal therapy
Topical solutions
Antibiotics

Learn more about urgent dental care services from an emergency dentist

It’s important that you’re always aware of what is going on in your mouth to avoid any serious dental issues from occurring. Any significant changes can signal a dental problem. When you have tooth pain or notice other signs of a dental emergency, you should call to schedule an emergency dental care visit with Dental Express in San Diego, CA. We are dedicated to helping our patients with any dental emergency they may be experiencing. We are available to both restore your oral health and to help resolve any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing.

How Do You Fix a Chipped Tooth?

Posted on April 13, 2020July 26, 2023 by Dental Express

chipped tooth San Diego

Cracked or chipped tooth, or severe toothaches, require the expertise of an emergency dentist. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we can provide urgent dental care when our patients need us most. We can treat your dental problem quickly to relieve pain or discomfort. While some instances can wait until regular office hours, many situations warrant the need for around-the-clock care.

When you suspect that you need emergency dental care, don’t hesitate to call our office. If you are in pain, immediate treatment, which is usually quick and easy, will help. Leaving a chip untreated can lead to increased pain or infection, and heighten the need for more serious and costly procedures, like extractions. If you are not experiencing intense pain, you probably don’t require our emergency dental services. Just avoid chewing on the tooth until you can get to our office.

How does a dentist fix a chipped tooth?

Regardless of whether or not there is pain associated with teeth chipping, it should be treated as soon as possible. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we perform comprehensive dental exams to assess the damage from the chip. From there, we can determine the best treatment option for your oral health. This will aim to restore your smile.

To choose the best treatment choice for you during emergency dental care, our emergency dentist will use x-rays to evaluate and diagnose the problem accurately. Once we understand the extent of your emergency, we can discuss which treatment options are available to you.

Emergency dental care treatment options

Depending on the size of the chip and your existing oral health, our professional team may recommend one of the following:

Cosmetic Dental Bonding and Contouring: To repair small chips and to completely seal a tooth, dental bonding can be done. Composite resin is used to reshape a tooth to look natural. Several layers of resin will be used to match the shape and size of your existing teeth. UV light is used to harden the material. After the tooth looks good, our emergency dentist will polish it, resulting in a smooth appearance.
Crowns: When a large piece of the tooth breaks off, or the tooth has severe decay, we may choose to file a portion of the tooth away and cover it with a crown. The crown is custom-made to fit over your existing tooth according to your bite. It will require two visits to our office. In the first visit, we will remove the decayed part of the tooth and place a temporary crown. During the second visit, we will remove the temporary one and place the final restoration. Adjustments are made to accommodate your bite, so it feels natural.
Porcelain veneers: For individuals who have many aspects of their smile that they don’t like, veneers may be a good choice. Porcelain Teeth Veneers are thin shells that are adhered directly to the front of the teeth. They are custom-made to make a smile look natural and to instantly improve Cosmetic Dentistry Grants concerns. In terms of emergency dental care, they aren’t usually included and can be addressed at a future visit.
Root canal therapy: When a chip or crack is large enough that it exposes the pulp, a root canal is required. Root canal therapy at Dental Express in San Diego, CA is performed by removing the dead material and thoroughly cleaning the canals of the tooth. The remainder of the tooth is covered with a crown to seal it off and to protect, what is now, a weak tooth.

Treat your chipped tooth pain with an emergency dentist

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we specialize in emergency dental care. We want all of our patients to know that we are available to help relieve them of any chipped tooth pain or discomfort related to a dental issue. Our goal as emergency dentists is to restore your smile with various treatments. To learn more about our emergency dental care services and to schedule an appointment, call our office today.

What is the purpose of a dental sealant?

Posted on April 6, 2020July 26, 2023 by Dental Express

Dental Sealants in San Diego

What is the purpose of a dental sealant?

Tooth decay is most prevalent in the back of a child’s mouth. These surfaces aren’t smooth and have pits and fissures, which easily trap food and bacteria. It is difficult for a toothbrush to effectively reach these spots, creating a great location for cavities to form. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we can help prevent tooth decay with sealants. We can examine your child’s teeth and gums to determine if this preventive dentistry procedure is right for them.

Children, or teenagers, as well as some adults, are great candidates for sealants. As soon as the teeth first come in, children can have dental sealant applied to their permanent molars and premolars. This will protect their teeth during cavity-prone years. Sealants can also be used on children with depressions or deep grooves on baby teeth. This is because these teeth help with the proper spacing of your child’s permanent teeth, keeping them healthy and preventing them from being lost early.

What are dental sealants used for?

Dental sealants are resin coatings that smooth out the chewing surface of the molars in San Diego, CA. A sealed tooth is much less likely to develop a cavity or require more extensive dental procedures in the future. A molar sealant is placed on the top surface layer of the back molars. They help to seal out plaque, bacteria, and tartar from reaching the tooth. Those who get dental sealants won’t see or feel them. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we help our patients’ enamel to become cleaner and more protected.

How dental sealants for children improve oral health

Your child’s new permanent teeth aren’t as resistant to decay as adult teeth can be. The hard enamel that protects the teeth will change as you age and become stronger. Fluoride helps to efficiently strengthen enamel. It’s hard to get into the pits and fissures during regular brushing. Fissure sealants provide a protective coating that prevents tooth decay.

How are dental sealants applied to the teeth?

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, dental sealant application is fast and easy. The process includes the following steps:

The teeth are cleaned and polished to ensure that no bacteria is sealed into them.
Decay is removed if it is found during the examination.
The tooth is etched where the sealant will be placed and then rinsed and dried properly.
After this preparation, our professional dental team will apply the sealant and use a special light to set the sealant material. This is similar to a Cosmetic Dental Bonding procedure.

These sealed teeth will still require regular oral hygiene. Your child should regularly brush and floss their teeth, as well as have regular dental examinations and routine dental cleanings after getting dental sealant. Sealants have been proven to reduce tooth decay by up to 70%.

Are teeth sealants for children safe?

Yes, they are as there are no known risks or side effects from sealants. The American Dental Association deems sealants a safe treatment option for children, teenagers, and adults alike. Our professional staff recommends sealants for patients of all ages. They protect your child from tooth decay, the lost function of teeth, lost teeth, and the future need for more extensive dental procedures.

How long do sealants last?

Dental sealants for kids protect teeth from potential tooth decay for up to ten years with proper oral hygiene. They do need to be checked for chips or wear and tear at regular dental exams at Dental Express in San Diego, CA though. When necessary, we can easily replace sealants for our patients.

Learn more about dental sealants today

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we offer professional dental care that prevents many dental issues from occurring. Our proactive approach helps prevent your child and your entire family from dealing with cavities and deep tooth decay. Most insurance companies cover this preventive dentistry procedure. To schedule an appointment to learn more about sealants and to have a comprehensive dental examination, call our office today.

What Are Dental Implants and How Do They Work?

Posted on March 25, 2020August 16, 2021 by Dental Express

Dental Implants in San Diego

There are many ways that our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA can help our patients to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are one of the most popular choices for tooth loss. There is no other tooth-replacement option that will give more long-lasting results than full dental implants. They help to preserve tooth-supporting bone that deteriorates over time after a tooth is lost. Bone loss is one of the most serious consequences of missing teeth.

How do dental implants work?

A dental implant is a screw-like post that is used to replace the root of a missing tooth. This surgical procedure places the implant directly into the jawbone. After a healing period completes, usually a few months’ time, the dental implant is topped off with a custom crown that is created to match the existing natural teeth.

Options for missing tooth replacement

Dental implants can be used in San Diego, CA to replace missing teeth. These implants can be used to:

Replace one tooth: When you’re missing one tooth, a dental implant is a great option to replace it.
Replace many teeth: When you’re missing more than one tooth, a dental implant can be used. Ultimately, you don’t need a dental implant for every missing tooth. Implant teeth can be a form of support for fixed bridges that help to restore function.
Replace all teeth: These implants can be used as support for an entire arch of teeth.
Support dentures: Implants can make removable dentures more comfortable to wear. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we can attach this removable denture on implants, which will prevent your denture from slipping.

Benefits of dental implants

Once you have chosen to have the dental implant placed in your jaw, they are a permanent solution to your tooth loss. When they are properly cared for, they can last a long time. When you lose teeth, the bone underneath begins to deteriorate. Dental implants are used to help prevent further tooth loss and sagging in the face. Dental implants allow you to eat your favorite foods without pain. They are the most comfortable tooth replacement option we offer at our San Diego, CA office.

Is there pain after dental implant surgery?

After you have dental implants placed into your jaw, you can expect some pain or discomfort. While the surgery is safe, pain may be experienced for a few days after surgery. Typically, our patients can use over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate this pain. If your pain feels more severe, contact our office as soon as possible.

Swelling is another common side effect, which is a natural reaction to surgery. Icing the area will help to reduce swelling. Bruising may also occur on the cheeks. Any serious complications are extremely rare. If you suspect you may have developed an infection at the incision site, do not wait to have it looked at by our professional team. Be sure to follow the instructions provided to you after surgery to ensure the best possible healing.

How long do dental implants last?

How long dental implants last will depend on how well you take care of them. Proper oral hygiene will ensure that they last a long time. Regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings also can prevent a bacterial infection known as peri-implantitis from developing. If you grind or clench your teeth, we can create a custom night guard for you which will protect your implants and other teeth too. Ultimately, dental implants are a long-term investment for your smile and oral health. Allow our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA to help replace your missing teeth today.

Restore your oral health and smile with dental implants

There are many benefits to choosing to get dental implants at Dental Express in San Diego, CA. They are preferred by our patients because they both look and function like natural teeth. They are a great tooth replacement option for patients of all ages at our office. Our professional team can examine your teeth and gums thoroughly to determine whether you’re a viable candidate for the dental implant. To restore your smile and to get your confidence back, call our office today to schedule an appointment to learn more about tooth replacement options, such as dental implants.

What Are the Causes of a Toothache?

Posted on March 18, 2020July 27, 2023 by Dental Express

Toothache San Diego

What Are the Causes of a Toothache?

Causes of a Toothache are fairly common. However, the pain associated with a toothache will vary. Trying to determine what might be causing your toothache should be left to the professionals at Dental Express in San Diego, CA. Our professional team has the necessary skills to treat a toothache. We can provide a thorough dental exam to determine what oral health issues need to be remedied to alleviate your pain and discomfort.

Toothache symptoms

Some of the common symptoms of a toothache include:

Tooth pain
Headache
Fever
Gum swelling
Drainage

It’s important to visit Dental Express in San Diego, CA if you have had a toothache that has lasted several days. If it is accompanied with a fever, earache, or pain, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

What can cause a toothache?

Although tooth decay is a common cause of toothaches, there are other contributing factors, including:

Cracked or broken teeth: At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we offer emergency dental care to reduce your pain and to effectively restore your oral health.
Permanent Teeth Whitening: This can cause tooth sensitivity, which is usually temporary and is caused by nerve irritation due to the active ingredients in the formula.
Abscess: An abscess is typically caused by untreated tooth decay. A root canal or tooth extraction may be required to alleviate this pain.
Sinus problems: A sinus infection can cause pressure in your sinus cavities. This can lead to a temporary toothache until the infection is resolved.
Impacted wisdom teeth: These teeth may be impacted as they don’t have enough space to fit properly, which can cause pain and pressure in the jaw. Extraction may be necessary to relieve this type of toothache.
Teeth grinding: Bruxism, or teeth clenching, can place added stress on the teeth and your TMJ. This can result in an ongoing toothache along with an earache and/or cracked teeth. A custom night guard can help.

How to treat a toothache

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, our professional team will conduct an exam to learn more about where your pain is, when it started, how severe it is, and if anything makes it worsen. Our general dentist will also examine your mouth, teeth, gums, jaw, tongue, and throat. An x-ray allows us to see inside the tooth to look for decay that may be causing this toothache. Some possible treatment options that we use to resolve toothaches can include tooth colored fillings, root canal therapy, or tooth extractions.

How to prevent a toothache

The best way to prevent a toothache is to take proper care of your teeth with good at-home oral hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing help remove plaque that can lead to tooth decay and gingivitis. Our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA suggests that our patients brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once daily. A cavity-fighting mouthwash allows you to control plaque and to prevent cavities.

Having regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings also allows our general dentist to detect problems with your oral health early on. This reduces the need for costly and painful procedures later on. A healthy diet also helps to prevent tooth decay as foods that are calcium-rich help to keep the enamel strong.

Learn how to treat a toothache in San Diego, CA today

If you have a Causes of a Toothache, it’s important to contact our professionals at Dental Express in San Diego, CA as soon as possible. We can help you resolve your toothache quickly with a variety of treatment options. After a thorough examination, we can determine if you have any dental issues that need to be resolved. The sooner you call to schedule an appointment with our professional team, the sooner you can alleviate your pain and discomfort. We specialize in diagnosing and treating toothaches for patients of all ages.

How to Know If You Need a Root Canal

Posted on March 11, 2020October 16, 2023 by Dental Express

Root Canal San Diego

Root canal therapy is used by Dental Express in San Diego, CA to repair and save teeth that are badly infected or decayed. Many patients fear that a root canal will be painful. However, the discomfort that occurs before treatment is said to be much more uncomfortable than the treatment itself. Dental Express uses modern solutions to help improve and restore our patients’ oral health with endodontic treatments.

Causes for a root canal

A tooth’s pulp becomes inflamed, infected, or irritated due to cracked, chipped tooth, or damaged teeth as well as large fillings. Untreated cavities allow bacteria to work its way to the center of the tooth infecting the pulp. This pulp contains nerve cells, blood vessels, and connective tissue that causes pain to signal that there is a problem in the tooth. While pain may go away, the infection itself won’t. This can lead to the development of a dental abscess that can systemic health problems throughout your body. Any opening in a tooth will give bacteria a chance to access the pulp. When someone feels this pain, it’s important to visit Dental Express in San Diego, CA for immediate dental care.

Signs you need a root canal

There are many symptoms and signs that you need a root canal. They include:

Prolonged tooth sensitivity
Discolorations on a tooth
Severe tooth pain while biting or chewing
Swollen or tender gums

While these are signs that a root canal may be needed, in some cases, there aren’t any symptoms at all. This makes it important to have regular comprehensive dental examinations and routine dental cleanings to make sure your oral health is at its best.

How long does a root canal take?

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we take care to provide the most comfortable and professional dental experience for our patients. This means that we take the time needed to perform all of our treatments properly. An x-ray allows us to see whether or not you require root canal therapy.

When we determine you need a root canal, we will numb the area with a local anesthesia. Once you are numb, we will make an opening on the crown of the tooth. Next, we thoroughly clean the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals. Next, we shape the space for the filling material. This adhesive cement is placed there to ensure that the root canals are sealed off so no other bacteria can get inside the tooth. A temporary filling is placed to close the opening. A crown is used to restore the tooth completely, which will take a few weeks to create. Once it is ready, the temporary is removed and the permanent restoration is cemented in place. This will save your tooth.

Is a root canal painful?

Getting a root canal won’t cause any more discomfort or pain than a filling. The pain leading up to visiting Dental Express can be more severe than any felt during or after endodontic treatment. A root canal is known to relieve this pain.

Alternatives to root canal therapy

An alternative to root canal therapy is extraction. However, our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA believes it’s better to save our patients’ teeth. We have a high success rate with root canal therapy and saving a tooth helps to prevent other problems such as loss of bone or teeth shifting. The best way to avoid root canals is to keep the teeth free of tooth decay with regular brushing and flossing.

Treat your tooth pain with a root canal

When you’re experiencing tooth pain, tender or painful gums, and tooth sensitivity, our knowledgeable team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA can perform a thorough dental exam. We will determine the cause of your pain and offer you appropriate treatment methods, which may include a root canal, that can resolve your pain. Routine dental care will allow you to feel your best all of the time. Make an appointment at a convenient Dental Express location near you to resolve your toothache with a root canal.