Alta Loma Dental Care Provides Custom Night Guards for Bruxism Prevention

Think you might be a night grinder but aren’t sure? If you wake up with a dull, constant headache or a sore jaw then you might be suffering from bruxism (night grinding). If you suspect that you might be grinding your teeth and you live in the Alta Loma, CA area, schedule an appointment with us at Alta Loma Dental Care for information on treatment options.

 

You might grind your teeth because of stress and anxiety, but it more likely due to an abnormal bite or missing/crooked teeth. Patients often find out that they are a grinder from a loved one or through a consultation with their dentist. Dr. Michael Kim is trained in the detection of bruxism and can diagnose it through a simple examination. Patients exhibiting symptoms such as jaw tenderness and teeth abnormalities are most likely grinding their teeth at night.

 

Teeth grinding can become a serious issue. Chronic teeth grinding can lead to fractured, loosening or loss of teeth. Taking the time to visit us at Alta Loma Dental Care is a great preventative measure when it comes to preventing night grinding. Chronic teeth grinders can wear their teeth down so bad that bridges, crowns or even dentures may be necessary. While these procedures are effective, they are also very expensive and can be very invasive.

 

We have a great reputation when it comes to creating custom mouth guards for prevention of night grinding. Our team is able to custom-fit a mouth guard to your individual needs so as to prevent any discomfort during sleep. Dr. Kim will take an impression of your teeth and the mouth guard is molded over the model using special material. Custom-fitted mouth guards are utilized because they provide the most comfort and best overall protection. The night guard creates a barrier between your top and bottom teeth, preventing your teeth from grinding. Call us today to schedule your appointment!

Alta Loma Dental Care Utilizes Dental Lasers to Ensure Patient Satisfaction and Comfort

At Alta Loma Dental Care, we do our best to stay at the forefront of the dental industry. Because of that, we are now able to offer dental laser treatments for bacterial reduction procedures, canker and cold sore treatment and root desensitization.

 

While we can treat your gum disease in a number of ways, with laser technology, we are able to address the underlying infection that causes the disease. Through a painless procedure known as Laser Bacterial Reduction, Dr. Michael Kim is able to reduce bacteria around your gums from billions to hundreds in less than ten minutes. Dr. Kim also recommends that all patients decontaminate their mouths prior to these procedures in order to reduce or eliminate bacteremia.

 

We also treat canker and cold sores with laser treatments. Apthous ulcers (canker sores) and Herpes I (cold sores) are treatable with over-the-counter options, but laser treatment works much more quickly and effectively. In the case of cold sores, when caught in the tingling, burning period, laser treatment can actually help prevent the cold sore from ever appearing on your lip. If you are a patient of record and have had the misfortune of experiencing one of these painful lesions, please do not hesitate to call our office the minute symptoms begin. This service is provided free of charge to all patients of record.

 

Sensitive teeth have many causes, but regardless of the cause, those suffering from this condition are looking for treatment methods. Laser Root Desensitization treatment desensitizes the teeth with the laser and a tooth colored filling to match is often placed over the root surface to protect it. A desensitizing sealer is then placed over the filling. 

Alta Loma Dental Care Restores Smiles with Dental Bonding

Our patients who have cracks or gaps in their teeth are turning to dental bonding to restore their smile. Dr. Michel Kim has become the go-to local dentist for bonding procedures. Unlike veneers, which are manufactured in a laboratory and require a customized mold, bonding can be done in a single visit.

 

Dental bonding is not just used to repair teeth that are cracked or damaged, it is also used to repair decayed teeth, improve discoloration of teeth or even change the shape of teeth. The procedure for dental bonding is non-invasive and can be completed in just a few steps. After selecting the proper tooth shade, Dr. Kim will begin the bonding process. He will begin by abrading or roughening the surface of the tooth. The tooth will then be coated lightly with a conditioning liquid. This liquid will help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. Once the tooth is prepared, Dr. Kim will simply apply the tooth-colored putty and mold it to the proper shape and size. The material is then hardened with an ultraviolet light. The final step is polishing the area to give you a fresh, vibrant smile.

 

The bonding process typically takes 30 minutes to an hour. When it comes to maintenance, bonded teeth should be treated just as your regular teeth. They can be stained by tea, coffee and cigarettes just as normal teeth so regular brushing and flossing is highly recommended. 

Alta Loma Dental Care Straightens Teeth Quickly with Six Month Smiles

Are you an adult who feels the need to hide your smile when you laugh, smile or even talk? At Alta Loma Dental Care, we provide the opportunity to reverse that feeling with "Six Month Smiles". This system utilizes specialized tooth colored braces to gently straighten and align teeth in an average time of just six months.

 

With Six Month Smiles, Dr. Michael Kim is able to align your smile quickly and effectively with the help of new technology. The system uses low force to adjust your teeth more comfortably. Many people think that the accelerated treatment means simply “tightening” regular braces to get the teeth moving, but that is not the case. Unlike traditional braces, Six Month Smiles focuses on the cosmetic appearance of your smile, rather than the position of your bite.

 

Traditional braces are the most widely utilized and are considered the most effective method to align your smile. There’s just one problem, most adults don’t want a mouth full of metal braces. With Six Month Smiles, you will get the benefits of traditional braces without the look. Dr. Kim uses tooth-colored braces that are barely visible. The wires are tooth-colored as well. Six Month Smiles has taken the best aspects of traditional braces and modified the treatment in addition to the materials in order to give adults a common-sense, cosmetic solution that fits your lifestyle.

 

Give us a call today at 909-987-6268 to schedule you appointment and straighten your teeth!