Options for Tooth Restoration in Alta Loma, CA

When teeth are weakened or injured, they can be painful and can make eating difficult. Not to mention they affect the look of a smile. At Alta Loma Dental Care, we have multiple options for tooth restoration here in our Alta Loma, CA dental practice.

Dental inlays and onlays are great for when there is a small amount of damage to the chewing surface of a tooth. Inlays repair the chewing surface in between the four cusps of a tooth. Onlays repair the chewing area plus one or more cusp. Inlays and onlays are often referred to as partial crowns because they are the same concept, but they are for when the tooth is sustaining less damage.

Full dental crowns are also available in our Alta Loma, CA office. These are caps that go on the tooth to replace the whole upper and outer portion of the tooth. Crowns are for when teeth are damaged or decayed, but still have a healthy tooth root.

Dental bonding is available to fix cracks, chips, and decay. It is a composite resin that is tooth colored so it blends in with the natural tooth. It is shaped and smoothed over the problem and hardened for durability.

If you have weakened teeth it is time to bring them back to their former strength so they can last for a long time. To find out more or to schedule an appointment, call Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Making Dental Care Fun for Kids

Great dental care can be difficult to instill into a child. Some kids may find it boring or may not understand the importance of it. At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we know that healthy adult teeth start with healthy baby teeth. We want to inform parents of how they can make dental care fun for kids.

To help kids understand why brushing and flossing is so important, let them watch a fun video that explains it. There are a lot of great videos on the internet that are both informative and fun. When kids understand why they are taking care of their teeth, they will be more interested in doing it.

Make the actual tooth brushing fun! You can do this by picking a fun toothbrush with their favorite character and a toothpaste flavor they enjoy. This works great for flossing, too, as there are tons of different flavors. Toothbrushes that play music not only make the task exciting, but they make sure that kids brush for a full two minutes. Other ways of keeping time like flipping an hourglass are fun for kids, too.

A reward system is another great way to encourage kids to brush and floss. Just a simple bedtime story afterwards or a star sticker will get kids to want to brush their teeth.

Proper dental care is crucial for kids of all ages, whether they have adult teeth or baby teeth. To schedule a cleaning with Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Reduce the Bacteria in Your Mouth with Laser Therapy

Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts out as plaque – an opaque film on the teeth that hardens to form calculus or tartar. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria which attack the soft tissue around the gums. This early stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care, Dr. Kim can address the underlying infection that causes it with a procedure called Laser Bacterial Reduction (LBR).

With laser treatment there are many reported benefits such as, a reduced need for local anesthesia, minimal bleeding, and swelling is controlled with minimal discomfort. Laser light energy is used to vaporize the bacteria and infected tissue in the deepened gum pocket. This procedure is painless, takes less than 10 minutes and reduces the bacteria around your gums from billions to hundreds. Dr. Kim recommends that all of our patients have their teeth decontaminated prior to cleaning appointments.

If you suffer from mouth pain this may be due to periodontal disease, give us a call so we can help. To learn more about our Laser Bacterial Reduction procedure and other services we offer visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kim at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call 909-987-6268.

Zap Away Your Canker Sores with Laser Treatment

When a canker sore emerges, you might find yourself running to the drugstore for Anbesol or any other numbing agent that will temporarily reduce the pain. You may also find yourself Googling every home remedy you can find to control the situation. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care, we are excited to introduce laser treatment of apthous ulcers (canker sores) and Herpes (cold sores), which promote reduced healing times.

Essentially, a canker sore is a small lesion/ulcer inside the mouth. They can appear almost anywhere in the mouth – the inner surface of the cheeks, and lips; the tongue; the soft palate; and the base of the gums. They can be rather painful, and can be caused by a stress, dietary deficiencies and triggered by citrus fruits. Laser treatment has several remedial effects on canker sores. Laser treatment stops the progression of sores so that they take a significantly shorter time to heal. It also results in rapid pain relief. Additionally, laser treatment can be preventative. Before a canker sore breakout, the lips will invariably start to tingle. Receiving laser treatment at this early stage will help stop the breakout in its tracks.

If you suffer from canker sores on a regular basis, give us a call so we can help. To learn more about our services visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kim at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call 909-987-6268.

What is the Purpose of Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens, or early twenties. During this “age of wisdom” phase, sometimes teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often they are misaligned and require removal. Some might think of wisdom teeth as spare tires, because if you lost your teeth, the wisdom teeth would be extra teeth that come in and function like normal teeth. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care Dr. Kim can perform extractions depending on their position and stage of development.

So why do we have them? Anthropologists believe wisdom teeth or the third set of molars, were the evolutionary answer to our ancestor’s early diet of coarse, rough food – like leaves, roots, nuts and meats – which required more chewing power and resulted in excessive wear of the teeth. The modern diet with its softer foods, along with marvels of modern technologies such as forks, spoons and knives, has made the need for wisdom teeth nonexistent; however, they don’t always need to be removed.

If your wisdom teeth are still present and they are beginning to bother you, give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about our orthodontic services visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kim at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call 909-987-6268.