Symptoms of Gingivitis

Gingivitis – an inflammation of the gums – is the initial stage of gum disease and is the easiest to treat. If the plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. Our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care recommend scheduling professional dental checkups every six months to prevent gingivitis from occurring, however, proper oral hygiene starts at home. Be aware of these symptoms and risk factors if you notice a bit of blood in the sink when you brush.
Healthy gums are firm and pale pink. If your gums are puffy, dusky red and bleed easily, you may have gingivitis. Because gingivitis is rarely painful, it is possible to have it without even knowing it. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis include: swollen, soft, puffy, receding, or occasionally tender gums, gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss, a change in color of your gums, as well as bad breath.
If you suffer from any of the symptoms above, give us a call so we can help you stop gingivitis in its tracks. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in our Alta Loma, CA office, call Alta Loma Dental Care at 909-987-6268.

Six Month Smiles at Alta Loma Dental Care

Many adults spend their entire lives unhappy with their crooked smiles because they do not want to wear adult metal braces for years at a time. They may also be concerned that other corrective teeth straightening procedures will be too invasive or too expensive. This is why our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care offer an effective, safe and affordable cosmetic braces solution called Six Month Smiles.
You may be wondering if it’s really possible to straighten your teeth in six months. The answer is yes. The Six Month Smiles technique straightens your teeth with the latest technology in dentistry to move your teeth quickly and safely with clear adult braces that are barely visible. Six Month Smiles is typically less expensive than traditional braces, aligner therapy, or veneers and leave you with the smile that you’ve always dreamed of. With this technique, there is no reason to be unhappy, self-conscious or even embarrassed by your smile.
If you wish to inquire about our Six Month Smiles orthodontic program, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in our Alta Loma, CA office, call Alta Loma Dental Care at 909-987-6268.

Can False Teeth be Realigned?

As a provider of both implants and orthodontics, the Alta Loma Dental Care clinic sometimes deals with clients who are unsure of which to get first. Our office uses products such as Invisalign and 6 Month Smiles, which are for mild cases of malocclusion. But although we are rarely trying to affect massive changes in a patient’s alignment, orthodontics should nearly always be done before implants.
Implants depend on osseointegration—the fusion of bone and prosthetic. A titanium screw fused into bone tissue should not move, and if it does, that’s a huge problem. If an implant is stable, no orthodontic device will move it, so usually, the orthodontic corrections will be done first so that the dentist can be sure that the implant is going in the right place. Often, there is not even a choice: teeth may have to be realigned so that there is room for an implant.
There are cases when a pre-existing implant can provide support to orthodontic wires. Doctors will have to do a thorough examination of a patient’s mouth and jaw to determine whether a patient with implants can receive orthodontics, but they often can.
Drs. Michael and Jessica Kim operate Alta Loma Dental Care at 7283 Carnelian St, Alta Loma, California, 91701. To schedule an appointment, call 909-987-6268 or visit AltaLomaDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.

The Whys and Hows of Partial Crowns

At Alta Loma Dental Care, we provide our patients with new crowns and full implants to replace teeth that have been lost or are so decayed they need to be extracted. But what about teeth which are too damaged to be fixed with a small filling, but still have a healthy base? When the chewing surface of a molar or premolar is damaged, we have a type of restoration called inlays or onlays, also known as partial crowns, which can restore its function.

The difference between an inlay and an onlay is that an inlay is nestled in between the cusps (the pointy parts of the surface), while an onlay replaces both the cusps and the indentation. The doctors will need to remove damaged parts of the teeth, possibly by using one of our surgical lasers, and then make an impression of the patient’s mouth. The patient may be given an artificial crown to wear during the few weeks it will take to prepare the permanent partial crown. The most common material to use is porcelain, which has to be milled at a factory, although patients may inquire about glass resin or gold options. Completed inlays or onlays are attached with dental cement, and patients will thereafter take care of their restoration in the same way they should take care of natural teeth.

Drs. Michael and Jessica Kim operate Alta Loma Dental Care at 7283 Carnelian St, Alta Loma, California, 91701. To schedule an appointment, call 909-987-6268 or visit AltaLomaDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.