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Dental Implants

Dental implants are the treatment of choice for missing teeth. They look, feel, and function just like natural teeth, and they prevent the bone loss that always follows losing a tooth. In addition, they can be used to replace just one tooth or to support a whole arch of teeth.

An Explanation of Dental Implants

As shown in the implant illustration to the right, a dental implant is a tooth root form that is surgically placed in the jaw. It replaces the root of the tooth, and in doing so, signals your body to bring in more bone-building minerals to encase the form. Once placed, your bone will fuse to the root form, a process called osseointegration. This fusing enables the implant to fully support a dental crown. The crown is then created to match the color and character of your other teeth. The result is that no one will be able to tell it’s not one of your own teeth.

Implant-Supported Dentures

If you have more than one missing tooth, you don’t necessarily need an implant to replace every one of them. In fact, just a few implants can support a complete denture arch. And implant overdentures, also called implant-supported dentures, have a lot of advantages over simple removable dentures. They secure the dentures, so chewing efficiency, speech, and eating enjoyment are restored. In addition, the dentures will not slip at embarrassing moments. And finally, because the implants act just like tooth roots, they signal the body that the jawbone is still necessary, preventing the inevitable bone loss that follows tooth loss.

This last advantage is very important over the long term. When we lose a tooth or teeth, the body interprets the lack of tooth roots as a go-ahead to dissolve that part of the jawbone so it can use those bone-building minerals elsewhere in the body. When we have lost all our teeth, the result is that over a period of just ten or twenty years, we can lose so much bone structure that it is impossible to support a denture, and we are faced with facial collapse.

Facial collapse is the characteristic shrunken appearance we associate with the old age, but it can make us look old before we truly are, as shown in the illustration to the left. It’s more than just an aesthetic condition, though, because once we loose enough bone structure, there is nothing left to support dentures, and it can become very difficult to chew solid foods, which can put us at risk for more serious health consequences.

What is Implant Treatment Like?

The two phases of this treatment include first, the surgical placement of the root forms. You may have a temporary tooth replacement, or, in the case of implant overdentures, you can wear a temporary denture while they heal and integrate into the jawbone. Then the final restoration will be placed. Whether you are receiving just one dental implant or implant-supported dentures, your treatment will provide you with years of comfortable function.

If you are ready to find out what implants could do for you, give us a call to schedule an appointment. Or, you may click here to fill out our request an appointment form online and we will call you. We’ll be happy to help you find a time for your visit that really works for you.

Porcelain Veneers

Photo of brunette woman smiling with porcelain veneersYour smile can be beautifully transformed with porcelain veneers in as few as two appointments. Many patients are surprised at how quickly they can receive a stunning smile makeover for teeth that for years had been discolored, chipped, or had spaces between them. Dr. Giang Dang has an artistic approach to giving you the smile you’ve always wanted.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Veneers are custom-made, thin shells of porcelain. Although the shells are thin, they are harder than your natural teeth, more stain-resistant, and they’re able to beautifully duplicate the natural color and translucency of real teeth. The veneers are made by a ceramist in a dental laboratory, and Dr. Dang bonds them to your teeth.

How Does Dr. Dang Customize Your Smile?

At your first appointment, Dr. Dang will ask you what you like and dislike about your smile. You can bring in photographs of smiles you like and he will be able to help you obtain the same smile design in your own smile.

Next will be a thorough examination of your teeth, including any needed x-rays, photographs, and impressions. Based on your input and Dr. Dang’s expertise, a wax model of your proposed smile makeover will be made. You will give Dr. Dang feedback on what you like or dislike about the model, and adjustments will be made until you love it.

Photo of a porcelain veneer held up to a natural toothAfter you have approved the wax model, Dr. Dang will make a beautiful provisional set of veneers for you to wear. Your natural teeth will then be prepared for veneers. This may require very lightly shaving the front of your teeth (less than 1 mm) to ensure that your veneers will fit properly and look completely natural. Wearing the provisional veneers will give you an exciting preview of how your final veneers will look when you smile and how they will feel when you speak and eat. They will look beautiful, so you should feel comfortable wearing them for as long as you need to in order to help you decide if your new smile complements your facial features and is truly an expression of you.

If you want even the slightest changes made to your temporary veneers, let Dr. Dang know. he will make the adjustments or make new provisional veneers until you are thrilled with your new smile. In Dr. Dang’s words, “As long as you’re patient, we’ll go until you’re happy. You’re the boss.” After you approve the provisional veneers, a picture of them will be taken and an impression will be made. Dr. Dang will send the information, along with instructions to his ceramist, for your porcelain veneers to be made. When your veneers are ready, they will be attached to your natural teeth with a try-in paste. If the your new smile is exactly what you want, it will be bonded to your teeth. Otherwise, it will be sent back to the ceramist for adjustments, or if necessary, to be completely remade.

Dr. Dang Wants You to Love Your New Smile

Since you have already approved your provisional smile makeover, Dr. Dang is confident that when you try on your new smile makeover, you will love it immediately. However, if you don’t, he will make any adjustments needed to meet your approval.

Are you interested in finding out if this treatment is right for transforming your smile? Call us to request an appointment for a complimentary consultation, or request an appointment online.

Toothaches

If you have a toothache, don’t put off coming in to find out what is causing it. We’ll see you today if you are in pain. No matter what the problem, we’ll relieve your pain and take the time to discuss the problem and your options for a permanent solution. Dental problems that are caught and treated early are always less troublesome and expensive than if they are left till later.

Toothache or Sensitivity?

Many people have teeth that are sensitive to hot or cold, but if you have a reaction that persists after the hot or cold stimuli is removed, you should have it checked out. And if your tooth is sensitive to biting, it’s a sign that something more is going on.

What Causes Toothaches?

Toothaches can be caused by a number of things, and sometimes a simple procedure can resolve them. Some are caused by infections in the tooth or in the gums surrounding the tooth. Even something as simple as a small seed caught between the teeth can cause a pain. But when tooth decay has reached the pulp, where the nerves are, it will cause an infection that will usually call for a root canal.

What if I Need a Root Canal?

Root canal treatment used to be one of the most feared of dental treatments, but with recent technological advances, it no longer needs to be painful or traumatic. And even if you do need this treatment, it will save your tooth, and save you from a tooth extraction, which is a more serious option.

If you would like to find out more about our same-day services, click here to read our Emergency Dentist page.

If you’re in pain, don’t put off calling. We’ll get you in today.

Dental Tips for Parents

Dental experiences in childhood will have a lasting effect on your children. Get them started early with good habits and healthy attitudes.

Above all, don’t wait until your child has a problem before taking them to the dentist. If those first visits are fun, low-key checkups, where nothing is wrong, that will help your child feel comfortable in the dentist’s office. Dr. Dang will see children as young as 6 months. Those early visits are easy and fun for the children.

Dental Tips for Parents with Younger Children

  • Begin by letting your children see you brushing and flossing because they want to imitate you.
  • As soon as their teeth start to come in, begin by wiping them with a soft cloth. As your child gets older, graduate to a small, soft brush, and start letting them do more and more of the brushing.
  • Make this time fun. You can have a two-minute song for them to brush to, encouraging them to brush thoroughly. You could also play a brushing game or put a calendar in the bathroom with a sticker for each day.
  • Use a very small amount of toothpaste, about the size of a pea, because children tend to swallow most of the paste they use, and it could be unhealthy to swallow larger amounts.
  • Don’t try to instill oral hygiene habits with threats of needing dental work. Some parents make this mistake, and when those children end up needing even simple fillings, they can become very difficult to manage in our office. It can lead to a traumatic experience for the child which will end up having the opposite effect from what you intended.
  • Choose a dentist who really likes working with children. Studies have shown that nearly half of adults in America have some form of dental phobia, usually due to a bad early experience with a dentist that ignored their feelings or pain level.

Tips for Older Children

  • Begin flossing your children’s teeth around the age of two or three, when the baby molars have come in, and gradually let them take over more of the responsibility.
  • By the age of nine or ten, most children will be capable of getting between each tooth, so they can do their own flossing.
  • Fluoride treatments can be very helpful for children once their adult teeth have come in because the treatment helps teeth resist decay.

Wen your children are ready for their first visit, give us a call or let us know by completing our online Request an Appointment form. Dr. Dang welcomes children as young as six months.

Teeth Whitening

Half-body photo of a blonde middle-aged woman leaning on the back of a gray-haired man with a beard. Both of them are leaned forward and looking to their right and smiling - for information on teeth whitening from your dentist. There is pale-blue water in the lower background.

Your smile is one of the first impressions people have of you. While we always want to show our teeth at their best, time ages our teeth. Even with the best of oral hygiene, they pick up stains.

Simply by whitening your teeth you can brighten your smile, boost your self-confidence, and look years younger. Dr. Dang offers several options for professional teeth whitening to give you stunning results that will last.

Take-home Teeth Whitening

Dr. Dang will take impressions of your teeth, from which custom bleaching trays will be made. You will receive the trays, along with syringes of professional-strength gel. Each night, you will squeeze a small amount of bleaching gel into the trays, place the trays on your teeth, and wear them for the amount of time specified by Dr. Dang.

As the days pass, you will notice your teeth becoming whiter. In two weeks, your smile will be brilliantly white. If you want your teeth even brighter, you can continue whitening treatments for as long as you like. You will need to do periodic touch-ups at home to maintain your bright smile.

We also have professional strength whitening strips available as another take-home whitening option.

In-office whitening

If you want faster results, we offer two options for in-office whitening. In just one visit,  you’ll leave our office with a brilliant smile. One option is laser whitening.

Zoom Whitening logo

A second option is Zoom White Speed. In just one appointment, using Zoom’s special whitening gel and our accelerating LED light, you will have brilliantly white teeth in just 45 minutes. You can just lay back and relax while Zoom does all the work.

Find Out If Whitening Is Right for You

While there are more comprehensive smile makeover options, teeth bleaching is appealing because it is so conservative. If you would like to have a dazzling, white smile, schedule an appointment for a consultation to find out if this treatment is right for you.

Tooth Extractions

Dr. Dang takes a conservative approach to dentistry, meaning that wherever possible, he will try to preserve natural tooth structure and teeth. But when a tooth cannot be saved, he will extract it for you. he is experienced with all types of tooth extractions except for impacted wisdom teeth.

Here is some information on what to expect after your extraction:

Tooth Extractions Post-Operative Care

  • Bleeding — After a tooth extraction, gauze will be placed over the surgical site. Keep the pressure on the gauze until the active bleeding stops, which will be about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the complexity of the extraction. Avoid smoking or using a straw as this could disturb the blood clot that will develop.
  • Rinsing — Don’t rinse your mouth or spit during the day of the extraction. On the day after, rinse your mouth gently with warm water mixed with a half teaspoon of salt. Then continue to rinse with this solution every three or four hours and after meals.
  • Eating — Have soft foods with lots of liquids for the first couple of days. Avoid hot or carbonated beverages, and chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
  • Medication — If we give you a prescription for pain, be sure to follow all directions.
  • Hygiene — Continue to brush and floss as normal, but be extra gentle around the extraction site.
  • Chips — In some instances, bone chips or fragments will work their way through the gums after the removal. These are normal and don’t require any extra attention. However, if they are annoying to you, let Dr. Dang know and can remove these for you.
  • Support — Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions or need help understanding any of your symptoms.

Tooth Replacement Options

You have many options for tooth replacement. Dr. Dang offers dental implants, which look, feel, and function like your natural teeth while preventing bone loss. And you can also choose a bridge to replace the missing tooth. If you need dentures, we can also offer you the options of either removable or implant-supported dentures.

You may be tempted not to bother with replacing a single tooth, but unless you do, more problems can result. A replacement tooth will keep the other teeth in alignment, preventing them from shifting into the space left open. If you teeth shift, it changes your bite, and this can lead to TMJ disorder, which can be very uncomfortable.

If you are in pain, call us now and we will see you today.

Dr. Dang also offers a free consultation. If you would like to meet with him and discuss your situation with him before you commit to a full exam, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

White Fillings

For over a century, silver fillings were the only choice that a dentist had to fill cavities. This was mainly due to the fact that they needed to be strong enough to hold up on back teeth. But with the latest advances in bonding technology, white fillings are now strong enough and considered to be a legitimate option to fill cavities.

You may not realize that silver amalgam fillings are made up of less than half silver and the other half is made of mostly mercury. Even though the American Dental Association considers amalgam to be completely safe, many people are concerned about the negative health consequences that may occur with having mercury placed in the mouth.

The Many Benefits of White Fillings

Dr. Giang Dang has been placing white composite fillings for many years. In addition to them being mercury-free, they offer many other benefits over silver amalgam fillings.

  • The application used to place white composite fillings allows them to bond directly to the tooth. This process actually makes your tooth stronger; whereas amalgam fillings weaken the tooth. This means you have less of a chance that your tooth will crack or fracture over time with composite.
  • White composite fillings have less post-operative sensitivity because there is no metal in in them. Silver amalgam fillings can conduct heat and cold and patients sometimes complain of sensitivity to temperature.
  • There is less drilling away of your natural tooth with composite fillings. So this means that after the decay has been taken care of, the composite materials will bond directly to the tooth. But with silver amalgam fillings, the drilling goes beyond the removal of the decay. The removed portion actually needs to be wider than the cavity so the filling stays in place.
  • Some patients have complained of a metallic taste from silver amalgam.
  • White fillings are tooth colored so they are much more natural-looking.

Comparison of White Versus Amalgam Fillings

Photographed below is an example of silver amalgam fillings shown on the left, and composite fillings shown on the right.

series of amalgam fillings replacement white fillings

You can see how much more esthetically-pleasing the composite fillings are. But if you look very closely at the images, you will notice a small gap between the silver amalgam fillings and the natural tooth. This is not the case with the composite material because they seal the tooth during the bonding process thus strengthening the tooth.

If you are interested in tooth colored fillings or have any questions about the process to place them, please give us a call at (480) 994-1266.

Implant Overdentures

If you are missing all or most of your teeth, you may have thought that removable dentures were the only way to go. But that’s not the case anymore. Implant overdentures, also called implant-supported dentures, can make living with dentures much easier. They not only solve some of the most common problems dentures wearers complain of, they prevent the bone loss that can lead to facial collapse.

What are Implant Overdentures?

illustration-of-implant-bridge-sixAs the name implies, implant overdentures are dentures that fit over dental implants, which are root forms that mimic your tooth roots. These root forms, illustrated in the drawing to the right, are placed surgically in the jawbone. As they heal, the body brings more bone-building minerals to the site to encase the forms in new bone, making them very strong and stable. Two, four, six, or eight implants can resolve most of the problems associated with dentures.

Common Problems with Dentures

drawing-showing-overdentures-before-implantsPeople who are experiencing having dentures for the first time often find that they’re tough to get used to. To begin with, the lower denture arch rests on the ridge of jawbone covered by the gums and is held in place by gravity. The illustration to the left shows this. Because the lower denture moves around in the mouth, it can take some work to learn how to chew effectively. It is controlled by your tongue and cheeks. In addition, the gum tissue can become irritated and sore.

The upper denture covers the palate and is held in place by suction, so it feels more secure and doesn’t move around as much. But the palate has some taste buds, so this reduces your enjoyment of your food. It can also affect your pronunciation of some words, and can be susceptible to falling out.

But the most important problem is that bone loss accompanies dentures because they replace only the exposed part of the tooth. When we lose a tooth along with its roots, the body no longer receives signals that the jawbone in that location is essential. The body naturally re-absorbs the minerals in that part of the jawbone for use elsewhere in the body. Given as few as ten or twenty years, this process can lead to facial collapse. Visually, this is the shrunken in appearance we associate with great age. But it is serious, because when there is no more jawbone ridge, it becomes difficult to support dentures. When this happens, chewing efficiency is so compromised that some people can only eat soft foods, which can lead to more serious health consequences.

Overdenture Choices

With as few as two implants, “snap-on” dentures can provide a stable foundation that will help alleviate the problems we’ve discussed above. The illustration to the left shows what snap-on dentures look like. People with bone loss can often benefit from bone grafting or the All-On-4 technique. And overdentures can also be secured with four to eight normal implants, as shown in the top illustration on this page.

Dr. Dang will be happy to discuss your options with you, so you can make an informed decision about the type of overdentures that will work best for you and your budget.

Then when you want to find out how this treatment could help you, call our office or click here to complete our Request an Appointment form. Dr. Dang also offers a complimentary consultation, so if you would like to meet him and discuss your situation with him before you commit to a full exam, please just let us know. We will be here to help you find a time that works with your schedule.

Zirconia Crowns

photo-of-east-sacramento-zirconia-crownsPorcelain crowns and bridges were, until recently, made of feldspathic porcelain. The crowns were fused to a metal base to provide additional strength. Recent advances in bonding technology have made it possible for all-porcelain crowns to serve, even for back teeth that bear the pressure of chewing. But new ceramic materials are emerging as well, and some of them, like zirconia, have properties that make them ideal for crowns and bridges. The photos to the right show a dental patient’s smile before and after she received zirconia crowns.

What are Zirconia Crowns?

photo-of-east-sacramento-zirconia-corwnsZirconia is a type of ceramic that is so strong, it has applications in aerospace, biomedical, and other high-tech industries. Nicknamed ceramic steel, zirconia can be milled very thin. It is also highly biocompatible, virtually eliminating the risk of allergic reactions. As you can see in the photo to the left, it can mimic the beautiful translucency of natural teeth.

Dr. Dang’s Zirconia Crowns and Bridges

Dr. Dang chooses to work with zirconia for crowns because it is also strong enough to support a bridge. With a bridge, the teeth on either side of a missing tooth are prepared for crowns, and a prosthetic tooth is suspended between them. It takes an enormous dedication to post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry to be comfortable recommending zirconia crowns. In addition to learning the use of sophisticated bonding technology, color manipulation is an area for rigorous study. It takes an artist to see exactly how the color of the underlying tooth structure should influence the final product.

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for zirconia crowns or bridges, please call our office or fill out our request an appointment form.

Emergency Dentist

If you have a dental emergency, we’ll see you today whether or not you’re one of our regular patients. Our main concern is to relieve your pain as soon as possible. If your emergency can be resolved with a simple procedure, we’ll provide that today as well. And if you need more extensive treatment, we’ll make sure you understand exactly what is going on in your mouth and discuss a permanent solution with you.

Possible Emergency Situations

  • You can get a toothache. This usually comes from decay getting deep into the tooth to where it begins to affect the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth). Once this pulp is infected, the tooth will need a root canal treatment to solve it. But pain can usually be relieved on an emergency basis with a quick palliative treatment.
  • A crown can come off. While the tooth may not even hurt, having a crown come off requires prompt treatment or the adjacent teeth will move into the space and the crown won’t fit any more.
  • A tooth can get knocked out. If that tooth can be replaced within half an hour, it may be savable. Do not touch the root and put it in a moist (not dripping wet) towel or into milk and come into the office as quickly as you can. Dr. Dang will replant it and hopefully we’ll be able to save it.
  • A wisdom tooth can become infected. The infection usually needs to be brought under control before the wisdom tooth can be removed. Emergency treatment may involve just antibiotics and pain medication.
  • A front tooth can break or chip. While this may not be painful, many people would consider this an esthetic emergency, and Dr. Dang can do a quick bonding treatment to restore your normal appearance.

Root Canal Treatment

A toothache will likely end up needing root canal treatment, which in the past was one of the most feared of all procedures. But you don’t need to worry. To begin with, we will not perform this treatment at an emergency appointment. In addition, new methods and technology have made it much more comfortable. You can expect to be largely pain free. Sometimes, the pulp inside the tooth is dead, which means that there is no feeling at all in your tooth.

Our goals in treating emergencies are to relieve your pain, help you have a good dental experience, and move you back into preventive care, which will always be easier and more affordable.

Emergency Dental Treatment and Fear

If you’re afraid or anxious about what is going to happen when you get here, rest assured. Dr. Dang has a gentle touch, and healso offers two levels of sedation, so you may not even remember your whole appointment. And if you have ever had a traumatic dental experience, that is not going to happen here.

Some people who have had a dental ordeal very understandably don’t want to chance a repeat experience. This can lead to unintentional neglect and embarrassment. But we will never lecture or tease you. Instead, you’ll find the respect and help you need.