Frequently Asked Questions in Chino, California

A cosmetic dentist is a dentist who specializes in providing aesthetic treatments to improve the appearance of their patients’ teeth. A cosmetic dentist has completed additional training to expand their knowledge and skillset so that they can provide treatments such as teeth whitening, dental bonding, dental veneers, tooth-colored dental fillings, orthodontic treatments and more.

Cosmetic dentistry is the field of dental care which focuses on improving the appearance of your teeth and giving you a more beautiful and confident smile. Cosmetic dentistry includes purely aesthetic treatments as well as preventive care and restorative treatments. While the biggest benefit of cosmetic dentistry is a beautiful new smile, cosmetic dentistry is also known to improve the health and function of your teeth by properly aligning them and making it easier to care for your smile with regular brushing and flossing. Common cosmetic dental treatments include:

• Composite (tooth-colored) dental fillings
• Dental bonding
• Dental crowns and bridges
• Dental implants
• Dental veneers
• Orthodontic treatment
• Smile makeovers
• Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure designed to improve the appearance of your teeth. You may notice that your smile becomes dull, discolored or stained over time due to certain foods and drinks, aging, poor dental hygiene, illness or other factors. Teeth whitening works to break up these discolorations on your tooth enamel and restore their brilliant white color. While there are many over-the-counter whitening options available, the best results for your smile will come from professional whitening treatments. Please speak with our dentists and team to learn more.

Invisalign® treatment is a type of orthodontic treatment involving the use of clear plastic aligners to straighten your teeth. These aligners are custom made to fit your teeth and mouth perfectly, giving you a treatment that is comfortable and effective as well as nearly invisible. When you receive Invisalign clear aligners, our dentists will digitally map your tooth movements and create a series of aligners. As you switch to a new set of aligners every few weeks, your teeth will gradually move into their ideal positions.

Your treatment will begin with a consultation. After our dentists and team have evaluated your mouth and determined that you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, we will create a digital treatment plan and arrange for your aligners to be created. When you receive your aligners, you will need to wear them for 20 to 22 hours each day and will switch to a new set of aligners every few weeks as directed by our dentists. You will need to visit our office regularly throughout your treatment to ensure that your smile is progressing as planned.

Invisalign clear aligners are minimally invasive and are designed to have little impact on your lifestyle. In fact, Invisalign treatment is incredibly popular among teenagers and working adults because it is comfortable, discreet and flexible. Your aligners are removable, allowing you to eat, brush and floss normally. We do recommend that you clean your aligners regularly, as they will cause your teeth to appear dirty or discolored if they are not cleaned. We also recommend that you wear your aligners any time you are not eating, brushing or flossing to ensure that your treatment continues to progress as planned.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a degenerative dental condition that affects the gums and supporting structures in your mouth. It is caused by harmful bacteria trapped in plaque. These bacteria inflame and infect the gums and, if left untreated, will gradually progress until they destroy your gums and supporting bone structure. The milder stage of periodontal disease is known as gingivitis, and the more severe form of the disease is known as periodontitis. Our dentists will check your mouth for signs of gum disease during each of your regular visits. Common symptoms of periodontal disease include:

• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Pain or sensitivity in the gums or soft tissues of your mouth
• Bleeding while brushing, flossing or eating hard foods
• Gum recession
• Loose or separating teeth
• Sores in your mouth
• Pus between the gums and teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Changes in your bite or the fit of dentures and other oral appliances

Gum disease is preventable with good oral hygiene and regular preventive care. When diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, it can be successfully treated. However, if gum disease progresses to a more advanced and damaging stage, it may never be completely removed from your mouth. There are a number of treatments available to fight gum disease and improve your oral health. Our dentists will evaluate your mouth to determine the severity of the disease and create a treatment plan that meets your needs. These treatments include:

• Nonsurgical gum treatments (including scaling and root planing, antibiotic therapy, etc.)
• Periodontal surgery (including soft tissue grafting, gingivectomy osseous surgery, etc.)
• Laser dentistry
• Implant dentistry
• Improved home care (including special toothpastes, mouthwashes, prescription trays, etc.)

Restorative dentistry is the field of dental care focused on repairing and replacing damaged teeth and their supporting structures. It is designed to help you regain full oral health and function. Treatments range from simpler options, such as dental fillings, to more complex procedures to replace multiple teeth. Our dentists will often recommend restoring your damaged teeth rather than removing and replacing teeth as retaining your original teeth is usually better for your long-term oral health and function. By restoring a tooth, you can keep the natural tooth longer and enjoy a beautiful smile without the need for more extensive and costly treatments. Our dentists will evaluate your teeth and mouth to determine which type of treatment is right for your needs.

Dental crowns, or dental caps, are a restorative treatment which covers the visible portions of your teeth. Crowns are intended to preserve teeth that have been damaged beyond what a filling can repair. They will restore the shape, appearance and function of your tooth while also protecting it from further damage. Our dentists may recommend a crown if your tooth is fractured, cracked, decayed, has a large dental filling or has received a root canal.

Dental bridges are a type of nonremovable dental restoration used to replace one or two missing teeth. They are typically anchored to the teeth with crowns on either side of the gap in your smile, but they may also be anchored in place with a dental implant. Bridges are designed to restore your smile and your ability to chew and speak normally.

Dental implants are a type of prosthetic tooth designed to replace damaged or missing teeth. Unlike bridges or dentures, they replace the roots as well as the crowns of your tooth to give you a highly stable and long-lasting result for your smile. Implants may be used to replace individual teeth, several teeth or an entire arch of teeth depending on your needs.

Dentures are a type of removable prosthetic used to replace missing teeth. They may replace a few teeth (partial dentures) or a full arch of teeth (complete dentures). Dentures may also be anchored with dental implants.

A root canal is an endodontic procedure performed to save teeth from extraction. This treatment is typically recommended when injury, infection or decay reach the inner tissues of the tooth. When you receive root canal therapy, our dentists will remove the damaged or infected tooth tissues, clean the tooth and fill it with a medicated material before sealing it to prevent future infection. Most root canals can be completed in just one or two visits to our office, and thanks to advances in technology and treatment techniques, we can ensure that you remain comfortable throughout your treatment.

Visiting the dentist regularly for routine cleanings and exams is a key part of keeping your smile healthy. Many people only visit the dentist when they have a noticeable problem. While they may think that they are saving money, the truth is that the treatments to repair and restore their teeth cost more money and time than routine dental visits. Visiting our office regularly for dental cleanings and exams ensures that you receive preventive care to keep dental problems from developing in the first place or to diagnose and treat them in the earliest stages of development before they can cause damage. These visits allow our dentists and team to monitor your oral health and ensure you are receiving all the care you need. We recommend that you visit us twice each year to receive a dental cleaning and exam.

Laser dentistry is a type of dental treatment which uses advanced lasers to treat oral health problems. These lasers deliver energy at different wavelengths into the gums and teeth to target specific problems and improve your oral health. Laser dental treatments are very safe for use and have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as being as safe or safer than traditional treatment techniques. Benefits of dental lasers include:

• Minimally invasive treatments
• A more comfortable treatment experience
• Reduced treatment time
• Reduced healing and recovery time following treatment
• Decreased risk of infection following treatment
• Increased precision, leading to minimal bleeding and swelling during and after treatment

Lasers are highly versatile, and may be used in a wide range of dental treatments, including:

• Gum disease treatments
• Cosmetic gum reshaping
• Removing tooth decay
• Curing (hardening) dental fillings
• Teeth whitening
• Frenectomies (tongue- and lip-tie removals)
• Oral biopsies and lesion removal, including cold and canker sore treatment

Yes! Digital X-rays are extremely safe. In fact, you are exposed to more radiation from the sun in your day-to-day life than from digital X-rays. Advances in technology continue to make X-rays even more safe, and our office also complies with federal regulations to check our X-ray machines regularly to ensure they are safe and accurate.