Cosmetic Dentist in Los Gatos

What to Expect of your Invisalign Procedure

RMDDSAdmin — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:30:58 +0000

Undertaking any medical or dental procedure can cause worry. If you are considering Invisalign treatment to repair misaligned teeth or improper bite, it is important to know what to expect going in. Research has shown that patients who understand a procedure before receiving it have a much higher success rate and much lower levels of anxiety.

1. You will have an initial consultation with your dentist. He or she will fully examine your teeth and discuss treatment options at length.

2. The dentist or orthodontist will take impressions, x-rays and photographs. these are sent to the Invisalign office where a 3-D computer model will be created of your teeth now and your final product.

3. Clear “attachments” will be bonded to the teeth that need the most adjustment. Rubber bands may also be used for jaw realignment.

4. You will receive your aligners which you wear over your teeth for 20-22 hours per day. You must remove them to eat and follow instructions on how to clean the aligners and your teeth.

5. You will visit the dentist or orthodontist every 2 weeks to have aligners replaced or adjusted. In small increments your teeth will moved to their desired location.

6. Depending on what state your teeth were in prior to the treatment, you will wear the Invisalign aligners for 20 weeks to a year.

Is Sedation Dentistry Right For You?

RMDDSAdmin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:30:42 +0000

About to the organization DOCS, 30% of the population avoids going to the dentist due to extreme fear of the dentist. If you’re dental phobia is keeping you from getting much needed dental work, it may be time to consider sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry is the practice of using sedative drugs in order to relax or put you in a near-sleep state during dental procedures. These medications are usually administered through IV (a small needle in your arm), or inhalation through gas (like laughing gas).

Oral sedation dentistry is now the most common technique used in the United States and Canada to quell patient fears. The technique is easy and requires no needles. It allows patience to be semi-conscious during procedures so they can cooperate and participate without fear. Sedation is usually used in conjuncture with local injected anaesthesia in order to make the pain felt as little as possible.

There are many benefits to using sedation during dental procedures. The most obvious is the significant decrease in pain felt. Also, patients getting a significant amount of work done will feel as if they were only in procedure for a short period of time, when in reality the procedure may have taken several hours. Being able to attend to multiple needs in one sitting allows the dentist to preform more work at once, thus decreasing the number of sessions needed to complete the work. Individuals who have sedation during treatments are more likely to attend to routine oral needs and regular dental appointments, as their fear of dentistry decreases. Insurance will sometimes pay for some or all of the cost of sedation, when the procedure is deemed medically necessary.

What Is a Smile Makeover?

RMDDSAdmin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:30:35 +0000

When you walking into the grocery store, the clerk’s smile can make or break your day. We all want that glowing, confident, “Hollywood” smile to bring out the best in us and the best in the people around us. Whether you have a few small chips, stains, or totally crooked teeth, there are many options you can explore to makeover your smile.

A “Smile Makeover” begins with a consultation with your dentist. You will discuss your concerns with your teeth and what your dental goals are. The dentist will outline a series of options in a number of price ranges which can address your concerns.

Your smile makeover can include a combination of multiple cosmetic techniques, including:

teeth whitening
braces or Invisalign (the only non-visible, removable teeth straightening system)
vaneers placed over your existing teeth – composite, porcelin, or Lumineer (ultra-thin laminate)
crowns placed over ground-down teeth
white fillings to replace old metal fillings
dental implants
dental bridges to replace gaps between teeth
laser gum surgery to reshape the gum line

It is important that your teeth and mouth are healthy prior to your makeover. A qualified cosmetic dentist, such as Dr. Ramin Moradi of Moradi Signature Smiles in Los Gatos, California, will work with you to create a custom smile that is perfect for your mouth and for your budget!