Reseda Smile Dental: Sharon Bernal-Belen, DDS

Products And Services

• Cleaning/Radiographs

  Cleaning A dental cleaning or prophylaxis is a procedure performed to thoroughly clean the teeth. Prophylaxis is an important treatment used to prevent periodontal diseases and gingivitis. Periodontal diseases are usually caused by infections and inflammation of the gums and bones that surround/support the teeth. Periodontal disease in its early stages is called gingivitis and can be identified when gums become swollen, red, and potentially bleed. If untreated, periodontitis will occur causing the gums to pull away from the tooth, potentially losing bone and teeth. Warning signs bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away red or swollen gums tender or bleeding gums painful chewing loose teeth sensitive teeth gums that have pulled away from the teeth Radiographs (x-ray) Dental x-rays are internal images of your teeth and jaws. Dentists use x-rays to observe the health of your jawbone, nerves, sinuses and teeth roots. The two main types of x-rays are intraoral and extraoral. Intraoral x-rays include bitewings, periapical, and occlusal x-rays. Bitewings show the upper and lower teeth in one area of your mouth. It helps identify any decay between your teeth or any changes that occur just below the gum line. Periapicals show the entire tooth, from the grown to the root tip. This helps detect decay, gum disease, bone loss and any other abnormalities. Occlusals show any issues in the floor or roof of the mouth. This helps diagnose fractured or impacted teeth or evaluate the roots of the front teeth. Extraoral x-rays include panoramic, cephalometric, and a cone beam CT scan. At Reseda Smile Dental, we use panoramics to show all of the structures in the mouth on a single image. This includes the upper and lower teeth, jaw points, nerves, sinuses and supporting bone. It used to get an overview of any existing oral health issues.

  Link: Cleaning/Radiographs

• Restorative

  Root Canals Root canals is a procedure to treat a damaged or diseased tooth. Inside the tooth, beneath the white enamel and a hard layer called dentin, is a soft tissue called pulp. The tissue has blood vessels and nerves and connective tissue, which help grow the root of the tooth during its development. Getting a root canal is relatively painless and extremely effective. Symptoms for a Root Canal severe pain while chewing or biting a chipped or cracked tooth lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed swollen or tender gums Bridges Dental bridges are artificial teeth made of crowns on the sides of missing tooth that need to be permanently cemented in place. Bridges are helpful if you have a missing tooth or teeth. The most common causes of missing teeth are tooth decay, gum disease and injury, or a result of a congenital condition. In order for bridges to effectively work, healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth is required. An alternative to bridges are partial dentures, which are removable false teeth, and dental implants. Bridges are a common solution for missing teeth and have been used for many years. Crowns Veneers are a permanent restoration used to correct a chipped or decayed tooth. They are custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Veneers are great for fixing minor cosmetic issues like chips and cracks. It can also easily whiten your teeth since it attaches to the front surface of your teeth. For those who have damaged enamel, veneers are excellent for enamel abrasion or erosion. Reasons to get crowns: strengthen a weak tooth protect and support a cracked tooth restore a worn-down or broken tooth hold a dental bridge in place cover a root canal-treated tooth Fillings Fillings are used to treat a small hole, or cavity, in a tooth. To repair a cavity, a dentist removes the decayed tooth tissue and then fills the space with a filling material. Tooth decay are developed when bacteria come into contact with sugars and starches from foods and drinks, forming acid. The acid attacks the tooth’s surface (enamel), losing its minerals. The frequent exposure to acid will eventually cause severe decay, leading to a large hole or destruction of the entire tooth. When cavities are removed, tooth-colored (composite) or silver-colored (amalgam) fillings are used to fill the teeth. If further treatment is needed to repair badly-broken down teeth, crowns are the next solution to fix it. Veneers Veneers are a permanent restoration used to correct a chipped or decayed tooth. They are custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Veneers are great for fixing minor cosmetic issues like chips and cracks. It can also easily whiten your teeth since it attaches to the front surface of your teeth. For those who have damaged enamel, veneers are excellent for enamel abrasion or erosion.

  Link: Restorative

• Extractions

  A tooth extraction is a procedure to remove a tooth from the bone socket. Local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the tooth so that you do not experience pain during the procedure. The tooth is loosened in the gum using an elevator, a tool used to dislodge a tooth from its socket. Once loose, forceps are placed around the tooth for extraction. After the tooth has been pulled, the dentist cleans out the gum socket and smooths out the remaining bone. Depending on the case, the gum may be closed with one or more stitches. To stop the bleeding, a damp piece of gauze is used to bite down on, preventing the bleeding to continue.

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• Whitening

  Whitening treatments can be effective on both extrinsic and intrinsic staining. Only natural teeth can be whitened, not tooth-colored restorations. Whitening treatments include in-office bleaching procedures, dentist-supplied products for use at home, and over-the-counter (OTC) whiteners. Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are commonly used in whitening interventions and can readily permeate dental hard tissues. Temporary tooth sensitivity and gingival inflammation are the most common adverse effects of vital tooth whitening.

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• Implants

  WHAT ARE IMPLANTS? Dental implants are a surgical procedure executed using titanium-metal, screw-like posts. It replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth intended to function like real ones. Implants may be the treatment you are looking for if you: Have one or more missing teeth Have adequate bone to secure the implants or are able to have a bone graft Have healthy oral tissues Don’t have health conditions that will affect bone healing Are unable or unwilling to wear dentures Are willing to commit several months to the process Don’t smoke tobacco

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• Aligners

  Why Get Clear Correct's Aligners? Healthier When teeth have good alignment, they work more effectively like gears Flexbility As opposed to braces, aligners are removable when eating or brushing your teeth Invisible Clear Correct’s aligners are invisible and unnoticeable Prolong Teeth Health Getting better alignment will ensure that teeth’s health stay in shape for the long run Comfort The design uses ClearQuartz tri-layer material which provides gentle and consistent pressure Stain Resistant Compared to other aligners, Clear Connect’s material resists any potential for staining

  Link: Aligners