San Ramon Cosmetic Dentistry Blog | Sean Michael Anderson, D.D.S.

San Ramon, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek and Dublin, CA

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

What are dental Crowns?


When a tooth is heavily decayed it is more likely to fracture and lose considerable tooth substance. The greater risk is that a fracture line may go below the margin of the gum which makes restoration (a filling) more difficult or near impossible. In a situations like that, the best fit maybe a full crown. Crowns may be made from several different materials.

E-Max  is a type of all-ceramic crown which is preferred for its longer lasting, aesthetic qualities.

Lava dental crowns were created by the need for all-ceramic dental restorations in the posterior region.

Porcelain fused to metal crown (PFM) is a full cast crown that is constructed by fusing the porcelain to all or most of the metal surfaces.

Gold is a full gold cast crown.

Porcelain is usually always used for the front teeth but may be used for the back teeth (Lava). This material can be made to appear very natural though several factors affect this .

If you think you may be in need of a dental crown or any dental work or if you have dental work that has been diagnosed, and have not scheduled to complete your treatment, now is the perfect time to put your insurance to good use.

Call today and make your next appointment.  Our office is open Monday -Thursday 7:30am - 4:30pm 

posted by Francine at 3:05 PM

Monday, April 14, 2014

Family dentistry

Family dentistry addresses oral health at every stage of life. Children and Teens have very different dental needs than adults, and qualified family dentists deliver comprehensive oral care from baby teeth to permanent teeth.  
Not only do family dentists understand how children’s teeth change with age, but they also recognize that children may fear going to the dentist. Dr. Anderson has a gentle approach so that children will develop positive associations with regular dental checkups and build good oral hygiene habits for life.
Like general dentistry, family dentistry is concerned with oral hygiene and the health of your teeth. However, family dentists focus on the unique needs of children of all ages. Just a few of the services offered by Dr. Anderson  are: 
  • Regular cleanings 
  • Fluoride treatments 
  • Cavity identification and filling 
  • Treatments for gum disease 
If you are ready to find out how qualified family dentists can care for the oral health of your entire family, please Dr. Sean Anderson D.D.S  today. 

posted by Francine at 10:27 AM

Monday, April 7, 2014

Sedation Dentistry

Sedation Dentistry

If you feel that the right dentist and psychological techniques alone won’t do the trick for you, have a look at the available pharmacological options for coping with dental anxiety.

These are not recommended for use instead of, but in addition to a caring dentist. Trust your gut instinct while figuring out which methods might work for you.
Sedation is sometimes touted as “the solution for overcoming dental anxiety or phobia”, but in reality, many people don’t like the idea of sedation. Scores on dental anxiety tests bear little or no correlation to the need for (or desirability of) sedation.

Sedation may not be a good option if:
  • control and trust are a major issue for you
  • you’re considering sedation to “make life easier” for your dentist, for example because you fear that they will get frustrated or angry with you
  • you feel you would benefit from a gentle approach which would involve being talked through procedures, going at your pace, and using stop signals
  • you feel you’re being “bullied” into accepting sedation
  • you have an intense dislike for or fear of the drugs used for sedation (or the psych pharmaceutical industry in general)
  • you’re worried that sedation will interfere with your judgment and your ability to communicate your concerns to your dentist
Types of Dental Sedation
The 2 most common forms of sedation on offered in Dr. Andersons office is:
  1. Inhalation sedation (also known as “laughing gas”, “happy gas”, nitrous oxide, “gas and air”, relative analgesia)
·        Nitrous oxide works very rapidly – it reaches the brain within 20 seconds, and relaxation and pain-killing properties develop after 2 or 3 minutes.
·        You can safely drive home and don’t need an escort.

  1. Oral sedation (anti-anxiety pills or a liquid)
·        Has a fixed duration of action (because the effects of pills or intravenous drugs last for a specific time span)
·        If you’re a good candidate for oral sedation, Dr. Anderson will select an appropriate anti-anxiety or sedative drug for you to take at a pre-determined time before your appointment. These safe, widely-prescribed drugs diminish anxiety and help patients relax.
·        When you choose oral sedation, you must have a responsible adult who can drive you to and from your appointment and spend some time with you after the appointment until the sedative wears off completely.

None of these involve “being put to sleep”; even though advertisements for “sleep dentistry” Being put to sleep is called general anaesthesia.

“Sleep Dentistry” – Mixed Feelings
There can be a conflict between your dental fears, on the one hand, and your need for control on the other. If you choose sedation, this can pretty much eliminate your anxiety about discomfort from the dental procedures, if that’s what you’re afraid of. Or, if you’re afraid of a panic attack while sitting in the dentist’s chair, sedation might eliminate that fear, too. But if you worried about not being in control of proceedings, “sleep dentistry” may be a hindrance rather than a help. It may be worth discussing inhalation sedation (laughing gas) with Dr. Anderson  if you don’t like the idea of loss of memory for the procedure, and if some sense of control is important to you.

Dr. Anderson  will consult with you to determine your anxiety level and decide whether oral sedation is safe for you, based on medical history and present health conditions. Each room at Dr. Andersons can be equipped with Nitrous Oxide to meet your relaxation and sedation needs if you are not a candidate for oral sedation.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to dental sedation. Dr. Anderson is quite happily offer both psychological methods and sedation side by side.  Make sure Dr. Anderson and or staff knows your preferences!

If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in the San Ramon, California area, please contact us today.

posted by Francine at 2:38 PM

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom Tooth Problems 
dent_01.jpgWhat are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the upper and lower third molars, located at the very back of the mouth. They are called wisdom teeth because usually they come in when a person is between age 17 and 21 or older-old enough to have gained some "wisdom." Wisdom teeth that are healthy and properly positioned do not cause problems.
What causes problems with wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth may break partway through your gums, causing a flap of gum tissue to grow over them where food can become trapped and a gum infection can develop. Wisdom teeth can also come in crooked or facing the wrong direction. Or, if your jaw is not large enough to give them room, wisdom teeth may become impacted and unable to break through your gums. You may have trouble properly cleaning around wisdom teeth because they are so far in the back of your mouth and may be crowded.
What are the symptoms?
Wisdom teeth often cause no symptoms. Symptoms that may mean your wisdom teeth need to be removed include:
  • Pain or jaw stiffness near an impacted tooth.
  • Pain or irritation from a tooth coming in at an awkward angle and rubbing against your cheek, tongue, or top or bottom of the mouth.
  • An infected swelling in the flap of gum tissue that has formed on top of an impacted tooth that has partially broken through the gum.
  • Crowding of other teeth.
  • Tooth decay or gum disease if there's not enough room to properly care for the wisdom tooth and surrounding teeth.
Most problems with wisdom teeth develop in people between the ages of 15 and 25. Few people older than 30 develop problems that require removal of their wisdom teeth.
How are problems with wisdom teeth diagnosed?
Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums for signs of a wisdom tooth coming through your gum or crowding other teeth. You will have X-rays to find out whether your wisdom teeth are causing problems now or are likely to cause problems in the future.
How are they treated?
The most common treatment for wisdom tooth problems is removal (extraction) of the tooth. Experts disagree about whether to remove a wisdom tooth that is not causing symptoms or problems. Oral surgeons generally agree that removing a wisdom tooth is easier in younger people (usually before age 20), when the tooth's roots and the jawbone are not completely developed. After age 20, the jawbone tends to get harder, and healing typically takes longer.
If you think you are having problems with your wisdom teeth. Call today our office is open Monday -Thursday 7:30am -4:30pm  and make your next appointment.
If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in the San Ramon, California area, please contact us today.

posted by Francine at 8:26 AM

925.269.2700

Sean Michael Anderson, D.D.S
Neuromuscular & Aesthetic Cosmetic Dentistry

1501 Bollinger Canyon Road Suite G
San Ramon, CA 94583

Disclaimer: San Ramon, CA cosmetic dentist Dr. Sean Anderson's website only provides information on cosmetic dentistry, neuromuscular dentistry, and family dentistry in Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Pleasanton , Walnut Creek
and the San Ramon area south of San Francisco. This information is not to be taken as medical advice.
Copyright © 2008 Sean Michael Anderson, D.D.S., CA.
All rights reserved. Website designed, developed and optimized by Page 1 Solutions, LLC