| Dr. Susana Kay is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Dental Care.
Q. What is preventive treatment?
A. Preventive treatment is a method of practice that minimizes or eliminates cavities and gum disease by educating people, on what causes tooth decay and gum disease and how they can prevent it. My office has an excellent preventive maintenance program, which includes placing sealants, as well as, an excellent periodontal management program that ranges from simple teeth cleanings to treatments of advanced gum disease. We do this using various modern methods and instruments including laser treatments, the Perio Protect program, medications we place under the gum line and special tools toothpastes and rinses we offer patients for their home care.
Q. What is an invisalign and how does it work and the benefits of it?
A. I am an Invisalign certified dentist. Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment method of using plastic aligner trays, that gradually move teeth into the desired position. These aligner trays are clear plastic, so they are not visible and are worn about 22 hours a day over several months. The advantage over traditional braces is that these trays can be removed to eat, brush and floss and can even be used to bleach the teeth. The aligners gently move teeth, so people describe them as being very comfortable without the pain of traditional braces.
Q. What are porcelain veneers and how can they improve a person’s smile?
A. Porcelain veneers are a type of restoration that is used to cover the teeth to change the color, shape, size and length of a person’ s teeth. A person can have a total smile makeover using this process. They can have whiter, straighter teeth in just two visits. Since the veneer is extremely thin, it is a more conservative way to restore teeth than a crown would be. Once the veneer is bonded onto the tooth, it makes the tooth stronger and lasts many years.
Q. What dental routines should one incorporate into daily routines?
A. Besides brushing twice a day with a recommended electric toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste, I recommend flossing at least once a day at bedtime. Waterpiks are also a wonderful adjunct to brushing and flossing and I always recommend them for people in braces. Start brushing your child’ s teeth with a very soft child sized brush and no toothpaste, as soon as, the teeth erupt. This will not only keep the teeth clean, but introduce the child to a good habit.
Q. What is the difference between a bridge and an implant?
A. A bridge is used to fill in a gap when a tooth is missing. It does not actually replace a tooth, but does fill the space. This is done by placing a crown on the teeth on either side of the gap and connecting a false tooth between them. The bridge is made of a metal substructure covered by porcelain, all in one piece. The crowns are then permanently cemented to the teeth and now it gives the illusion that the missing tooth has been replaced. An implant is used to actually replace a missing tooth. A titanium post similar in size and length to the root of the missing tooth is surgically placed into the jaw bone and then a crown is cemented onto the top of the post. It is a permanent replacement for the missing tooth and a much better option than a bridge. With good care, implants can last longer than bridges and the teeth on either side do not have to be unnecessarily crowned.
Q. How do dental sealants work?
A. Sealants are a part of preventive dentistry. Many people have deep grooves and fissures on the top surfaces of their teeth. The tips of the toothbrush bristles do not fit into these tiny spaces to remove the bacteria and food, which become trapped and eventually cause decay. To prevent this we clean the tooth and treat it with an adhesive and then flow a liquid plastic into the grooves to seal them off from contaminants. Then we shine a special light on them, which hardens them permanently. The result is a glassy smooth surface. We recommend children get sealants placed as soon as their first permanent teeth erupt, usually around the age of 6 years.
Q. How to contact Dr. Yorita if we have further questions?
A.
Address : 7630 E. Capman Avenue, #A
Orange, CA 92869
Phone : (714) 997-8497
Email : doctorkay92869@sbcglobal.net
Website : www.susanakaydds.com |
