Cosmetic Dentistry in Orange County near Costa Mesa – Sedation Dentistry FAQs and More
At Dr. Mortensen's cosmetic dentistry practice, serving Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, and other Orange County cities, we offer sedation dentistry, dentures, dental implants, and a variety of other techniques that patients often have questions about. A few commonly asked questions are answered here; if you have additional questions, feel free to contact us.
- What are the benefits of sedation dentistry?
- Which dentures are for me?
- What are dental implants?
- Is teeth whitening right for me?
- Why get dental crowns?
- What is periodontal disease?
- How can my diet affect my dental health?
- How do I prevent tooth decay in my child?
- What TMJ disorder treatments are available?
- How can you treat halitosis (bad breath)?
What are the benefits of sedation dentistry?
For patients throughout Orange County, sedation dentistry is a great, safe way to breeze through the dental treatment you need. Sedation dentistry is so painless, your fear of going to the dentist will be erased in just one visit.
At our cosmetic dentistry practice near Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, we have provided countless Orange County patients with the sedation dentistry they need to ease their dental fears. Sedation dentistry doesn't just let patients breeze through treatment, they wake up refreshed and with little memory of what happened—it lets Dr. Mortensen tackle extensive dental treatment in just one or two appointments! Sedation dentistry is great for those with very busy schedules, who need a variety of dental treatments, or who experience anxiety about dental visits. Read more about sedation dentistry, or contact Dr. Mortensen for an appointment today.
Which dentures are for me?
There are several types of dentures, but they are all removable and all designed to replace missing teeth. Partial dentures are dentures that replace only a few missing teeth. Complete dentures are dentures that replace a complete set of missing teeth. Conventional dentures are dentures that are made and placed after the remaining teeth have been removed and the tissues have healed. Immediate dentures are dentures that are placed immediately after the removal of the remaining teeth. An over-denture is a denture that fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth or implants. Read more about dentures here.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are one of the most dramatic and rewarding cosmetic dentistry solutions available at our practice near Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach in Orange County.
A dental implant is a titanium metal replacement for the root of a tooth that is surgically implanted in the jawbone. As the body heals for approximately two to six months after the surgery, the bone around the implant fuses to the implant. Once the healing phase is complete, the implants are used to anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures. Dental implants are the most natural replacement for a missing tooth. Contact Dr. Mortensen today to find out more about your options.
Is teeth whitening right for me?
Teeth whitening is one of the most exciting cosmetic dentistry procedures we offer at our Fountain Valley practice, near Costa Mesa.
Advanced dental techniques now provide consumers with exciting new options for enhancing their smiles. Revolutionary methods are available for bleaching teeth to make smiles sparkle! Teeth bleaching or whitening lightens the color of teeth whether darkened from age, coffee, tea, or tobacco. Its brightening effects can last up to five years after the treatment depending on your personal habits, such as smoking or drinking coffee or tea.
More than 90 percent of teeth whitening patients feel extremely satisfied with their treatment. Bleaching, however, cannot whiten artificial materials such as fillings, crowns, or porcelain veneers. In addition, teeth bleaching is not recommended for those with sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, teeth with damaged or worn-down enamel, or those who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Why get dental crowns?
Dental crowns are useful and important for two reasons. Primarily, crowns restore the appearance of your face and smile. Since teeth play a role in supporting your facial muscles, it is necessary to have full teeth to maintain the way you look. Second, dental crowns restore the function of your teeth. They keep your jaw and bite aligned and maintain the strength of your bite.
We offer dental crowns and many other cosmetic dentistry procedures at our Fountain Valley practice, near Costa Mesa.
What is periodontal disease?
Signs of periodontal disease include bleeding gums, redness of gum tissue, swelling of gums around the teeth, breath odor, receding gums, and loose teeth. Periodontal disease can go on for years without pain and without detection unless specific examination procedures are performed. Visual oral examination by itself (even by a dentist) will not reliably detect periodontal disease until it has reached an advanced stage.
Early detection and adequate diagnosis require measurement of pockets (the crevice between the tooth and gum) with a periodontal probe. At Andrew G. Mortensen, DDS, Inc., effective prevention and treatment is available, but the damage caused as the disease progresses is irreversible. Early detection by Dr. Mortensen and immediate treatment are critical to preventing tooth loss and disfigurement. Although the procedure is simple, painless, and requires only a few minutes, millions of American adults have never had it done. We urge you to get a regular dental examination that can prevent periodontal disease. Don't let dental anxiety make you stay away from the dentist; preventing periodontal disease is less painful than enduring the disease in its advanced stages. For our Orange County patients, we offer sedation dentistry that can make dental visits—and tests for periodontal disease—a breeze.
How can my diet affect my dental health?
Your dental health may be more closely related to your diet than you think. Most people know that consuming sugar, especially in sticky forms, encourages tooth decay. But did you know that a healthy immune system is necessary in controlling periodontal (gum) disease? Or that a diet lacking in certain nutrients can reduce your body's natural resistance to oral and dental infections, including gum disease and tooth decay, creating a need for extensive cosmetic dentistry down the road? Counseling in the basic food groups can also help improve your dental health—as well as your health in general!
In addition, fluoride—or lack of it—has a noticeable effect on dental health. When fluoride isn't adequately supplied by water, tooth decay can be prevented by the topical application of fluoride, or its supplementation through tablets taken orally.
Effective brushing, good eating habits, daily fluoride use, and a balanced diet can help prevent infectious dental disease, including tooth decay and periodontal disease. For more information, contact Dr. Mortensen.
How do I prevent tooth decay in my child?
Fluoride is especially important to prevent tooth decay in children. Most water supplies are fluoridated, though the water might not contain enough fluoride to control tooth decay. For more information about the fluoridation of your tap water, call your local water district.
When drinking water doesn't supply adequate fluoridation, fluoride supplements are essential. It's most effective to give your child supplements starting shortly after birth and continuing through 12 years of age—or the time that second permanent molars erupt.
Lastly, it's vital to have your child go in for regular dental check-ups starting at 18 months of age. At these dental appointments, you and your child will be further counseled on effective methods of maintaining oral health.
What TMJ disorder treatments are available?
Proper diagnosis is critical to make sure you receive treatment for your particular condition. We offer neuromuscular dentistry, which can provide you just that—proper diagnosis and treatment for TMJ.
At Andrew G. Mortensen, DDS, Inc., we will only recommend treatment after conducting a thorough health history and clinical exam, taking appropriate X-rays, and perhaps confirming the condition through other diagnostic tests. We may prescribe a multiple-phase treatment plan. Only minor corrective treatment may be needed. Treatment may be simple or require more steps for alleviating the condition, depending on the degree of severity. Some of these treatments include:
- Taking a non-aspirin pain reliever or prescription medications
- Eating soft foods
- Avoiding chewing gum
- Applying moist heat or ice
- Physical therapy
- Teaching relaxation techniques to control muscle tension
- Stress management training techniques
- Posture training
- Wearing bite plates to eliminate the effects of grinding the teeth
- Adjusting the bite, known as "occlusal equilibration"
- Orthodontics, to put the teeth in proper position
- Surgery
How can you treat halitosis (bad breath)?
Dr. Mortensen feels that while bad breath might be a symptom of some other disorder, it most likely stems from dental decay and periodontal disease. Periodontitis is a disease affecting gums and bone that support the teeth, and it results from inadequate tooth brushing and flossing. In this disease, the irritated gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets between the teeth and the gums. These pockets fill with bacteria and pus, which give off a foul odor.
Patients with bad breath need a complete dental evaluation by Dr. Mortensen. If gum disease and/or dental decay is diagnosed, it can be treated readily. The patient will no longer have an infection in his or her mouth, and he or she will no longer have the embarrassment of bad breath.
Don't let fear of the dentist keep you from getting the treatment you need to battle halitosis and/or periodontal disease. We offer sedation dentistry to make dental visits relaxing and painless.
If you live in Orange County and have further questions about sedation dentistry or any of our cosmetic dentistry techniques, or if you wish to make an appointment, contact us today. We serve patients in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, and beyond.
