Services

FAQ

What causes tooth decay?

Tooth decay is caused by acids which are produced by bacteria in the presence of sugar. To prevent decay these bacteria, sugar, and acids must be periodically removed by way of brushing and flossing.

What is the best kind of toothbrush?

Generally speaking, a soft bristled toothbrush is best. Whether you use a manual toothbrush or an electric, anything harder than soft, is too hard. Stiff bristles may give you that clean feeling, but they can also abrade your teeth and cause gum recession.

How do I use dental floss?

Floss is cheap, so don’t be stingy! Tear off about a forearm’s length to start. Wrap one end around the middle finger of one hand to “anchor” it, and pick up the other end about 4-6 inches away with the middle finger of the other hand. This allows you to manipulate the floss with your thumb and fore finger. As you soil a section of floss, “reel” in another 4-6 inches of clean floss with the anchor finger as you release the floss with the other finger. Once you get the floss past the tooth contact, move the floss up and down, perpendicular to the tooth. Never shoe-shine the teeth in a back-and-forth motion! You will either notch your teeth or cut your gums, or both!

How often should I get a dental checkup?

For most people, a checkup and cleaning every 6 months is a standard protocol. Depending on a person’s dental health, however, a dental cleaning every 3 to 4 months may be recommended.

How often should I get X-Rays?

For most people, a complete radiographic survey should be done every 3 years, and a “check up” or “recall” set every 6 to 12 months. A complete set of X-Rays is estimated to expose you to the same amount of radiation you get on a flight from San Francisco to Seattle. Doctors use X-Rays as an aid in diagnosing problems. Without X-Rays “seeing” the problem will be difficult if not impossible.


Cosmetic

Whitening:

Home Whitening involves making a custom fit mouth tray to hold a special whitening gel around each tooth. The preparation of the custom tray is done by us and we give you the whitening gel agent (several times stronger than an off the shelf brand). With home whitening, you can whiten your teeth up to 9 shades whiter. And the best thing is, you can do it all in the comfort of your own home. Our patients experience about the same results of a single visit whitening procedure. However, this only works if you follow the instructions correctly and use it accordingly.

Bonding:

bonding

Bonding is a method whereby a tooth colored material is bonded to your tooth to change the shape, color, or contour. Bonding can be used for small chips, or even covering spaces between teeth. Although bonding can be done in just 1 visit, and is less expensive than veneers, bonding has certain limitations which should be discussed with the Doctor before treatment. Bonding is fast, practical, and cost effective.

Veneers:

veneers

Porcelain veneers are probably the most aesthetic means of creating a more pleasing and beautiful smile. They require a minimal amount of tooth reduction (approximately .5mm – 1mm) and are, therefore, a more conservative restoration than a crown. Veneers allow us to alter tooth position, shape, size, and color. They are not the only alternative for aesthetic abnormalities, but are truly a remarkable restoration.

Fillings:

before-after-white-fillings

There is now NEW technology that allows a tooth to be filled with a strong chemically bonded material that can be matched to the color of your tooth making it appear nearly invisible. Research has proven that a tooth with a natural color bonded filling is 90-95% as strong as a natural non-cavity healthy tooth, whereas a silver filling is only 40-45% as strong as a non-cavity tooth. The benefits of this new filling technology include: beautiful in appearance; completed in a single visit; no filling leaks; less chance of tooth cracking.


Invisalign

unnamed-Custom

Dr. Nazeri is a qualified and trained provider of the Invisalign system. With the help of the clear aligners we are able to give you the smile you desire without the look of the traditional metal brackets and braces. We offer complimentary consultations to discuss your options so call us today.

Invisalign’s® clear, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted. Invisalign® is great for adults and teenagers.

What is Invisalign®?
• Invisalign® is an alternative way to straighten your teeth without braces.
• Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets.
• Invisalign® has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide.

How Does Invisalign® Work?
• You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
• As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the their final position.
• You’ll visit us about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
• Total treatment time averages 9 – 15 months and the average number of aligners during treatment is between 18 – 30, but both will vary from case to case.

How Are Aligners Made? You’d Be Amazed…
• The aligners are made through a combination of our expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.

Visit the Invisalign® website

Restorative

Replacing Old Dentistry:

before-after-white-fillings

With the use of advanced dental materials, your old silver fillings can be removed and replaced with a strong chemically bonded material that can be matched to the color of your tooth making it appear nearly invisible. Old “bulky” crowns can be replaced with new, natural-looking ones. Old, discolored, “fake-looking” veneers can be updated using newer, stronger, materials and will make your smile look even more beautiful.


Bridges:

before-after-white-fillings

The loss of a single tooth can have a major impact on your dental health and personal appearance. When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can shift out of their normal position. These teeth are often more susceptible to decay or gum disease because they are more difficult to clean around. All of this shifting and drifting will lead to changes in the bite, which may put stress on the jaws, muscles and teeth.


Crowns:

crown

A crown is sometimes termed a “cap” or a “jacket.” A crown will restore a broken, heavily filled or cracked tooth to its original size, shape and tooth color. A crown may be recommended after root canal therapy has been completed, as the tooth tends to become brittle and is more apt to fracture. A crown can strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and improve the appearance of your teeth. With the advances in technology we now have the ability to build these crowns with no metal present at all.



Dentures:

crown

A denture is a tooth replacement option; e.g. a single tooth, multiple teeth or a full arch. Dentures are removable. They can be crafted to provide the characteristics (tooth shape and color) the patient desires. Advances have been made in the materials used for dentures and the way they are designed. If you already have dentures (partial or full arch) you may be experiencing a loose fit or denture slipping. This can lead to gum sores, can affect your chewing and your speech, and decrease your confidence when speaking and/or laughing with others. We can also provide Denture Relines if needed.


Root Canal:

root-canal

A Root Canal may be needed if the decay has reached the tooth’s nerve. Essentially, a root canal involves cleaning out a tooth’s infected root, then filling and sealing the canal. An opening is made in the crown of the tooth and the pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned and shaped for filling. The root canals are then filled and sealed with a material to ensure complete sealing of the root canals. In most cases, a filling is placed to close the opening and then the tooth will be covered by a crown.


Topics of Interest

Pregnancy: We ask that our female patients who are pregnant or think they possibly could be to inform us prior to your X-Ray examination.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by frequent and prolonged exposure to liquids containing sugar. Bacteria use sugars as food. This produces harmful acids that directly affect a child’s teeth. The best prevention is to only use a bottle for feeding. Do not use the bottle as a pacifier. Only fill the bottle with water, or sugar-free juices. Do not fill a baby’s bottle with sugar-water or soft drinks. After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums with a damp wash cloth and start brushing the teeth after the first year.

Tobacco: Smokeless tobacco poses very serious problems including: tooth decay; eats away at your gums; leads to tooth loss; bad breath; stains your teeth; causes oral sensitivity to hot and cold and; decreases sense of taste and smell. If oral cancers are left untreated long enough, they may even cause death.

Oral piercing: Oral piercing can cause serious dental problems. Oral jewelry may cause problems such as: chip or break your teeth and/or fillings; erode your gums; damage a tooth’s inner pulp (resulting in a root canal to correct the problem); interferes with X-Rays and diagnosis; causes drooling problems; causes speech impairment and; can cause permanent numbness in your tongue.

Bruxism: Bruxism, commonly known as “tooth grinding” is the process of clenching together, and the grinding of the upper and lower teeth. During sleep, the biting force of clenched jaws can be up to six times greater than during waking hours. Bruxism can cause complications over the years such as: water down tooth enamel; break fillings or other dental work; worsening of TMJ dysfunction; jaw pain, toothaches, headaches, or earaches; tooth sensitivity and mobility and; erosion of gums and supporting bones. There is no cure for bruxism but wearing a Nightguard can control this dysfunction.

Implants

Implant Information: An implant is a metal “root” which can be placed into the jawbone. Once integrated with your bone, the implant can be used to support a crown, a bridge, or secure a removable appliance, or eliminate the need for a removable appliance. The dental implants used by most dentists and dental specialists are root-form implants, which means that they are used to replace natural tooth roots in areas of the mouth where teeth are missing. Dental implants provide an exciting option for people missing some or all of their teeth. They look, feel, and function like your own natural teeth.

Implant Benefits include: eliminates the need to “cut down” the neighboring teeth to make a bridge; maintains the jawbone structure; feels and functions like natural teeth; does not rely on other teeth for support; replaces partial plates and may be used to secure loose dentures and; cleaned and flossed like a natural tooth.


Implant Alternatives:

implant-alternatives

Before making the decision to go the implant route, ask yourself if there is another option. We offer many different implant alternatives. The different alternative options to implants that we provide are: tooth supported bridge; removable partial denture and; no treatment.

Single Tooth Implant: Implants can replace a single tooth with the use of a post that substitutes as a tooth root, and a crown that fits on an abutment on top of the post. Once placed, a single tooth implant will feel and perform like a natural tooth.

Multiple Teeth Implants: Multiple tooth implants are used to replace several teeth that are missing. This can be done by either placing implants side-by-side or by placing implants at each end of a gap and placing a crown and bridge restoration on top. Once placed, multiple tooth implants will feel and perform like natural teeth.

Full Denture Arch Implants: Full arch implants are used to replace an entire upper or lower arch of teeth. This is done by strategically placing implants along the upper or lower jaw, and attaching a denture-like attachment over abutments on the implant posts.

Implant placement:

implant

There are actually two phases to implant dentistry. Phase 1 involves using very accurate surgical techniques to make an incision in the gum tissues where implants are placed into dimensionally controlled sites (depth and width) in the jawbone. First, the gum tissue is opened and the jaw bone is tapped with a small drill then drilled with a wider drill. The implant is inserted into place. The gum tissues are then closed and the healing phase begins. This may take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to ensure a strong base. Phase 2 is where an abutment is secured to the top of the implant. Placing a new tooth crown onto the implant abutment. Implants can replace a single tooth, several teeth or your dentures.

Call us for a complimentary consultation regarding more details about contraindications of your choice.


Preventative

Oral Examination:

The areas examined include head/neck, jaws, mouth, teeth, gums, intra-oral/extra-oral soft tissues, and oral cancer screening. We use the latest technology for your oral examination. We will also discuss home care techniques.

Tooth Scaling and Root Planning:

scaling-and-planing

Scaling is necessary when plaque and tartar are detected at or below the gum line. Plaque and tartar are then scraped off the tooth’s crown and root. In many cases after scaling, the tooth’s surface is smoothed by root planing.


Periodontal Disease & Your Health:

Gum disease does not only affect the gums and inside of your mouth, but also affects your entire body! If you have gum disease you are also running the risk of many other much worse problems such as: stroke; heart disease; lung disease; diabetes; gastric ulcers; osteoporosis and; pre-term babies. The only way to prevent problems like these from occurring is to care for your gums!

Periodontal Stages:

stages-of-perio

Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease. Gums become tender, swollen and likely to bleed. This generally can be stopped with proper oral hygiene and treatment from your dentist. Periodontitis (moderate) is where the gums deteriorate and begin detaching themselves from the teeth forming gum pockets, which allows plaque to collect below the gum line. This causes tooth roots to become susceptible to decay. Periodontitis (advanced) is where a radical amount of gum tissue and bone tissue is lost. Teeth become loose and may even need to be extracted. This causes difficulties in normal everyday chewing and biting habits. If advanced periodontal disease is left untreated, patients run the risk of other serious health problems.

Brushing & Flossing: Step 1: Place bristles along the gum line at a 45 degree angle. Gently brush using a circular motion along tooth surfaces. Step 2: Brush each tooth individually! Tilt brush vertically behind the front teeth. Using the front half of the brush use the same circular motion. Step 3: Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth and use a gentle back and forth motion. Brush the tongue to remove odor producing bacteria, or use a tongue scraper. Flossing: Wind 18″ of floss around middle fingers. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving 1″-2″ length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth and index fingers for lower teeth.

Gum Lift:

gum-lift

A gum lift may be performed to create a more even gum line. Patients with a gummy smile can quickly and safely have unwanted tissue removed, thus exposing more tooth to shape a more attractive smile.


Tissue Graft:

gum-graft

Often gum tissues around the necks of the teeth recede due to periodontal disease, genetically thin tissue, or aggressive oral hygiene. As a result of recession, tooth roots often become sensitive to cold. We can perform a variety of augmentation procedures which can cover sensitive or unaesthetic root exposures. In addition to improving aesthetics, tissue grafting procedures provide a thicker band of tissue around the necks of treated teeth which improves long-term prognosis.

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Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Saturday

By Appointment

Sunday

Closed

Monday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday
By Appointment
Sunday
Closed