Frequently Asked Dental Questions San Jose

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth used to replace a missing tooth. Implants are an option for people who have lost one or more teeth due to infection, injury, or decay.

Are there different kinds of dental implants?

There are two main types of dental implants: endosteal and subperiosteal. An endosteal implant is the most common and involves your dentist placing a screw or other abutment in your jawbone surgically.

For a subperiosteal implant, your dentist ensures the framework posts protrude from your gums to support the implants. Subperiosteal implants are ideal for patients who have a minimal bone height or can't wear conventional dentures.

What's a dental implant procedure like?

Your dentist evaluates your gums to ensure they're strong enough to support the implant. Then they surgically insert a crown in place of the missing tooth.

We will create a mold of your teeth and jawbone to have the customized crown crafted in a laboratory.

After your gums heal from the placement of the post, you'll return for the placement of your crown. The entire process takes multiple visits and requires follow-ups.

Are there alternatives to a dental implant?

A bridge, extraction, or dentures are potential alternatives to a dental implant. Your dentist can discuss your needs, desired outcome, and pricing to determine your situation's best course of action.

How much does a dental implant cost?

No two patients are the same, so the price varies. While it could be on the more expensive side, some insurers cover a portion of the expense nowadays.

What type of care does a dental implant require?

After you receive an implant, you take care of it just as you would your regular teeth—brush and floss to prevent bacteria from accumulating on the implant, which could damage it.

Visit our office regularly for examinations and routine cleanings after you receive your implant. You can expect your dental implant to last a lifetime with proper care.

What is Invisalign®?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses clear plastic aligner trays to straighten your teeth and jaw. It's a popular alternative to traditional metal braces that offers patients a more comfortable, convenient, and aesthetically pleasing approach to orthodontic care. Millions of people worldwide have used Invisalign to get a straighter and healthier smile.

How does Invisalign work?

Your dentist designs your Invisalign aligner tray to fit snugly over your teeth and exert a small but constant pressure that gradually pushes them toward a straighter position in your mouth. Over time, this continuous pressure causes your teeth to shift into their desired arrangement.

If this method sounds familiar, it's because it's the same basic principles on which traditional metal braces operate. The difference is that your Invisalign aligners accomplish this task with an added degree of comfort, convenience, and cosmetic appeal.

How can Invisalign improve my smile?

Invisalign effectively treats many different orthodontic conditions, including:

• Crooked teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Widely spaced teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Open bite

These are essentially the same conditions for which you would typically use metal braces, making Invisalign an exciting new alternative to the more traditional orthodontic systems.

Why should I straighten my teeth?

Straight teeth and a properly aligned bite do much more than just make your smile look more cosmetically appealing; they also improve its function.

When your teeth or jaw are misaligned, it distributes the force in your bite unevenly, which can lead to excessive wear and tear in localized areas of your mouth. Uneven bite force can also cause pain in your jaw muscles and lead to TMJ disorder. Straightening your teeth makes your biting force more evenly distributed across your mouth, alleviating these symptoms.

Straight teeth are also easier to keep clean. If you have crooked or crowded teeth, there are simply more areas for plaque and debris to collect, and if you have particularly tricky nooks and crannies in your smile, it might be more challenging to remove that buildup, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. By straightening your teeth, you make it easier to stay healthy.

What are the benefits of Invisalign?

Invisalign's system of clear plastic aligners has several benefits over traditional metal braces, including:

• Comfort - Your aligners' smooth plastic won't irritate your cheeks' insides like the wires and brackets of traditional metal braces.
• Convenience - Unlike metal braces, Invisalign's aligners are removable, so you won't have to change your diet or learn special techniques for cleaning your teeth. All you have to do is remove your aligners whenever you want to eat, brush, or floss, and put them back in afterward.
• Cosmetics - Your aligners are virtually invisible when they're on your teeth, so you won't have to endure the mouthful-of-metal look that's unavoidable with braces.

What are root canals?

A root canal is a dental procedure in which your dentist cleans, disinfects, and repairs the inside of your tooth, or its pulp, to restore it and protect the tooth from future damage. You might need a root canal if your tooth is severely decayed or infected.

What are signs I might need a root canal?

Some signs and symptoms that indicate you might need a root canal include:

• A toothache
• New temperature sensitivity
• Facial or gum swelling
• Tooth discoloration
• A hole in your tooth
• An abscess

Is a root canal right for me?

To find out if you're a good candidate for a root canal, our team will ask about your symptoms and review your oral health history. We’ll take dental X-rays and examine your teeth and gums. In the case of severe decay or trauma, an extraction might be the best option. For minor corrosion or tooth damage, your dentist might recommend a tooth-colored dental filling or crown instead of a root canal.

What should I expect during a root canal?

Your dentist will numb the treatment area so you don't feel any pain during the process. They’ll make an opening in the top part of your tooth and remove the pulp or tissue in the inner chamber.

Your dentist cleans the canals, uses medication to get rid of bacteria, and fills them with specialized dental materials or a tiny post to support a crown. Crowns are like caps that fit over your teeth to protect them from future damage and decay. The team at Center for Advanced Dentistry creates custom, long-lasting crowns to give you the best result.

How should I care for my newly restored tooth?

After a root canal, your tooth might feel a little sensitive for a few days. Take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed for relief. Care for your teeth at home by brushing twice a day and flossing daily. Call us if your crown becomes loose or damaged and attend routine dental cleanings and exams every six months.

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure in which your dentist uses professional-strength products to significantly whiten your teeth, improve their overall appearance, and help you gain confidence. We use ZOOM!® and Opalescence products to give you the most desirable outcomes.

Is teeth whitening right for me?

To find out if you're a good candidate for in-office or at-home teeth whitening, we’ll review your oral health history and desired outcome. We’ll also complete a dental exam and might take dental X-rays if you're due for them. We’ll tailor each tooth whitening treatment to your needs.

How can I keep my teeth white?

Proper at-home oral hygiene is the best way to keep your teeth white between dental visits. Brush your teeth at least two times daily, floss daily, and attend routine teeth cleanings at the Center for Advanced Dentistry.

Limit foods and drinks that stain, such as:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Soda
• Tomato Sauce
• Dark Juices
• Popsicles
• Beets
• Soy Sauce
• Balsamic Vinegar

Despite your best efforts, staining can still occur over time. When it does, schedule a tooth whitening appointment at the Center for Advanced Dentistry by phone or online right away.

What is emergency dental care?

Whether you're having pain in your teeth, gums, or experiencing an unexpected trauma, you may need immediate dental care. Our team at the Center for Advanced Dentistry provides emergency dental care regardless of the time of day.

Quickly getting care for your issue can be vital to saving your tooth and keeping your oral health in check. The trained professionals at our practice know how to keep you calm and treat your emergency with the gentle care you need to get you back to your daily routine.

When should I seek emergency dental care?

Many conditions can require an emergency dental care visit. These might include:

• Broken, chipped, or cracked tooth
• Knocked-out tooth
• Severe toothache
• Painful and inflamed gums
• An abscess
• Deep cut in your mouth

If your mouth is bleeding, try to stay calm and apply a sterile cloth to the cut to stop the bleeding. If you have swelling, you can also put a cold compress on the area to relieve your pain and decrease inflammation.

Pain in your mouth on any level calls for emergency attention. In all cases of concern, you should reach out to the Center for Advanced Dentistry to see us for treatment immediately.

What if my tooth gets knocked out?

If your tooth gets knocked out, you need to take the following steps before arriving at the Center for Advanced Dentistry:

• Find your knocked-out tooth if you can
• Do not touch the knocked-out tooth at the roots
• Rinse it under warm water
• Try to insert your tooth into your empty socket
• Bite down on it slowly if you get it back in

If you can't get your tooth in its socket, keep it moist by putting it in your mouth inside your cheek, or drop it in a glass of milk.

Be sure to call us immediately after the incident for emergency dental care. You have better odds of saving your tooth if you get to us quickly.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder where you repeatedly start and stop breathing or gasp for air while you sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common form of sleep apnea that obstructs breathing because your throat muscles relax, narrowing your airway.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Signs and symptoms that might indicate you have sleep apnea include:

• Gasping for air during sleep
• Loud snoring
• Episodes of not breathing
• Morning headaches
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Irritability
• Difficulty paying attention

Getting a good night's sleep is vital for your overall health and wellness, which is why seeking treatment for sleep apnea is essential.

What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your tongue gets stuck against the back of your throat and narrows or blocks your upper airway, causing breathing pauses or shallow breathing. Risk factors for developing it include:

• Obesity
• Having a thick neck
• Older age
• Being male
• Nasal congestion
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Using sedatives
• Family history of sleep apnea

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular or respiratory complications and unpleasant symptoms associated with the condition.

How does a dentist diagnose sleep apnea?

To determine if you have sleep apnea, we’ll review your symptoms and medical history. We’ll examine your mouth, throat, and breathing, and might recommend you complete home sleep tests to measure oxygen levels, heart rate, and airflow patterns while you sleep.

What are my sleep apnea treatment options?

The Center for Advanced Dentistry can customize an oral appliance you wear at night to reduce or eliminate snoring and breathing problems. Oral appliances for sleep apnea are small, flexible mouthpieces. They properly position your upper and lower jaw to keep your airway open and give you a restful night's sleep.

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device is another sleep apnea treatment that uses air pressure, tubes, and a mask to push your tongue forward and open your airway during sleep. It can reduce snoring and prevent breathing problems.

What are veneers?

Porcelain and ceramic veneers are tooth-colored shells that can drastically improve the appearance of your teeth by enhancing their color, shape, and size. Veneers produce the look of beautiful natural teeth without invasive dental work or downtime. We can create custom-fit veneers to meet your personalized needs and desired outcome.

Why might I choose veneers?

You might choose porcelain or ceramic veneers if your natural teeth are:

• Worn down
• Misshapen
• Weak
• Cracked
• Chipped
• Stained
• Decaying
• Crooked
• Gapped
• Too small

Are veneers right for me?

To find out if veneers are the proper aesthetic dental procedure for you, Dr. Lim will review your oral health history and discuss your desired outcome. He’ll examine your teeth and gums and might take dental X-rays. Other cosmetic dentistry options include dental bonding, crowns, bridges, dental implants, and dentures.

What happens during veneer placement?

Before veneer placement, your dentist cleans your teeth and removes old surface restorations. They take impressions of your prepared teeth and send the information to a dental lab, where technicians create custom-fit veneers.

When the veneers are ready, your dentist uses special resins and a curing light to bond veneer shells to the front and sides of your teeth. Your dentist shapes and polishes the veneers to perfect your smile. The procedure is fast and painless but produces impressive cosmetic results.

How should I care for my new veneers?

To maintain the integrity of your new veneers, brush your teeth at least two times daily. Floss every day and avoid chewing on ice and other hard objects. Attend routine teeth cleanings and dental exams every six months. Call the Center for Advanced Dentistry team if your veneers get damaged or become loose.

What's a dental crown?

A dental crown is a cap that covers your natural tooth and is customized to blend in with your surrounding teeth. It's common to get a crown to fix a cracked or broken tooth.

When does a dentist use a dental crown?

We may use a dental crown to fix or hold together parts of a cracked tooth. Dental crowns might be a good choice if your tooth is:

• Broken
• Missing
• Misshapen
• Discolored
• Decayed or severely worn down

Additionally, a crown holds dental bridges together and covers dental implants.

Are there different types of dental crowns?

Your permanent crown can be made of metal, stainless steel, porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic, zirconia, or a resin composite. The right material depends upon your budget, the amount of damage sustained by your tooth, where that damage is, which tooth needs a crown, and other factors that we’ll discuss with you.

How does a dentist place a crown?

The first step to placing a crown involves our team removing the outer layer of the tooth, along with any decay. We may need to perform a core buildup by inserting a post and covering it with a dental filling to create a surface to attach the crown.

Next, we’ll take an impression and create a temporary crown made of stainless steel or acrylic-based material as a protective covering until your permanent crown arrives from the laboratory.

Approximately two weeks later, you'll come back to the office to have the permanent crown cemented to the tooth.

The procedure is relatively painless, and we’ll take all the necessary precautions to make sure you're comfortable during the process.

After the procedure, you may experience some sensitivity, but it's minimal and should subside over time.