Root Canals: Why? | Yorba Linda Dentist

If you ask any average American what they fear most about going to the dentist and chances are, they will respond root canals. It’s true. Most patients assimilate root canals to lots of pain, and they dodge coming into contact with them as much as possible. Unfortunately, this isn’t by continuing proper dental hygiene, but by avoiding dental appointments. The problem is, avoiding the inevitable isn’t going to help your cause. In fact, by dodging the dental chair, you are likely making more of a mess than you realize. Because root canal therapy, or endodontic treatment, is absolutely necessary when the nerve of the tooth is infected due to exposure to bacteria.

Because the buildup of bacteria is mainly caused by poor oral hygiene, it is essential to maintain excellent oral healthy by brushing, flossing, and using mouth rinse. Although poor oral health is one of the main reasons for root canal therapy, failing dental restorations and cracked teeth also allow bacteria to leak inside the tooth and infect the nerve. Not only will this situation cause excruciating pain but will result in root canal therapy to treat your condition.

So, what is the easiest way to prevent endodontic treatment and root canal therapy?

The answer is simple. Proper dental care and regular dental visits. Scheduling regular visits will ensure that your teeth are thoroughly examined for any signs of decay or other dental predicaments. Avoid undergoing the painful symptoms of endodontic problems and consult about preventing root canal therapy.

For more information about root canals, call Dr. Andrey Eng in Yorba Linda, CA at 714-779-2736 or visit www.andreyengdds.com.

Dr. Eng proudly serve patients from Yorba Linda and all surrounding areas.

Which Veneer Is the Ideal Choice? | Yorba Linda Dentist

If you had the ideal smile, would you hide it? Likely no. We all want a fantastic smile and will endure lots of dental time in order to achieve it. One of the best ways to improve chips, discoloration, misalignment and other complications is with the use of porcelain veneers.

A porcelain veneer is a medical appliance that’s applied as a cosmetic dental treatment. It’s thin and made out of pieces of porcelain that’s shaped to fit on the front of the teeth. Veneers are strong, durable and natural-looking. They are custom-made to match both the shape and color of the patient’s teeth, but not all veneers are created alike. Here is a brief description of all three versions:

MAC veneers. Made with pressed ceramics, this particular brand is different from others, which use layered ceramics.  MAC veneers are also widely preferred by celebrities and athletes alike due to the realistic and translucent appearance it creates and its 16 color hues.

Da Vince veneers. Da Vince veneers are very thin and as a result are rarely noticeable. The brand has been around for over 25 hours and was the brand of choice in the tv show Extreme Makeover.

Lumineers. This particular brand of veneers is made from a special patented cerinate porcelain that is both very durable and at the same time, very thin. It is so thin that it’s been compared to contact lenses. Lumineers are widely considered as the brand of choice for patients who’re looking to attain that “bright, Hollywood smile”.

When it comes to veneers, it’s best to listen to the assessment of your cosmetic dentist about what will benefit your esthetic goals best and what the best course of action is for long-lasting results.

For more information about veneers, call Dr. Andrey Eng in Yorba Linda, CA at 714-779-2736 or visit www.andreyengdds.com.

Dr. Eng proudly serve patients from Yorba Linda and all surrounding areas.

Don’t Be Scared of Dental Appointments | Yorba Linda Dentist

If we want to maintain a healthy smile, we have some responsibilities. We need to brush, floss and rinse on a daily basis. But in addition, we need the watchful eye of our dental professional. This is why it is important to visit at least twice a year for a quick examination. But what if you have an actual fear of these visits? How do you not only sit through one visit a year, but two? Don’t worry – you aren’t alone. Of all the health professionals feared most by adults, the dentist is at the top of the list. So much so, Dental Anxiety (DA) is the official diagnosis.

Thankfully, the dental industry has been listening and have been busy making huge strides in order to calm those fears – sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry your dentist’s way to relax you enough to handle the dental procedure via medication. There are various levels that you can be sedated, from minimal sedation to the completely unconscious general anesthesia. What you receive will depend on your fear and the recommendation made by your dentist. A numbing agent will be administered to the area as well to alleviate any pain you may have from the procedure.

Nitrous oxide. If you aren’t in need of a lot to relax you, you will be given nitrous oxide, or laughing gas through a mask.

Oral sedative. Similar to a valium, a pill will be taken about an hour before your procedure so it has time to take effect, but you will be awake during the procedure.

General anesthesia. For the more invasive procedures, a deeper sedation will be administered prior but will render you unconscious and unable to awaken easily, unlike the other lighter versions.

For more information about sedation dentistry, call Dr. Andrey Eng in Yorba Linda, CA at 714-779-2736 or visit www.andreyengdds.com.

Dr. Eng proudly serve patients from Yorba Linda and all surrounding areas.

Why Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed? | Yorba Linda Dentist

It’s believed by many that wisdom teeth are a byproduct of evolution and that it was once necessary for ancient humans, whose diet consisted mainly of raw and unprocessed meat, plants, nuts and seeds, to chew and digest their food properly.

Even if they are hidden under the surface of your gums, your wisdom teeth are not free from disease. In fact, the third molars are actually quite prone to cavities, abscesses, gum diseases, cysts and so on. Also, if they are impacted, your wisdom teeth may end up damaging any adjacent teeth.

To prevent any complication caused by wisdom teeth, many people opt to have their wisdom teeth removed almost immediately as they appear. Not all dentists, however, recommend extraction. At least, not in all cases. In fact, most dentists agree that wisdom teeth should be evaluated to see if extraction is really necessary.

As far as making a decision goes, it’s best to consult your dentist and ask what is best for your oral health. If your dentist sees no problem in you keeping your last set of molars, you should take it as a sign that you’re one of the lucky few who didn’t have to go through the painful experience of their wisdom teeth crowding or impacting the adjacent teeth.

Remember, the only way to remove a wisdom tooth is through surgery. Although relatively safe, all surgical procedures are at risk for some sort of complication, especially in this case because the surgery to have wisdom teeth removed requires the use of either local or general anesthesia.

For more information about wisdom teeth, call Dr. Andrey Eng in Yorba Linda, CA at 714-779-2736 or visit www.andreyengdds.com.

Dr. Eng proudly serve patients from Yorba Linda and all surrounding areas.