Dental Implants Installation Process

Dental implants are often considered the best tooth replacement option available. They are most similar to a real tooth than any other replacement option. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS of Los Angeles, CA offer dental implants to her patients because of this. Keep reading to learn about how dental implants are installed.

Dental implants are permanent replacement teeth for when a tooth is fully extracted, with no root structure left. They are inserted into your bone socket, so they are “implanted” like a real tooth.

The process of installing dental implants takes a few months. First, Dr. Haeri will place a titanium screw into the bone socket of the missing tooth. The healing process for this step can take between three and six months. During this time, Dr. Haeri will place a temporary crown so you can still use your teeth normally. Once the implant heals, an abutment is placed to act as the base of your new tooth. A custom-made crown is then permanently cemented into place. The brand-new dental implant is then set to last a lifetime.

If you are looking at dental implant options, be sure to consider the dental implant. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS in our Los Angeles, CA office, call us at (310) 657-2200 or visit our website, www.suzannehaeridds.com. 

The Extraction Process

Our priority is to save your natural teeth; however, there are some cases where we just can’t. For instance, many times, wisdom teeth need to be extracted. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS of Los Angeles, CA wants patients to be prepared for extractions to facilitate a smooth and healthy healing process. Keep reading to learn about how an extraction is performed and what to expect afterward.

Depending on the complexity of the extraction, a local anesthetic or a general anesthesia may be used. General anesthesia will help you fall asleep until the procedure is over with. With a local anesthetic, you will be awake for the whole process. If the tooth is impacted, like many wisdom teeth are, we will first need to make incisions in the gum tissue. Bone tissue may also need to be removed to access the tooth. Forceps are used to rock the tooth back and forth until it is loose enough to be removed. Sometimes the tooth will need to be broken up into several pieces before the whole thing is removed. Afterward, the area will be cleaned and stitched up, if stitches are necessary.

A diet of soft foods will be necessary until your mouth heals a bit. You will also need to avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day following the extraction. More information for at-home care is available on our website.

Extractions can be necessary for a healthy mouth. To learn more about Dr. Suzane Haeri, DDS, call our Los Angeles, CA office at (310) 657-2200 or visit our website, www.suzannehaeridds.com. 

Electric Handpieces

Updated technology is what allows us to provide our patients with the best care possible. One of the ways Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS has updated technology here in our Los Angeles, CA office is by using an electric handpiece.

Optimal health is always our goal for our patients, which means we need to be extending the best care we can. Using technology that allows us to perform procedures faster and more accurately saves our patients time and money. It allows us to properly diagnose conditions so that we can treat them accordingly. We keep this in mind, along with the safety of our patients when we choose to upgrade the technology in our dental practice.

One of the ways we have updated our technology is by using electric handpieces. Handpieces are what we use to drill out decay. In the past, air-driven handpieces were used. Air-driven handpieces were louder, they vibrated more, and they were slower. Electric handpieces allow us a smoother process for removing decay and allow us to perform the procedure quickly. The quieter sound is also better for patients who become nervous when they hear our equipment.  

We advance our practice and technology advances. To learn more about Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS and our Los Angeles, CA office, call us at (310) 657-2200 or visit our website, www.suzannehaeridds.com. 

How to Keep Teeth White

Keeping teeth white can be difficult when your favorite foods include dark coffee or rich-in-color berries. Fortunately, Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS of Los Angeles, CA has professional whitening options. In addition, we want to share some tips for keeping teeth white.

A professional whitening procedure will definitely kick-start your whitening; however, you will want to know how to keep teeth white after your procedure. To keep stains away at home, you should brush your teeth three times per day. Plaque forms just hours after brushing, so make sure you brush after each meal. Wait at least thirty minutes after each meal to brush to allow your enamel to re-harden.

Dark foods and drinks like blueberries, coffee, cola, and soy sauce can discolor teeth over time. When surface stains penetrate the enamel and darken the dentin, this is what discolors the whole tooth. It is a good idea to rinse your mouth after consuming dark foods and drinks. For dark drinks, using a straw will limit the amount of time the liquid is touching your teeth.

To find out more about our professional whitening, give us a call. To set up an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS of Los Angeles, CA, call our office at (310) 657-2200 or visit our website, www.suzannehaeridds.com. 

Keeping Away Bad Breath

Fresh breath is desirable for everyone. You want fresh breath for yourself and you also want fresh breath for anyone you are close to. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS wants patients to know that fresh breath has a lot to do with oral hygiene. Keep reading to learn tips!

Bad breath is often caused by bacteria in the mouth. This is why it is important to keep up with your oral hygiene. Plaque can form on your teeth and tongue just hours after brushing. To keep it at bay, brush three times per day and floss at least once per day.

Bacteria will thrive in dry conditions, so it is also important to stay hydrated. Get your recommended amount of water in every day. Also, keep drinks that dehydrate you to a minimum. This includes drinks with caffeine and alcohol.

In addition to bacteria, there are also some more obvious foods that can stain our breath, like garlic. For occasions where you have stinky breath from something you ate, chew on some mint leaves or lemon rinds. These not only will help freshen breath, but they include the production of saliva. This will aid in staying hydrated and washing away bacteria.

Keep these tips in mind to keep away bad breath. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS, call our Los Angeles, CA office at (310) 657-2200 or visit our website, www.suzannehaeridds.com. 

Full and Partial Dentures for a Smile That is Yours

When most or all of a patient’s teeth are missing, one cannot effectively chew food. It also affects speech and smiling. At our Los Angeles, CA dental practice, Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS offers attractive dentures for patients looking to replace most or all of their teeth.

When many teeth are missing, they affect the life of a patient. Certain foods are no longer able to be eaten, speech will be affected, and even the confidence to smile and laugh may be affected. Dentures are a new set of teeth that can replace a full set of teeth or just some, depending on the patient’s needs.

Partial dentures are able to be utilized when there are a few teeth left that can serve as a base for the dentures. Full dentures are placed after any remaining teeth are pulled. We are able to place the dentures immediately or we can wait until the gums heal to place the dentures. Waiting until they heal is a conventional placement and allows for a better fit. Immediate dentures will likely have to be refit in the future, but there is no time spent without teeth.

Dentures help patients regain their ability to chew, talk, and smile. If you are ready for dentures, schedule a consultation with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS in our Los Angeles, CA office. Appointments can be scheduled by calling us at (310) 657-2200 or by visiting our website, www.suzannehaeridds.com. 

Patient Financing: CareCredit

At the dental practice of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS, we are pleased to offer our patients CareCredit, America’s leader in patient payment plans. CareCredit covers a variety of treatment options and lets you begin treatment immediately – then pay for it over time with low monthly payments that fit easily into your monthly budget.

CareCredit is the credit card exclusively used for healthcare services. With no up-front costs and no pre-payment penalties, CareCredit lets you pay-over-time and frees up cash and credit cards for other things you want or need. CareCredit offers low monthly payment plans for healthcare procedures not commonly covered by insurance, including dental treatments. Plus, you can use your card again and again, to pay for additional treatment for yourself or family members in any CareCredit practice.

With the CareCredit healthcare credit card, you can benefit from preventive dentistry financing and procedures such as 6-month checkups, endodontics, periodontics, teeth cleaning, ceramic fillings, etc. as well as restorative, and cosmetic dentistry financing procedures like lumineers, dental implants, tooth repair, dentures, and more.

To learn more about CareCredit give us a call, or visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.