Scaling to Prevent Gum Disease

Dr. Susan Haeri sees patients experiencing every stage of gum disease. Gum disease can progress quickly without a regular oral hygiene routine, but more people are looking for ways to prevent that from happening. Scaling is a deep cleaning procedure that helps stop gum disease in its tracks.

For patients who want to protect themselves from later stages of gum disease, a scaling procedure will eliminate any buildup of plaque and tartar and give the patient a clean slate.  Scaling involves your dentist using various tools to scrape and clean any and all plaque off the surface of the tooth all the way down to the gums.  Your dentist may also recommend root planing, which is the minor contouring of the tooth closer to the root that may help prevent future buildup in the area.  A scaling procedure is superficial, but local anesthetic may be used for comfort.  Depending on the severity of buildup, your dentist may recommend completing the treatment over a series of appointments.

To learn more about scaling and all the services we provide at our practice, 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. 

What is a Bone Graft?

Bone grafting is widely used throughout medicine because of how it helps the body heal.  In dentistry, a bone graft is used to strengthen a patient’s jaw bone when it is not strong enough to support a needed implant. Dr. Suzanne Haeri performs bone grafts to restore function to the mouths of patients in need of dental implants.

When a tooth is missing for an extended period of time the jaw bone in that area is vulnerable and can weaken, and some patients naturally have a softer jaw bone.  In either case, when the patient needs an implant the bone needs to be reinforced.  A jaw bone graft is typically harvested from a healthy location in the patient’s mouth.  During the procedure, the harvested material is grafted to the area of the jaw that needs an implant.  This reinforces the jaw bone and encourages the growth of new bone material.  This healing process typically takes a few months and should be monitored by your dentist. Once the graft has fused and healed, a dental implant can be placed.

To learn more about teeth grinding and the services we provide at our practice, 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. 

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity in Children

There are several things which can cause tooth sensitivity, and when caring for child patients, there are a few particular factors to keep in mind. Sometimes, healthy new teeth will be sensitive immediately after breaking through the gum line, but tooth pain could indicate a bigger problem.

Usually, when children get tooth aches, it is because they have cavities (which are also known as caries). In most cases, this problem can be fixed with more disciplined oral hygiene, but it is possible for children to brush too hard and damage their gum tissue. Tooth roots are naturally sensitive, so if gum tissue recession exposes them, the patient will find cold drinks and food painful.

It is also possible for tooth aches to be an early warning sign of diabetes or of bruxism. People who clench or grind their jaws not only damage their teeth, but develop head, ear, and neck aches. Sinus infections can also cause tooth aches in the upper back teeth. These kinds of aches tend to be dull and throbbing, so it is important to get the child to be as descriptive as possible when making a diagnosis.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.

 

Cleaning Fixed Bridges

As part of our commitment to preventive care, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay dental office educate our patients about maintaining their oral hygiene after receiving replacement teeth. Cleaning a fixed bridge is easy, but it requires a few changes in habit and knowledge of the dental products available.

Implant-secured bridges may have enough room between the bridge and the gum line for a proxy brush. This Christmas tree-shaped brush can be mounted on a normal-sized toothbrush handle and be used to dislodge large pieces of food. However, all bridges must be flossed along their horizontal side and the teeth they attach to must be kept clean on all sides, as well. While some floss manufacturers make specialty floss with stiffened tips to push through the bridge gap, it is normal for patients to use a threader to loop floss around a bridge. Threaders are used by patients with braces to draw floss like a needle draws thread, and the same principle applies to bridges. The devices are cheap and reusable.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.

 

Intraoral Camera

At the dental practice of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS we utilize the most recent tools in dental technology. During your routine exams, Dr. Haeri will need to inspect what goes on inside your mouth. To do this, she will use an intraoral camera. An intraoral camera allows Dr. Haeri to show you firsthand what condition your teeth are in as well as the status of your periodontal health.

The intraoral camera resembles an oversized pen and is used in tandem with a computer. It allows Dr. Haeri to look inside a patient’s mouth and capture images that can be taken from a variety of angles. Through the computer, Dr. Haeri can physically show you, if you have a fractured tooth, or if you need periodontal treatment. Unlike conventional X-rays that require processing time, there is no development time associated with an intraoral camera. It provides images that are immediate, saving you time in the dental chair.

If you have questions or concerns regarding our dental technology, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, 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.

Benefits of Dental Sedation

Thirty percent of our population avoids visiting the dentist due to fear. Dental fear compromises oral health because a lack of routine care can deteriorate the function of the mouth and smile. Fortunately, at the dental practice of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS we utilize safe and effective dental sedation methods to help patients combat dental anxiety and/or assist in taking the edge off during a procedure.

To determine which type of dental sedation method is right for you, Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS will need to see you for a consultation. Whether you decide on nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation, you will experience the benefits of sedation dentistry. One of the major benefits of using sedatives in the dental chair is that patients will often feel as if their dental procedure lasted a few minutes rather than several hours. Additionally, it will put the patient at ease and make it easier for Dr. Haeri to perform the procedure. If you are reluctant to improve your smile because of dental anxiety, we guarantee to make you as comfortable as possible and encourage you to discuss your fears with us.

If you have questions or concerns regarding sedation dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, 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.

Childhood Halitosis

 

When children develop chronically bad breath, Dr. Suzanne Haeri and her office staff are here to help. As with adults, halitosis in children is usually due to a hygiene problem, but there are some special considerations to keep in mind.

Wherever food debris can accumulate, bacteria will grow excessively, and excessive bacterial growth is the main cause of bad breath. The tongue is one such location, the tonsils are another. Nasal drip is also food for bacteria, and children tend to get more sinus infections. Young children may also have foreign objects caught in their noses, which triggers nasal drip. Children with dry mouth are at particular risk because they lack saliva to wash food debris away. Dry mouth is commonly caused by mouth breathing and by medications, including some for ADHD.

Although the underlying cause of dry mouth will need to be solved, dentists often help patients find ways to stimulate saliva production. Sugar-free hard candy and gum are some of the most child-friendly methods. It is also possible that a child’s bad breath could be caused by bacteria from a cold sore or from a more serious medical condition, such as diabetes, which is why it is worth consulting with a doctor.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.