Cracked Teeth

As a dental practice that specializes in cosmetics, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay office have restored a lot of teeth with minor cracks and chips. But we also take good care of patients who have a more serious injury. We hope that our patients wear mouthguards when playing contact sports or doing anything dangerous, but if they do break a tooth, we can probably fix it.

Our molars are the only teeth that should be used for chewing. They have multiple roots and wide surfaces to distribute the force of a patient’s bite. The smaller teeth are vulnerable to breaking or tilting when they are repeatedly subjected to force. But even the molars can crack against something harder, such as ice. If a patient breaks a tooth, they should rinse their mouth with warm salt water. For their safety, they should cover the crack or chip with orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum.

We offer a vast array of restorative services. Small cracks in the surface of the front teeth can be covered with veneers, and minor chips may be repairable with bonding. If a molar is broken, we may fabricate a partial crown to fill in the crack or replace a missing cusp. But if a tooth is cracked down to the pulp, we may need to do a root canal procedure to protect against infection. When teeth are broken all the way down to the root, they need to be replaced. In those cases, we offer implants and partial dentures and will discuss a patient’s options after relieving their pain. We also offer Snap-On Smiles for patients who have widespread chipping and discoloration.

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 Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.

 

How to Clean a Night Guard

A night guard or snore guard can be a great boon to a person’s dental health. When people suffer from bruxism (nighttime teeth grinding) or obstructive sleep apnea, these removable oral appliances prevent their teeth from rubbing together and keep their airways open. But they can become traps for bacteria if not cleaned properly, and we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay dental office want to ensure our patients are maintaining their oral hygiene.

When a patient wakes up in the morning, they should remove their oral appliance and brush it. Night guard manufacturers often have instructions on their websites telling patients to clean their appliances with dissolvable tablets or soaking solutions. Those products may work well and can prevent a night guard from acquiring a bad smell, but brushing the appliance is still necessary to remove build-up and some people use retainers that double as night guards. Patients should clean with a soft-bristled toothbrush, but not toothpaste or the minerals may scratch the soft plastic.

Depending on their model, night guards vary in whether they should be kept wet or dry. But the case they are kept in should also be cleaned with antibacterial soap every day. Patients will also need to avoid using hot water or leaving the case in the sun or anywhere else it could get hot enough to distort the night guard’s shape. People should always brush and floss their teeth before using a night guard and should periodically have it professionally refitted.

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 Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.

 

Flossing

Many people skip flossing because they find it is too time-consuming. At the office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS we advise our patients to brush and floss daily to prevent cavities and gum disease. Brushing is important to maintaining good oral hygiene.  Flossing gets rid of 40% of debris in your mouth. When food gets stuck in between your teeth, it allows plaque to build up if you don't floss.

Remember to use floss that is 15-18 inches long and curve the floss around each tooth while rubbing it up and down to scrape away any plaque. It is normal for your gums to bleed if they are inflamed from poor dental hygiene. There will be less bleeding the more you consistently floss. 

We want all of our patients to floss daily to prevent cavities and have a greater chance of for healthier teeth and gums.

If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call. To learn more 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, please call 310-657-2200.

Oral Thrush

If you notice a creamy white rash on their tongue, gums or tonsils you may have oral thrush. Oral thrush is an infection that is caused by candida fungus, also known as yeast. This type of fungus is supposed to exist but different illnesses can cause it to grow out of control.

Oral thrush can result from medicine that weakens the immune system by attacking healthy cells. Other causes cause of oral thrush are stress, diabetes, cancer, and HIV. Signs of oral thrush to look for are pain or difficulty swallowing, fever if the infection spreads, or the feeling of food being stuck in your chest.

Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS is able to diagnose patients with oral thrush by examining the mouth and taking a throat swab to have analyzed at the laboratory. Treatment for oral thrush is usually antifungal medication and making sure patients are practicing good oral care, which includes proper cleaning of removable or appliances such as dentures and Snap-On-Smiles.

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.

Nutrition with Braces

Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS advises her patients to avoid eating foods that can damage braces. Foods that are hard, sticky, and chewy should be avoided as wires, rubber bands, and the bracket itself may break. Foods like caramel and gum stick to braces while hard foods like raw veggies damage braces unless cut up. Patients who regularly bite their nails or pen chewers can also cause damage to braces much like chewing hard foods.

 It is recommended patients eat softer and healthier foods with braces like yogurt, mashed potatoes, bananas. These foods won’t cause harm to the braces and are healthy for the body and mouth.

The healthier your body is, the better the results of your orthodontic treatment will be because a proper diet provides essential nutrients to bones and tissues undergoing significant change during braces treatment.

It is important for patients who visit Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS that they practice good oral care and keep their braces as clean as possible to avoid any damage.

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.

Baby Teeth Care

Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS stresses the importance of proper oral care for baby teeth and making sure they are properly cleaned. Taking care of your children’s baby teeth is critical in the development of their teeth and could lead to problems in the future if parents of children aren’t taking the proper steps to ensure good oral hygiene.

Baby teeth are vital for children’s teeth as they are placeholders while waiting for your permanent teeth to emerge. If your child’s baby teeth are damaged by tooth decay or some other trauma, they might need to be removed prematurely. Removing baby teeth prematurely can lead to complications with permanent teeth later on. Tooth decay and failure to properly brush and floss your teeth can cause damage as your permanent teeth develop.

To prevent tooth decay on baby teeth, Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS recommends patients bring their young adults in twice a year to make sure baby teeth are being properly developed.

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.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is the restoration of a natural tooth shade or whitening beyond the natural shade occurs. In the teeth whitening process, surface stains are removed from discolored teeth and a new brighter shade appears to make your teeth look brighter and cleaner.

Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS recommends patients use her tray whitening system instead of over the counter teeth whiteners to prevent potential damage to their gums and oral cavities. This tray whitening system is completed in 2 steps with the first being an impression of patient’s teeth. The second step in the whitening process is creating a custom, reusable whitening tray. After applying the whitening gel for a few days patients can see four to eight shades whiter teeth.

Our teeth whitening method is a safe and effective way to get whiter teeth and have your smile looking better than ever!

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.