Teeth Whitening

At the dental office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS, the doctor and her staff are always getting questions from patients about teeth whitening.  Everyone likes to make a great impression with a nice smile and we are excited to offer an at-home whitening option to patients with serious staining to the teeth, and those with minor stains who want to achieve a dazzling white smile!

A consultation can help you determine how severe your stains are and what kind of results you can expect from a whitening treatment.  To whiten your teeth at home, we outfit patients with whitening gel and a set of custom trays for application.  A dentist takes an impression of your teeth, and from this impression two custom trays are made for your top and bottom teeth. 

The trays are made for you to take home and use by applying gel to the trays and then fitting them over your teeth. The dentist’s recommendation of how often to treat and how long each treatment should last may vary.  When following the dentist’s recommendations, most patients see results of teeth whitening 4-8 shades.

To learn more about teeth whitening and all the services provided 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. 

Why Sugar is Bad for Teeth

Though some fruits such as apples contain sugar, we need these healthy foods to survive. Added sugars, however, provide no nutritional value to teeth. Limiting sugar can do wonders for your overall and oral health. This is because sugar plays a harmful role in tooth decay, developing diabetes, and increasing a person’s chance of developing heart disease. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS encourages patients to reduce their sugar intake to save their teeth.

Whenever we eat, the bacteria naturally found inside the mouth works hard to break down food. However, when sugars are in the mouth, they use plaque as a source of energy to thrive. This makes it harder to wash away with saliva and may cause you to spend more time in front of the sink, brushing and flossing. Sugar is the leading cause of cavities in adults and children. To protect your smile, consume nutritious foods, rather than cookies, cakes, and sticky foods.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, 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, call 310-657-2200. 

Oral Cancer and VELscope Technology

Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS wants her patients to be aware of the threat of oral cancer.  We use VELscope technology in the practice to screen for oral cancer and encourage you to ask about an oral cancer screening with each dental checkup.  While heavy smoking and drinking of course increase the risk of oral cancer, oral cancer can still occur if someone never smokes.  In fact the human papilloma virus (HPV) was recently found to be responsible for most oral cancers that originated in the back of the mouth. 

To screen for oral cancer, our doctors perform a visual exam and utilize VELscope technology.  The VELscope is an ultraviolet device approved by the FDA to detect cancerous irregularities in tissue.  Regular screenings are the best way to protect you and your family, but always contact us if you notice any inexplicable pain, swelling, or numbness in your throat or jaw.

To learn more about oral cancer screenings, the technology we use, 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. 

Children's Biannual Check-Ups

Just because a tooth isn’t permanent doesn’t mean it should be allowed to rot. At Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay practice, we encourage everybody to maintain biannual dental appointments, and that’s especially important for children. Caries, the little bits of decay which cause cavities, are a big problem with consequences for more than just kids’ oral health.

Children are the demographic most likely to suffer from caries, and caries is the most common ailment among children. In young children, toothaches can discourage the use of speech, leading to developmental delays. It people of all ages, they also prevent sleep and sometimes cause people to avoid eating. Sleep and nutrition deficits are especially harmful to children and are often the cause of irritability and poor academic performance. They can also lead to a habit of jaw-clenching, which can cause headaches, neck aches, and cracked teeth.

During the biannual check-up, we give patients’ teeth a thorough cleaning and assess them for caries. We can provide fillings for cavities, but it is best to bring children in before decay can advance enough to require a root canal or a larger restoration.

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.

 

Causes of Bleeding Gums

People commonly wonder if it’s a problem that their gums bleed a little when they brush their teeth. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Healthy gums don’t bleed, and when they do, it’s usually due to gum inflammation. This disease is called gingivitis and it can be treated and prevented.

Sometimes, gum inflammation is due to bruising, but it’s usually caused by bacterial infection. The mouth is home to hundreds to types of bacteria, most of which co-exist with us healthily, but if food debris isn’t removed quickly enough, bacteria can grow out of control. They most often cause tartar to build up on the bottom of dental crowns, allowing acids to get stuck in a place where they have contact with gums.

Regular brushing is crucial to preventing gingivitis (provided that the patient is using a soft-bristled brush), but help from professional hygienists is necessary to clean below the gum line. There are also some factors which make gum disease more likely, including pregnancy, use of blood thinners, and dry mouth. (That last one is due to saliva’s function keeping the mouth clean.) Smoking also increases the risk of gingivitis.

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.

 

Extrinsic Stains

Most of us enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of iced tea on a warm day. In fact, we enjoy these beverages so much that we forget about what they do to our teeth. Beverages that contain dyes, such as coffee, tea, and wine, can leave a person’s smile looking lackluster. Fortunately, these stains are extrinsic and easy for Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS to remove.

Extrinsic stains occur on the outer surface of tooth enamel and are easier to remove than their counterpart – intrinsic. Extrinsic stains can be removed over a period of time with professional cleanings, or they can be cleared up quickly from a professional whitening session. If your tooth discoloration is leaving you with a lack of self-esteem, discuss your whitening options, today.

If you have questions about tooth discoloration or teeth whitening, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as other services we provide, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA, call 310-657-2200.

Dental Bonding Breakage

If you’ve had dental bonding applied to your teeth, you’ll notice that it’s similar to tooth enamel; however, it’s not as strong. Dental bonding is made of a composite resin material that is made to match the color of a person’s tooth. It repairs chips, cracks, and fractures in teeth and can have your smile back to new in no time. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS encourages patients to visit her office if dental bonding feels out of the ordinary.

If dental bonding feels out of place, or like it’s about to crack, visit our office immediately. Dental bonding can lose its strength if a person practices poor oral hygiene habits and/or if they eat a lot of acidic foods. Dental bonding can be replaced, but it’s possible that Dr. Haeri may suggest a dental crown, as this is more durable and stands the test of time.

If you have questions about dental bonding, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as other services we provide, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA, call 310-657-2200.