Extraction Site Preservation

If you’re missing teeth due to tooth extraction, periodontitis, or facial trauma, it’s important to fill the empty space where your natural tooth once lived. Since wisdom teeth are located in the back of the mouth, the site from extraction will heal on its own with no complications. However, if it’s necessary for other teeth to be removed, plans must be made. Fortunately at the practice of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS, we have plenty of options for you.

If a tooth is removed and nothing is done with the extraction site, the jaw bone will degenerate and change shape during healing and can cause your teeth to shift. This can create problems in your bite and affect your ability to speak and chew. At the practice of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS, depending on your personal needs, she can determine if you would benefit from dental implants or a dental bridge to restore your smile. Once a recommendation is made, a treatment plan will follow.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral surgery, 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.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and Onlays are often referred to as partial crowns. Also known as indirect fillings, inlays and onlays offer a well-fitting stronger, longer-lasting reparative solution to tooth decay or structural damage. At the office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS inlays or onlays can be made of gold, composite resin (plastic) or ceramics that will last for 10 years or longer depending on the material used and how well they are maintained.

Inlays and onlays are fabricated indirectly in a dental lab before being fitted and bonded to the damaged tooth by Dr. Haeri. This process begins with a mold of the tooth being taken and sent to a dental lab where they create a restoration made from porcelain, gold, or a composite resin. The restoration takes about 2-3 weeks to make, so a temporary inlay or onlay will be placed on the tooth for that time. During the second visit, the inlay or onlay will be placed into the mouth and set with cement. The tooth will look natural and the patient won't be able to tell the difference.

If you think you may benefit from inlays and onlays, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS in Los Angeles, CA, call 310-657-2200.

Peri-implantitis

Dr. Suzanne Haeri of South Carthay is not only an experienced cosmetic dentist but also a provider of implant restorations. Implants replace teeth and help to solidify the jaw bone. But implants, like natural teeth, need to be cared for, or else they will be at risk of coming loose and need to be replaced.

Gum inflammation is usually the result of a gum pocket infection. When food debris gets caught below the gum line, bacteria eat it and produce acid as a waste product. Acid gets stuck in the tooth’s plaque, causing damage to the gum tissues. The immune system causes the gums to flame up, making them red, puffy, and painful, and possibly causing them to bleed. Even worse, the bone holding the implant in place may recede. People who have implants will recall the several months it took for jawbones to grow around the implant post (a process called “osseointegration”). If too much of that bone tissue is lost, the implant will have to be replaced for the patient’s safety.

Unfortunately, gum disease is not a rare phenomenon. However, with our office’s soft tissue laser, we can remove decayed dental material, preventing the infection from advancing. When patients uphold their oral hygiene and consult with their dentist for help at the first sign of gum inflammation, implants have a 98% success rate after ten years.

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.

 

Back to School Check-Up

With school back in session, children will be on a regular schedule, and hopefully, be regularly eating and brushing their teeth. But the resumption of the school year also means that problems from dental caries and other oral issues will be more disruptive. If your child is due for a check-up (and they’re recommended every six months), now’s a good time to visit South Carthay’s Dr. Suzanne Haeri.

Even in baby teeth, toothaches cause a lot of problems. Children who are in pain have a harder time learning and controlling their behavior. Those who are under stress may grind their teeth in their sleep, causing jaw pain and potentially damaging their enamel. We can provide professional cleanings and replace decayed material with fillings, but check-ups are also an opportunity for prevention. We teach children better oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and chewing sugar-free gum. We also provide fluoride sealants to protect the teeth from infections.

Besides being an opportunity to do maintenance, check-ups allow us to plan for a child’s future needs. Our digital x-rays allow us to safely monitor the development of adult teeth. If it looks like a tooth is going to be impacted, we can discuss with kids and parents options such as extractions and orthodontic treatments. We can also discuss whether a child will need a night guard or to have their mouthguard 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.

 

Tooth Colored White Fillings

If you have tooth decay that has caused a cavity (hole) in your tooth, then you are likely to benefit from a cosmetic filling. However, decay is not the only reason you may need a filling. Other reasons include cracked or broken teeth, teeth that are worn from habits such as nail-biting, as well as tooth grinding. When you schedule a professional dental cleaning with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS, she will check for these problems, and decide whether a filling is right for you.

The type of fillings we provide at the office is called composite resin, or tooth-colored (white) filling. This type of filling provides good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing. They can be used on both the front or back teeth and supply the patient with a more natural looking appearance.

If you think you may benefit from tooth-colored fillings, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, 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 Instruments

There are some pretty cool instruments in a dental office. There are also some that people may be uncomfortable with. In order to help our patients’ cleanings go smoothly, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s office wanted to explain what some of the most frequently used ones are for.

The two instruments patients will see us use the most are the handheld mirror and the explorer. Also known as a probe, explorers are hooked instruments that are used to assess the hardness of enamel and to break up small bits of tartar. There are many differently shaped hooks for reaching different surfaces of different teeth. Some, called scalers, are used to remove tartar from gum pockets after they’ve been probed to check for infection.

We also commonly use instruments that are for constructing and placing fillings. A drill is used to remove infected tooth enamel after the patient has been numbed. White composite filling material can then be mixed on a small spatula and applied with a burnisher, which is a blunt instrument used to contour fillings. If a tooth is broken or needs to be extracted for any other reason, we can loosen it with an elevator, which is shaped like a small, narrow spoon, before pulling it with forceps.

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.

 

Gum Disease and Healthy Eyes

Oral health is closely tied to the health of the rest of the body. At Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay dental office, we don’t want our patients to miss regular cleanings or neglect their oral hygiene. One more reason to brush is the connection between gum disease and macular degeneration.

Gum disease occurs when bacteria are allowed to grow out of control in the gum pockets, triggering the immune system’s inflammation response. Bleeding gums are the result of gingivitis. Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that occurs when the macula, a part of the retina, thins out, has fluid leaking into it, or has blood vessels growing in it. It causes people to have blurry spots in the center of their vision.

Scientists had long observed that macular degeneration is more common in people with gingivitis, but did not know why. A new study established that one particular type of bacteria from the mouth, Porphyromonas gingivalis, can infect the tissues of the eye. When the tissue was infected, immunosuppression and growth of new blood vessel tissue were likelier. Scientists have more to learn about the association, but there’s reason to think that keeping the gums healthy can also help keep the eyes safe.

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.