Bone Graft Procedure

Suzanne Haeri DDS offers bone grafting services to her patients in the Los Angeles, CA area. Bone grafts are needed when the jaw bone is not strong enough to house a restorative device like a dental implant. When a tooth is missing and never replaced, the bone will disintegrate. A bone graft will fix this by replacing it with healthy tissue.

 

At your first appointment with Dr. Haeri, she will examine the jaw and mouth. X-rays will determine the full condition of the bone. If you are eligible for a bone graft, the x-ray will also show us how much tissue will be needed. Tissue for the graft can be collected in various ways. It can be taken from another area of your mouth in certain cases, or areas like your hip or tibia. Tissue labs also provide materials. Once the sample has been collected and determined to be of sound quality, the next step in the procedure can start.

 

You will first be placed under general anesthesia. Dr. Haeri will start by making an incision along your jaw in the selected area. The healthy tissue will be inserted and held in place using screws, wires, etc. Afterward, Dr. Haeri will close up the area with either stitches or a suture.

 

After the procedure, follow any and all post-operative instructions given. Avoid vigorous activity while healing. The speed of your recovery is entirely dependent on your body and the size of the graft. The larger the graft the longer it will take to heal. Recovery can stem from two weeks all the way up to a full year.

 

Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS is located in Los Angeles, CA. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 310-657-2200.

 

DentalVibe

Are you worried about your or your loved one’s dental health, but reluctant to face needles? We at the South Carthay dental office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri understand your needs. When we need to administer a localized anesthetic, one of the tools we use is the DentalVibe. This wand allows injections to be delivered without causing a patient pain, and often without them even feeling it.

One of dentists’ traditional means of soothing patients’ anxiety was to flap a patient’s lip or cheek. The vibrations overwhelm the patient’s nervous system, distracting it from its pain response to the needle. The DentalVibe is a more sophisticated way of applying this concept. Its massaging, rubbery prongs vibrate one hundred and sixty times per second, creating a pleasurable sensation. The dentist can administer the injection with their other hand, often while positioned so the patient won’t even see the syringe.

While heavier sedation may be necessary for extensive oral surgeries, the DentalVibe is perfectly suited to numbing the patient in preparation for routine care such as scaling, planing, and simple extractions. We can still provide oral sedation to nervous patients, but the DentalVibe does not cause any side effects and will not impede the patient’s cognition.

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.

 

Asthma and Oral Health

At Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay dental practice, we want our patients to know how to care for their general and cosmetic dental needs no matter what other health issues they may have. People with asthma can be at particular risk for developing caries, but there are steps they can take to minimize damage.

Asthma is inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. It often causes people to breathe through their mouths, putting them at risk for developing dry mouth (xerostomia). Saliva plays an important part in fighting oral infections; it washes away food that bacteria might otherwise eat and it neutralizes the acid bacteria produce. Some strategies for maintaining saliva are to drink lots of fluids, use artificial throat moisturizers, and to chew sugarfree gum. Patients may also want to talk to their asthma specialists about changing medications that cause dry mouth.

A potential issue with inhaler medications is that they may contain sugar. In that case, patients need to remember to brush their teeth in between using them and going to bed. Some asthma patients take muscle relaxants to loosen their throats, but this could also loosen the sphincter that keeps stomach acid out of the esophagus. Patients suffering from acid reflux may need topical fluoride treatments and to avoid consuming alcohol, citric acid, red meat, garlic, or chocolate before lying down.

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.

 

National Facial Protection Month

The beginning of April marks National Facial Protection Month. As a general and cosmetic dental office, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay practice have fixed a lot of chipped and broken teeth. Although we provide naturally-colored, long-lasting restorations, we prefer that our patients maintain good oral health. Wearing mouth guards during sports is one of the most important aspects of that.

Sports leagues generally require youth participants to wear a mouthguard. (That includes wrestlers if they have braces.) Any type of mouthguard is better than none, but the best are custom-fitted. Other options include boil-and-bite models that are softened at home before being fitted to a wearer’s teeth. Keep in mind, however, that children’s teeth are changing rapidly, and a mouthguard from the beginning of the academic year may need to be refitted. This is particularly true of patients undergoing orthodontic therapy, whose teeth change positions significantly each month.

Mouthguard manufacturers will provide information on how to clean their products, but in general, they should be kept dry and out of the sun. Wearing a mouthguard is not only important during contact sports, but also during activities when a person is likely to fall, such as skating, cycling, or gymnastics. When properly fitted, a mouthguard should be comfortable and easy to breathe with. Feel free to ask us for guidance if you’ve been having trouble with yours.

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.

 

Bite Checks

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a grave threat to a patient’s tooth structure as well as their comfort. At the South Carthay dental office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, we inspect patients for signs of this condition during each biannual check-up. A bite check is also an opportunity to detect other chewing problems and is particularly beneficial to children.

TMD can occur when people clench their jaws or grind their teeth in their sleep. (The latter behavior is known as bruxism.) The force of their bite can cause pain that radiates to the tops of their heads and down through their necks. Particularly severe TMD can cause teeth to crack or tilt out of place. More commonly, they become eroded, resulting in a loss of vertical mouth dimension. The sensitivity from TMD makes chewing more difficult and some patients have difficulty opening their mouths.

Our hygienists are trained to look for the distinctive pattern bruxism leaves in enamel. They will also ask patients to demonstrate closing their teeth together and will ask patients about any discomfort they’ve experienced recently. Patients may not be aware they have bruxism, but they may know if they are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea or are under a lot of mental stress, both of which are contributing factors. In adults, bruxism can be countered with a custom-fitted night guard, which will protect the enamel from further erosion and relieve pressure on the jaws. Patients may also be recommended for orthodontic therapy if bruxism has pushed their teeth out of place or misalignment is contributing to their jaws’ mechanical stress.

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.

Dental Phobia

At Dr. Suzanne Haeri's west Los Angeles dental office, we know it can be an overwhelming experience going to the dentist. We want our patients to feel relaxed and comfortable when you’re in the dentist chair. An estimated 9% to 15% of people avoid the dentist due to dental phobia. It is important to get your teeth cleaned twice a year to maintain good dental hygiene. Patients who suffer from dental phobia have a greater chance of developing gum disease and tooth decay.

To ease our patient’s minds, our staff will discuss any concerns or fears you have and solutions. We will do our best to make your experience as relaxing as possible. Some signs that you might have dental phobia include tense or nervousness, sleepless nights before the dentist, and the thought of the dentist makes you feel sick.

We encourage our patients to ask us questions before your appointment so we can make you feel more comfortable. Your concerns are our number one priority and we are happy to discuss what can help to ease your fears.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding cosmetic or restorative dentistry, 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.

Children's Oral Care

At the South Carthay office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS we advise parents to start cleaning their children’s teeth as soon as their baby teeth develop. Tooth decay is the most chronic disease for children is tooth decay which is preventable through practicing good oral health care.

When your children’s baby teeth develop, you should clean their teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a dab of toothpaste. We recommend soft-bristled toothbrushes for children because they are gentler on your gums and teeth.

Tooth decay occurs when plaque and bacteria form on your teeth and form cavities. Tooth decay is preventable when you brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. When possible, we encourage all of our patients to eat a healthy diet and limiting your consumption of sugar and acidic that can damage your teeth.

Don’t forget to bring your children twice a year for cleaning with us. We want your children to practice good oral hygiene so they have the best smile.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding cosmetic or restorative dentistry, 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.