Dental FAQ
San Jose, CA
 General, family, and restorative dentistry all involve a lot of different aspects about our teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw. When you come in for a dental exam, you may have questions about the different aspects of these fields of dentistry, or about something in particular that you are experiencing inside of your mouth. At Nancy Shiba, DDS we are here to help address all of your dental needs and concerns. Below are a few of our most frequently asked questions by our San Jose dentist patients.
Gum Disease
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease occurs when the bacteria that builds up in your mouth begins to build up on the surfaces of the roots of your teeth. These bacteria infect your gums the same way it infects your teeth and causes them to be tender and bleed easily.
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
It can be hard to know if you have gum disease because there are often no symptoms, unless you start to experience pain or sensitivity in your teeth and gums. That is why it is important to have regular dental exams and cleanings, so the dentist can monitor any changes to your teeth and gums over time.
Is Gum Disease Dangerous?
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. The disease is the result of the harmful bacteria found in plaque. If plaque and tartar build up around the teeth, our immune system produces toxins that also target healthy tissues, causing the infection known as gum disease.
Teeth Whitening
Why Do Our Teeth Get Stained?
It turns out that there are actually two ways that your teeth become discolored, and they can have very different consequences for your smile. Extrinsic stains are the kind that we are all familiar with. These stains sit on the surface of your enamel, so with a little bit of brushing and a high-quality whitening toothpaste you can remove them easily on your own. Unfortunately, not all stains are quite so easy to remove. In fact, some stains cannot be removed at all with brushing and toothpaste, no matter how hard you try. These are known as intrinsic stains, which penetrate past the enamel. When you come in for a professional teeth whitening service, these intrinsic stains are most of what we remove.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
Many of our patients ask us about how safe whitening really is. The truth is — teeth whitening extremely safe! We would never perform any treatment that does not have a long history of safe administration based on peer-reviewed research. Our whitening treatments are so gentle that few patients even report sensitive teeth afterward.
Are All Tooth Whitening Products the Same?
Of course, not all whitening treatments are the same. While our professional services are quite safe, the same cannot necessarily be said for the kits that you can buy at the store. Charcoal treatments erase stains by eroding your enamel, while other techniques damage the gums by bleaching or even burning them. Needless to say, this is not something we do!
Dental Implants
What is Implant Dentistry?
Implant dentistry is using a dental implant for teeth replacement. The implant itself, which is made of titanium, is surgically fixed into the jawbone. After placement, it is left to heal for several months. The titanium implant fuses with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. This implant then acts as the root of the missing teeth, and over this implant, a crown or a bridge is placed that becomes the replacement tooth.
Who is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
The most important aspect that we must consider before determining whether you can be a candidate for dental implants is the reason for your missing teeth. Tooth loss is often the result of periodontal disease, and this will need to be treated before any other treatment or surgery can be recommended. The overall health and the lifestyle of the patient matter when looking into treatment options. Good health and habits determine the best course of action in your teeth replacement journey. We may ask smokers to quit smoking before we can consider an implant, as smoking greatly slows the healing process. We may also recommend that you maintain good oral hygiene and schedule routine check-ups.
How Long is the Dental Implant Process?
One of the requirements required from patients seeking dental implants is patience. The entire process may take several months from start to finish, and the patient needs to follow our recommendations to fully recover.
Porcelain Veneers
What Are Veneers?
Dental veneers are also commonly referred to as porcelain veneers. These are porcelain shells that are bonded to the front of the teeth to improve the cosmetic appearance of your teeth.
How Are Veneers Made?
The materials used in the making of veneers are either porcelain or resin composite. Professionals and patients generally prefer a porcelain veneer because it can resist tooth stains better than resin composite.
The other reason why porcelain is chosen, is that it gives a natural look and feel very similar to your natural teeth. Resin veneers are even thinner than porcelain veneers, and they do not require substantial tooth removal. Eventually, it is up to our professionals and you to decide which veneer suits you the best.
What is the Process for Getting Veneers?
You will be required to visit our San Jose dental office three times for the successful completion of your dental veneers. The first trip will be consultation and analysis of your teeth. The second and third will be to make and finally apply the veneers. Your teeth will be prepared to receive the veneer. They will be cleaned, polished and will be rounded for a strong bonding process to take place.
Schedule an Appointment with Our San Jose Dentist
If you are around East San Jose, our dentist, Nancy Shiba, DDS, is here for all of your dental needs. Whether you are in need of a routine dental checkup, would like to improve the looks of your teeth by teeth whitening or porcelain veneers, or have restorative needs such as dental implants, we are here to serve you! Contact us today at (669) 306-7669 to schedule your San Jose dentist appointment! |
