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General Dentistry

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One of the best ways to keep your oral health and smile looking and feeling its best is through routine and preventative treatment. At Scripps Center for Dental Care, our dental team can help you and your whole family achieve excellent oral health in a comfortable, state-of-the-art environment. We believe visiting the dentist for check-ups should be easy, convenient, and enjoyable. To make your appointments an event to look forward to, we utilize the latest technology and offer patient amenities to enhance your comfort from start to finish. Our primary goal is to improve and maintain the beauty and function of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. We do this by providing a comprehensive examination, oral cancer screening, thorough cleaning, and counseling for any dental concerns you may have. If you have ever experienced any anxiety or are concerned about the potential of anxiety, rest assure and learn about sedation dentistry options which will make you feel more relaxed while you’re with us.

We have provided additional information about our patient-focused checkups below. If you have more questions, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our dental professionals, please contact our office today.

Best dental care in all of San Diego. Very proficient team dedicated to excellence in dentistry. Five stars for best customer care. Thank you everyone for taking care of my teeth.

Marcello Avitabile

September 18, 2017

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Regular Exams And Cleanings

At Scripps Center for Dental Care, we believe the best dental treatment we can provide is the treatment we prevent. Regular exams and cleanings prevent many oral health problems and also allow for early detection and diagnosis of oral health problems when they arise often times making treatment more conservative and more predictable. While twice-yearly visits to the dentist are the common standard, we recognize that your unique oral healthcare needs may be different. As a result, we will develop an ideal schedule that best suits your singular needs and goals. These appointments provide an excellent opportunity to review your oral health from teeth to tongue and beyond. During this time our dentists and hygienists will provide a comprehensive cleaning with detailed diagnostics and imaging to track your individual oral health and make recommendations to improve or maintain your oral health. We will also check for signs of gum disease, tooth damage and decay, oral cancer, infection and any other changes to the oral environment. Our state-of-the-art oral hygiene team is equipped with the latest dental technology, including digital smile design, lasers, local spot antibiotic treatment, piezo, ultrasonics and hand instruments to help you achieve optimal oral health. Your comfort and results are our highest priorities.

Early Diagnosis

Identifying concerns early on allows us to address issues before they become serious. We screen for oral irregularities that may indicate precancerous or cancerous growths during all exams. Oral cancer often exhibits no symptoms in its early stages, but if left to develop can potentially be life-threatening. Early detection and diagnosis often prevents need for more extensive dental treatment, allowing for conservative treatment producing greater long-term predictability and avoiding infections and oral discomfort. Your health and the well being of your family are foremost in our minds. Should an issue arise, we will develop proactive, customized treatment options based on your needs.

Prevent Decay And Preserve Restorations

Regular brushing, flossing, and routine cleanings are the gold standards for maintaining optimal oral health. Even with excellent oral hygiene, however, damage and decay can occasionally develop. Early detection of damage often times results in minimizing reparative treatment and yields greater long-term oral health. If restorative treatment becomes necessary, we will utilize the most advanced techniques and technologies available to repair the concern with emphasis on minimal invasion. Helping to preserve your restorations and prevent break down of oral structures is part of our commitment to a patient-first approach.

Dry Mouth (xerostomia)

A common condition, dry mouth is when a patient has low or decreased saliva. Dry mouth can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay, mouth sores, and chapped/cracked lips. Additionally, dry mouth can cause bad breath, a sore tongue or throat, and chewing, speaking, and swallowing difficulties.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

Many things. Medication can cause dry mouth, as well as certain illnesses and medical treatments, such as cancer treatment, including radiation and chemotherapy, and autoimmune disorders like Sjogren’s syndrome. Lifestyle habits and behaviors can affect saliva production as well. Alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, salty/spicy foods, and mouth breathing can all contribute to dry mouth.

What Can Be Done About It?

If you want to reduce your risk of developing dry mouth, or minimize the effects if you already have symptoms, we recommend the following habits:

  • Sip water (sugar free, acid free, caffeine free)
  • Suck on ice chips (DO NOT CHEW)
  • Apply Lanolin-based lip balm
  • Chew/eat sugar-free gum and/or sugar-free and acid-free lozenges
  • Use alcohol-free mouth rinse
  • Use a humidifier at night
  • Avoid salty/spicy foods
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Avoid caffeine
  • Avoid tobacco products

In addition to these behaviors, excellent oral hygiene is a key factor to maintain a healthy mouth, but especially important for those with low to no saliva. Brush your teeth using a brush with soft bristles for a minimum of twice daily with re-mineralizing toothpaste. Floss a minimum of once daily—night is a better time than in the morning. Visit the dentist and dental hygienist regularly.

Dry mouth is more than just a nuisance; it can lead to oral health problems. Working with a dentist and hygienist can allow us to detect problems early and can make it possible to identify the cause of dry mouth. With this information, we can work with you to manage the condition to prevent oral health problems.

Family Dentistry Faqs

How Do I Choose A Dentist?

Whether you are seeking quality care for yourself or your entire family, selecting a highly skilled dental team that can meet your needs is key to a positive treatment experience. Before you commit to a La Jolla family dentist, keep the following tips in mind during the research process to help ensure you receive the highest standards of comfort, safety, and results:

  • Read online patient reviews to learn about the experiences of previous patients.
  • Select a dental practice that uses advanced dental technology, such as digital x-rays, laser dentistry, and intra-oral cameras. This often leads to faster, more comfortable, and more convenient dental treatment.
  • If you are straightening your teeth or trying to cosmetically improve your smile, look at before-and-after photos to gain insight into the results that can potentially be achieved.
  • Check a dental practice’s payment policies to learn whether they accept dental insurance or offer financing options for treatment.     

What If I Have An Anxious Or Restless Child?

At Scripps Center for Dental Care, we have extensive experience treating younger patients and provide a number of comforts to help make treatment more amenable to anxious children. Sedation dentistry utilizing nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can be a simple and effective technique to help restless children undergo their routine dental check-up, cavity filling, etc. without fear or discomfort. Your child will remain conscious yet relaxed during treatment, and the effects of the sedation fade as soon as the mask is removed. Our practice is also outfitted with several amenities designed to encourage a more enjoyable visit for children and adults alike, such as Bose® headphones, pillows and blankets, memory foam dental chairs, bite rests, and much more.

Can I Get Help For A Dental Emergency?

If you have suffered a knocked out tooth or other dental injury, our dentists can certainly provide urgent dental care to alleviate pain and repair damage to the smile/bite. We understand how troubling it can be to experience an unexpected injury and we treat a range of issues with time-sensitive care. Our dentists will do whatever we can to address your emergency, including scheduling same-day appointments and consultations over the phone.

Can I Replace My Metal Fillings?

We would be happy to replace your metal amalgam fillings with tooth-colored fillings. Many dentists have adopted the practice of treating decay with composite fillings rather than using traditional amalgam due to the composite resin’s uncanny resemblance to actual tooth enamel, as well as its mercury-free properties. In turn, tooth-colored fillings have become a primary example of the advances in cosmetic dentistry for their ability to benefit your smile as much as your oral health.

  

What If I Haven’t Been To The Dentist In Awhile?

If life or other factors have prevented you from receiving routine care, it is absolutely no concern for our dental team! Our dentists understand that regular dental visits aren’t always possible for patients, and we would be thrilled if you visited our office for treatment. Our top priority is ensuring you receive the compassionate, quality care you deserve. Please don’t hesitate to call Scripps Center for Dental Care if you have any concerns about your treatment-of-interest or dental needs.

If you would like to learn more about general/restorative dentistry and preventative care, please contact our office today. Our friendly and knowledgeable team can answer your questions and help you schedule a consultation or examination.

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