Dental Veneers in Thousand Oaks | Patient Jennifer Loves her New Smile!

Check out this new video testimonial from one of our very satisfied patients! Twenty years ago, Jennifer suffered from pain and headaches associated with stress on her temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In solving this, her previous dentist used dental crowns and veneers to improve the way her teeth came together and ease her TMJ pain. Although the procedure was successful, twenty years of wear combined with gum recession had affected the appearance and function of these restorations. 

While our main focus was replacing the crowns and veneers in respect to Jennifer's TMJ pain, we also wanted to improve upon cosmetics and tooth form. In doing this, Dr. Kari Ann Hong used Emax Lithium Disilicate restorations to add new life to Jennifer's smile. Emax is an incredibly versatile material that can be used to treat many dental conditions. For instance, some Emax veneers are barely a millimeter thick and yet are tough enough to withstand years of abuse. 

For Jennifer, the new crowns and veneers are absolutely transformative. The smile is an extremely important facial feature that immediately draws the eyes. A beautiful, white and symmetrical smile stands out and creates a dramatically more youthful look. If you would like to know more about dental crowns, veneers or TMJ pain, please contact our office at (805) 480-9820 or at staff@thousandoaksfamilydentistry.com

Case Presentation: Temporary Veneer Update!

Time for a quick update! We previously reported on this patient's progress when they were still in temporary veneers. Now that the final products have been delivered, the dramatic transformation is complete. All four maxillary incisors were refinished with Emax lithium disilicate veneers that perfectly match the cosmetics of natural enamel. By treating all four teeth, we were able to create excellent symmetry and color matching. You could never tell any dental work was done! 

Veneers offer great cosmetic changes with minimal modification to the natural teeth. Since veneers only bond to one tooth surface, we only need to remove enough enamel to accommodate the new material. If you would like to know more about veneers, what they can treat and why we use them, please call our office! 

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Dental Questions: Help- I Broke My Temporary Crown!

Anyone who has had a temporary crown break knows that they tend to come off at the least convenience times. After the initial shock and confusion wears off, you may be wondering what your next step is. Even if the crown falls out in one whole piece, do not try to put it back on the tooth and continue using it.  Although the crown seems small, it poses a serious choking risk particularly when sleeping or chewing. Additionally, don't try to glue the crown back together or recement it. This can result in damaging the underlying tooth structure in a way that ruins the fit of the permanent crown. 

Your best bet for fixing a broken or missing temporary crown is calling our office. If the crown can't be recemented, we will make a new one on the spot. We keep copies of all the temporary impressions we make until the final crown is delivered. This allows us to recreate temporaries on-demand and in short notice. Our office always tries to work these type of appointments in same-day or early the next day! If you have any further questions on the dental crown process, please give us a call or email. 

Dental Crowns In Thousand Oaks

Check out this new video testimonial from one of our very satisfied patients! Twenty years ago, Jennifer suffered from pain and headaches associated with stress on her temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In solving this, her previous dentist used dental crowns to improve the way her teeth came together and ease her TMJ pain. Although the procedure was successful, twenty years of wear combined with gum recession had affected the appearance and function of these restorations. 

Our main focus with this case was creating a long lasting solution that wouldn't bring back Jennifer's headaches and pain. We also wanted to give her a beautiful and natural smile she could be proud of. In doing this, Dr. Kari Ann Hong replaced twelve crowns on her upper arch and six crowns and six veneers on her lower. She used Emax lithium disilicate material instead of the previous porcelain and metal crowns to improve on esthetics and wear. The result is a spectacular smile that keeps Jennifer happy and healthy. For more information on dental crowns, dental veneers and TMJ pain, please email us at staff@thousandoaksfamilydentistry.com or call our office at (805) 480-9820. 

Dr. Hong's Spring Break Vacation

This spring break, Dr. Hong and her husband Erik visited Iceland, where Erik's mother was born and raised. While in Iceland, they visited family, saw the house Erik's mom grew up in and viewed some beautiful scenery. They even stopped by a museum with a 850 year old mandible on display!

After returning home, Dr. Hong's sons joined them for a trip to Mammoth Mountain for some spring skiing! From top left, the photos show the family skiing, Duke at the sands dunes in Olancha, CA, the Mt. Whitney fish hatchery and Dr. Hong's son skiing. Everyone got to have some fun and relaxation before heading back to reality!

Different Types of Dental Crowns

As technology progresses, the field of dentistry gains new materials, techniques and services. However, we rarely stumble upon a magic "one size fits all" approach. This is particularly true of the advancements in dental crowns. There are nearly hundreds of different crown materials and manufacturers, each with their own specific use. In this article, we will discuss four general types of dental crowns and why we use them. Enjoy!

Porcelain fused to metal- These crowns combine the esthetic properties of porcelain with the adaptability of metal. A metal framework is cast to a stone model of the prepared tooth. Afterwords, layers of porcelain are baked on, creating the look of a natural enamel. These crowns are typically used in the back of the mouth, as they are durable and resist wear to the opposing teeth. However, the metal substructure can make these crowns too opaque to be used in cosmetic applications.  

Gold- Gold crowns are less frequently used in modern dentistry due to the availability of newer, more esthetic materials. However, gold is one of the most adaptable materials available, allowing for a near seamless junction between tooth and crown. It also requires the least amount of tooth structure to be removed, but this becomes irrelevant in instances of severe decay, chips and fractures. 

Lithium Disilicate "Emax": Emax is an extremely durable and esthetic material. It can be used in nearly all areas of the mouth, although we tend to use it in cosmetic areas. Since these crowns are made from a single type of material, they transmit light very well and perfectly match natural enamel. Emax can even be stained or painted to match imperfections in the surrounding teeth!

Zirconia "BruxZir": Like Emax, BruxZir crowns are made from a single type of material (engineered zirconia). However, they trade cosmetic advantages for extreme fracture resistance and durability. BruxZir crowns are best used in patients with strong jaws or grinding problems, where other materials will not last. In fact, these crowns are hard enough to wear enamel, meaning that they need to be used judiciously and only when necessary. 

An important note is that Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry charges the same crown fee regardless of material used. We want our patients to know that we are focused on the best long term outcomes for their dental care- be it from the newest technology or tried and true methods!

Dental Questions: What is the difference between a Crown and a Veneer?

Dental crowns and veneers are two of the most commonly used techniques for restoring teeth in the front of the mouth. They are both typically made from thin layers of zirconia or lithium disilicate and are chemically bonded to the teeth. However, the applications in which they are used can be quite different. In general, crowns have certain structural advantages, while veneers allow us to make cosmetic changes while removing a minimal amount of tooth structure. 

Crowns work by encasing all surfaces of a prepared tooth (hence the nickname "cap"). They can be used on any tooth in the mouth for either esthetic or functional purposes. To place a crown, we need to reduce every side of the tooth to make room for the incoming restoration. The complete coverage allows crowns to repair extensive decay, replace fractures and even add some structural integrity to a compromised tooth. Crowns also have incredible retentive properties, as the cement and mechanical design truly lock it to the tooth. 

In contrast, veneers are typically used in cosmetic applications on the anterior teeth. They are bonded to the front surface of the tooth (as opposed to the complete coverage of a crown), and derive their retention entirely from the bonding cement. Veneers are either placed directly over an unaltered tooth or used after reducing the front surface to accommodate the extra width of material. They can repair smaller chips, close gaps between teeth or correct cosmetic concerns. 

Depending on your personal needs, a crown or veneer may be the most appropriate treatment option. If you have any further questions about crowns, veneers or other dental restorations, please give our office a call!

Case Presentation: Mountain Dew Mouth Reconstruction

Today’s case is a typical example of a condition called “Mountain Dew mouth.” It shows how rampant decay develops and what we can do to repair and intervene. Before describing what we did, it is important to note that home care and diet are key in stopping the spread of cavities. All the dentistry in the world won’t help unless we can disrupt the decay causing bacteria!

We typically see Mountain Dew mouth in younger patients who haven’t seen a dentist in a few years. Sugary drinks (such as Mountain Dew) create the perfect storm for rampant dental decay. They can contain as much as 46 grams of sugar per 12 ounce serving, more than enough to feed the bacteria in your mouth and start the decay process. The liquid is both sticky and acidic, making it efficient at evenly coating and softening all enamel surfaces. Finally, these drinks usually consumed over a long period of time. Duration, not quantity, is the important factor in the tooth decay process. The same 46 grams of sugar wouldn’t be nearly as destructive if they were consumed quickly and not allowed to bathe the teeth.

This patient came to us with dark stained decay around the necks of their front teeth. These areas take the majority of liquid exposure when we drink, and thus tend to decay first. You can also spot dark shadows around the sides of the teeth, signifying more decay beneath the enamel surface. None of the cavities on the front teeth extended to the dental pulp, meaning root canals or extractions weren’t immediately necessary. Unfortunately, some of the molars did have extensive decay and will need to be removed at a future appointment.

We proceeded to remove all decayed and compromised enamel. This process is very delicate, as we want to be thorough while leaving as much sound tooth structure as possible.  Once the decay was gone, we filled the teeth using a combination of glass ionomer and composite tooth colored materials. Glass ionomer is great for repairing rampant decay, as it both bonds to the tooth structure and releases fluoride on to the remaining enamel. In contrast, composite allows us to recreate difficult contours and best match the cosmetics of natural teeth. The entire procedure took us a single appointment, and the patient left our office with a beautifully restored smile!

Again, it is important to note that all of our restorative work will come undone unless this patient can stop the intake of sugary drinks and keep up with their daily brushing and flossing. While fillings and crowns can remove active dental decay, only proper hygiene AND healthy diet choices can stop the bacteria’s progress. If you would like to know more about dental decay, what foods cause it or how to intervene, please contact our office.

Pediatric and Orthodontic Offices We Work With

Providing care for children is one of the most challenging and sensitive aspect of dentistry. Kids react to the office setting within an entire spectrum of behavior; from eager and inquisitive to scared and frustrated. We have designed our office to be as welcoming as possible for your young ones with toys, cable TV (Nick, Nick Jr., Disney, etc.) and even a dedicated kid's room (seen in the background of the title photo). Still, there are times that we need to rely on our network of specialists to best meet the needs of your individual child. 

We are proud to work with Dr. Ahsan Raza of 1000 Oaks Children's Dental Group. On top of specialized behavioral management techniques, Dr. Raza prides himself in being an extremely communicative and personal pediatric dentist. He uses a number of techniques, ranging from education to sedation to ensure the best possible dental outcomes. Your kids will love his spaceship themed office too!

In terms of orthodontic offices, we are proud to work with Doctors Nagel Sr. and Nagel Jr. of Nagel Orthodontics and Dr. William Hang of Face Focused Orthodontics. Norm and Jeffrey Nagel bring together over 40 years of experience in orthodontics and pride themselves in combining the best parts of digital and hands-on dentistry. Likewise, Dr. Hang has spent his career developing the Face Focused program, an orthodontic system that develops straight teeth while respecting posture and opening airways. 

If you would like to know more about our fantastic network of specialists, please give us a call. We want our patients to know they are in good hands, whether with us or one of our specialists.

Link to Dr. Raza's office

Link to Dr. Nagel and Nagel's office

Link to Dr. Hang's office

Case Presentation: Calculus Removal

Today's patient is a great example of why you get regular dental cleanings. These teeth looked completely healthy and normal when viewed from straight on. However, a through exam revealed that the lower teeth were in definite need of dental care. 

Dental plaque tends to build up in hard-to-see areas; behind the lower teeth, around the molars, etc. Over time, this plaque hardens to form calculus (also called "tartar") and becomes impossible to remove with brushing and flossing alone (as seen here). Calculus harbors bacteria that cause periodontal disease, decay and bone loss. At a regular dental cleaning, we use instruments and techniques that rid the teeth of calculus.

This patient received a special type of cleaning called a debridement, where large collections of calculus are removed prior to a normal dental cleaning. They are well on their way to complete oral health! If you would like to know more about cleanings, gum disease or any other health topics, please give our office a call.