About Sedation Dentistry

What is sleep dentistry or sedation dentistry?

Sleep dentistry and sedation dentistry are interchangeable terms used to describe methods of anxiety and pain control in oral health care. Patients may experience anxiety when visiting the dentist, and sleep dentistry allows for those patients to receive treatment without the anxiety, stress, or fear of dental procedures.

Studio Dental Care Provides Sedation Dentistry to its patients

What are the types of sedation for sleep dentistry?

• Minimal – Defined by the American Dental Association as “a minimally depressed level of consciousness, produced by a pharmacological method.” This allows patients to be relaxed during a visit. Although the patients are still conscious, they are relaxed and less jittery or nervous, allowing dentists to conduct routine procedures. Prescription medications are prescribed by the dentist, and dosage is dependent upon individual needs.
• Moderate – also, considered “conscious sedation.” The American Dental Association describes this level of sedation as a “drug induced depression of consciousness” that allows patients to respond to dentists during the visit, but patients do not remember the actual procedure or visit. Sedatives may combine oral medications and inhaled sedatives, such as nitrous oxide—more commonly known as “laughing gas.”
• General Anesthesia – Defined by the American Dental Association as “a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which patients are not arousable, even by painful stimulation.” This level of sedation helps extremely anxious patients who need to receive more invasive dental treatments. General Anesthesia is intravenously (IV) administered by an anesthesiologist.

In most cases, each method of sedation dentistry may require patients to be driven to and from the dental office by a friend or family member.

Studio Dental Care located in Studio City provides sleep dentistry and sedation dentistry consultations, which include details on sedation dentistry cost, procedures, and information regarding any questions or concerns a patient may have.

For press or information, please contact Dr. Alexander Ash at Studio Dental Care’s office at (818) 763-1444. This Studio City, CA dental office is located at 12412 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604 and their website is http://www.studiodentalcare.com. Studio Dental Care serves patients in Encino, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and the greater Los Angeles area.

 

 

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Orthodontists spend time—often years—perfecting a young adult’s mouth, making sure it is healthy and straight. During the later teenage years, as wisdom teeth begin to break through the gum line, they may not come in perfectly straight. Oftentimes, due to the lack of space in the jaw, wisdom teeth begin to erupt at an angle, which can affect the surrounding teeth.

Studio Dental Care Provides Education on Oral Health

Wisdom teeth may need to be removed if they are causing the following problems:

• Pain or infection
• Damage to adjacent teeth
• Tooth decay or gum disease

Orthodontists may also request the removal of wisdom teeth as part of the patient’s orthodontic treatment plan.

If patients experience any of the above pain or discomfort, it is important that the patient consult their dentist to discuss treatment and procedure options. Impacted wisdom teeth may be painful, cause irritation, and affect the health of the surrounding teeth.

For more information regarding impacted or unerupted teeth, please feel free to explore the American Dental Association’s website by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to read more about a wisdom teeth removal procedure.

If impacted wisdom teeth need to be removed, a dentist will perform an oral evaluation and put together a treatment plan. The oral evaluation may consist of taking x-rays to examine the mouth in greater detail. Most wisdom teeth removals are outpatient procedures and can be completed by a dentist or an oral surgeon if the case includes complications.

Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care located in Studio City, California offers consultations, oral exams, routine dentist appointments, and specialized treatments for patients of all ages. Dr. Alexander Ash provides general and cosmetic dentistry services, and happily serves new and returning patients throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, and Studio City California.

Oral Piercings and Dental Health

Individuals use piercings as a unique and artistic form of expression. However, oral piercings, such as lip and tongue piercings, may cause oral trauma. Those with oral piercings may experience early and onset receding gum lines, hypersensitivity to metal jewelry, or cracked teeth.

Studio Dental Care provides education on oral health and how to maintain a healthy mouth.

Receding Gumlines

According to a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association, receding gumlines occur in correlation to the length of a pierced lip or tongue. A piercing affects the gumlines after consistent rubbing and irritation. Receded gumlines lead to increased sensitivity and a greater likelihood of developing cavities, and in unfortunate circumstances tooth loss. For more information regarding tongue and lip piercings in association with receding gumlines, please follow the link by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to read about a study conducted on males and females with oral piercings and the correlation to gum recession.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions to the jewelry’s metal may occur, resulting in swelling, tenderness, or bleeding.

Chipped / Cracked Teeth

With weaker gums and hard metal jewelry, it should come as no surprise that people with lip and tongue piercings may experience an increase in cracked or chipped teeth.

Difficulty Speaking and Swallowing

Mouth piercings may create difficulties speaking and swallowing. Tongue piercings may drastically alter speech, such as lisps and speech impediments.

For more information regarding oral health, please contact Dr. Alexander Ash at Studio Dental Care in Studio City, California. At his dental office, Dr. Ash strives to provide quality dentistry for a spectrum of multi-specialty services, including sleep apnea appliances, teeth whitening, routine cleanings, dental implants, and mouth guards for bruxism. For more information, please visit the official Studio Dental Care website by clicking HERE.

Facts about Dental Veneers

There are a few misapprehensions that alter the public’s perception of cosmetic dentistry services, like those of dental veneers. Dental veneers have the ability to create great smiles. Here are some facts to address these worries.

Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care in Studio City, CA specializes in cosmetic and general dentistry services, including veneers

Veneers can be made to look natural

Veneers are normally installed to increase the appearance of a smile, creating a fuller and more natural look. Veneers can disguise issues, such as misaligned teeth, crooked teeth, discolored teeth, and more. During a consultation with a dentist, the patient will discuss the desired outcome and choose the shade and size of the veneers.

Veneers can improve a natural smile

Depending on the case, dental veneers require minimal removal of surface enamel, generally less than half a millimeter, in order to install veneers. While the removal of the enamel cannot be reversed, installing durable materials, such as porcelain and ceramic veneers, may actually help strengthen existing teeth for longer, healthier teeth lifespan.

Veneers have practical function

While mainly used for cosmetic and aesthetics purposes, veneers offer some practical solutions as well. Dental veneers can create a fuller mouth with fewer gaps for bacterium to hide. If left untreated, bacteria can create other problems, such as cavities, root canals, gingivitis, and even tooth loss, in severe cases. Veneers can even help correct a patient’s bite, improving the overall function of a patient’s mouth. To learn more about dental veneers, visit the American Dental Association’s website, HERE.

Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care in Studio City, California offers dental patients advice and expertise when it comes to oral care and cosmetics. Dr. Ash provides dental services to patients in Los Angeles, Burbank, and Toluca Lake areas. Studio Dental Care by Dr. Alexander Ash helps patients achieve the smile they’ve always desired through general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry services. For more information regarding cosmetic dentistry or routine cleanings, please follow visit www.studiodentalcare.com.

Benefits of Floss

Flossing is a great habit for patients to maintain a healthy mouth and gum line. The benefits of flossing far surpass the cost or time of flossing. With flossing in mind, companies create and produce whitening floss or stain removing floss to cater to teeth whitening needs.

Dr. Alexander Ash provides dental information to maintain good oral health for patients throughout southern California

Flossing is beneficial for numerous reasons, including removing plaque, bacteria, and tartar and reducing periodontal diseases, like gingivitis. To read more information regarding flossing and its many benefits, please follow the link to the official Mouth Healthy website by clicking HERE.

Stain removing floss adds a simple, cosmetic approach to oral care maintenance. Whitening floss and stain removing floss do not actually change or effect the color of teeth, it is important for patients to understand this when purchasing floss. Whitening floss removes food particles and plaque that may discolor teeth with microscopic abrasive silica particles. Some brands of teeth whitening floss include ingredients like calcium peroxide that breaks down certain proteins on teeth that may cause discoloration.

Between removing food particles, minor tooth stains, and reducing plaque in the mouth, patients are likely to better the appearance of a smile while benefiting dental health as well.

However, for patients wishing to dramatically whiten teeth, cosmetic dentistry treatments such as veneer installation or professional in-office whitening may be most beneficial. In office whitening may dramatically brighten a patient’s smile in as little as one visit.

For more information regarding dental health, please feel free to contact Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care located in Studio City. Dr. Ash proudly provides routine dental procedures, teeth cleanings, and information regarding dental health products for patients in the greater Los Angeles, Burbank, and Toluca Lake areas. In addition, Dr. Ash provides general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry needs. For more information regarding: teeth whitening, periodontal diseases, dental implants, veneers, routine cleanings, fillings, bridges, dentures, and sedation dentistry for fearful patients contact Studio Dental Care.

Calcium and Bone Strength

Children grow up hearing how drinking calcium-rich milk makes healthy bones and strong people. Generally, it is not until an older age that people understand the unfortunate consequences of diets that lack calcium.

The body does not produce calcium on its own but needs this mineral to grow healthy bones, including the enamel that strengthens teeth (one third of permanent teeth consist of calcium). Calcium intake is important during developmental years, throughout a person’s late twenties, and even into later adult and elderly years. Furthermore, milk and other dairy products contain high concentrates of calcium that are especially necessary for growing individuals who have a family history of osteoporosis.

A diet deprived of calcium, in either supplemental forms (like vitamins), or through foods like milk, cheese, and yogurts, may be detrimental to overall health. Without retaining or ingesting the appropriate amounts of calcium, the body depletes calcium from its bone supply, thereby weakening a person’s bones, including teeth. Consequences may arise when people experience severe calcium deficiencies. Symptoms may manifest as canker sores around or near the mouth, or ulcerations. For more information regarding the important role calcium plays, click HERE.

Health care professional and dentists like Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care, support proper nutrition for overall health. Attending the dentist’s office regularly for routine cleanings and checkups also play a key role in good oral health. Dr. Ash and his friendly team offer solutions to all dental issues such as veneers and teeth whitening for cosmetic dentistry issues and teeth extraction, sleep apnea appliances, and sedation dentistry for specialty dentistry issues. Contact Dr. Ash today to schedule an appointment, or find out more information regarding dental care.

Signs of Cavities

Patients visit the dentist regularly to avoid cavities and root canals—that common, dreaded fear of needles, numbing, and fillings. Dentists can always accurately evaluate the state of a patient’s oral hygiene with regular examinations and full-mouth x-rays. During these routine dental visits, dentists can help to recognize early signs of cavities, remove decay, and help to prevent further decaying of singular or multiple teeth. Patients can help identify early signs of cavities, or caries, and schedule an appointment for the dentist for further examining.

Signs of early cavities may include:

• White spots on a tooth that appear where enamel has been worn away
  • Sugar and starch acid can add to tooth decay and eventually cavities
• Soft spots on the smooth surface or fissures of teeth
• Teeth sensitivity to extreme temperature of foods and beverages

Signs of developed cavities may include:

• Mild to severe tooth ache
• Dark pits on the surface of decaying teeth
• Visible holes on the surface of teeth
• Regular pain while chewing or drinking

If signs of cavities are caught early enough, a patient and dentist may work together to reverse the symptoms of decay through rigorous routine cleanings, the use of fluoride, and even teeth sealant treatments. However, if the decay has advanced and permanently damaged the tooth, thereby threatening the health of surrounding teeth, the cavity will most likely require a filling. If the decay has penetrated through the pulp of the tooth, a root canal will help to rid the tooth of rotting tissue.

By brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash regularly, a patient can help to prevent serious decay while promoting a healthy mouth. In addition, eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals will help to strengthen surface enamel. Try to eliminate sodas, excess sugars and starches, and alcohols to further prevent possible tooth decay.

For more information on preventing, diagnosing, and treating cavities please follow the link to the California Dental Association’s website by clicking HERE.

Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care located in Studio City proudly provides routine dental procedures, tooth fillings, and tooth extractions for patients in the greater Los Angeles, Burbank, and Toluca Lake areas. Dr. Ash offers general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry needs, including: teeth whitening, dental implants, veneers, routine cleanings, fillings, bridges, dentures, and more. For more information regarding any of the above services including cavity fillings, please contact Dr. Alexander Ash and his friendly staff of dental hygienists.

 

How to Care for Traditional Wire Braces

Traditional braces, sometimes referred to as orthodontic braces, dental braces, and wire braces, are a great option for people to straighten misaligned teeth effectively. Depending on the patient’s care, wire braces yield permanent results for patients who suffer from under bites, overbites, cross bites, crooked teeth, and other structural issues. Although braces are most often known to create a straighter, more aligned smile for patients, braces function as both a cosmetic dental procedure as well as a structural solution.

Studio Dental Care provides information on how to care for traditional wire braces

While there are exceptions, traditional braces are generally installed for 12-30 months and customized for individual needs. Maintaining pristine oral health during the treatment is crucial to the overall dental health. Patients need to clean their teeth properly and protect their mouth from decay, bacteria, and demineralization while wearing braces. For more information about metal braces, please follow the link to the American Dental Associated sponsored site, Mouth Healthy, by clicking HERE.

How to care for traditional wire braces:

• Brush for 2-3 minutes twice a day
  • Make sure to brush under the wire to remove food particles and bacteria
• Floss at least once a day
  • Thread the floss in between brackets to clean in between each tooth and prevent periodontal diseases
• Wire Brush
  • Use a wire brush to clean the brackets and wires of excess food
• Use mouthwash once a day to freshen breath
• Avoid drinking sodas regularly; keep them for special, rare occasions
• Avoid eating sticky or chewy foods (i.e. taffy, popcorn, caramel, etc.)
• Avoid eating hard foods (i.e. apples, carrots, celery, nuts, etc.)

Most importantly, while you or a loved one wears braces, make sure to schedule and attend all regular dentist and orthodontist visits. Both dentists and orthodontists work to provide complete oral care for straight, white, and healthy smiles. Orthodontists will make sure that patients’ results are going according to schedule, making adjustments as needed, while dentists will remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from the teeth.

Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care located in Studio City proudly provides routine dental procedures, teeth cleanings, and regular dental procedures for patients in the greater Los Angeles, Burbank, and Toluca Lake areas. While Dr. Alexander Ash does not perform orthodontic procedures, such as traditional wire brace installation and maintenance, he can refer patients to trusted specialists in the greater Los Angeles area. Dr. Alexander Ash is an Invisalign provider and also offers general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry needs, including teeth whitening, dental implants, veneers, routine cleanings, fillings, bridges, dentures, and sedation dentistry for fearful patients. For more information regarding any of the above services including routine dental appointments, please contact Dr. Alexander Ash and his friendly staff of dental hygienists.

Oral Cancer Screening and Prevention

Routine dental cleanings often help to protect more than just a patient’s oral hygiene. During a regular dental visit, dental hygienists and dentists will check the patient’s mouth for tissue and color abnormalities. These differences in color or texture are often accompanied with pain may by an indication of cancer.

Dr. Alexander Ash provides oral cancer screenings in Studio City, California and throughout Southern California

Symptoms of Oral Cancer:

Signs and symptoms of oral cancer may include, but are not limited to:

• White or red patch found in the inside cheeks or gum
• Persistent and irritating sores that do not heal with time
• Ear aches or pains
• Thickening of oral tissue
• Redness and swelling in the mouth
• Tongue pain
• Jaw stiffness
• Sore throat

If you experience any of the above symptoms for an extended period of time and are concerned you may have mouth cancer, please contact your primary dentist or physician immediately.

For more information regarding different types of cancer, including mouth cancer, please follow the link to the government provided website, by clicking HERE.

How to prevent oral cancer in patients?

Oral cancer screenings search for symptoms to detect oral cancer in the early stages before the cancer progresses to more serious stages.

Quit Smoking, Finally

Among various reasons, such as bad breath, lung cancer, and second hand smoke that threatens the health of others, dangerous tobacco products may also lead to oral cancer. Whether you use chewing tobacco or tobacco cigarettes, tobacco products are dangerous—but that comes as no surprise. If patients need another reason to quit smoking, oral cancer affects the teeth and gum line.

Alcohol

Alcohol may affect the liver and, in certain cases, may be life threatening in large doses. Most people are not aware that consistently consuming large quantities of alcohol may put you at a higher risk of developing oral cancer. Limit the alcohol drinking, your body and mouth will thank you. Read HERE for more information regarding alcohol and cancer risk.

Visiting the dentist regularly may help to diagnose and treat oral cancer in its early stages. Oral cancer screening exams are performed during routine dental check-ups at Studio Dental Care. Dr. Alexander Ash prides himself in the quality general and cosmetic dentistry services he provides for patients in Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, and Studio City California. For more questions or concerns regarding oral cancer screening, prevention, and treatments, please feel free to contact Studio Dental Care today.

What you need to know about Dental Sealants

What are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants, simply known as sealants, are thin layers of plastic material applied to teeth in order to better prevent decay and cavities. Sealants are normally painted on the back, permanent molars and premolars in children and young adults. However, sealants have been effective at preventing decay in adults as well. Although flossing, brushing, and the use of mouthwash greatly reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth, plaque can slip through the cracks, literally. Oral bacteria from food and beverages finds its way into the tiny crevices and fissures on the top surfaces of teeth—the spots that are difficult to clean with the thick bristles of a toothbrush. Dental sealants can help by filling the fissures with the plastic material, hardening, and creating a surface that is virtually impossible to penetrate.

Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care provides Dental Sealants and other specialty dental services.

How do Dental Sealants Work?

The dental sealant application process is simple, generally takes one appointment, and is non-invasive.

• First, the teeth have to be cleaned in a routine dental visit
• The teeth that will be treated with the dental sealant are rinsed with a special gel
• Then the teeth are rinsed and dried again
  • Keeping the teeth dry through the application process is important to the binding of the sealant to the teeth
• The sealant is then applied in liquid form to fill the fissures of the teeth (typically the back molars)
• Oftentimes, dentists will shine a special curing light on the sealant to harden the surface
• The sealant process is completed in one office visit, and oftentimes takes less than a half hour to fully cure

Sealants are a great way to protect the back molars from an increased threat of cavities and decay. Properly applied professional sealants may last up to 10 years, improving the function of teeth and overall dental health for patients. For more information pertaining to dental sealants, please follow the link to the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC.

Individual patients should discuss specific cases with his or her primary, professional dentist. Dr. Alexander Ash of Studio Dental Care in Studio City, California is accepting new patients for general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry services. To speak with a customer care representative, contact Studio Dental Care about services such as routine dental cleanings, dental sealants, teeth whitening, tooth extractions, and more.