Kantor Dental Group
Why You Should Straighten Teeth Before Getting Implants
So, you’ve decided to do veneers, right? Why would you straighten your teeth if you’re just going to do veneers anyway?
I’m Dr. Grey Kanter here with Kantor Dental Group Aesthetic Dentistry and Implantology. As I said, why would you straighten your teeth? If you’re already going to file your teeth down a little bit for the veneers. Why straight your teeth beforehand and take all that time? Well, I think there’s a very good reason. That reason being, you can file down your teeth less and get a better aesthetic result.
Let’s take this case as a good example. On this one, it’s more of an extreme example, this tooth over here is scooted. The small lateral tooth is scooted over to the right. So, or the patients right. Right here you see is a big gap on this side and a small gap on, or no gap on the other. So, I’m going to have to file down this side a lot and not file down that side at all. While on the other side here the opposite is true. This side has a small gap and the backside has a big gap. So, I’m going to be filing down and making the teeth much smaller than necessary. If this little tooth was in the middle, straightened by orthodontics, then I’d have an equal gap on either side, and I may not have to reduce that tooth at all. So, it’s a very nice thing to do to not have to bring, bring a burr (a small drill bit) into the equation. I’d rather use the burr as little as possible.
Let’s take another example. Same thing but opposite, right? Small space, big space. Now this accounts in all situations, not just these extreme examples where the tooth is on one side. If the tooth is just a little bit to one side all those little inconsistencies, they create worse aesthetics and possible food impaction.
Not to say that we can’t make this very nice aesthetics. Is just better for your teeth to have one, less filed down and two, a more even spacing to reduce food inspection.
So, if you have any more questions about this definitely give us a call at Kantor Dental Group. Otherwise, please click like down below and if you have any comments please let us know because I’d love to answer him. I’m Dr. Grey Kantor here at Kantor Dental Group Aesthetic Dentistry and Implantology.
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Oct 14th, 2019
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Tags: Dental Veneer, Orthodontics
Why You Should Straighten Teeth Before Getting Veneers
Hello there. So, you’re doing an implant right? Why straighten your teeth beforehand?
I’m Dr. Grey Kantor here with Kantor Dental Group in San Rafael, California, Aesthetic dentistry and implantology. The reason to do Orthodontics before you do an implant is so that you can, one reduces the chance of getting food caught between your teeth and two, put that implant in the perfect location that lines up with your tooth.
What I mean by that is, you can never move an implant once it’s placed. Teeth can move, as you know with orthodontics, implants can never ever move again. So, if you want to put that implant in the right place the first time, you need the teeth to be in the right place in the first place.
For example. We have right here, a tilted tooth, right? And this is actually pretty often, this seems very tilted, but it’s actually quite normal. When there’s been a missing tooth here, like a molar missing for a while, the back to full tilt forward. How do we fix that you might say? Well, we upright this tooth. And put the implants in.
The reason this becomes a problem is, you can see here right underneath here, there’s likely going to be a food trap when you put an implant crown right here. You’re not going to have a very big area under here to catch food. And that can be very annoying. What we like to do, here at Kantor Dental Group, is upright the back tooth, straighten out any teeth around it to reduce the chance of food impaction. Food impaction is common with implants, but we do everything in our power to reduce it.
Again I’m Dr. Grey Kantor here with Kantor Dental Group in San Rafael, California. Please click like down below and please subscribe.
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Sep 26th, 2019
2:15 pm
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Tags: Dental Implants, Orthodontics
Dental Implants Vs. Crowns & Bridges: Which Is Better?
If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be wondering whether you should replace your tooth with a dental implant, or with dental crowns & a bridge. What’s a better option? Find out in this article.
What Is A Dental Implant?
A dental implant consists of two parts. The implant itself is a screw-shaped piece of titanium, which is surgically implanted into your gums and jaw, in the socket where your missing tooth used to be. It functions as an artificial root, and bonds permanently with the mouth.
The second part is an implant-supported restoration like a dental crown (false tooth). This crown is bonded to the implant permanently, restoring the natural look and function of your smile.
What Are Crowns & Bridges?
Crowns & bridges use two dental crowns, which attach to healthy teeth, to “bridge” the gap created by one or more missing teeth. These crowns are attached to your teeth, and then a bridge is used to suspend one or more false teeth in the gaps where your teeth used to be. This, in turn, restores your smile.
Are Dental Implants Better Than Crowns & Bridges?
Yes. There are a number of reasons that dental implants are the preferred method of restoring missing teeth at most dental offices.
- Preserve surrounding teeth – Having a bridge requires you to trim (intentionally damage) two healthy teeth. In contrast, a dental implant does not require any trimming of the surrounding teeth.
- More natural look & feel – Dental implants will never move or shift, since they are completely integrated with your jaw bone. They look and feel more natural compared to a bridge.
- Longer lifespan – With proper care, a dental implant can easily last 30+ years, and most patients keep them for the rest of their lives. In contrast, a dental bridge usually lasts 10 years, at most.
- Less special care required – All you have to do to care for a dental implant is to brush and floss properly, and see your dentist for a consultation every six months.
For these reasons and quite a few more, dental implants are usually superior to crowns & bridges.
Find Out The Best Option For Restoring Your Smile!
Still not sure if an implant or bridge is right for you? At Kantor Dental, we can help you learn more about each treatment, and pick the procedure that’s right for your budget, your preferences, and your oral health. Call us today.
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Sep 17th, 2019
9:32 am
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What Is The Dental Implant Procedure Like?
A dental implant is the best way to permanently restore a missing tooth. Interested in an implant, but not sure what to expect from the procedure? Get all the details here.
The Implant Placement Procedure
Once you’ve been approved for a dental implant, your dentist will use images and x-rays of your mouth to build an implant placement plan. Then, you’ll come in for your first appointment.
Your mouth will be cleaned and numbed, and you can also be sedated, if you wish. Then, your dentist will make a small incision in the gums and jaw bone, where your implant will be placed. Next, the implant is placed precisely in this opening, based on the implant placement plan.
After the implant has been placed, the area will be cleaned and sutured shut. Then, you’ll be sent home to heal and recover.
Recovering And Building Your Implant-Supported Restoration
The initial healing process after dental implant placement will take about a week. After a week or so, you should no longer feel any pain or discomfort, and after two weeks, your mouth will likely feel completely normal. Most of our patients report some soreness the night after but the next day they don’t even notice it! Follow your dentist’s instructions for post-operative care.
However, your mouth must heal for 3-6 months before your permanent implant-supported restoration can be attached. This is because the titanium must bond permanently with your gums and jaw. This process, called “osseointegration” takes quite a while.
During this time, you may need to see your dentist a few times to have impressions of your teeth taken. These impressions will be used to create your restoration, such as a dental crown (false tooth).
Placing Your Restoration And Finishing The Implant
Once your mouth has healed, you’ll come in for the placement of your implant-supported restoration. You may need to come in for an appointment a week or two in advance to open up the gum tissue, expose the implant, and attach an “abutment.” This abutment is where your restoration will attach to the implant.
At your final appointment, your dentist will check your implant-supported restoration to make sure it fits. If everything looks good, it will be permanently attached to your implant, completing the procedure and restoring your smile.
Take The First Steps – Learn More About Implants Today!
Getting a dental implant takes several months and multiple appointments, but your implant will last 30+ years with proper care. So don’t wait. Take the first step, and contact an implant dentist such as Dr. Grey F. Kantor at Kantor Dental now.
Related Articles:
Should You Save Or Remove A Badly Infected Tooth
What To Expect After Dental Implant Surgery
AIC Implant Training on Bone Grafts
Why We Use 3D X-Rays When Working With Dental Implants
Dental Implant Guide Option To Ensure A Perfect Fit!
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Aug 21st, 2019
4:53 pm
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How To Brush Teeth With Manual Or Electric Toothbrush
Hello there, I’m Dr. Grey Kantor at Kantor Dental Group, Aesthetic Dentistry and Implantology. Today I’m here with my hygienist, Gina Kapriellian, otherwise known as @gcarpri. She is an excellent hygienist and will help us talk about brushing our teeth.
One thing I always like to tell my patients is that cleaning your teeth isn’t just brushing and flossing. Patients will tell me all the time, “I brush and floss. Why am I getting cavities?” Well, I like to relate to building a house. When somebody says, “I built a house.” They don’t say I hammer and nail a house. You can hammer and nail all day; you’re not going to build a correct beautiful home. Just like if you brush and floss your teeth, you’re not going to thoroughly clean your teeth unless you’re doing it in the correct way. So, an important way is to get that technique down and that’s what we’re showing you today.
One thing I want to start off with right off the bat is the length of the simple things, right? Length of time is two minutes, right? It’s very important to brush for two minutes. That make sure you have enough time to get all the surfaces of your teeth. The amount of toothpaste to use – this in this picture you’re way too much. Oh, you know, I’m sure the toothbrush com… the toothpaste companies want you to be using that much. But you can literally use, you know, everything to the left of my finger here. Just a pea sized deposit is what they say. Pea sized deposit of toothpaste, excellent for brushing your teeth. Plenty, you don’t need any more than that.
For your child, it’s going to be much less than that, right? You just get just a little teeny bit on there and brush their teeth. Those are kind of the two main things to work with. We were going to talk about manual brushing your teeth with a standard toothbrush and then we’ll also, so we’ll talk a little bit about electric toothbrush.
So, if you have a manual toothbrush, I know a lot of times people are told, you have to brush it at 45-degree angle. Well, that can mean so many different things to so many people. Is it really 45 degrees when you feel it? Can you see it? You don’t know. So, another way to think about it is basically taking the flat surface of the toothbrush. The main flat portion and resting it directly on the gums. So, instead of placing it directly against the teeth you want it at the gum so that the size of the bristles or what contoured the teeth. And actually, that allows the bristles to get further around the teeth and further below the gum line. Which gives you a more deeper, more thorough clean.
So, with a manual toothbrush, you want to maintain that position and you want to do small tiny circles so that you’re pulsating of the tooth paste in between these areas. But you don’t want to move out of that position. You want to stay where it’s really contouring the teeth and getting down in there. So, you want to do the same for all corners of all of the teeth. So, you want to spend about 15 seconds, one section, 15 seconds another section. Out of the four in your mouth, it will be about two minutes.
So, another area that builds up a lot of tartar and deposit are the lower front teeth because you have your celebriduck just below your tongue that extremes all the minerals from your saliva and mixes with a plaque that’s there. So, it glues it onto your teeth like this really tough deposit that if you even brush it really well it won’t come off. So, you want to prevent that buildup from happening in the first place by spending a little extra time on those lower front teeth. So, take your toothbrush and the tip of it, hold it vertically against the tongue side surface of these lower back teeth. And you want to actually go up the tooth with a little bit of pressure. Maybe small little circles as you come up as one extra chance to kind of clean up that tongue side surface a little bit further. But also, that 45-degree position or the flat portion touching the gums and the side of bristles touching the teeth. You want to do that one extra time for those lower front teeth area in the front portion of it as well. So, same with your top teeth too.
You know we see a lot of deposits of those lower front teeth. And those are also some of the early teeth to be lost in older age. So, definitely something to keep an eye on.
So, some of the areas that build up the most deposit that I see typically every day is the furthest back are the last molars on the tongue side surfaces mainly. So, I know your tongue is there in the way, but try to, try to spend a little extra time or maybe start brushing your teeth in these areas so that you know you’re reaching all the way back and all the way down. And then come towards the easier to reach areas near the front of your mouth. Also, on the cheek side of the upper teeth, especially if you have wisdom teeth, make sure you’re feeling the gums a little bit as you’re brushing so you know you’re getting that right position. And I would suggest again starting furthest back on the last molars and working your way forward on that.
The only difference with an electric toothbrush, you’re still doing the 45 degree as she spoke about. And you’re still, you know, going the same amount of time throughout. Some benefits the electric toothbrush obviously counts to the two minutes and also beeps each time you get to one of those quadrants, right? Four on bottom, four on top, total of eight areas that you want to think about. But the thing you do, you don’t do the little circles. That’s the main difference with electric, you’re just basically holding it there. So, it’s, we’re all used to moving to brush around. You got to change that paradigm thought when you’re brushing your teeth, you got to just simply hold it there and you’re just moving it. Slowly around the teeth.
I actually prefer the electric toothbrush, especially this Sonicare. They have a pattern on their technology, their vibration technique. And it’s supposed to be vibrating the toothpaste thoroughly from the cheek side surface all the way to the tongue side surface and vice versa. While other electric or battery powered toothbrushes don’t have that same capability. So, it doesn’t very through deep clean as long as you do what Dr. Grey said, to hold it down at the gum line and just let it vibrate. It does a really good job getting it nice and clean.
And if you have any more questions, you can comment below and you can also come and see us here at Kantor Dental Group in San Rafael, California.
Please subscribe. Thank you.
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Aug 7th, 2019
12:24 pm
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Tags: Plaque, Toothbrush, Toothpaste
What’s The Best Material For Dental Implants?
If you’re interested in restoring one or more of your missing teeth, you may be exploring dental implants, and wondering which material is the best for implants. Read on, and get all of the information you need.
Understanding The Basics Of Dental Implants
Dental implants consist of two basic parts. The implant itself is a small, rod or screw-shaped piece of material, and it is implanted directly into your gums and jaw bone, where your missing tooth used to be. Then, it heals, and bonds permanently with the underlying bone tissue.
Once the implant heals, an implant-supported restoration like a dental crown (false tooth) can be applied. This restoration is permanently attached to the implant, restoring your tooth.
Together, the implant and implant-supported restoration function as an artificial root and tooth, restoring your smile permanently.
Titanium Is The Best Material For Dental Implants
Titanium has been used in dental implants since they were first developed in the 1960s. Titanium is extremely strong and durable, and resistant to corrosion. But the biggest reason that titanium is used for dental implants is because it can “osseointegrate,” and become a permanent part of your mouth.
Osseointegration refers to the ability of a metal to bond with surrounding bone. When implanted into your jaw, the titanium of your implant will bond with the bone permanently, and become part of the natural structure of your mouth. This provides an extremely strong, durable hold.
Zirconia (Ceramic) Is Becoming More Popular At Some Practices
Zirconia is a special type of ceramic material, and it’s gaining popularity as an alternative to titanium. However, it is not yet widely considered to be as durable or versatile as titanium. While it is effective, zirconia is more brittle and does not “osseointegrate” with the bone as effectively.
In the future, some types of zirconia may become a better option, compared to titanium implants. But for now, titanium is still a superior option for the vast majority of implant cases.
Ready To Learn More? See If You’re A Good Candidate For Dental Implants!
An implant from Kantor Dental may be the best way to restore your smile, your bite, and your self-confidence after tooth loss. So don’t wait. Start exploring your options for smile restoration today.
Related Articles:
Should You Save Or Remove A Badly Infected Tooth
What To Expect After Dental Implant Surgery
AIC Implant Training on Bone Grafts
Why We Use 3D X-Rays When Working With Dental Implants
Dental Implant Guide Option To Ensure A Perfect Fit!
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Jul 24th, 2019
5:11 pm
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Teeth Cleaning With Laser
Hello. Today I want to talk about lasers. I’m Dr. Greg Kantor here at Kantor Dental Group, aesthetic dentistry and implants allergy. Today I’m here with Gina Kapriellian otherwise known as @gcapri. She’s our hygienist here she’s excellent gentle and knows a lot about lasers.
The reason lasers are good with your teeth cleaning is it disinfects the gums and helps the gums grow back if they’ve had some bone loss. What we’re talking about here is, your dentist ever told you that you’ve had periodontal disease? That you’ve had gingivitis? These are reasons to disinfect your gums.
So, inflammation is a lot of times chronic. It’s going on because you have a lot of plaque and bacteria buildup. So, to remove that effectively it’s also embedded inside the gum tissue layer. So, the laser helps clean out the affected gum layers by different processes where we attract the pigment in the bad bacteria and remove that as well as all the infected gum tissue. So, it gives you a fresh start and it also promotes healing of the regeneration of the cells to promote fibrous connections back to the teeth. So you get more of a shrinkage in the pocket and less inflammation because you’re moving what’s causing that, going on at the gum level. So, it’s more of a thorough cleaning process than just a game of debridement off of the wound.
I like that the fresh start. Yeah. So, next time you go to your dentist and they say 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 5, 6 even. Maybe a 7. These are good times, even some 4’s, these are good times to get laser treatment. Really disinfect that area.
So, even in the 4-millimeter pockets, if you have some bleeding going on, there’s active infection. So, using the laser can help reduce that and help firm up the gums and promote health and rebuild the structure as well. So, I think it’s useful in any case that you get bleeding. It’s always an active state of inflammation that can be resolved with laser use as well.
And if you’re more interested in lasers, come, lasers come visit us at Kantor Dental Group. You can also like this video we have a lot of videos that come out. Put some comments down in the comments section about your laser experience and please subscribe.
Cool!
All right.!
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drgrey
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Jul 7th, 2019
6:56 am
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Tags: Bacteria, Bone Loss, Gingivitis, Laser Cleaning, Periodontal Disease
What Is Dental Laser Treatment?
Hello. Today I want to talk about lasers. I’m Dr. Grey Kantor here at Kantor Dental Group, aesthetic dentistry and implantology. Today I’m here with Gina Kaprielian and otherwise known as @gcapri. She’s our hygienist here, she’s excellent, gentle and knows a lot about lasers.
So, what is the experience like when you get a laser treatment?
It’s great because, it’s essentially painless. You go in through the gums and you feel like a warm sensation. But if you feel like you might have more sensitive gums we can totally numb you up. It makes it so you don’t feel anything. We just have you are some cool glasses. And just sit back relax and get refreshed.
Well what does the device look like?
It’s a neat little device. It’s very small so you hardly feel anything going in. And it just goes slightly underneath your gums. It’s this tiny tip that goes through and emits the beam to attract the best pigment, cleans up your gums with it.
And there’s also the studies that I that I just read in California Dental Journal that healthy gums can reduce Alzheimer’s, right. Reduce neurodegenerative diseases has been shown or at least connected to a reduction in neurodegenerative diseases. That’s a big deal. None of us want to have Alzheimer’s.
So, getting rid of all the bad bacteria in the mouth is going to make it so that the rest of your body is healthy as well. Because everything kind of starts in your mouth and it can go past that. So, we want to make sure we stop it in its tracks and so we don’t get any systemic, overall body issues. This way you get inflammation down in your mouth and everywhere else as well.
That’s where everything goes first. Yeah. Thanks very much.
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Jun 28th, 2019
6:17 am
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Tags: Alzheimer's, Hygienist, Laser Treatment, Neurodegenerative
When Should Your Child First Visit a Pediatric Dentist?
Though most adults are well aware of the importance of regular visits to the dentist, they often do not realize how early their children should begin seeing a pediatric dentist. In fact, the recommended age for first dentist visits may be quite a bit earlier than you think.
Children should begin seeing a pediatric dentist by age 1, or within 6 months of their first tooth’s appearance. Since most children get their first tooth around 6 months old, these points tend to coincide.
Though primary teeth (or baby teeth as they are sometimes called) will be lost naturally later in childhood, it is important to keep them healthy in order for them to serve their intended functions.
Healthy primary teeth allow children to achieve proper nutrition, as they enable proper chewing. If a child’s teeth are causing them pain, they’re less likely to eat a well-balanced diet as chewing may be uncomfortable. Early habits are difficult to break, so it’s important that your child doesn’t develop unnecessary aversions to certain foods due to discomfort.
Additionally, primary teeth allow children to develop proper speech. If these teeth are damaged or not properly cared for, it can result in speech impediments since children will not learn how to properly form words. These issues can be mitigated later in life, but it’s much easier to take preventative steps and keep your child’s teeth healthy from the start.
Perhaps most importantly, beginning your child on regular visits to a pediatric dentist at a young age creates a healthy relationship with oral care for them. Later in life, this translates to less reluctance over visiting the dentist, and therefore your child will be more likely to catch dental issues early once they reach adulthood.
By instilling your child with the sense that oral health is an important part of overall physical well being, you set them up for a greater level of future comfort, and shield them from one of the most common health-related anxieties: visiting the dentist.
If your child is nearing that 1 year mark or they have sprung their first tooth and it’s time for them to begin seeing a pediatric dentist, contact us today to keep your child as healthy as possible now, and set them on a path of lifelong oral health.
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Jun 18th, 2019
6:07 pm
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How to Prevent Acid Erosion On Your Teeth
Everyone knows that what you eat and drink has a large bearing on the overall health of your teeth, and this is largely due to acid. Acid erosion is one possible byproduct of consuming certain foods like oranges and sour gummies; it results in a number of unsavory side effects, but there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent acid erosion.
Avoid acidic snacks
Rather than reaching for an acidic food to tide you over between meals, try to save those items for meal times. This is a good habit to take on because the less acidic foods in your meals are more likely to neutralize the effects of acid on your teeth without requiring special care from you.
Though conventional wisdom dictates that fruit is a healthy snack option, try to avoid particularly acidic ones.
Try to drink water
This is a fairly obvious tip echoed by health professionals in every field, but it’s an especially good habit if you’re concerned about acid erosion on your teeth.
Drinking water alongside acidic foods will help wash away some of that acid before it has a chance to wreak any havoc on your teeth. Choosing water over more sugary drinks will further protect your teeth from acid erosion.
Don’t get too eager when brushing
Though you can rinse your mouth with water directly after consuming something acidic, wait at least half an hour before brushing.
Brushing immediately after eating acidic foods can actually cause more damage due to the fact that acid weakens enamel, meaning it’s easier to cause damage through brushing right after eating something acidic.
Some other simple habits to adopt to avoid acid erosion are drinking wine through a straw so it doesn’t come into much contact with teeth, and trying to avoid sugar as it encourages the growth of bacteria that create acid. Try to swish some tap water after consuming acid, and before brushing.
The early signs of acid erosion are discoloration and sensitivity, while cracks and cupping indicate a more advanced state of acid erosion.
If you’ve noticed that your teeth have been feeling extra sensitive or looking yellower, reach out and take action to prevent further erosion before you begin experiencing more serious pain or aesthetic issues.
For future dental inquiries, and any questions you might have, reach out to us at Kantor Dental for consultations and advice!
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drgrey
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May 15th, 2019
7:58 am
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