Kantor Dental Group & Implants

At our office we use one of the highest quality implant companies called Hiossen.  The companies goals are to make excellent implants with a low failure rate while keeping their doctors educated using implant coursework through AIC.  This was their Summit meeting, giving their constituent doctors expanded learning opportunities including reinforcement and innovations.  The material covered everything from options when a screw loosens to new techniques in completely guided surgery.

At our office we love to do guided surgery because it allows us to place the implant perfectly.  My father and I have good hands, and as a trained engineer my 3-dimensional awareness allows for excellent freehand placement.  But it still helps to have a computer guide the implant placement.  Implants are almost a perfect tooth replacement, however, one problem with implants is that they have a propensity to become a food trap, forcing the patient to floss after every meal (our trick to make you floss more!) Guided surgery places the implant in the perfect position within the bone to reduce the risk of food impaction.

White implants are here! For those of you that don’t like to have metal in your mouth, Straumann Implant Company has created an all ceramic implant that is FDA certified for market.  In rare cases, metal implants can show through the gums and produce a greyish hue to the gums.  Obviously this is something esthetic dentists look to avoid.  However, current studies for ceramic implants are only 2 years in length.  For us at Kantor & Kantor, DDS we like to see longer studies to show how well these implants hold up in the long run.  For now we will keep using Titanium Alloy implants but look forward to what the future will bring.

Also at this meeting we went over different options for implant supported dentures to make the process more efficient and comfortable for the patient.  When a upper or lower denture doesn’t retain well it may be time for implants.  Implants can help retain or even support a denture allowing you to eat foods you haven’t been able to in years.  Here at Kantor & Kantor, DDS we love helping people with chewing difficulties and are sure we can find a solution to fit your needs.

Many people have bad associations with bridges. The perception seems to be that they are a short-term solution that costs more than it’s worth. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Dental bridges can last years–even decades–with proper attention, and in the meantime, they keep your other teeth in the right places, so you don’t have to worry about further erosion or tooth loss.

If you have to fit a missing tooth with a dental bridge, it’s natural to be concerned about how long such prosthetics may last. After all, these procedures cost money and require recovery, so no one wants to go through them more than is absolutely necessary. The good news is that bridges are a long-lasting solution with the right care.

An average dental bridge lasts anywhere between five and fifteen years. Some dental bridges even last over 20 or even 30 years. It really depends on the quality and type of bridge, as well as the initial fit and level of continuous care given.

You Control How Long Your Bridge Lasts

In fact, the biggest factor involved in determining how long a dental bridge may actually last is you. With poor maintenance, a dental bridge quickly becomes susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. You can end up with your mouth in worse shape than when you started. Luckily, simply by brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash regularly, as well as getting professional cleanings as appropriate, you can keep your bridge in as good shape as the teeth surrounding it.

Of course, you can only do so much alone. The quality of the initial bridge will have just as much impact on the durability of a bridge as the care it receives. That’s why it’s so important to choose a qualified dentist to do the procedure. Make sure that you trust your bridgework to a dentist who only uses the highest quality materials and has years of experience doing the procedure successfully. Look for professionals who aren’t just generalists, but rather are also specialists in this type of procedure.

At Kantor Dental, our team has specialized training in restorative dental work such as bridges and other oral prosthetics, so you can be sure that you’ll be getting top-quality care. Not only do we have the skills and practice to ensure that your bridge is set up successfully, we’ll show you everything you can do to ensure it lasts as long as possible. Don’t risk your health–and another costly dental procedure–by getting sub-par bridges. Get quality that will last for decades.

Hi, I’m Dr. Greg Kantor from San Rafael, California. Our dental office is called, Kantor and Kantor Dentistry for Healthy Living. Today, I’d like to teach you about flossing. I know there’s a lot of flossing techniques out there, but this one I think works the best and I’ve seen some really good results from it.

The first step is, use your string floss and pull out about two feet so that you can have enough space to wrap it around your finger multiple times. I like to wrap it around my middle finger. The reason for this, is that when you wrap it around your middle finger, you get a lot of dexterity and control.

I can now use my pointer fingers, as well as my thumbs, to control the floss. So, I can use the pointer fingers, the thumbs, either one and switch off as you please. I also like to be able to get my fingers the width of the tooth apart. If you do this and you’re nice and close, you won’t flick your gums as much and it won’t damage your gums. That’s one of the most important parts, is to keep it and have a lot of control when you go through, that way you’re not flicking your gums every day, twice a day. So next, if I’m going to do my front teeth, I like to use my thumb and my pointer finger and I’ll put my pointer finger toward the inside of my mouth, like so.

If I do the back teeth, I’ll use both of my index fingers and I’ll go toward the back of my mouth. Each time you floss, when you go in between the contact, you want to pull it to one side making a C shape and go up and down three times. Pull to the left side and go up and down three times and then go to the next tooth. One, two, three. One, two, three. You can do that really fast. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Kind of just vibrate it in between. And then, when you’re finished, don’t forget to get all the way in the back, the back of the very back tooth and just kind of do the one, two, three on the very back tooth. And then, you’re done. Pretty simple, easy way to do it.

Again, my name’s Dr. Greg Kantor. Thank you for watching the video and please subscribe to our YouTube channel.

In a perfect world, cost would never be an issue when it comes to something so vital to your health and wellbeing as dentures. Unfortunately, we live in the real world where cost is a real concern for many patients. Luckily, there is such a thing as affordable dentures–a service we are proud to provide our patients.

There is no single set cost or type of dentures. Dentures can be made from a variety of materials to fit a range of budgets while maintaining a needed level of quality. Dentures can be made removable or with implants, and they can even be designed in a variety of ways to lower the cost without compromising quality or fit. Not everyone necessarily needs full dentures either. If some of your teeth are still healthy, we may be able to fit you for partial dentures, saving you money and helping you to keep some of your smile intact.

Consider Dentures an Investment

It’s important, however, to distinguish between affordable dentures and cheap dentures. Sometimes people are tempted to look for an office to get dentures based on price alone, and end up paying significantly more in the long run. Quality dentures can last years, and those with implants can last a lifetime with proper care. Unfortunately cheap dentures are unlikely to custom fit your mouth and will be made from the absolute cheapest materials available. The additional wear and tear caused by the poor fit, as well as the lack of durability of the materials will mean that you need to pay for replacement dentures more often.

When you are looking for affordable dentures, make sure to keep all price considerations in mind, not just those you will deal with upfront. Beyond the additional costs of needing new dentures more often, poorly fitting dentures can damage your gums and mouth. You may need costly special treatments to heal this. At the very least, you will suffer the pain and stress associated with such badly designed dentures.

Quality dentures can fit into almost any budget. We will work with you and your insurance company to ensure that we can provide you the care you need at a cost that won’t break the bank. Not only do most dental insurance plans cover a large part of the cost of dentures, but we also offer custom payment plans that will allow you to fit the cost of dentures into your budget. Come discuss your denture needs with one of our dentists to find out how we can provide you with affordable dentures.

Many people feel scared about dental procedures, especially because they think that they will hurt. This is normal, but you actually have nothing to be afraid of. While many people wonder “are dental fillings painful?”, the reality is that they are rarely as bad as people may think.

During a filling you are unlikely to feel a thing. A filling does not happen in areas of the tooth where there are nerves, so you shouldn’t feel any more pain from the procedure than you would feel from cutting your hair. No nerves = no pain. Of course, some people have more sensitive teeth or require deeper fillings that come closer to the nerve. That’s why an anesthetic is used to numb your mouth during the procedure. A numbing gel generally allows the dentist to give an anesthetic injection pain-free that ensures the area will not feel anything. It’s an extra precaution to ensure that you don’t experience any pain from a filling.

Sometimes people do, however, feel an ache from the injection or the procedure after the anesthetic wears off. This sensation rarely lasts long, and by the next day, you should feel good as new or even better. After all, your dentist removes the decay in the tooth exposing you to pain. The filling protects you, so you won’t feel that pain anymore.

At Kantor Dental Group in San Rafael, we place tooth-colored fillings with our patients’ comfort always in mind. We also offer removal of silver fillings to be replaced with safer, more aesthetic composite fillings.

To schedule a visit with us regarding tooth fillings, give us a call at San Rafael Office Phone Number 415-492-1616 or use our Appointment Request Form.

Is There Sensitivity After a Filling?

While there may not be sharp pain after a filling, your tooth may be a little sensitive for a week or so after the procedure. Common sensitive tooth triggers, such as hot and cold foods, air temperature, and the pressure of biting can make you feel a mild ache. Don’t worry. This isn’t an indication of anything bad. All it means is that your mouth is adjusting to the filling.

Some people immediately adjust to the fillings, but other mouths take some time to get accustomed to its presence. People who need a little more time to acclimate to the filling can experience some sensitivity when doing certain activities like eating or drinking. This should resolve itself within several weeks and can be minimized by avoiding particularly hot or cold foods for the first few days after treatment.

If you are feeling anxious about getting a filling, it may help to speak to one of our dentists in person. We are happy to answer all your questions and honestly explain what you can expect from the filling procedure. In the end though, a filling will always hurt less than letting a cavity grow. Don’t neglect your health due to your fears. Our dentists will make getting a filling a breeze.

Dentures can be a big hassle, especially as we get older. For decades, however, this was the best option to deal with a lost tooth (or teeth). Now, however, you have the option of dental implants, which are permanent tooth replacements fused into the jawbone just like a real tooth. Under the right circumstances, it can be a wonderful option. You can treat them just like teeth and they last just as long. Before you decide on implants, though, you must know a few things.

1. It’s a process. There are several steps to getting dental implants put in, so plan on it taking some time. You will require two oral surgeries about three to six months apart: one to implant the metal anchors in your jawbone and another to attach a final healing collar and surface level base for the permanent dentures. Only after this will our dentists build the final false teeth around the implant. During this process, you’ll be required to wear temporary dentures and eat soft foods. From start to finish, it takes about 6 to 8 months. While most patients experience little real disruption to their lives, for some people, this wait can be tough.
2. They can save your surrounding teeth and jawbone structure. When you have a missing tooth, the lack of stimulation in the area can cause bone loss. While dentures and bridges can slow this damage, they cannot stop it, because no amount of gum stimulation will reach all the way down to the jawbone like the root of a tooth or implant. Bridges also risk damaging the surrounding teeth anchoring them in place. Dental implants save your teeth and jawbone structure from such damage.
3. Implants cost more upfront, but can be less expensive in the long term. Dental implants can be expensive upfront, costing thousands of dollars. Although this can be paid in manageable installments and will often be covered at least partially by insurance, it is a substantial investment. Luckily, implants don’t require any more upkeep or replacement than your normal teeth, unlike dentures and bridges. This means that many people save money in the long term.
4. Not everyone qualifies for dental implants (but most people can). Your jaw must have enough bone support for an implant, and you cannot be seriously ill when undergoing these procedures. You also cannot heavily smoke after getting the implant, as it can cause you to lose the root. Most generally healthy adults who do not smoke can qualify. Your jawbone can even be built up prior to the procedure if your bone height is not currently enough.
5. Dental implants can last a lifetime–but only with proper care. Dental implants can be generally treated like regular teeth and last just as long. That is only true if you care for your teeth. Serious gum disease and plaque buildup can damage both your natural and artificial teeth, causing you to lose them. After getting a dental implant, you must still brush, floss, and go to the dentist often.

If you are considering dental implants to replace a lost tooth, there are plenty of advantages, but that doesn’t mean you should make this decision lightly. Come talk to one of our dentists to find out whether you qualify and what your options may be.

If you have ever experienced a canker sore, you’ve had to deal with the pain and discomfort firsthand. It’s awful. Each sore lasts an average of two weeks–and is likely to come back. Sadly, there used to be little you could do about these painful mouth ulcers. You’d simply have to wait it out or maybe occasionally numb the wound with some messy and limited OTC creams. With saltwater washes and care, you may have even been able to keep the canker sore from coming back in the same spot, but more often than not, it returned weeks or months later.

That’s all changed. Now there are dental lasers which can heal the sore with a single, painless visit to your dentist. After a brief feeling of warmth, the canker sore will no longer feel tender, and you can leave our office knowing that your mouth will be cleared up in just a day or two.

1. It’s the only method proven to actually heal a canker sore, while simultaneously removing the pain. Many canker sores are caused by viruses. The biostimulation of the laser helps to kill the virus and cauterizes the open wound so that no new infection takes over. Cauterization using a laser doesn’t hurt like other treatments, such as freezing, but it does effectively remove the pain immediately. You can leave the dentist not just relieved, but actually well on your way to being all better.
2. Your canker sore will heal in just 2 days rather than 2 weeks. A canker sore lasts an average of two weeks. This drops down to just two days when you seal off the sore and promote healing using a dental laser.
3. You’ll be less likely to get canker sores in the future. Many people repeatedly get canker sores in the same place, especially in places where there is a persistent irritant, such as braces or dentures rubbing. This almost always means that a virus is active at a specified nerve ending or a stressor is located in that area of your mouth. The dental laser helps permanently reverse canker sore formation by “burning out” the virus from the nerve ending, eliminating repeat sore formation. Even canker sores caused not by a virus, but rather by rubbing can be eliminated in the same way. The laser seals off the nerve ending, which means that your brain no longer registers the irritant. The trigger goes unnoticed, which means that the ulcers don’t form.

If you’re suffering through a painful canker sore, you don’t have to any longer. Call our offices today to find out if we may be able to help heal your mouth more permanently.

Kantor Dental Group in San Rafael is one of the few practices in the area offering Laser Canker Sore Treatment. Call us at San Rafael Office Phone Number 415-492-1616 to schedule an appointment.

Dentist and Physician Cooperation: Essential Trends in Medicine for Patient Care at McInnis Park Club Restaurant, San Rafael on December 8, 2015.  This monthly Marin County Dental Society meeting was very informative.  Dr. James Simonds reviewed all of the medical-dental links as well as ways to benefit the patient by keeping in contact with their doctor.  Sometimes there can be discord between dentists and MDs but this lecture will help cooperation run smoothly and ensure patient safety and well-being.

Practice on fire workshop in San Antonio Texas on November 6-7 2015. This workshop will be focused on learning more about insurance, practice management, and patient comfort in order to make our office a better environment for everyone.