At Smiles Los Gatos, we practice comprehensive dentistry. This means we look at our patients as a whole, taking into account overall health, lifestyle, and risk factors, and developing a personalized plan for each person based on those findings. In addition to looking at teeth, we screen for potential issues related to overall health and, when necessary, work in partnership with medical doctors in the community to treat patients with interdisciplinary care.
The American Dental Association suggests that adults get dental exams and cleanings every six months. These checkups help you maintain good oral health and allow us to detect oral diseases or other dental issues early.
A comprehensive dental exam with our exceptional team in Los Gatos will include a thorough cleaning, periodic digital X-rays, screenings for oral cancer and gum disease, and an evaluation of existing fillings, veneers, crowns, or bridges. You’ll also have the chance to talk to your dentist about any cosmetic enhancements you might be interested in.
During your cleaning, we will remove plaque, tartar, and trapped particles from the teeth and in hard-to-reach places you might not be able to get to on your own. We will polish your teeth, then apply a fluoride treatment that helps fight decay and cavities. Your hygienist will also give you tips for effective brushing and flossing at home.
At Smiles Los Gatos, we use the most advanced technologies available. This includes digital X-rays, or radiographs, which are used to detect the presence of decay, tumors, cysts, bone loss, gum recession, malocclusion, wisdom teeth, and impacted canines.
In addition, panoramic X-rays, or panorex, are used to develop a wraparound photograph of the facial structure. These images are generated instantly and provide a detailed view of the nasal area, upper and lower jaws, mandibular nerve, and the sinus areas.
At Smiles Los Gatos, preventative care is a top priority. We know that early detection of many dental and oral health problems makes it possible to treat them while they are still in their initial phase, giving patients more treatment options that are less invasive, costly, and time-consuming.
Professional dental cleaning is an integral part of a good oral care regimen. Skipping regular cleanings can lead to discoloration, gum diseases, bone recession, decay and tooth loss. During your cleanings, our staff will give you tips for effective brushing and flossing, as well as explain the benefits and importance of a balanced diet for good oral health. We’ll advise you on how frequently you should be getting checkups based on your individual needs.
Periodic X-rays are also critical to preventative dental and oral care. Digital X-rays help your dentist detect and treat problems of the oral cavity at an early stage. These exams are especially important for children, whose teeth and jaws are still developing. Panorex is a type of extraoral X-ray that can help detect issues in the nasal area, sinus area, and jaw. These panoramic X-rays are recommended every 3–5 years.
In addition to comprehensive dentistry, the team at Smiles Los Gatos offers extensive periodontal treatments and regenerative services. This includes helping to prevent, diagnose, and treat gum disease and other issues that affect the gums.
Periodontal services require expertise that is beyond what regular dentists offer and often requires visiting a specialist. However, the extensive training our staff has received allows us to offer dental and periodontal services in the convenience of one office.
Periodontal scaling and root planing are nonsurgical processes in which we remove plaque and tartar that has built up below the gum line and can cause gum recession, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. These procedures can protect vulnerable teeth and prevent oral bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body, such as the heart and lungs. They also have aesthetic benefits, such as brightening some stains and treating bad breath, or halitosis.
More severe cases of gum recession might also require a gum graft, connective-tissue graft, free gingival graft, or pedicle or lateral grafts, different surgical procedures in which healthy tissue is transplanted to the recessed area, thereby improving the strength and length of your gums.
Other periodontal services offered include bone grafts, crown lengthening, pocket irrigation, and pocket reduction surgery. Regular dental exams and open communication will allow us to advise you on whether these types of procedures would be right for you.
When the material inside a tooth becomes infected and inflamed, endodontic treatment commonly known as a root canal can save the tooth and bring relief from pain.
At the core of our teeth are root canals and dental pulp. Bacteria can seep into this core, infecting the nerves and tissues there and leading to abscesses. Left untreated, this could result in loss of the tooth. However, standard root canal treatment can preserve the natural tooth and strengthen its structure.
Only proper evaluation by a dentist can determine whether you need endodontic treatment. But some signs that you may require a root canal include abscessed teeth and gums accompanied by drainage, persistent pain or throbbing while chewing, sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages, tenderness in the gums and lymph nodes, swollen gums, or discoloration of a tooth. Dental injuries like chips, cracks, decays and fractures can provide a pathway for bacteria inside a tooth.
Root canal treatment is a routine procedure requiring one or two dental visits. Digital X-rays help assess the degree of tooth decay and bacterial infection. To begin treatment, local anesthesia is used to numb the tooth and the surrounding area. A hole is created in the tooth, allowing access to the infected material. Any damaged tissue is removed, then the canals are cleaned and disinfected. Once the interior is clean, the now hollow chamber and canals are shaped, filled, and sealed. A custom-made crown or bridge is then used to cap the tooth.
At Smiles Los Gatos we will do everything possible to save your natural teeth. However, sometimes removing a tooth is unavoidable. A few reasons you might need a tooth extraction are if a tooth has irreversible damage or infection, extra teeth are causing overcrowding, or you have periodontal disease or gum recession that can’t be corrected.
In some cases, teeth are extracted preemptively to make room for braces or in preparation for receiving radiation in the neck and head area. Children sometimes need teeth extracted when their baby teeth do not fall out and naturally make room for permanent teeth.
There are two types of tooth extractions, simple extraction and surgical extraction. A simple extraction is performed when the tooth has successfully erupted through the gum and is visible. For this procedure, your dentist will numb the area, loosen your tooth, and pull it out using forceps.
A surgical extraction is performed when a tooth remains impacted or has broken off at the gumline. For this procedure, your doctor will numb the area and make an incision to reveal the tooth below the gum. Any bone and tissue around the tooth is removed, and the tooth is loosened, then extracted with forceps. Your dentist may also break the tooth into small parts to make the extraction process easier.
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