All Coast Dental

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

TMJ/TMD

TMD can be a very painful condition to deal with. It can also be frustrating, but there are treatments for it. At All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, we are relieving our patients of pain by providing them with custom night guards.


The TMJ is the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD), is a condition where the temporomandibular joint (the TMJ), is dysfunctional. The joint can become enflamed, swollen, and tender. It can cause aching around the ear and face, difficulty chewing, and a clicking or popping sound. The joint may also lock the mouth open or closed.  


There are several things that can contribute to TMD. If the TMJ disc is eroded or moved out of place, it can cause TMD. Arthritis or damage by injury can also cause TMD. Often, grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw can also lead to TMD. Grinding and clenching is especially a problem at night, when a patient may not know he or she is doing it.


A night guard is available less the effects the pressure put on the jaw by TMD. Surgery for TMD is sometimes needed, but often just changing the way the jaw muscles are used through behavioral treatment is enough to provide relief. Our night guards are made completely custom from an impression of your teeth, so it will provide you with the best possible relief.


If you are experiencing a sore jaw, clicking sounds, or suspect you grind your teeth at night, come in for an evaluation. To schedule with All Coast Dental of Pacific Beach, CA, call our office at (858) 270-4904 or visit our website, www.allcoastdental.net

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Dental Exam for Seniors

We only get one set of permanent teeth; therefore, it’s important that they last a lifetime. Good dental hygiene and oral care habits are important at any age. But as we all grow older, certain health concerns earn our full attention, especially the importance of oral health for seniors. Whether you have all of your original teeth, some of them or a full set of dentures, our staff at All Coast Dental can help you keep your mouth healthy.


If you’re a senior headed for a checkup, one of our doctors will conduct a thorough history and dental exam. During the oral exam, he or she will check the following: your face and neck, your bite, your jaw, your lymph nodes and salivary glands, your inner cheeks as well as the inside of your oral cavity. It is important for us to check for signs of infection and oral cancer so that if something is wrong, we can catch it in the earliest stage when it is the easiest to treat. If you wear dentures or other appliances, we will also ask about when you wear them as well as if you are experiencing any problem areas in the mouth.


To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4909.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Dental Crowns

Weak teeth can cause pain, further injury to the tooth, cause soft tissue injury, and decay. When a tooth is weakened, it must be protected and re-strengthened so it can continue a functional life. Here at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, we utilize dental crowns for this purpose.


A dental crown is like a cap that goes on a tooth. The entire part of the tooth that is visible outside of the gums is covered by the crown. At All Coast Dental, we are able to make a dental crown look just like one of your natural teeth; no one will be able to tell the difference.


Crowns may be made of gold, porcelain fused to metal, or full porcelain. The options with porcelain are made to look and feel like one of your own teeth. To ensure that the crown is exactly right for you, we take impressions of your tooth after it is carefully prepared for the crown. These impressions are sent to a dental laboratory where the custom crown will be created.


To prepare your tooth for a crown, we will first remove any decay. We will then reshape the tooth by filing down the sides. While the tooth is being created by the laboratory, you will wear a temporary crown.


Crowns are durable, long-lasting, and they look great. If you are experiencing pain to a tooth, call All Coast Dental to set up an appointment. Our Pacific Beach, CA office may be reached at (858) 270-4909. Appointments may also be made through our website, www.allcoastdental.net

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

The Proper Flossing Technique

There is a right way and a wrong way to do something and the same method applies to flossing. Every six months when you visit our staff at All Coast Dental for a professional cleaning, you’re likely to hear a lecture on flossing. More importantly, we are more likely to hear excuses about why you aren’t doing so.  Proper flossing removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach – under the gum line and between your teeth. If you’re curious about the proper flossing technique, follow these tips!



  • Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with.

  • Holding the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth.

  • Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line.

  • Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.


If you have further questions about oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4909.