Types of Clear Braces

Gone are the days of “brace face,” or the traditional aesthetic of metal and wire braces crowding around your teeth. Today, clear braces are a growing trend, with both adults and teens using this treatment to transform their smiles. At All Coast Dental located in Pacific Beach, CA, Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos offer a variety of options for clear braces to empower patients during their smile journey.

What Are Clear Braces?

Clear braces are any types of braces that are more discreet and almost invisible in contrast to traditional metal braces. Today, more people are opting for clear braces because they’re less noticeable, less painful than traditional braces, and allow patients to feel confident while wearing them.

Types of Clear Braces

Clear braces usually refer to three types of braces: ceramic braces, Invisalign, and lingual braces.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are similar to traditional metal braces, but with a twist. While these braces still use metal, the brackets in ceramic braces utilize ceramic which is clear. Ceramic braces have many benefits, one of them being a shorter treatment plan. Some ceramic brace treatments last almost six months, while metal braces generally take 12 to 24 months. Your Pacific Beach, CA dentists provide consultations to determine if ceramic braces are for you.  

Invisalign

Considered the most recognized brand for clear aligners, Invisalign is comfortable to wear long-term. Made of flexible plastic, aligners have the unique advantage of being removable. Unlike traditional braces that stay on your teeth until treatment is over, you can remove your aligner to eat, brush, or floss your teeth. This means no more struggling to floss between brackets! When it comes to caring for your aligner, these devices are also so much easier to sanitize before each use.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are the most discrete type of braces on the market. Instead of braces on the front of your mouth, metal brackets are bonded to the back surface of the teeth. Since lingual braces have such a low profile, they are virtually impossible to notice. 

Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Oral Cancer Screening

No one wants to hear the word cancer. At All Coast Dental located in Pacific Beach, CA, Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos believe early detection is essential for increasing the survival rate of oral cancer. That’s why we provide regular dental screenings for oral cancer at our office.

Causes

Oral cancer develops when cells that grow abnormally invade other cells and damage surrounding tissues. 

According to the American Cancer Society, men over the age of 50 face the greatest risk of developing oral cancer. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, your Pacific Beach, CA dentists advise regular screenings along with your dental checkup at our office. Other risk factors include people who have human papillomavirus (HPV), excessive sun exposure, and a history of cancer in the family.

Symptoms

Ear pain

Abnormal bleeding in the mouth

Numbness

Soreness in throat

Red or white patches inside the mouth

Persistent growth or sore in the mouth

Trouble swallowing and chewing

Weight loss

Chronic sore throat

Change in teeth alignment

Oral Cancer Screenings

At All Coast Dental, we use ultraviolet light to view any red or white patches, sores, or growth inside of your mouth. Using gloved hands, your dentist will also check for lumps or sores inside your mouth. Oral cancer screenings save lives by detecting the condition early. To learn more, visit our website today. 

Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Oral Cancer Screening

No one wants to hear the word cancer. At All Coast Dental located in Pacific Beach, CA, Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos believe early detection is essential for increasing the survival rate of oral cancer. That’s why we provide regular dental screenings for oral cancer at our office.

Causes

Oral cancer develops when cells that grow abnormally invade other cells and damage surrounding tissues. 

According to the American Cancer Society, men over the age of 50 face the greatest risk of developing oral cancer. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, your Pacific Beach, CA dentists advise regular screenings along with your dental checkup at our office. Other risk factors include people who have human papillomavirus (HPV), excessive sun exposure, and a history of cancer in the family.

Symptoms

Ear pain

Abnormal bleeding in the mouth

Numbness

Soreness in throat

Red or white patches inside the mouth

Persistent growth or sore in the mouth

Trouble swallowing and chewing

Weight loss

Chronic sore throat

Change in teeth alignment

Oral Cancer Screenings

At All Coast Dental, we use ultraviolet light to view any red or white patches, sores, or growth inside of your mouth. Using gloved hands, your dentist will also check for lumps or sores inside your mouth. Oral cancer screenings save lives by detecting the condition early. To learn more, visit our website today. 

Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Periapical Abscesses

It’s never good to see signs of a gum infection. But a particular kind of infection called a periapical abscess is especially dangerous and requires urgent treatment. All Coast Dental is a provider of general and cosmetic dentistry in Pacific Beach and can assist people suffering from gum and tooth pulp problems, and we want everyone to know how to recognize the signs of advanced disease.

When a tooth is cracked or badly enough decayed, bacteria are able to enter the pulp at its center. They could then spread to its root(s) and create an abscess. An abscess is a pocket filled with pus, which is a mixture of dead material and bacterial secretions. The abscess may cause a fever, swelling, and bad taste, in addition to the pain and sensitivity in the infected tooth. Abscesses don’t heal on their own, and if the infection spreads, the patient could get sepsis.

We can safely drain an abscess and clean it out. But removing the infection will require a root canal. This means that the pulp chamber will be cleaned out and filled with sealant. In severe cases, saving the tooth might not be possible and it will have to be removed. We’ll discuss with the patient what kind of restoration would best suit their needs, but we hope everyone takes to heart the importance of preventing periapical abscesses by cleaning their teeth and protecting them from injury.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Advice on Cleaning Dentures

When dentures are well-cared for, they’re comfortable, good-looking, and usable substitutes for natural teeth. But when they aren’t they smell bad and pose a health risk to the patient. As general dentists who frequently work with patients to restore their bite function, we at All Coast Dental are especially concerned with the longevity of our patients’ dentures, so we wanted to take some time to address their proper maintenance.

To clean a denture it’s not enough to brush the parts that resemble teeth; you have to clean the whole thing. It’s also not a good idea to use normal toothpaste, since dentures are much softer than enamel, and will be scratched by fluoride particles instead of reinforced. You’ll need to scrub the entire denture with a specialty toothpaste, and you may want to use separate brushes for your denture and the rest of your oral hygiene. (People with dentures are advised to brush their gums before putting their dentures in, and everybody is advised to brush or scrape their tongue.) People with implant-supported dentures also need to brush around their abutments, and to remove the denture to clean its underside every day.

Dentures should be kept in liquid when they’re not in use. The American Dental Association approves several cleaning solutions that can be used at least once a week, although soap is often sufficient for an overnight soak. But it is very important that a denture not be placed in boiling water or otherwise subjected to extreme heat (such as being left out in the sun). Patients will naturally need their denture refitted and relined from time to time, but they should not attempt to modify it themselves.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Dentures

All Coast Dental located in Pacific, CA, takes pride in helping patients achieve their best, confidence-boosting smile. For patients with missing teeth, we offer both full and partial dentures. Dentures are designed to replace missing teeth as well as the surrounding tissues. They are custom made, removable, and significantly improve the function and appearance of your smile. You can even eat and sleep with them! Your trusted Pacific dentist will ensure that your new dentures fit your mouth properly and comfortably.

 

Full dentures are either “conventional” or “immediate.” Conventional dentures are made after the teeth have been completely removed from the gum tissue and the healing process has had a chance to begin. After that time, this type of full denture is placed in the mouth for eight to twelve weeks. Immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. This is a great alternative to conventional dentures because the wearer doesn’t have to go without teeth during the healing process. Partial dentures are also removable and are used when one or more teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. This type of denture requires crowns on the teeth on either side of the space to attach artificial teeth and a cemented-in bridge. Partial dentures fill in the open spaces so that the remaining teeth cannot shift, and they appear more natural-looking than full dentures.

 

Other benefits of full and partial dentures include:

 

- Facial muscle support

- Allows patients to eat food they couldn’t eat without teeth

- Improves the ability to chew, eat, and speak

- Improves appearance and smile

- Improves self-esteem and confidence

 

Do you think you could benefit from dentures? We are happy to address any questions or concerns you may have. All Coast Dental is located at 2180 Garnet Ave., Suite 1-K, in Pacific, CA 92109. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit allcoastdental.net or call 858-270-4904.

 

How Sugar Affects Your Teeth

Sugar impacts your teeth in a big way. All Coast Dental in Pacific, CA, takes pride in educating patients about the importance of restricting sugary foods and drinks. It’s ideal to cut out this kind of food from your diet completely, but we understand that sometimes there’s nothing better than a crisp soda on a hot day. More attention should be paid to, say, how many sugary beverages you consume in a day or week. Is it really adding up? If so, consider restricting your intake for the sake of your teeth.

 

Sugar easily coats the surface of your teeth and attracts the “bad bacteria,” such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. These destructive bacteria feed on the sugar and disturb the natural pH of your mouth, to the point where the acidity is too much for your teeth. Over time, the enamel on your teeth is broken down little by little. This isn’t ideal since tooth enamel cannot be replaced. Once that natural barrier is gone, it’s gone for good. Improper dental hygiene only speeds up this destructive process.

 

If you can’t give up sugar completely, then consider these tips to fight tooth decay:

 

-Watch what you eat and drink. Make sure to incorporate healthy options, such as fibrous vegetables.

-Restrict the sugar. Try drinking more water, your teeth will thank you (and so will your body).

-Practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing two to three times a day.

-Visit your dentist regularly. Your dentist will be able to take a closer look inside your mouth, monitor anything suspicious, and give your teeth a good professional cleaning. 

 

Do you need a routine checkup or cleaning? We are happy to assess your mouth and advise you on your dental health. All Coast Dental is located at 2180 Garnet Ave., Suite 1-K, in Pacific, CA 92109. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit allcoastdental.net or call 858-270-4904.