San Ramon Cosmetic Dentistry Blog | Sean Michael Anderson, D.D.S.

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Your Child's First Visit to the Dentist

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:05:00 +0000

Your child should visit the dentist at the first sign of incoming teeth. It is important to take your child to visit San Ramon Family Dentist, Dr. Sean Anderson at an early age to help your child feel comfortable with Dr. Anderson and with visiting the dental office. Starting your child with an oral hygiene routine as early as possible will help prevent many diseases like gingivitis and help prevent the need for dental treatments for cavities.

Dr. Anderson's family dentistry office is warm and inviting. Your child will feel comfortable visiting his dental office and will learn that the dentist's office is not a scary place. Our caring dental staff will show your child around our dental office and explain what happens during a routine checkup.

Your child's first visit is the building block to great oral hygiene and a great relationship with Dr. Anderson. Your child will sit in one of our comfy dental chairs as Dr. Anderson carefully examines your child's gums and teeth. Your child's teeth will be gently cleaned and flossed to get your child familiar with the process of visiting the dentist.

Please contact our family dentistry office serving the San Ramon area to schedule a dental visit for your child.

What is a Family Dentist?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:26:00 +0000

A family dentist is an experienced and friendly dentist who treats the entire family. Walnut Creek Family Dentist Dr. Anderson provides cosmetic dentistry and general dentistry to patients of all ages. You can take everyone in your family from your baby to your grandmother to see Dr. Anderson for all of your family's dental needs.

A family dentist is your best choice for dental care. You do not have to find a dentist for yourself and your spouse, another dentist for your teenager, and another dentist for your toddler. Everyone in your family can be treated in Dr. Anderson's family friendly dental office.

Another advantage to visiting a family dentist is that you only have to speak with one dentist. Dr. Anderson takes time with his patients to get to know them and their dental needs. He will be able to discuss with you any dental issues that your family has or may have because he has treated and gotten to know your entire family.

Dr. Anderson is experienced in treating patients of all ages. He can help guide you through the dental care needs of your family from birth to adulthood. If you are a new parent, Dr. Anderson will help you with a dental care plan for your baby to start your baby on the path of great oral hygiene.

Services Provided by a Family Dentist

Routine dental checkups
Advice on an at-home oral hygiene plan
Techniques to keeping your teeth clean
Dental cleanings
Treatments for teeth and gums
Dental implants
Tooth-colored fillings
Oral cancer screenings

To schedule appointments for your family to visit our family dentist, please contact Sean Anderson, D.D.S. serving the Walnut Creek, California area.

How Dentistry Can Help Headaches and Depression

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) has many painful symptoms that can make daily activities difficult. Some of the symptoms of TMD are:

Migraine-like headaches
Depression
Popping or clicking jaws
Grinding teeth
Ringing in the ears
Shoulder, neck, and facial pain

Two major symptoms of TMD are headaches and depression. Anyone who suffers from depression and headaches in the Walnut Creek area will want to not only get relief, but will also want to treat the cause. Walnut Creek Neuromuscular Dentist, Dr. Sean Anderson is experienced and skilled in treating patients who suffer from debilitating headaches and depression.

Depression and Neuromuscular Dentistry

Many patients who suffer from TMD experience depression. Some of the reasons patients experience depression include:

Constantly dealing with extreme pain is tiring
Symptoms go undiagnosed or are improperly treated
Many doctors claim the pain experienced by the patient is imagined

The pain from TMD can emotionally, physically, and psychologically wear down a patient. This can start and enhance feelings of depression. Neuromuscular dentistry is the field of dentistry that focuses on treating TMD. Once the causes of TMD are treated and the pain is removed, the feelings of depression are eliminated.

Headaches and Neuromuscular Dentistry

Doctors often misdiagnose migraine-like headaches. Only a neuromuscular dentist like Dr. Anderson can properly diagnose tension headaches that are caused by TMD. Neuromuscular dentistry treatment will relieve the tension and muscle fatigue that are at the root of the cause of the headaches.

The most important part of treatment with neuromuscular dentistry is properly aligning the jaw and Temporomandibular Joints to keep the facial muscles from building up tension.

Please contact Dr. Anderson for a TMD consultation to help you find relief from depression and headaches in Walnut Creek.

How Neuromuscular Dentistry Can Cure Your Headaches

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:57:00 +0000

Many people suffer from headaches. Most headaches can be extremely painful and prevent the person from being able to engage in daily activities because the headaches are debilitating. When suffering migraine-like headaches, patients usually visit their primary care physician for relief. Primary care physicians will treat migraine-like headaches with pain medications. If you live in the Danville area and are suffering debilitating headaches, you will want to visit neuromuscular dentist Dr. Sean Anderson for a consultation.

Primary care physicians are limited in how they diagnose headaches. They may not know that the headache is actually a tension headache and can be cured with neuromuscular dentistry. A tension headache can be caused by the misalignment of the Temporomandibular Joint that attaches the lower jaw to the skull. When this joint is misaligned, the muscles in the face overcompensate and cause tension. This tension causes many symptoms that include TMD headaches.

Neuromuscular Dentistry and Headaches

A neuromuscular dentist like Dr. Anderson can help relieve and eliminate your TMD symptoms. Your painful, debilitating headaches can be cured with neuromuscular dentistry. Dr. Anderson will evaluate your jaw alignment and how your jaws move in a personal TMD consultation.

After your evaluation, Dr. Anderson will speak to you about your options for properly aligning your jaws to reduce the muscle tension and to train your muscles to work correctly and keep your jaws in their proper positions. Once your muscles start working properly and your jaws are properly aligned, the tension in your facial muscles will disappear and your TMD headaches will vanish.

For more information about neuromuscular dentistry and how it can cure your headaches in Danville, please contact Dr. Anderson for a consultation.

Headaches and TMD

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:30:00 +0000

Migraine-like headaches are one symptom of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). These headaches can be very intense and debilitating. Many doctors misdiagnose these headaches to be migraines and prescribe pain medications to help manage the discomfort. If you are suffering from migraine-like headaches and have other symptoms of TMD, you will want to visit neuromuscular dentist, Dr. Sean Anderson for a consultation in the Danville area.

Other symptoms of TMD include:

Face, neck, and shoulder pain
Clicking or popping of the jaw
Grinding teeth
Teeth sensitivity
Limited movement of the mouth
Ringing in the ears

TMD Headaches

TMD headaches are different than migraines. A migraine is usually vascular and the swelling of blood vessels in the head causes the pain. A TMD headache is a tension headache and is not caused by the swelling of blood vessels.

TMD is caused by the misalignment of your jaws and the Temporomandibular Joints. The misalignment causes the muscles on one side of your face to work harder than the other side creating tension and muscle exhaustion. This tension and muscle exhaustion causes very severe, painful, and debilitating headaches.

Pain medication can help you manage the pain, but will not cure your symptoms to stop the headaches from returning. Dr. Anderson will examine and properly align your jaws to eliminate the tension and TMD symptoms. It is best to have the cause of the headaches treated instead of only treating the pain. Treating the cause will help ensure that you will not be debilitated by painful TMD headaches.

Please contact Dr. Anderson for a TMD consultation if you are suffering migraine-like headaches in the Danville, California area.

Benefits of Tooth Colored vs. Metal Fillings

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:30:00 +0000

Fillings are a fact of life. No matter how thorough your daily oral hygiene routine, food and bacteria can find their way in between your teeth, hiding in crevices and along the gum line, and cause cavities.

When a tooth has a cavity, dental fillings become a necessary fix to stop the spread of the decay and save the remainder of the tooth. Preventing the spread of decay helps eliminate the need for more invasive dental procedures like dental implants and crowns.

Dental Bonding vs. Metal Filling

Dental fillings have come a long way over the years. Metal fillings are effective, but require a large portion of healthy tooth to be removed to accommodate their being packed into the cavity. In addition, they can be unsightly, they contain mercury, and they are susceptible to temperature changes that can cause them to expand and contract, resulting in a cracked tooth; they may then need further dental work.

In comparison, tooth colored fillings are not affected by temperature changes. They are comprised of resin and silicon dioxide, are very strong, and do not appear out of place in your mouth.

Before there was a choice in fillings, dentists used what resources were available to them to prevent the further spread of decay. Now, with dental advancements, you are able to choose what best suits your needs and meets your expectations.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, and are in need of a filling, but have been dissatisfied with your options, please contact experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Sean Anderson for an initial consultation.

How Long do Porcelain Crowns Last?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:30:00 +0000

Molded and shaded to match adjacent teeth, porcelain crowns are caps placed over dental implants or on top of teeth that have been severely damaged by decay or trauma. Porcelain crowns restore damaged teeth to their full functionality, making eating, biting, and talking much easier than it was before the tooth was capped.

Life Expectancy of Porcelain Crowns

Like most dental work, the life of your porcelain crown relies heavily on the care you take of it. Proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits will both work to ensure your crown lasts for its entire life expectancy. The average crown lasts for ten years. In some cases crowns may last for as little as five, or as long as 15 years, but it is important to remember that porcelain crowns are not a permanent fix, and will eventually need to be replaced.

Common Reasons to Replace Porcelain Crowns

Common causes that require porcelain crowns to be replaced include:

General use has caused the crown to wear down
The crown has broken
Decay has formed at the base of the crown
The crown has dulled or become aesthetically objectionable

All-porcelain crowns do not share the same aesthetic issues as metal/porcelain composites, but can still grey or stain over time. On the other hand, porcelain maintains its sheen and reflects light in the same way as your surrounding teeth, providing a natural, seamless smile during their lifetime.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California and are suffering from missing or chipped teeth, or you need to have existing dental crowns replaced, please contact experienced cosmetic dentist, Dr. Sean Anderson for a free consultation.

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:28:00 +0000

A chronic sleeping disorder in which you stop breathing for ten seconds or longer, sleep apnea can occur up to 50 times an hour while you sleep creating serious problems. When you stop breathing during sleep, your normal sleep cycle is interrupted, which can result in drastic changes in mood, weight, and blood pressure, and can even lead to diabetes and death. Experts agree that a good night's sleep is vital for a healthy, active lifestyle. Sleep apnea disrupts healthy, restful sleep, in turn disrupting your ability to fully enjoy your life.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Symptoms of sleep apnea you may notice include:

Fatigue during the day
Waking up tired
Frequent headaches
Irritability

You may not notice all of the symptoms of sleep apnea since many of them occur while you are asleep. If you wake up tired, have frequent headaches, or feel fatigued during the day, you may ask a family member to check and see if you:

Stop breathing for extended periods of time in your sleep
Choke, or gasp loudly while sleeping
Snore loudly
Appear restless

Sleep apnea can often be treated with simple lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, or losing weight. In some instances, medical intervention is necessary. Mouthpieces, breathing devices, and some surgeries can all help correct sleep apnea, restoring your sleep, and providing you with a better rested, more satisfying life.

If you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea, and live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, please contact experienced sleep apnea dentist, Dr. Sean Anderson for a free consultation and review of your treatment options.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:08:00 +0000

A smile with missing teeth can cause problems both functional and aesthetic. Missing teeth can lead to an awkward, uneven smile, making social situations uncomfortable. They can also make simple functions like chewing, biting, and speaking difficult to impossible.

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are permanently placed into the jaw and covered with a dental crown. Dental implants are precisely placed in the exact area where the tooth is missing creating a seamless, fully functional smile. Unlike dentures, implants are permanent so they will not slip, or fall out at inopportune times, nor do they require expensive, inconvenient adhesives to affix them into place.

Dental Implant Procedure

Dental implants are placed into the jaw using a small, precision drill. Once a hole large enough to support the implant is created, the implant is screwed into place. During this process, Dr. Anderson takes special care to ensure no damage is done to surrounding bone and tissue. Once the implant is in place, a healing period is required before it can be fitted with a crown.

Dental Crown Placement and Aftercare

After your initial healing period, Dr. Anderson will fit your implant with a dental crown that has been molded and colored to match your adjacent teeth. Your dental crown will be ready for immediate functional use, and will erase any evidence of the original missing tooth. Once your crown is in place, you will need to tend to it as you do your natural teeth. A proper oral hygiene routine and regular checkups and cleanings will help ensure your new crown will last for a long, long time.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, and are bothered by the diminished functionality and cosmetic appearance of missing teeth, or would like to find out more about dental implants, please contact experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Sean Anderson to discuss you options, and get on your way to a healthier, happier smile.

Sedation Dentistry and Sleep Dentistry: What’s the Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:05:00 +0000

For many people, a visit to the dentist’s office comes with fear, and anxiety. This fear can cause people to avoid undergoing common cosmetic procedures like tooth whitening and porcelain veneers. Unfortunately, it also keeps some people away from the dentist all together, leading to an increased risk for cavities, decay, and periodontal disease, all of which can be prevented or treated with regular trips to the dentist.

Fortunately, in both instances, Dr. Anderson offers sedation dentistry, a simple, safe way to help ease the anxiety you may feel when visiting a dentist – allowing you to comfortably receive both general and cosmetic dental services.

Sedation Instead of Sleep Dentistry

Oral sedation is the newest, most effective form of sedation dentistry. With oral sedation, you will feel as if you are sleeping, have no awareness of the procedure taking place, but still retain a level of consciousness. By contrast, sleep dentistry uses IV sedation or general anesthesia – both of which come with serious potential side effects, and dissolves any level of consciousness. Sedation dentistry uses sedatives that are less likely to cause adverse reactions, producing a safer, yet equally effective result.

For sedation, Dr. Anderson prescribes a sleeping pill to be taken one hour before your appointment. When you arrive, if you are still feeling nervous, an additional sleeping pill may be taken. Once you are comfortable enough, your procedure will begin and, before you know it, you'll be walking out with a healthy smile. It is important to remember that you should not drive to or from a sedation dentistry appointment.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, and the fear and anxiety you associate with dental visits has kept you from routine checkups or cosmetic procedures you have wanted, please contact sedation dentist Dr. Sean Anderson for a free consultation to discuss your sedation options.

How Long Does the Tooth Whitening Process Last?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:14:00 +0000

Everyone wants a whiter, more brilliant smile. A whiter smile can help improve your self confidence, help you feel more comfortable and relaxed in social and business settings, and give you a greater sense of freedom. With tooth whitening options ranging from take-home kits to in-office procedures however, it can be difficult to determine what solution is best for you. One determining factor is cost, but greater still is the length of time the whitening will last. Cost can, after all, be greatly increased if frequent applications are necessary to keep your smile its whitest.

Store Bought Kits

Easily the most accessible, store bought whitening kits also offer the least satisfactory results. Some kits can take weeks to start working, and during this time may cause severe tooth sensitivity. The results are also not nearly as long lasting as options provided by Dr. Anderson. Store bought kits generally provide whiter teeth for only a few months, after which the long, painful process will need to be repeated.

Professional Take-Home Kits

Take-home kits offered by Dr. Anderson start with a mold of your teeth. This already makes them superior for total tooth coverage to the strips you can buy at the store. Additionally, the whitening gel provided by Dr. Anderson is a higher strength than can obtained over the counter and produces results in a much shorter period of time. Like store-bought kits, tooth sensitivity is possible. Take-home kit results generally last up to six months.

In-Office Whitening

In-office tooth whitening takes about 90 minutes. A whitening gel is evenly and carefully applied to the teeth and then activated using a special light to speed up and enhance the effects. The result is a brilliant white smile in a comparably short period of time. Like the professional take-home kits, in office whitening generally lasts about six months, but with a proper oral hygiene routine, including professional cleanings and touch ups, the results can last much longer.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, and would like more information on your options for professional teeth whitening, please contact experienced tooth whitening dentist Dr. Sean Anderson to schedule your free consultation.

Inlays and Onlays: What’s the Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:05:00 +0000

Inlays and onlays are modern solutions to traditional metal fillings. They are bonded to the teeth with dental resin, making them a permanent part of the tooth. Metal fillings require a large portion of healthy tooth tissue to be removed in order to be packed into the filling, but inlays and onlays cover, rather than pack the filling, making them less invasive while removing the potential for their falling out.

Metal fillings react to temperature differences in your mouth – hot and cold liquids and foods can cause them to expand and contract. The result can be disastrous when the filling falls out, sometimes taking part of the tooth with it.

Inlays

Inlays are smaller than onlays due their placement. Inlay refers to a filling within the grooves of you teeth, between the contours. This area of your teeth is referred to as the “cusp.” If the damage does not extend beyond the cusp, an inlay will be used.

Onlays

Onlays are also used to fill in the grooves of your teeth, but wrap over the cusp. This additional coverage allows them to protect the chewing surface of your tooth as well as the cusp, and is used when the decay has spread beyond the cusp area of your tooth. Onlays are necessarily larger because they cover a greater portion of your tooth.

Both inlays and onlays are preferable to metal fillings because they offer more secure and aesthetically pleasing results. Porcelain fillings match more closely the natural color and shape of your teeth. Additionally, porcelain is stain resistant, allowing your teeth to maintain their whiteness for a longer period of time while preventing further decay within the tooth.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, please contact experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Sean Anderson for a checkup and cleaning to determine if you require fillings. Dr. Anderson is able to serve all of your dental needs, including inlays and onlays.

How are Porcelain Veneers Applied?

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Porcelain veneers, a relatively new procedure in cosmetic dentistry, are thin, porcelain shells that can be affixed to the front of your existing teeth to correct minor cosmetic and functional issues. Teeth that are chipped, broken, oddly spaced, unevenly sized, or stained underneath the enamel can all have porcelain veneers affixed to them to improve the quality and beauty of your smile.

Smile Makeover

During your initial consultation, Dr. Anderson will discuss with you all of your treatment options. If you determine that porcelain veneers are best suited to your needs, an individually designed smile makeover will be created for you. After you approve of the proposed changes, you will be ready to start the process for the placement of your porcelain veneers.

Process for Application of Porcelain Veneers

The quick, noninvasive process for the placement of porcelain veneers takes places over two office visits. On your first office visit, an impression will be taken of your teeth. This impression will be used to make your new veneers, allowing the experienced professionals at the laboratory to match the size and shape of your existing teeth to ensure an even, natural looking smile.

The process for making your new veneers takes about two weeks, during which your new porcelain veneers will be molded and perfected, making sure they are a natural fit for your mouth. During your second office visit, the porcelain veneers will be affixed to your teeth. Minor adjustments will be made to ensure a proper, natural fit, and you’ll walk out with a smile that has been dramatically improved.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, and are looking for an easy, noninvasive, painless way to improve your smile, please contact experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Sean Anderson for a free consultation.

The Difference Between General and Cosmetic Dentistry

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:15:00 +0000

General and cosmetic dentistry both address issues with your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. The differences between the two lie in the procedures that fall under each category. There is some cross-over between the two disciplines, like dental crowns and fillings, making the choice for a dentist that is skilled in both very important. Dr. Sean Anderson is experienced and skilled in both general and cosmetic dentistry, making him an ideal dentist for all of your oral health needs.

General Dentistry

The most common form of general dentistry is regular checkups and cleanings. Also included under general dentistry are:

Root canals
Periodontal treatment to remove gum disease
Filling and bonding to repair teeth damaged by decay or trauma
Dental crowns to stop the spread of further decay
Bridges, implants, and dentures to replace missing teeth
Pediatric dentistry, including fluoride cleanings, and sealant applications

General dentistry can be preformed by a dentist who has not attended additional schooling for cosmetic dentistry. However, because many of the procedures require experience in both aesthetics and functionality, a dentist who has received cosmetic schooling may best be able to address all of your general dentistry concerns.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry combines the art of aesthetics with the functionality of general dentistry to address a number of tooth related issues. Common cosmetic dentistry procedures include:

Teeth whitening to improve the radiance of your smile
Porcelain veneers to cover minor cosmetic imperfections
Porcelain crows to replace missing or broken teeth
Composite tooth fillings to fill in chips and cracks.
Inlays and onlays to address tooth decay with a natural looking filling

Cosmetic dentistry requires additional schooling after dental school. Dentists who choose to specialize in both forms of dentistry are better able to provide a complete smile makeover and help you achieve ultimate satisfaction with your smile.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, and are looking for a one-stop dentist who can meet all of your family’s needs, please contact experienced general and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Anderson to schedule your free consultation today.

How Long do Porcelain Veneers Last?

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Small imperfections in your teeth can lead to an awkward smile, impairing your ability to feel comfortable in business, social, and even familial settings. These imperfections can come in many forms: chips and cracks, discolorations, odd gaps and spacing, even unevenly sized teeth.

You may have been born with some of these problems; others are the result of personal choices, environmental factors, or accidents. No matter the cause, these minor cosmetic issues are often permanent, that may leave you wishing for a permanent fix. The solution can be found in porcelain veneers, wafer-thin shells placed over existing teeth that cover small imperfections.

Life Span of Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers act in the same capacity as your natural teeth. As such, it is important to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine. Bad habits that can stain, chip, or break your natural teeth can likewise damage veneers. Regular brushing and flossing, and routinely scheduled oral cleanings however can help ensure your veneers last a lifetime. As an added bonus, porcelain veneers are stain resistant, allowing them to maintain their brilliance longer than adjacent teeth.

Proper Oral Hygiene

Brushing and flossing, combined with regular visits to your dentist for cleanings and exams, all play a large role in maintaining a healthy, vibrant smile. Using a fluoride toothpaste to combat decay after each meal, or at least twice a day, will help ensure your teeth - both natural and those with veneers - will remain fully functional and strong.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California and are bothered by small cosmetic imperfections in your smile, please contact San Ramon cosmetic dentist, Dr. Sean Anderson for a free consultation and review of options, including porcelain veneers, which will best suite your needs.

What Problems do Porcelain Veneers Correct?

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front of your teeth. A relatively new advancement in cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers are shaped and colored to match adjacent teeth, providing a smile that is seamless and natural looking; while improving minor imperfections. Porcelain veneers are also stain resistant, providing you with a lasting bright, radiant smile.

Common Problems Fixed by Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are a quick and easy way to improve the quality of your smile. Most commonly they are used to cover teeth that are:

Broken or chipped
Discolored due to natural and lifestyle factors
Misaligned or crooked
Oddly spaced or gapped
Unevenly sized

Process for Porcelain Veneers

The process for porcelain veneers is short, painless, and noninvasive. The entire procedure takes place over two office visits, placed a few weeks apart. During the first visit an impression will be taken of your teeth in order to ensure proper sizing. This impression is sent to the laboratory where your veneers will be made.

Two weeks later, your new porcelain veneers will be ready, and on your next office visit they will be affixed to your teeth. Just two short weeks and your smile will be more beautiful than you ever imagined. Better yet, with proper care, the results can last for a lifetime.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California, and have been thinking about improving small cosmetic imperfections in your teeth and making your smile more brilliant, please contact experienced porcelain veneer dentist Dr. Sean Anderson to schedule your free consultation.

What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

noreply@blogger.com (Evan Langsted) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:42:00 +0000

Neuromuscular dentistry is a branch of dentistry that moves beyond traditional dentistry’s focus on teeth bone and gums to also include nerves, soft tissues and muscles. Its primary emphasis is treatment of TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). These are simply different terms used to describe the same condition. Located on each side of the head in front of the ear, the temporomandibular joint’s movements include the rotating and gliding actions we require when speaking and chewing.

In my practice, I use neuromuscular dentistry to identify and treat jaw misalignment that often causes a variety of ills typically associated with TMD including:

Headaches
Neck and shoulder aches
Facial pain
Jaw pain
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

To diagnose TMD, I use digital jaw-tracking instruments to measure jaw movement, resting state and closure path. I also examine the jaw's muscle function when it is both stressed and relaxed. I’ll determine if a structural imbalance exists in the jaw-to-skull relationship. Neuromuscular dentistry then allows me to adjust the bite and realign the jaw, bringing relief from TMD symptoms. Treatment options can include orthotics and/or orthodontics.

If you or a loved one suffers from TMD symptoms, don’t endure your pain needlessly. If you live in the San Ramon, California area, please contact our office to schedule your initial appointment with Dr. Sean Anderson today.

What is a laser’s role in dentistry?

noreply@blogger.com (Evan Langsted) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:41:00 +0000

While lasers can mean a significant reduction in pain associated with dental visits and in healing time, only five percent of dentists currently utilize lasers in their practice.
I find that lasers contribute greatly to my patients’ ease and safety levels for the following key reasons:

• Sutures (stitches) are often not required.
• Local injections for pain may not be needed for some laser work.
• The laser’s light beam assists in clotting blood, so bleeding is kept to a minimum.
• The beam sterilizes the area in which I work, lowering the risk of infection.
• Because lasers cause less tissue damage, healing time is reduced.

Lasers’ many dental applications include:

• Removal of benign tumors
• Early cavity detection
• Re-contouring gum and bone to provide a stronger base for tooth restoration procedures
• Reducing the need for drilling and local anesthesia during dental filling placement
• Accelerating the tooth-whitening process

If you or a loved one is considering laser dentistry, I would be pleased to discuss alternatives with you. If you live in the San Ramon, California area, call 925-837-4486 to make an appointment with Dr. Sean Anderson today.

Quelling Dental Anxiety with Sedation

noreply@blogger.com (Evan Langsted) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:44:00 +0000

If you are a dental phobic, and your fears are keeping you from maintaining your teeth or improving your smile, I advise you to consider sedation. During sedation, time seems to fly—that’s a plus if you’re feeling anxious! You’ll probably also make fewer visits to your dentist because procedures that might generally require two or more visits can often be handled in just one visit. If your phobia centers on needles, never fear; intravenous sedation was the earliest form of dental sedation—now, oral and inhaled forms are also commonly used.

Sedation dentistry is probably right for you if:

• You’d rather not know what is happening during your dental procedure.
• You’ve explored non-medicated approaches with a dentist skilled at relaxation techniques, but they’re just not working.

Sedation dentistry is unlikely to be your solution if:

• You are terrified of dentists.
• Your fears center on feeling a loss of control while at the dentist.

If sedation is not your answer, don’t give up. Dentists use many techniques to reduce anxiety in fearful patients.

If you are in the San Ramon, California area and are seeking a skilled dentist competent in a variety of stress-reduction and sedation techniques, call 925-837-4486 to make an appointment with me, Dr. Sean Anderson. My caring team and I work hard to nurture patients through dental procedures with an approach that works for them.

Neck and Shoulder Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Evan Langsted) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:42:00 +0000

Muscles typically work with other muscles; when one is impacted, others are also. A poorly aligned bite brings about an imbalance in the jaw-to-skull relationship. Contracted jaw muscles strain the head, shoulders, neck and back muscles to compensate.

As a neuromuscular dentist, I understand the interdependency of face and neck bones, joints, muscles, and nerves. My goal is to correct the bite, relieving strain that leads to discomfort. I can help in a variety of ways, including:

• Bite Stabilization -- A temporary orthotic placed over the teeth while your bite is stabilized. Once you achieve relief, I permanently adjust your bite into a pain-free position.

• Coronoplasty/Equilibration -- Reshaping the enamel of the teeth to correct bite misalignment--typically used only for slight misalignments.

• Removable Overlay Partials -- Permanent orthotics that generally fit over the back teeth to maintain proper bite alignment.

• Reconstruction -- Teeth made higher with crowns. Permanent bite correction is achieved, and the jaw receives additional support.

• Orthodontics (Braces) -- Teeth that are in a healthy condition adjusted into the ideal position with braces.

If you are in the San Ramon, California area (or any surrounding area), please contact the office to make an appointment with Dr. Sean Anderson.

Jaw Pain Relief is Possible

noreply@blogger.com (Evan Langsted) — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:47:00 +0000

Jaw pain, or TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), can often occur when the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is misaligned so that it causes undue stress and pressure. The jaw joint is located at the side of the face in front of the ear. There are two joints, one on either side of the face. The joint is comprised of the lower jaw bone (mandible), which fits into a hollow in the skull’s temporal bone, and a disc that separates the two bones.

When I treat jaw pain in my clinic, I must first establish a correct diagnosis.

Is pain due to disorders of the muscles of the head and face?
Could an injured TMJ disc or disorder of the joint structures be causing pain? (i.e., degenerative joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis)
Are misaligned teeth due to wear and tear or missing teeth causing the problem?

Sometimes jaw pain should be managed rather than eliminated. In many other cases, reconstruction can relieve pain by aligning your bite. I am a trained neuromuscular dentist and a graduate of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), the top post-graduate dental school in the world. If a technique exists to relieve your pain, I can implement it.

If you are in the San Ramon, California area and are experiencing jaw pain or any other symptom of TMD, please contact Dr. Sean Anderson today to make an appointment.

How Short, Worn Teeth Affect Your Bite

noreply@blogger.com (Evan Langsted) — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Shorter, more worn teeth commonly develop as we age. In my practice I often see wear and tear that comes from teeth clenching and nightly teeth grinding, fingernail chewing, etc. These and other habits accelerate the wearing process and lead to sensitive teeth, and ultimately, tooth breakdown. Sometimes the damage is so severe that reconstructive treatments are required.

Other concerns with short and damaged teeth include:

Misalignment -- Worn teeth affect overall wear and tear, causing jaw misalignment. As a result, all teeth wear down down more rapidly.
Headaches and muscle pain – Because worn teeth affect bite alignment, head and muscle aches can result.
Appearance – Worn, short teeth can make us appear toothless and age us beyond our years
Chewing – Worn teeth affect our ability to properly chew our food.

To correct short, worn teeth, I often use crown placement to restore original shape and rehabilitate your bite. Sometimes, dental implants may be in order. I recommend that patients with a history of tooth grinding also use a night guard to prevent additional damage.

If you or a loved one has short, worn teeth, I can help you determine the most appropriate treatment and prevention methods. If you live in the San Ramon, California area, please contact our office to make an appointment.

How do Dental Implants Work?

noreply@blogger.com (Evan Langsted) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:15:00 +0000

If you are considering dental implants to improve your smile, you should know that this procedure has been perfected over a period of more than 50 years. The vast majority of patients who choose dental implants walk away with greatly enhanced confidence and a dramatically improved smile.

In my practice, I first determine if you have enough bone in the missing tooth’s general area to hold the implant (there are options for you if you do not). If you’re deemed a viable candidate, your mouth will be scanned digitally to determine precisely where the implant should be placed.

Here’s what you can expect during the two visits required to place your implant:

You will be put under anesthesia since securing dental implants is a surgical procedure.
The implant will be placed carefully into position to avoid contact with nerves.
There’ll be period of a few months (approximately three-six) during which your mouth heals and the implant grows snugly into place.
You’ll return to have your new tooth secured to the implant.

If you or a loved one are considering tooth replacement, I can help you determine if you are a good candidate. If you live in San Ramon, California or a surrounding area of San Ramon, please contact our office today to make an appointment with Dr. Sean Anderson.

Headaches as a Result of Jaw Strain

noreply@blogger.com (Evan Langsted) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:57:00 +0000

With around 80% of headaches occurring from muscle tension, it’s no surprise that strained muscles caused by jaw misalignment actually cause a significant proportion of headaches. I help many of my patients’ headaches by correctly diagnosing and treating jaw misalignment.

Indicators that a headache may have dental origins include the following:
• Pain located behind the eyes
• Tender or weak jaw muscles in the morning
• Clicking or snapping of jaw joints
• Head and/or scalp sensitivity to touch

Specific dental issues that may lead to jaw strain are:

• Tired bite - When you swallow, upper and lower teeth meet firmly. If your bite is misaligned, or you are missing a tooth, muscles work harder to bring the teeth together.

• Referred Pain - This type of pain originates in the cheeks or jaw joints. Many times, however, the pain is "referred" to other areas of the head.

• Muscle Imbalance - When neck and jaw muscles are tense from an unstable bite, they shorten. This strain that often leads to headache.

If you or a loved one suffers from headaches, I can help determine if the headaches are related to jaw strain. If you live in the San Ramon, California area or a surrounding area of San Ramon, please call 925-837-4486 to make an appointment with Dr. Sean Anderson today.