San Luis Obispo Doctor Discusses Cosmetic Dentistry Options

Are you embarrassed about your teeth? Do crooked or chipped teeth keep you from smiling the way you would like to?

Tooth discoloration, asymmetry, overcrowding, or chipped teeth can dictate whether or not someone feels their smile is adequate enough to show to the world. Even though these imperfections are normal and completely human, often times they prevent people from achieving their personal and professional goals.

That's why San Luis Obispo dentist, Dr. Amorteguy, would like to discuss the many ways in which people can make a difference in their smile. The first step, and possibly the easiest one to take is that of whitening -- the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure on the market. Optimal whitening is achieved in the office with your dentist, but at-home remedies have been shown to help improve the appearance of teeth as well. However, a dentist whitened smile will last for years when used properly (that includes using professional gels and trays once a month).

If you have broken or chipped teeth, you have a few options. The first would be to implement bonding, a process where chips and gaps are filled in with a hardened, tooth colored substance. Crowns, or porcelain "caps," are more durable, as they cover the entire damaged tooth. Veneers are another option, but only cover a section of the tooth. Your dentist may also suggest gum reshaping (gingivectomy), if you feel your smile is too "gummy."

To save time and money, combine these procedures with orthodontics first -- if your teeth are especially misaligned. Once teeth are straightened out, you San Luis Obispo dentist will cosmetically correct the teeth orthodontics couldn't touch.

San Luis Obispo Dentist Discusses Electric Toothbrushes

When electronic toothbrushes first arrived in the dental healthcare market, there was only one brand offering automatic oral health care. These days, however, there are many different electronic toothbrushes available to consumers with different options -- like re-chargeable batteries, smaller designs, and superb cleaning options. Because of this, it can be daunting when trying to figure out which electronic toothbrush is right for you.

Fortunately, Dr. Amorteguy, a San Luis Obipso dentist, wants to help guide you through the maze of modern electronic toothbrushes. First, let’s discuss the main difference between the two major electronic tooth brushes.

Electronic V. Sonic

Electronic toothbrushes are designed to mimic the motion of your hand when you brush your teeth with a regular toothbrush, except you get 3,000 to 7,500 rotations per minute. These toothbrushes do most of the work for you. Sonic toothbrushes dwarf regular electronic toothbrushes with 30,000 to 40,000 strokes per minute. The sonic toothbrushes rapid movements go a long way to remove plaque and ultimately, lead to an easy next check-up at Dr. Amorteguy’s San Luis Obispo office.

How You Reap The Benefits

Recent studies have shown that electronic and Sonic toothbrushes help alleviate plaque and gingivitis -- reducing your risk of future gum disease as a result of gingivitis and eventually, periodontitis. Additionally, if you have any dexterity issues, having a toothbrush do the work for you, while also getting better than average results is another bonus. It might even influence users to brush more often, since there is less manual labor involved.

The only drawback associated with power toothbrushes is that they may be too expensive for some -- ranging in price from $15 to $100. Some even break the $100 dollar price point.

What Your San Luis Obispo Dentist Recommends

Since buying a power toothbrush can be a commitment of $100, Dr. Amorteguy knows how important it is to get the best one. As such, she advises his patients to ask their dental hygienist for their opinion on which electronic toothbrush is right for them during their next visit to our San Luis Obispo dental office.

SLO Dentist Discusses Gum Disease

Gum disease poses a risk to your oral health and you may not even be aware of it -- says SLO dentist Dr. Amorteguy. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to serious tooth loss and other health complications. Before gum disease escalates to that point, it is possible to reverse the progression of the effects of gum disease.

Gingivitis and Periodontitis

You've probably heard of gingivitis, but have you heard of periodontitis? Gingivitis occurs when bacteria gets stuck in areas of the gum line, inflaming gums. Symptoms of gingivitis usually come in the form of continual bad breath and bleeding gums while brushing. Once gingivitis goes untreated, the disease transforms into periodontitis -- reaching connective tissue and even the bone.

How Your Check-Up With Your La Jolla Dentist Helps

By the time patients even begin to notice the signs of gum disease, it's usually too late. That's why it's important to see your dentist bi-annually, to ensure you're not suffering from a severe case of gum disease. Dentists can spot problem areas along the gum line and any erosion around the root of the tooth. When you visit the dentist regularly, you begin to build up a history that allows the dentist to compare previous visits and x-rays, monitoring the progress or added erosion.

Preventing and Treating Gum Disease

Maintaining recommended dental hygiene habits is the first step in preventing gum disease. Most of us know the basics (brushing and flossing twice a day), but there are additional steps you can take:

• Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash after brushing to wash away any "left-over" bacteria
• Quit Smoking. Smoking damages gums, providing a habitable environment in which bacteria flourishes
• Dr. Amorteguy can scrape away plaque at the gumline

What To Do About Periodontitis

If gum disease has infected the bone, then more specialized care at home and the dentist's office is required:

• The first step is for a dentist to remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line. You may need a local anesthetic so you don’t feel pain.
• Next, your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection. Some people, may need periodontal surgery to fold back gum tissue. Periodontal surgery can also treat deeper pockets of infection.
• Your dentist or periodontist may need to do a procedure called grafting. For that, he takes tissue from one part of your mouth (such as the roof) to replace gum tissue that has eroded, exposing the roots of your teeth.

SLO dentist asks: Healthy Teeth, Healthy Heart?

Dr. Amorteguy, a SLO dentist, has a personal interest in making sure her patients are both mouth and heart healthy. Recently, heart health and oral health have been linked. Find out how:

Paying attention to your dental hygiene and health -- especially your gums -- may pay you back with more than a gleaming, healthy smile and manageable dental bills. It may keep your heart healthy too. 

However, experts emphasize that the keyword is may. Cardiologists and periodontists, the dentists who treat gum disease, have long debated the link between dental health and heart disease. But the issue still isn't completely resolved, says Robert Bonow, MD, past president of the American Heart Association and chief of cardiology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. 

"It isn't clear whether gum disease actually has a direct link to heart disease," Bonow says. ''There are threads of evidence, but they’re not yet tied together. If it's true that people with poor oral health have more heart attacks, it doesn't mean the poor oral health leads to them. People with good oral hygiene may just be taking better care of themselves." In other words, people who floss and brush their teeth may also exercise regularly and follow other heart-healthy habits. 

Gum Disease and Heart Disease: How Could They Be Linked? 

Experts do agree that there are plausible reasons why dental health and heart health may be intertwined. For example, inflammation is a common problem in both diseases, Bonow says. Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, ''has a strong component of inflammation. Much of the progression of plaque [building up in the arteries] is actually an inflammatory process." 

Gum disease also has an inflammation component, says Sam Low, DDS, associate dean at the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville, and president of the American Academy of Periodontology. Gingivitis, the beginning stages of gum disease, occurs when gums become inflamed and bacteria overtake the mouth.

SLO dentist

To continue reading this article, Dr. Amorteguy your SLO dentist recommends going to WEb MD for the full version: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/healthy-teeth-healthy-heart

Deborah Amorteguy DDS

1250 Peach Street
Suite F
San Luis Obispo 
California 93401

805-543-3016

Smile@DrAmorteguy.com

www.dramorteguy.com

Dentist in San Luis Obispo Says: No More Excuses

Dr. Amorteguy, your dentist in San Luis Obispo sees a lot of people who take care of their teeth while there are some who forget to do basic steps like flossing daily. Since flossing is such an integral part of keeping your teeth healthy, Dr. Amorteguy is posting this article from Web MD about how you can keep your smile healthy with this simple act:

Do you floss? Or, like many people, do you always seem to find a reason not to? 

A 2008 survey found that only 49% of Americans floss daily, and 10% never floss. That’s most unfortunate, dentists say, because flossing is even more important than brushing when it comes to preventing periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss.  

"If you were stuck on a desert island and a boat could bring only one thing, you’d want it to bring floss,” says Samuel B. Low, DDS, professor of periodontology at the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville, and president of the American Academy of Periodontology. “But I’m convinced that the only time some of my patients floss is an hour before showing up in my office.” 

Dentists say they hear all sorts of excuses for not flossing. Yet they insist that simple workarounds exist for just about all: 

Excuse #1: Food doesn’t get caught between my teeth, so I don’t need to floss.Flossing isn’t so much about removing food debris as it is about removing dental plaque, the complex bacterial ecosystem that forms on tooth surfaces between cleanings. Plaque is what causes tooth decay, inflamed gums (gingivitis), periodontal disease, and eventually tooth loss. Flossing or using an interdental cleaner is the only effective way to remove plaque between teeth. 

To continue reading this entire article, Dr. Amorteguy, your dentist in San Luis Obispo recommends going to Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-10/flossing-floss-sticks?page=1

Deborah Amorteguy DDS

1250 Peach Street
Suite F
San Luis Obispo 
California 93401

805-543-3016

Smile@DrAmorteguy.com

www.dramorteguy.com

SLO Dentist: 9 Things You Can Do About bad Breath

One of the biggest oral health issues that drives self-consciousness in people is that of bad breath, or halitosis to use the scientific term. Dr. Amorteguy, a SLO dentist, has found this informational article about how you can prevent this common affliction:

Worried about bad breath? You're not alone. Forty million Americans suffer from bad breath, or halitosis, according to the American Dental Hygienists' Association. Bad breath can get in the way of your social life. It can make you self-conscious and embarrassed. Fortunately, there are simple and effective ways to freshen your breath. 

1. Brush and floss more frequently. 

One of the prime causes of bad breath is plaque, the sticky build-up on teeth that harbors bacteria. Food left between teeth adds to the problem. All of us should brush at least twice a day and floss daily. If you're worried about your breath, brush and floss a little more often.  But don't overdo it. Brushing too aggressively can erode enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to decay. 

2. Scrape your tongue. 

The coating that normally forms on the tongue can harbor foul-smelling bacteria. To eliminate them, gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush. Some people find that toothbrushes are too big to comfortably reach the back of the tongue. In that case, try a tongue scraper. "Tongue scrapers are an essential tool in a proper oral health care routine," says Pamela L. Quinones, RDH, president of the American Dental Hygienists' Association. "They're designed specifically to apply even pressure across the surface of the tongue area, removing bacteria, food debris, and dead cells that brushing alone can’t remove."  

To Continue reading this article, Dr. Amorteguy, your SLO dentist, recommends visiting Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-2/get-rid-bad-breath?page=1

Deborah Amorteguy DDS

1250 Peach Street
Suite F
San Luis Obispo 
California 93401

805-543-3016

Smile@DrAmorteguy.com

www.dramorteguy.com

Dental Care -- What To Expect During Routine Check Ups

Many people avoid going to the dentist because they're afraid of pain or what the dentist will find lurking in their mouth. Fortunately, Dr. Amorteguy a dentist in San Luis Obsipo, has found an article detailing the steps you should take before your next check-up in order to avoid any uncomfortable situations:

Your dentist will recommend how often to have routine checkups. Many people should see their dentists once or twice a year. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums for signs of tooth decay,gum disease, and other health problems.

• Your dental hygienist will begin to clean your teeth by scraping hard mineral buildup (tartar) off of your teeth with a small metal tool. Then the hygienist will floss your teeth, use a polishing compound, and apply fluoride. Cleanings usually aren't painful.

• Occasionally your dentist will want to take X-rays. The X-rays take only a few minutes.

• Your dentist or technician will have you put on a heavy apron to shield your body from X-rays. Everyone else in the room will either wear a protective apron or step behind a protective shield.

• Your dentist or technician will have you bite down on a small piece of plastic. This will help align the teeth properly for the machine. Your dentist or technician will repeat this process several times to get pictures of all your teeth.

To continue reading this article, Dr. Amorteguy recommends visiting Web MD for more information: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/tc/basic-dental-care-routine-checkups