Mini Implants for Dentures

May 2, 2012 Nor Cal Dentist Archives, Dental Implants, Dentures
Mini Implants

Mini Implants for Dentures

Mini dental implants are designed for patients whose dentures slip or loosen. Mini implants firmly secure and hold dentures into place, providing a great remedy so that eating, speaking and smiling are renewed with confidence. Dr. Sutton of Sonoma Smiles is one of the few dentists in the Sonoma area who offers the mini dental implants for dentures procedure.

Mini dental implants utilize some of the latest technology in dental implantology and are one of the best solutions to denture problems. Because the denture is held in place by dental implants, they are secured in place firmly allowing the patient to eat, speak and smile without the fear of shifting dentures. The mini dental implants procedure is also much quicker than most patients imagine. It requires no cutting of the gums and no removal of stiches. In fact, the procedure can be completed with virtually no patient discomfort.

The other benefit that mini dental implants have for denture wearers is that traditional dentures do not help patients who suffer from jawbone resorption. Jawbone resorption occurs due to the lack of stimulation the jawbone experiences as a result of tooth loss. With mini dental implants, the jawbone is stimulated once again and the patient does not have to worry about the effects of looking older than they are or the occurrence of shifty dentures due to changes in facial structure.

Mini dental implants can be placed with dental sedation for the more anxious patient. This process makes sitting through the procedure more tolerable and negates the feelings of pain or anxiety. The surgery is minimally invasive, and will be administered by Dr. Sutton, a highly trained dentist who is a fellow in the American Dental Implant Association. Once the mini implants are placed, the heads protrude through the gum tissue to provide for a strong foundation to secure your dentures.

Learn more about mini dental implants or contact us today for more information.

1-800-817-7078

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Why Does Wine Stain My Teeth?

April 6, 2012 Nor Cal Dentist Archives, Teeth Whitening
teeth stains from wine

Why Does Red Wine Stain Teeth?

People in the Sonoma and Napa Regions tend to drink a lot of wine and don’t particularly find any consequences of living in such an abundant region. The one downside to living in a wine-producing region, however, is that you often drink a lot of red wine which ultimately can stain teeth. This is a commonly known fact but what is it in the wine that stains teeth and how can we avoid having our teeth develop that coating?

Dr. Sutton of Sonoma Smiles treats a lot of patients who want a teeth whitening as a result of stained teeth and offers the following advice and information on red wine and staining.

Red wine contains chromogen, which by definition is “a substance capable of conversion into a pigment or dye.” Particularly in red wine the intensity of chromogen is capable of staining teeth. But there is more to it than that, wine is also acidic and its presence on teeth actually etches teeth at a microscopic level. This etching makes the tooth’s surface more likely to accept pigment such as the reds from wine.

Wine also contains tannin, a molecule that has a high binding capacity. Tannin is also the word where the word “tan” is derived, and is an easy way to remember the effect. The combination of these three things makes red wine stain teeth although there are matters you can take to avoid them. Eating proteins like cheese while drinking can create a barrier against staining. This is great because the two often complement each other. In addition to cheese you can also chew a piece of gum after drinking wine, brush your teeth immediately afterward, or swish water.

If you have accumulated lots of stains on your teeth and they have become discolored, ask our office about our convenient teeth whitening treatments.

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Six Month Braces from Sonoma Smiles!

March 8, 2012 Nor Cal Dentist Archives, Featured Articles, Six Month Braces
six month braces

Six Month Smiles Sonoma

Have you ever considered getting braces but are turned off by the lengthy treatment time? If you are an adult the thought of spending years in the orthodontic corrective process can mean embarrassment and damage to your professional image. On the other hand, having an embarrassing smile can lead to lack of self-esteem as well as reluctance to smile. Good news for Sonoma residents is that there are options for you. Sonoma Smiles is one of the few Northern California providers of Six-Month Smiles, an innovative orthodontic treatment that allows you to straighten your teeth in the shortest possible time.

Six-Month Smiles is a newer technology that takes the benefit of braces but leaves behind the years of treatment time that patients hate so much. This process is completely safe and has been proven in clinical settings and may just be the treatment you are looking for to restore your teeth and your smile! Six-Month Smiles uses advanced orthodontic technology to straighten teeth incrementally so that patients can have a better smile. This treatment does not involve a drastic straightening of the teeth, it is simply a better way for teeth to be straightened than traditional braces. The braces use special titanium wires and a primary focus on moving the teeth that show when you smile.

Who Can Benefit From Six-Month Smiles?

Almost anyone can benefit from this treatment. The ideal patient is 15 years or older with crooked or spaced teeth who is not in need of a major bite alteration. Upon your consultation with Sonoma’s Six-Month Smiles dentist (Dr. Sutton), he will be able to examine your dental condition and determine if Six-Month Smiles will meet your smile goals.

Contact our Sonoma dental office today to learn more about how you can have straight teeth in six months!

 1-800-817-7078

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Treat a Gummy Smile in Rohnert Park, CA

February 17, 2012 Nor Cal Dentist Archives, Featured Articles
Gummy Smile

Gummy Smile Treatment

A gummy smile is when excess gum tissue gives the appearance of shorter or uneven front teeth. For the most part patients who have gummy smiles have beautiful teeth that are just waiting to be shown off the world but are hidden by their gums. A gummy smile can be embarrassing and result in a smile that is held back and a person that lacks confidence. Dr. Sutton of Sonoma Smiles in Rohnert Park helps patients who have gummy smiles achieve well-contoured, pink gum tissues that compliment and frame the teeth with a procedure known as “gum contouring.”

Gum contouring is the process of reducing your gums with a non-invasive soft tissue laser that uncovers the smile that you have always had been that has been hidden under your excess gums. In addition to treating a gummy smile in Rohnert Park, Dr. Sutton also utilizes the gum contouring procedure to help patients with the following gum tissue issues:

  • Misaligned teeth
  • Uneven lengths
  • Uneven ridges
  • Uneven grooves
  • Inflamed, or swollen gums

Gum contouring, like many other cosmetic dentistry procedures, aims to make your smile symmetrical while achieving dental health and aesthetic benefits to the patient.  To achieve this goal Dr. Sutton will have a one-on-one consultation with you to determine what your smile goals are and how they can be achieved through the advanced dental treatments offered at our Sonoma Smiles office. The soft tissue laser we use is an advanced technology that helps Dr. Sutton alter the gums to the desired shape. This procedure requires no cutting, no bleeding and no sutures. The process of gum contouring and treating gummy smiles is actually quite simple but requires the skilled hand of a dentist who is accomplished at performing advanced cosmetic dentistry procedures and has been trained in the latest technology in modern dentistry.

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Sonoma Dentist Offers Facelift Dentures

January 26, 2012 Nor Cal Dentist Archives, Dentures

Facelift Dentures

Dr. Wayne Sutton of Sonoma Smiles in Rohnert Park is pleased to offer Facelift Dentures to his patients. Dr. Sutton is one of the few dentists in California (and the country!) to offer this innovative and effective procedure that is quickly replacing traditional dentures. Facelift Dentures are designed to combat jaw bone resorption that is responsible for the sagging or sunken facial appearance that is experienced by traditional dentures.

The sagging of the face occurs because when the jaw bones lose teeth, the upper and lower jaw bones begin to deteriorate and give the appearance that you are older than you are. Many patients never really learn about the effects of jaw bone resorption until they are experiencing it themselves. When the tooth root structures in our mouth are no longer stimulated as they are by our natural teeth they begin to resorb. Facelift Dentures can prevent this from happening as can dental implants.

The science behind Facelift Dentures is practicing neuromuscular dentistry treatments that seek to achieve and maintain optimum muscle relaxation and function. Each patient will receive a custom-tailored set of Facelift Dentures that provides stability and relaxed muscles that function better than traditional dentures. These relaxed and stable muscles result in the facelift effect that is produced without the use of surgery.

The benefits of Facelift Dentures include:

  • Plump lips
  • Lessening of wrinkles
  • Helps build the face out
  • Allows patients to chew better
  • Achieve a better fit than all the other dentures

Contact us today to learn more about Facelift Dentures and to schedule an appointment.

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Lumineers FAQ

January 9, 2012 Nor Cal Dentist Archives, Lumineers
Lumineers

Lumineers FAQ

What Are Lumineers?

Lumineers are similar to dental veneers except they are thinner. The other difference is that Lumineers don’t require the grinding down of healthy tooth structure so they are a less invasive procedure than traditional veneers.

Is The Lumineers Procedure Painful?

Our patients often wonder if the Lumineers procedure is painful. We tell them that most patients experience little to no discomfort because the veneers do not require any grinding down of healthy tooth structure and don’t require shots. After the procedure is completed there is no placement discomfort or tooth sensitivity.

How Long is the Procedure?

The Lumineers procedure typically takes two visits to our office. You will first have to come in for a consultation and a personal evaluation in which we determine your candidacy and to discuss your smile goals. The next visit we place the Lumineers to your teeth and ensure a proper fit.

Can Lumineers Be a Braces Alternative?

Yes! Dr. Sutton will be able to determine if you are a candidate for Lumineers after evaluating your teeth and your bite. In most cases Lumineers can allow you to avoid the inconvenience of braces. For patients who still may need orthodontics, Dr. Sutton may suggest Invisalign braces to help correct orthodontic problems.

How Long Do Lumineers Last?

Lumineers offers a limited lifetime warranty that is available that allows replacements at no charge. Clinical studies have shown that Lumineers can last over 20 years with appropriate care and good dental health.

What Kinds of Dental Issues Can Lumineers Fix?

Dental Veneers have been shown to fix the following:

  • Damaged teeth (chipped or cracked)
  • Stained or discolored teeth
  • Spaced teeth
  • Misshapen teeth
  • Slightly crowded teeth
  • Small teeth
  • Worn teeth

Is My Diet Limited With Lumineers?

No. You can eat whatever you like with Lumineers including gum and other sticky foods. Lumineers don’t replace good dental health and patients will be advised to take care of Lumineers as they do their natural teeth.

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Interesting Facts About Saliva

November 30, 2011 Nor Cal Dentist Archives, Dental Checkups
Saliva

Saliva Samples Future of Disease Prevention?

Most people probably think of saliva as the spit-like substance in the mouth that helps them to break down foods and maintain their mouths moisture levels. While these are certainly true and interesting aspects of the fluid there is more to saliva including important dental aspects as well as research that is using saliva to detect diseases in a more timely, efficient and safer manner. In fact, saliva may one day replace blood samples which is big news for scientists and doctors who see the potential of saliva screenings to save lives.

Saliva is secreted into the mouth by three major glands that are near the jaws and inside the lips, cheeks, mouth and throat. The saliva glands secrete a watery fluid that contains proteins, enzymes, minerals, and antibodies that help to perform some very helpful functions within our mouths:

Cleansing- Saliva helps to wash food particles from the mouth and helps to reduce the amount of sugars that cause cavities.

Protecting & Disinfecting- Saliva protects the mouth by fighting bacteria and other germ-causing organisms in the mouth.

Maintenance- Saliva helps to keep the balance in the mouth between acidity and alkalinity that can cause decay.

Re-mineralization- Saliva contain calcium and phosphate minerals which aid in the enamel building process.

Digesting- Saliva makes food easier to chew and breaks down starches.

Most recently saliva has been researched and tested to diagnose disease. It can be evaluated by scientists for molecules that are indicators for disease. By looking into the composition of the fluid scientists are able to see if the molecules contained have indicators of harmful health conditions. The benefit of saliva is that is easier and cheaper to collect, is easier to handle, and doesn’t expose healthcare workers to blood-borne diseases.

Look for more research on this interesting science in the near future as scientists make progress in its research.

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Sonoma Smiles Helps Support Our Troops

November 9, 2011 Nor Cal Dentist Archives, Events, Featured Articles
veterans day

Happy Veterans Day

Dr. Wayne Sutton and the Sonoma Smiles staff are working hard to help support our troops who need restorative and cosmetic dentistry treatments but may not be able to receive them through the VA. Dr. Sutton is a part of the recently launched A Soldiers Smile charity event in which he and other Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics (ACE) dentists will provide free dentistry treatments to select soldiers. The event, which kicked off this past weekend, is endorsed by decorated military veteran and celebrity Montel Williams who has already appeared on national TV promoting the event and the dentists.

Our veterans health care system can make it difficult for them to get the dental care they need because there are certain restrictions put in place that apply when dental care is necessary. In fact, the law has restrictions on providing health care for veterans based on their condition in or out of service and their income level. These laws make it difficult for veterans to have access to dental procedures that may help to improve their health.

Instead of waiting for our health care system to make corrections or improve it is through the generous efforts of Dr. Sutton, the other ACE dentists and Montel Williams that the A Soldiers Smile charity is being made possible. Select soldiers will be eligible for dental care that helps to improve their health as well their self-confidence. The charity, which has already begun will be taking place at select VA hospitals where the dentists will be providing the necessary restorative and cosmetic treatments to soldiers who deserve it.

Given the state of the health care benefits eligible to veterans ACE and Montel are hoping that this event will bring awareness to these unfulfilled needs. This Friday the 11th marks Veteran’s Day, be sure to thank a soldier for their service defending our freedom.

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Tooth or Sinus Pain When Flying?

September 28, 2011 Nor Cal Dentist Dental Pains, Featured Articles
Sinus pain when flying

Tooth or Sinus Pain When Flying

It is not uncommon for people to experience tooth or sinus pain while they travel on airlines. This has to do with the way the body responds to pressure changes which means these pains can also happen when diving. When you fly the air pressure in the cabin of the airplane is lowered and when you dive the pressure increases the farther you go. There is a technical term for this pain called “barotrauma,” also referred to as a “squeeze.”

A squeeze occurs when the pressures outside the body and inside the body are not equalized. Normally the body organs transmit pressure equally from outside to inside. When pressure changes problems within the body structures that are filled with air and that have rigid lining such as the middle ear spaces and sinus cavities of the skull occur. You are probably familiar with the suggestions to “clear” your ears or swallow, yawn, chew gum, or move the jaw side-to-side to equalize pressure. The reason these methods are suggested is to equalize the pressure in these air-filled, rigid walled structures mentioned above.

Our sinuses in particular have small openings which make it possible to clear them when changes in pressure occur so that the fluid that accumulates is drained. When we find it difficult to clear this area it probably means these openings or membranes are filled with fluid because of the changes in pressure.  The skulls largest sinuses are adjacent to the nose and the lower walls of these upper jaw sinuses are adjacent to the back teeth and upper jaw. The same painful reactions can be felt from a toothache as from a pain in the sinuses. The shared nerves can cause pain in either area and are often felt during flights or while diving.

If you have frequent pain each time you dive or fly it is important to consult with your dentist to see if your pains are associated with a defect in a filling or tooth that is trapping air. Often the first sign of a damaged tooth is pain in response to pressure change. For more information on these pains contact us today.

 

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Improve your Smile with Tooth Colored Filings

September 20, 2011 Nor Cal Dentist Featured Articles, Tooth-Colored Fillings
White dental fillings

Tooth-colored Fillings

Countless patients have visited our office seeking cosmetic solutions to the silver amalgam fillings they have had for years. As the public becomes more aware of the cosmetic dentistry options available to them such as with tooth-colored fillings more and more people are seeking this treatment. We are able to replace old amalgam fillings with new white fillings that are matched for shade and fit. Additionally new restorations are made using minimally invasive techniques that preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible.

With modern advancements in dentistry tooth-like materials such as composite resins and porcelains have allowed us to create natural looking and feeling restorations for your teeth quickly and easily. With these materials we have managed to mimic nature’s combination of strength and resilience while creating suitable replacements to metal fillings. The process of bonding resin to the tooth’s dentin (protective layer) is made successful by specially preparing teeth and then sealing them for use. We use special adhesives to restore damaged teeth back to the full form and function that originally existed.

Dental fillings and their placement rely heavily on the expertise of the dentist performing the procedure and their ability to blend art and science. Effective tooth restoration involves specialized knowledge of the shapes and fit of your teeth and their function. Where older restorations such as gold or amalgam were used because of their strength characteristics they failed in that they cannot handle the flex properties of the surrounding tooth when exposed to hot’s and colds. Newer developments suggest that mimicking the properties of natural teeth is better than going towards the stronger and stiffer concepts of the past.

Modern dental restorations such as tooth colored fillings offer many advantages both in appearance and in functionality. Done correctly, they strengthen and stabilize the tooth giving patients a tooth that looks natural and functions as such. Additionally these treatments are more conservative and cheaper than those of the past resulting in another reason to smile.

 

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