Approximately half of American adults suffer from gum disease. In the condition’s earliest stage, which is called gingivitis, relatively minor symptoms, such as gingival reddening and swelling, may present. However, as the condition worsens, so do the symptoms.
Periodontitis is a serious form of gum disease that includes the formation of pockets, or spaces, between the gums and the teeth. These pockets incite an accumulation of bacteria-filled plaque and tartar that could lead to gingival infections. The deeper the pockets, the more severe the condition.
In some instances, an infection of the gums can spread to the bone of the jaw, causing additional complications. Bone infections may result in jawbone atrophy, leading to the loosening and eventual loss of the teeth. In addition, the infection-causing oral bacteria, which may enter the bloodstream, are linked to other conditions, such as heart disease and dementia.
If you have been diagnosed with severe periodontal disease, your dental provider is likely to prescribe a dental scaling and root planing procedure. Here is a bit of information about this treatment to help you better understand it.
Why Are Dental Scaling and Root Planing Needed?
In order to help the diseased gums to heal, the dentist must treat the source of the inflammation. A primary cause of gum inflammation is the gums’ exposure to bacterial acids that irritate the sensitive tissues. As the microbes in the mouth feed on available carbohydrates, they release acids as digestive waste products.
The pockets in the gums, which develop as the gums pull away from the teeth, may trap bacteria, allowing them to accumulate and produce increasing amounts of inflammatory acid. If the plaque and tartar that contain the microbes are not removed, the acid production continues, and the state of the gums may steadily deteriorate.
The gums are also inflamed by their contact with rough or abrasive surfaces. When plaque is allowed to remain in the same position, undisturbed, it begins to harden. The hardened plaque, which is called tartar, is a porous, hard substance that is not smooth to the touch. Dental scaling and root planing smooth the rough surfaces of the tooth material to help alleviate the gingival inflammation.
What Happens During a Dental Scaling and Root Planing Treatment?
The dental scaling and root planing procedure is a two-part, deep-cleaning process. The scaling involves the scraping away of tartar and plaque from the tooth material, above and below the gum line. As the dentist performs the procedure, the pockets or spaces that have developed between the teeth and gums are cleared of debris. The root planing is the smoothing of the roots of the teeth to promote the reattachment of the gums.
What Should You Expect After Dental Scaling and Root Planing?
After a scaling and root planing procedure, you can expect your gums to heal quickly. You may notice that your gums appear tighter and less red as the swelling and irritation dissipates.
For a few hours to a couple of days following your procedure, you may experience mild discomfort, and your teeth may be a bit more sensitive to heat and cold. Nevertheless, any uncomfortable sensations usually subside rapidly.
If you are concerned about the health of your gums, contact Ryan Senft, DDS at 408-996-8595 to schedule a consultation.
When you are a new patient at a dentist’s office, the first step is usually to schedule an initial consultation. A consultation is basically an evaluation of the current condition of your teeth. If you haven’t seen a dentist in a while, you may be worried or embarrassed about the current state of your teeth.
A good dentist won’t be judgmental or make you feel bad about your current dental health. He or she simply wants to help restore your teeth to the best possible condition, improving your health and well-being. But if you’re still feeling a little uncomfortable about that first appointment, it may help to know what to expect. Here’s what happens during a typical new patient dental consultation.
Paperwork
Anytime you visit a new office, you’ll be required to fill out some paperwork. They’ll want to know basic things like your name and address, as well as your health and dental history. Be sure to bring your insurance card with you if you have dental insurance. If you are transferring from a previous dentist’s office, call and request that your records be sent to the new office.
Dental Examination
Next, you’ll be called back to an examination room for a dental exam. A dental hygienist often performs the basic examination, making notes for the dentist. Your teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw bone will be evaluated, looking for things like cavities, enamel erosion, and receding gums. The dentist will then perform a more thorough examination, also making notes in your file (most likely on a computer or tablet).
It’s important for your dentist to establish a baseline of your current dental health in order to make decisions about further treatment. If you are in need of fillings, crowns, implants, or other dental procedures, your dentist may prioritize needed work based on urgency.
X-Rays
You can expect to have x-rays made of your teeth during that first visit. X-rays are another tool to gain information about your current dental health. The images show things that can’t be seen by the naked eye. For example, dark, shadowy areas in your teeth suggest cavities. The health of your jawbones can also be evaluated through x-ray images, which is a key factor when making decisions about the possibility of implants.
Conversation Between You and Your Dentist
Your dentist will want to know what you hope to gain through dental treatment. Are you looking for better oral health? Do you hope to improve your appearance through teeth straightening, whitening, or other cosmetic dentistry? Your dentist will want to know why you are seeking dental care, and it’s best for you to be as honest as possible so that you are both on the same page and working toward the same goals.
Making a Plan for Further Treatment
Taking into consideration the results of your examination and x-rays, as well as your dental goals, your dentist will formulate a treatment plan. This is an outline of the best course of action and the necessary steps to get the desired results. In some cases, the next steps may just be regular exams and cleanings. If you need more in-depth dental procedures, you may be scheduled for additional appointments.
Looking for a New Dentist?
Dr. Ryan Senft, DDS, provides advanced comprehensive dentistry in Cupertino, CA and the surrounding area. Contact us today to schedule your consultation: 408-996-8595.
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a chronic medical condition that causes sufferers to stop breathing for short periods during the night. It is relatively common, affecting an estimated 18 to 30 million adults in the United States, but it can be dangerous. Sleep apnea raises the risks for other health conditions and can even cause sudden death.
Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea, yet snoring can also be caused by a myriad of factors including allergies, colds, and even the shape of your sinuses. Here is what you should know about snoring and sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Besides snoring, sleep apnea can cause a variety of symptoms. Each person is different, so you may or may not experience these common signs:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Nighttime teeth grinding
- Noticeable pauses in breathing during sleep
If your symptoms are mild, they may be nearly unnoticeable or easily chalked up to simply getting a poor night’s sleep. People with worse symptoms often report a feeling of drowning when waking during the night or a sense that they are physically unable to stay awake during the day.
Sleep Study
A sleep study is the only way to get a definite diagnosis of sleep apnea. These are traditionally held in medical sleep labs. You will arrive between 8 and 9 p.m. to check in and change into your sleeping attire.
You will then be hooked up to a variety of wires, including electrodes, to track your movements and sleep stages, an EKG to monitor your heart rate, an oxygen sensor on your finger and a nasal monitor to track your breathing. You may also have elastic bands around your stomach and chest to monitor your breathing effort and a microphone at your throat to check for snoring.
You will sleep in a hospital bed until 6 or 7 a.m., and then be awakened, disconnected, and allowed to shower and change. Your physician will schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss your results.
Home Sleep Tests
Though sleep labs try to make patients comfortable, they are not the most pleasant places to spend the night. Increasingly, physicians are ordering home sleep tests when possible instead. You will receive a small handheld monitoring system that is about the same size as a telephone handset. Following the provided instructions, you will connect the monitoring devices before you go to sleep and leave them on overnight. You will not have the electrodes that are used in sleep labs.
You may need to use the equipment for up to three nights. When you are finished, you will return the device to the coordinating office, get your results, and share them with your dentist.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
The traditional treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. However, many people struggle to breathe normally with the machine. Others find the bulky equipment and elaborate setup difficult to manage, especially when traveling.
There are other variations on the CPAP machine, but patients and dentists are increasingly turning to the sleep apnea mouthguard instead. These small, easy to carry devices look similar to sports mouthguards, but they are carefully designed to pull the lower jaw forward and prevent overnight airway collapse. Though no single treatment is right for everyone, it is worth asking your dentist if this is the right solution for you.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
A smile makeover is a radical enhancement of teeth that are healthy but do not look as good as they could. It typically involves multiple cosmetic procedures that work together to give you the smile of your dreams. Here is what to expect from your smile makeover.
Smile Analysis
The first step is a detailed analysis of your current smile. We will examine every facet of your smile, from tooth length and spacing to individual tooth texture and color. We will also take a close look at your facial shape and features, your skin tone, and even your hair. In addition, we will look for dental health issues, such as gum disease or tooth decay, that must be addressed before your smile makeover begins.
Discussion and Goal Setting
Although you may be longing for a “perfect smile,” teeth that are too white, too straight, and too perfect typically look unnatural. If you are sure that is the smile for you, we may recommend cheek restructuring, lip plumping, and other facial cosmetic treatments to better support an abstractly “perfect” smile.
For most people, the perfect “natural smile” is actually the better option. This is a smile that is whiter, straighter, and more perfect than the one you currently have, but it is uniquely yours. It fits your face and retains your personality.
We encourage you to bring in photos of your childhood smile as well as different smiles that you admire. Discussing the things you like and dislike about different smiles will help us design a smile that incorporates those features while retaining your unique look.
Digital Design
Next, we will take digital photographs and impressions of your current smile, and then use digital design software to create a 3-D model. We will morph the model to produce your proposed new smile and then make adjustments as needed and desired. This is a collaborative process between you and us, so please speak up about anything you want to change.
Better Overall Health
A varied and nutritious diet of properly chewed foods is vital to overall health. Yet crooked, misshapen, or missing teeth can make it difficult to eat some foods. This can lead to gastrointestinal issues and even cause you to restrict your diet.
In addition, gum disease and tooth decay have been linked to serious health concerns. Your dental problems may be cosmetic for now, but fixing them can boost your overall health and wellness.
Treatment Planning
When we are all happy with the digital model, we will sit down to talk about how to achieve that smile. We will explain the various procedures that are involved, along with their benefits, risks, and costs. Our friendly billing staff can help you understand your insurance coverage and out of pocket costs, and can help you find third party financing if desired.
Wax Modeling
When you are comfortable with the digital design and treatment plan, we will take impressions of your teeth and use them to create a wax mockup of your new smile. This allows you to see your new smile up close, and it lets us ensure that the bite and overall functionality are correct. This is the time to make any final tweaks you desire.
The Treatment Process
Smile makeovers range from simple to complex, depending on the current condition of your teeth and the changes you desire. In general, though, you will go through several stages of treatment. First, we will fix any existing dental disease you have. Then we will begin the series of procedures we discussed.
If the procedures are simple, such as whitening followed by veneers, you may only need a couple of appointments in a short time frame. If you need Invisalign, followed by dental implants, and then veneers, your total treatment time may be a year or more. Regardless of how long the full process takes, though, each procedure is another step closer to the smile of your dreams.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
Not too long ago, cosmetic dentistry was expensive and tough to find. You were considered lucky if your teeth were healthy, even if they were crooked, stained, or misshapen. Crowns, fillings, dentures, and other restorations were unwieldy and unattractive, as the technology did not exist to truly mimic natural teeth.
Today, affordable cosmetic dentistry has become the norm. Regardless of genetics, it is now possible for anyone to have the smile they envision. A talented cosmetic dentist, utilizing the latest technology, can design and create a truly stunning smile. Yet many people wonder whether they should spend the money. Here are 5 reasons to invest in cosmetic dentistry.
1. Self-Confidence
With brilliant white smiles so easy to obtain, people with imperfect teeth tend to hide them. You might learn to smile with your mouth closed, turn down dates, and even stop participating in social gatherings. Even when your teeth are hidden, you may not like your appearance, as sunken cheeks and tight lips are the natural result of failing or missing teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry can restore your self-confidence. You might find yourself standing up straighter, smiling easily, speaking loudly, and even grabbing the spotlight. This newfound self-confidence can spill over to all aspects of your life.
2. Career Enhancement
No matter what job you have, building rapport with prospects, clients, and supervisors is essential. Hiding your smile can make you seem insincere or aloof, while showing bad teeth can keep you from being taken seriously. With a winning new smile, you can climb the career ladder faster than you ever imagined.
3. Better Oral Health
Teeth that have gaps, are crooked, or are misshapen are difficult to clean, putting you at risk for gum disease and tooth decay. A bite that is misaligned can make chewing difficult and increase your chances of developing TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). Fixing your cosmetic dental issues can greatly improve your oral health.
4. Better Overall Health
A varied and nutritious diet of properly chewed foods is vital to overall health. Yet crooked, misshapen, or missing teeth can make it difficult to eat some foods. This can lead to gastrointestinal issues and even cause you to restrict your diet.
In addition, gum disease and tooth decay have been linked to serious health concerns. Your dental problems may be cosmetic for now, but fixing them can boost your overall health and wellness.
5. Investing in Yourself
In today’s demanding, “always on” world, it is common to put yourself last. Career, family, and other obligations can leave you feeling drained, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Investing in cosmetic dentistry is an investment in yourself. Sit back and take a breather while your cosmetic dentist takes care of you.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
Selfies are a fact of life in today’s smartphone-obsessed world. Yet many people dislike how they look in photos, and many of their complaints are focused on their smiles. Hollywood celebrities know how to make themselves more photogenic, but the average person may worry that a camera-ready smile is out of reach. Fortunately, these easy tips can give you a Hollywood smile.
1. Pay Attention to Lipstick Color
Your lipstick choice can affect the perceived color of your teeth, especially in photos. If your teeth are yellowed or stained, choose a pink or blue undertone to make them appear whiter. Darker colors such as wine or plum also make the teeth look whiter. Bright or intense lipstick colors reproduce strangely in photos and will highlight imperfections in your smile.
2. Choose a Natural Pose
If you don’t smile for a living, you may tend to tense up for photos. A wide, fake grin can look like a grimace, while a tight, face-crinkling smile can make your face look scrunched and out of proportion. Instead, take a deep breath and relax into a gentle, natural smile. Let your mouth fall open slightly and allow your lower lip to follow the curve of your bottom teeth. This creates the dreamy smile associated with happy memories, making you look alluring in photographs.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
Everyone has unique features, and you can only find your best angles through trial and error. Play around in front of the mirror, tossing your hair and experimenting with various poses. Then snap a few selfies in your favorite poses. Remember that your reflection in the mirror is different than your reproduction on camera, so test out your mirror poses on your camera phone.
4. Consider a Smile Makeover
A smile makeover corrects cosmetic issues with your smile. If you have any dental health issues, such as gum disease or tooth decay, those must be addressed first, leaving your mouth clean and healthy.
Your smile makeover starts with digital photographs and x-rays. You and your dentist will sit down and discuss smiles you like, as well as your goals and expectations, and then design your smile. Remember that what you want is the perfect smile for you, not some geometrically perfect smile that doesn’t fit your face. We will consider your coloring, your features, and even your hair when designing a natural-looking, beautiful smile.
Smile makeovers often include multiple treatments. For example, you might have two teeth veneered and the others whitened. Or you might have Invisalign followed by veneers. The goal is to ensure that each individual tooth looks great on its own, while also blending harmoniously with the surrounding teeth.
Actors, models, and other professional smilers are accustomed to making themselves look good in photos. For everyone else, though, a photogenic smile takes effort. Depending on the condition of your teeth, new lipstick and some practice may be all you need. If your mouth is in rough shape, though, a full smile makeover may be the best choice. Either way, you can easily get the photogenic smile of your dreams.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
If your teeth are healthy but unattractive, a complete smile makeover can boost your self-confidence. It is an enormous, dynamic change, though, so your first step is to sit down with a trusted cosmetic dentist to carefully plan and design every detail of your new smile. Here are 3 considerations for a complete smile makeover.
Perfect or Natural?
You may be fantasizing about a “perfect smile,” but teeth that are too straight, too white, and too perfect tend to look fake. If you are certain that you want this smile, be aware that you might need facial plastic surgery to support it.
Most people actually want the “natural smile” that is perfect for them. This smile will be straighter, whiter, and more perfect than your current smile, but it is tailored to your unique facial features. It is beautiful, but it looks like it belongs to you.
We will work closely with you to design the exact size, shape, and color of each tooth. We will take into consideration your features, the shape of your face, your skin tone, the existing spacing and alignment of your teeth, and the problems you want to fix. Please note that we must correct any oral health problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease, before we start your smile makeover.
Photographic Inspiration
It is always best to begin with some inspiration. Bring in photos of your childhood smile, along with various smiles that catch your eye, and be ready to talk about what you like and don’t like about each photo. Also think about various smile quirks that you might want to incorporate, such as slightly pointy canine teeth or a small gap between the front teeth.
Digital Smile Design
Once we have a clear idea of what you are looking for, we will take digital photos and impressions of your existing smile. Using those, we will create a 3-D digital smile model and then morph it into your projected new smile. We will adjust it digitally until you are fully satisfied.
Next, we will create a mockup of your new smile in wax. This ensures that it will be functional as well as beautiful. We will continue to make adjustments until we are all entirely happy with the wax model.
Please be aware that a complete smile makeover requires an investment of both time and money. Depending on the current condition of your smile and the results you hope to achieve, we may need to perform several separate procedures and allow your mouth to heal between each step. It may take a year or more to complete your new smile. If you have been dreaming of a radical change, though, we are confident you will find the results worth the wait.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
If some or all of your teeth are missing or failing, you might worry that you are doomed to a life with dentures. While traditional dentures have a reputation for slipping, pinching, and causing difficulties with chewing, today there is an alternative. Here is what you should know about traditional vs implant supported dentures.
What Are Traditional Dentures?
The earliest dentures were invented around the 7th century BC. By the early 1800s, they were in widespread use, though fairly expensive. By the 20th century, though, rapid technological advances and mass production brought down the costs and dramatically improved both the appearance and the functionality of dentures. Today’s dentures look quite realistic, and a talented dentist can create a comfortable fit that enhances chewing ability. They are an affordable solution that can have good results.
Still, traditional dentures have some inherent limitations. They are supported by your gums, reducing bite force and putting them at risk for slipping. Upper dentures have an acrylic palate that uses suction to adhere to the roof of the mouth, creating better stability. Yet this palate also affects both the taste and the mouthfeel of food.
In addition, denture wearers are at risk for jawbone loss. When a tooth is lost, the body begins to resorb the supporting bone. This resorption process means that dentures must be relined annually, and it can promote wrinkles and premature aging.
What Are Implant Supported Dentures?
Implant supported dentures minimize or eliminate nearly all the limitations of traditional dentures. Instead of resting on the gums, implant supported dentures are anchored on tiny titanium screws that replace the tooth roots in the jawbone. This provides support and stability, and it can even reverse jawbone loss.
Types of Implant Supported Dentures
There are some small differences between manufacturers, but implant supported dentures are available in two basic types, as well as a hybrid. Removable overdentures, known as implant retained dentures, can be removed for cleaning or sleeping. Fixed implant supported dentures, or fixed implant bridges, are permanently anchored in the mouth, and are cleaned and maintained just like natural teeth.
Removable overdentures are the least costly implant supported option. Secured by as few as two dental implants, a removable overdenture uses clasps or other retaining devices to snap securely onto the implants. Since there are so few implants and retaining devices, the cost is only slightly higher than that of traditional dentures, yet the increased bite strength and stability are remarkable.
A mid-range hybrid option uses a metal bar or other frame to lock the implants together, evenly distributing the forces of biting and chewing between them. This solution uses a few more implants than a removable overdenture, making it a bit more expensive. However, it provides the stability needed to chew sticky candy, tough steak, and other foods that are nearly impossible with dentures. This configuration also allows the removal of most or all of the acrylic palate, improving the taste and texture of foods.
The most expensive but most natural solution is a fixed implant bridge. Several implants are placed, and then topped with a high-quality fixed bridge that can replace a full arch of teeth. The teeth are locked onto the implants, making it impossible for anyone but the dentist to remove them. There is no acrylic in your mouth, and you will brush your teeth as normal.
Benefits of Implant Supported Dentures
Whichever type of implant supported dentures you select, you will notice tremendous benefits immediately, including the confidence to speak and laugh in public, improvements to the taste and mouthfeel of your food, enhanced comfort, the ability to eat whatever you like, and the virtual elimination of jawbone loss. Traditional dentures will get the job done, but implant supported dentures will help you truly look and feel your best.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
Primitive dental implants may have been in use during prehistoric times, and they were relatively common by at least 600 AD. Modern dental implants debuted in the 1970s, and they truly caught on during the 1990s. Today, dental implants are considered the treatment of choice for replacing missing teeth, but myths and rumors continue to swirl. Here is what you should know about 4 of the most common myths about dental implants.
1. Dental Implants Hurt
Dental implant placement is considered a minor oral surgery. Mild discomfort is normal, yet most patients claim that dental implant surgery is far less painful than having their teeth extracted. In the hands of a skilled and experienced dentist, modern technology renders the procedure virtually pain-free.
If you are prescribed medications for pain, take them as instructed. It is far easier to stay ahead of any pain than to try to fight it once it sets in. Most people go back to work the same day.
2. Dental Implants Cost a Lot
It is true that the upfront cost of dental implants may be higher than that of other options such as dentures or dental bridges. However, those restorations must be replaced, on average, every 10 years. In addition, dentures cause bone loss, meaning that they must be relined annually. Dental bridges increase the risk of decay or even fracture in the supporting teeth. Dental implants are the only solution that can last a lifetime with proper care. They are also the only option that actually improves oral health by replacing the tooth roots.
Watch out for pricing offers that seem too good to be true. There is no reason to seek the most expensive dental implants in your area, but the cost should be reasonably in line with other providers.
3. Dental Implants Are Only for the Very Healthy
Your mouth must be clean and healthy to accept dental implants, so we must fix any other oral health issues first. In addition, any underlying health conditions such as diabetes or bleeding disorders must be tightly controlled. Finally, if you do not have sufficient healthy jawbone, you might need bone grafting. Within these parameters, though, nearly anyone can have dental implants.
4. Dental Implants Are Prone to Failure
Made from biocompatible titanium, dental implants are nearly impossible for the body to reject. In extremely rare instances, a dental implant may not fuse with the jawbone, but across the board success rates are roughly 95 percent. A talented dentist with patients who carefully follow all aftercare instructions can achieve a success rate of more than 98 percent.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
Many people put off going to the dentist until they are in pain, either from a tooth abscess, cavity, or cracked tooth. Others make an appointment for teeth whitening before their wedding or another special occasion. However, it is important that you see your dentist regularly, for cleanings and checkups. For most patients, this means scheduling an appointment every six months or twice a year. Here are some reasons why you’ll want to avoid skipping your dental appointments and see your dentist regularly.
Keep Your Teeth Healthy
Going to the dentist is among one of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy. Having regular cleanings removes difficult to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. For many dental patients, this can be enough when combined with good oral hygiene to keep cavities away. Your dentist may offer fluoride treatments to help protect your teeth, which has become more important since people drink more bottled water and less fluoridated tap water.
Proactively Address Minor Problems
As you go to the dentist twice a year, your dentist may spot an early cavity and recommend that you have it filled. If you go less frequently to the dentist, a cavity might not be caught until extensive damage has been caused. It might require a root canal instead of a minor filling to correct.
This is notable for a few reasons. First, minor procedures are less expensive and invasive when compared to more serious procedures, like root canals and dental implants. Often, fillings can be completed faster and in a single visit, with minimal pain relief required. Second, the better condition you keep your mouth in, the better your overall health. Gum disease and tooth decay have been linked to heart disease. By preventing these more serious conditions, you have a better chance of protecting your overall health.
Track Changes in Oral Health
By seeing the same dentist twice a year, he or she will become familiar with your mouth and will be able to notice any changes in your oral health over time. Your dentist will document these changes in your file and can use it to make the appropriate recommendations to you. For instance, if your dentist sees teeth shifting or an increase in tartar buildup, your dentist will be able to make more informed decisions for your care.
Sometimes being able to see the big picture of a patient’s overall health could change how providers address patients. A poor checkup during the first visit might mean that you don’t know how to floss properly or brush your teeth effectively to remove all signs of biofilm. However, noticing buildup despite patient education efforts would be addressed differently.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
