Advanced Cosmetic and General Dentistry Blog

• Vitamin B - Increases your risk of getting: canker sores, mucosal candidiasis (a fungal infection) and angular cheilitis (a painful inflammation in the mouth) if amounts are insufficient.
• Vitamin C - Gums can bleed more easily, can also cause fatigue and easy bruising if there is a deficiency.
• Vitamin A - Causes delayed healing in the mouth when there is a lack of this vitamin (since adequate amounts help skin cells grow).
• Vitamin D - Bone density and strength is decreased if there is a lack of the vitamin in combination with calcium. This could increase the chances of getting jaw fractures and gum disease.
• Vitamin K - Slow healing can occur if deficient (since this vitamin aids in blood clotting). A lack can cause excessive bleeding after a tooth extraction and even sometimes after a normal teeth cleaning.

If you suspect that you may be having symptoms that might be due to a lack of vitamins, be sure to discuss it with Dr. Sands at your next visit.

Treatment for a broken or chipped tooth depends on the type, location, and how much of the tooth is involved. Broken or chipped teeth can be repaired by using a variety of treatments and techniques such as dental bonding, dental veneers or porcelain crowns.

Dental bonding is a simple technique that produces dramatic results and is used in the case of a relatively small defect. Dental bonding is performed directly on the defective tooth and requires expertise and artistry to ensure the tooth is sculpted, shaded and polished correctly to achieve a good result.

Porcelain dental veneers are thin wafer-like ceramic shells applied on the surface of the natural tooth to repair broken or chipped teeth. Modern advances in materials and technology have made it possible for porcelain dental veneers to look totally natural and undetectable from your own teeth.

A dental crown is a restoration that encases your entire defective tooth and is sometimes referred to as a "cap". A dental crown can strengthen a broken or chipped tooth as well as improve its’ appearance and function.

Please contact Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands at Smiles By Sands Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Studio City, California today to discuss what options may be available for you to repair your broken or chipped tooth with the most recent advances in dentistry technology.

So many parents are lackadaisical about oral hygiene for babies. The thought is that if they have no teeth, there is no reason to worry about dental hygiene. Furthermore, baby teeth are only temporary, so there is no need to bother brushing them on a daily basis. The staff at Smiles by Sands wants to educate parents that nothing could be further from the truth. Good oral hygiene habits should begin with infants and carry through adulthood.

The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees that baby teeth are important because they act as a guide for permanent teeth. When parents do not enforce good oral hygiene habits, baby teeth can be lost due to infection or decay. If the child’s permanent teeth are not ready to fill in those gaps, the baby teeth can begin to shift and cause serious problems for permanent teeth placement.

Tips for Baby Oral Hygiene

Start your baby on the road to a healthy smile with these tips:

• Before teeth develop, wipe the gums with a wet cloth after mealtimes
• Once the first tooth erupts, begin gently brushing with a soft toothbrush
• Use training toothpaste or water to brush the first teeth; introduce fluoride toothpaste only when it is certain the child will not swallow the toothpaste
• Limit the use of pacifiers and/or discourage thumb sucking
• Avoid sending babies to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water; also avoid prolonged exposure to milk or juice-filled bottles

To learn more about oral hygiene for babies, please contact our Studio City, California family dentistry office today for a free consultation.

A child is susceptible to tooth decay as soon as their first teeth appear, usually by six months of age. This condition is referred to as early childhood caries (cavities) or baby bottle tooth decay.

In some cases the tooth decay is so severe it has resulted in extractions, but fortunately, early childhood caries is a preventable condition.

The tooth decay seen in infants occurs when sweetened liquids are consumed and are left clinging to the infants' teeth and gums for long periods of time. Sweet liquids such as milk, formulas and fruit juices are used by bacteria in the mouth as food. The bacteria produce acids that then attack the teeth. Allowing a child to fall asleep with a bottle during a nap or through the night is a major cause of infant tooth decay. After every bottle the infants’ teeth and gums should be wiped clean with a soft cloth to prevent the bacteria from flourishing.

Baby teeth are very important and play a major role in the future development of permanent teeth. Dental visits for your child should start by their first birthday or sooner if a problem develops. The dentists at Smiles By Sands Cosmetic and Family Dentistry are experienced in the care and treatment of early childhood dental problems.

If you would like to learn more about the problem of early childhood tooth decay and how to prevent it, please contact Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands at Smiles By Sands Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Studio City, California today.