What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Accidents happen all the time and not all of them require immediate care. But if you've had an injury to your teeth, mouth or jaw, you should see a dentist right away. If you’re not sure your problem is an emergency, here’s a list of the most common ones -- plus a few things you can do to minimize pain and damage before seeing your dentist:

 

Broken Tooth -- Save any pieces of the broken tooth and rinse your mouth out with warm water. Apply a cold compress to the area to decrease swelling and pain until you can be seen by the dentist.

 

Broken Jaw -- Apply a cold compress to limit swelling and see your dentist right away.

 

Knocked-Out Tooth -- Gently rinse off the knocked out tooth without removing any attached tissue. If possible, hold the tooth in place in the socket. Otherwise, put the tooth in a glass of milk and get to your dentist right away.

 

Something Stuck in Your Teeth -- Carefully try to remove the object with dental floss. (Don't try using a sharp instrument!) If you're unable to dislodge the object with dental floss, contact your dentist.

 

Toothache -- Rinse your mouth out with warm water. Then use dental floss to make sure there isn't any food or other debris causing the pain. If the pain persists, call the dentist.

 

Lost Dental Filling or Dental Crown -- For dental fillings, seal the area with a piece of sugarless gum or over-the-counter dental cement. If a dental crown has come loose, try to put it back in place with dental cement. If that doesn't work, bring it with you to the dentist.

 

Dental Abscess -- If you notice a painful, pimple-like swelling on your gums, rinse with salt water and immediately contact your dentist. Dental abscesses can lead to more serious infections if not promptly treated.

Cranberries Have Unique Benefit For Women

A recent study at Rutgers University, and published in Phytochemistry, confirmed a long-held theory that ingestion of cranberries is helpful in protecting against harmful bacterial in the urinary tract. This is due to one of its natural compounds called proanthocyanidin [PAC's], and its anti-adhesion effect.

The anti-adhesion property of cranberries prevents bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract, which is one of the most common regions for a woman to develop a bacterial infection. Half off all women will experience at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetime. E. coli, bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, are becoming increasingly resistant to common antibiotics. The study concluded that 80% of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria were prevented from sticking by the anti-adhesion property of cranberries. There is some conjecture that PAC's found in cranberry may minimize stomach ulcers and gum disease by the same mechanism.

This study compared the action of PAC's in cranberries to those in other foods such as grape and apple juice, dark chocolate and green tea. Apparently, not all PAC-rich foods have the same success or offer the same protection. By means of comparison, one eight-ounce glass of cranberry juice has the equivalent PAC's as a cup of frozen or fresh cranberries, 1/3 cup of sweetened dried cranberries or 1/3 cup of cranberry sauce. Both this study and earlier research show that the benefits of one glass of cranberry juice kicks in about two hours after consumption and lasts for about 10 hours. So, it is recommended that you drink one glass of cranberry juice in the morning and one in the evening for the maximum protection. Remember, cranberry is a food and not a treatment. Keep in mind that anyone who suspects an infection should consult the appropriate health care practitioner.

            Considering Dental Implants?

Important Facts to Help Make Your Decision

Many people are unaware of the consequences of losing their teeth or the effects of wearing partial or full dentures upon their jaws and bones. When teeth are lost, the surrounding bone immediately begins to shrink [atrophy]. Implant treatment, for tooth replacement therapy, can be the optimal treatment plan. Here are some important facts to take into consideration.

• Wearing dentures [plates] accelerates bone loss, and old dentures become loose because of this bone loss. It is possible to watch and wait for bone to disappear to the point where treatment success of any kind is in doubt.
• At the end of a five-year period, only 40% are still wearing the original partial denture made for them. This is not a great testimonial for value and utility. Those lucky enough to have a functioning partial denture after 5 years are still losing valuable supporting bone.
• Of those patients who wear a partial denture, 50% chew better without it.
• One study showed that after 8 years, 40% of the supporting teeth [abutments] that the partial hooks onto were lost through tooth decay or fracture.
• Patients with natural teeth can bite with about 200 pounds of force. Denture wearers can bite with approxiametly 50 pounds of force. Those wearing dentures for 15 years or more can bite with only about 6 pounds of force, and their diet and eating habits have had to been modified accordingly.
• The average lower full denture shifts from side to side during chewing and is a significant problem that new denture wearers must get use to and accept.
• Denture wearers have decreased nutritional intake, a ten year shorter life span, and 30% of denture wearers can only eat soft foods.
• The single tooth implant success rate is above 98%, and unlike a bridge, the teeth adjacent to the implant are no more at risk than if no teeth were missing.
• Implant-supported bridges or dentures have 95% success rates over 10 years without the severe loss of supporting bone.

For bone maintenance, the health of adjacent teeth, the longevity of the restoration and patient comfort, implant therapy is the treatment of choice. Implants can restore chewing function to the equivalent of someone with natural teeth. If you have questions or want to know if you are a good candidate for implant tooth replacement therapy, please call our office.

                         Soda Drinkers More Prone to Cavities

Dentists can usually spot a soda drinker. These patients are often prone to dental cavities and white spots on their teeth known as decalcifications, which are actually the start of new cavities. A cavity is an infection caused by a combination of carbohydrate-containing foods or beverages and bacteria that live in our mouths. Sweetened soda contains a high amount of sugar, a carbohydrate that can promote cavities. Soda may be even more damaging to the teeth than other sugar containing beverages because it is acidic as well.

Before we drink a sugar-sweetened soda, the pH in our mouth is about 7.0, which is slightly more acidic than water. When the bacteria in our mouths are exposed to sugar, they metabolize it and produce acid. The acid causes the pH on the tooth surface to drop. At a pH of 5.2 or below, the acid begins to dissolve the hard enamel that forms the outer coating of our teeth. Over time this leads to erosion that causes cavities and painful toothaches!

A study examined the effect of several types of sweetened soda and mineral water on the teeth. Teeth exposed to cola, orange and lime soda had significantly more decalcification than those exposed to mineral water. Of all of the sodas tested, cola caused the most decalcification. Sweetened soda seems to damage teeth in two ways. The soda has a low PH and makes the mouth acidic, and the sugar content promotes tooth decay when it comes into contact with bacteria in the mouth.

The easiest way to prevent cavities is by brushing your teeth at least three times a day, especially after eating or drinking and before bed. Reducing the amount and frequency of eating sugary foods and beverages can decrease the risk of forming cavities.

If you have to have sweetened soda, it is better to drink it at one sitting than sip it throughout the day. Better yet, drink it through a straw in one sitting, to bypass the teeth altogether.

                           Good News for Chocolate Lovers

Know that guilty feeling that creeps in every time you bite into a piece of chocolate? Turns out it’s all for naught. (Well, mostly.) Recent studies show that chocolate is actually good for your teeth – and your overall health.

It turns out that chocolate contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols and flavanols. Polyphenols prevent bacteria from turning the sugar and starches contained in chocolate into acids that cause decay. They can help reduce the chances of hypertension and stroke and may even help protect the heart. Dark chocolate is particularly high in flavanols – and has more antioxidant power than green tea.

The cocoa butter contained in chocolate also packs a healthy punch. When you eat a piece of chocolate, the cocoa butter in it coats your teeth, preventing plaque from sticking to your teeth. And what about the “butter” part of cocoa butter – should you worry about fat? Nope. This kind does not raise cholesterol.

Now for the Bad News

Chocolate is high in calories; one 1-ounce piece of dark chocolate can contain 150 calories or more. So if you’re watching your waistline, you’ll have to control yourself. Plus, to benefit from chocolate’s goodness, all you have to do is eat three 1-ounce pieces of it a week. 

                        Smart Snacks for Healthy Teeth 

        Getting your kids to eat fruit, veggies and yogurt instead of candy, chips and ice cream might feel like pulling teeth. But it's important to encourage them to eat "smart" snacks to keep their teeth – and body – healthy. Whether you’re transitioning your older kids to a healthier, balanced diet or just getting started with a little ones, here are some tips for healthy snacking:Set the tone. Your kids mimic what you do, so it’s important that you eat smart snacks too. And be sure to practice good oral hygiene in front of your kids; if you brush and floss after meals and snacks, your kids will too.

Get creative with snacks. Show your kids that healthy snacks can be fun! Prepare tasty combinations, such as apple slices with peanut butter, fruit smoothies, meat and cheese rollups, or yogurt sprinkled with granola and bananas.

Keep your kids involved. When you make your grocery list, ask your kids to brainstorm about what kinds of food they'd like to eat. This is a good opportunity to help them understand what's good for their teeth and what's not. Then go grocery shopping together and teach your kids how to read the Nutrition Facts label so that they can check the sugar content.

Prepare nutritious meals. Snacking smart is great for your teeth, but so is eating well-balanced lunches and dinners. Make sure to add fruits and vegetables to every meal so that your kids become accustomed to them.

We can help you come up with even more ideas for healthy snacks – come in for a visit, and we’ll work on a plan together.

All-On-Four Dental Implants | Teeth In One Day | Dental Implants

All-on-Four Dental Implants | Teeth in One Day

Want to get rid of your denture in one day forever?
Dr. Haroonian, the premier dentist in Newport Beach and Orange County has the best solution for you.

If you have lost all of your teeth, or are losing your teeth, unsecured traditional dentures are a solution which in many cases has limited success. They are painful, inconvenient and instable, such dentures can make chewing food difficult, which could stop you from eating many of the foods you once enjoyed. They would also interfere with your speaking most of the times.

Rehabilitation of an edentulous individual (an individual without teeth) can be done in different methods.
1) Full mouth individual Dental Implants
One method is replacing missing teeth by replacing each tooth that is missing with one dental implant or using as many dental implants as we can accommodate in the bone left. This method usually needs bone grafting (like sinus lift on the upper jaw or block bone grafts…) to create enough bone to support the implants and the teeth on them. This method may take 3-4 months at least to developed bone and then implants are placed in the new bone and usually wait about 4-6 more months to start the prosthetic part (teeth or the final crowns and bridges).As you see it takes at least about 8 months to get the final prosthesis done. This method is good in localized tooth losses when there is one or more teeth left and the advantage of it is that we create more bone for the patient and it is a way to go for some patients that are edentulous (toothless). Contact us for a consultation at (949)646-2481.

2) Full Mouth Reconstruction: All-on-Four in Newport Beach
All on Four (4) dental implant is another method that requires less bone or in some cases no bone graft to replace missing teeth. It is also consider teeth in one day or same day implant. This method is suitable for individuals that are edentulous or have severe gum disease or other conditions that has caused them to lose their teeth in a single jaw or both jaws. With this technology, a special design of dental implants are used along with a special temporary bridge that could be either fixed (doesn’t come out by patient) or removable (patient can remove and place it back him/her self). All-on-Four (4) usually can be done in one day means patient walks in our office with their denture and walks out with a fixed (not removable) bridge the same day. The reason it is called All-on-4(four) is that for each jaw we need at least 4 special design dental implants to support the final bridge.

Three steps for Permanent Teeth in 1 day in Newport Beach
The treatment is done in three phases:

Phase 1: Diagnostic and Data Collection
In this phase you will meet Dr. Haroonian and we go over your goals and the options specifically for your case. A full set of Digital X-rays, study models are taken. A CT scan and fabrication of new teeth are going to be done.

Phase 2: Surgical and Temporizing
Four to six special dental implants are placed and in the same day the new prosthesis (new teeth that was made on the phase 1) is secured on top of the dental implants, so you will be able to chew, speak and smile naturally.

Phase 3: Final prosthetic
After healing of the implants (3-6 months after the second phase) a new set of teeth called implant bridge are made and installed on the dental implants.

I, (Omid Haroonian DDS, FICOI) personally usually use more than four dental implants to get better support and stability so if for any reason we are not able to use any of the implants we don’t need to do another surgery to place a new dental implant. Dr. Haroonian has over 20 years experience in placing and restoring dental implants in City of Newport Beach Orange County and Southern California. His expertise and knowledge in Dental Implants and full mouth dental implant reconstruction has made him the premier dentist in city of Newport Beach and Orange County.
Schedule you appointment for a consult online or call at (949) 646-2481.

Modern dentistry has solutions to suit a variety of needs and the All-on-4 is a wonderful solution for individuals who have suffered from not having teeth to chew well.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a great choice for missing teeth in Newport Beach

If you're missing a tooth or teeth and want the very best dentistry has to offer, you could be the perfect candidate for tooth implants. Dental implants resemble tooth roots for replacement teeth. They are securely anchored into the jaw and topped with a dental crown for the very best in look, feel and function. Dental implants offer several advantages over other tooth replacement options, such as dental bridges and partial dentures. Surrounding teeth and the jawbone are better preserved. Single-tooth implants are also easier to clean. The implant offers the patient the opportunity to regain normal function of the tooth without being forced to resort to a bridge or a denture.

Benefits of Dental Implants in Newport Beach
• Dental implant will osseointegrate (bond) with the existing bone.
• Dental implant will support your teeth firmly and safely.
• Your new implant teeth are aesthetically pleasing.
• You will no longer have pain during talking or eating.
• The dental implant will prevent progressive bone atrophy.
• Implants have a proven scientific basis.
• Dental implants are more durable than bridges or dentures.
 

Procedure 

The tooth structure has two main sections, the root and the crown. The root is the section of the tooth that is below the gumline. A dental implant acts as the restorative for this section of the tooth. The metal implant acts as an anchor in the jawbone. The first step of the procedure is surgical placement of the implant. Under regular dental anesthetic, the gum tissue is opened and Dr Haroonian places the implant into the jawbone. When this is achieved, the tissue is then sutured closed. There is not often significant discomfort with this procedure. This process can take from 1-3 hours depending on the number of implants being placed.
This implant will be left untreated for a period of 3-6 months. During this time, the bone will grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. A removable crown may be utilized during this time period to allow for chewing and to preserve the cosmetic appearance. During this period of time You will be visiting Dr Haroonian to ensure the progress of the treatment and healing.

The next step in the process is to attach an abutment to the implant inside the bone. This is achieved by exposing the top of the implant and placing the abutment. This is the part of the implant that will support the final crown.
Finally, Dr Haroonian will take an impression of the implant and a permanent restoration crown is placed. This restoration will be comfortable and cosmetically pleasing. Your completed implant will be fully functional, allowing you to resume normal activities.

Dental Implant Bridge
Whenever there are multiple  missing teeth in one area of the mouth Implant bridge might be an option . If there are three teeth missing you may want to have two implants placed and bridge three crowns to fill the space of three teeth.

FastBraces & Clear Correct

Newport Beach Orthodontics | FastBraces & Clear Correct

FastBraces®

Everybody Should Be Able To Smile With Confidence!

• Would you like a straighter, more beautiful smile?
• Would you like that beautiful smile in a few short months instead of years?
• Would you like to experience less discomfort?
• Would you like to pay less for your orthodontic treatment?

What is Fastbraces®?

Fastbraces® were developed to straighten teeth differently. Fastbraces® is the revolutionary system of fast, safe, easy and affordable braces that is changing the field of orthodontics.  It is a complete, non-extraction system for most cases, which provides patients with outstanding results.

Fastbraces® Highlights
• FAST – treatment time that is measured in months instead of years!
• EASY – retainers for only 15-20 minutes a day
• SAFE –  Tested by leading Universities in the U.S., Europe, and South America
• QUALITY – The original, certified by the Inventor and made in the U.S.
• SIMPLE – Almost always Non-Extraction treatment
• CLEAN – possibly less decay around brackets due to short treatment duration
• CLEAR – aesthetic ceramic brackets available with a tooth colored wire 

How does it work?

Traditional braces move teeth into position in two stages, usually over a period of about two years. In the first year, the crown of the tooth is moved into alignment. In the second year, treatment addresses the position of the root of the tooth. However, the brackets used with Fastbraces® work on a different mechanical principle altogether. The patented system uses an innovative triangular bracket and a specially- shaped square wire to correct the position of the root of the tooth, from the beginning of treatment. This combination is key in realigning the root and crown simultaneously.

How long is Treatment Time?

Fastbraces® Technology gently allows for movement of the roots of the teeth towards their final position from the onset of treatment, achieving root parallelism at the beginning stages, thus completing treatment from 3 months to about a year. Some patients see results in just weeks!

Do I have to wear a Retainer?

With the complete alignment of the roots of the teeth, retention is needed every day for only 15-20 minutes (“Tooth Shampoo”.) Some people like wearing the retainers at night (“Teeth pajamas”). No more retainers for hours during the day for months after treatment. This is yet another reason why Fastbraces® Technology is changing the way orthodontics is done altogether.

Dr. Omid Haroonian  is proud to be the premiere dentist in Newport Beach and orange county  to offer the amazing Fastbraces® Technology. Discover how Dr. Haroonian and Fastbraces® can team up to help you truly LOVE your smile, maybe for the first time ever!

Call us today at (949)646-2481 to receive more information about this wonderful technology of orthodontic in Newport Beach and orange county

Clear Correct®

Everyone's talking about Clear Correct braces, and for good reason. Clear Correct braces have completely transformed the way we think about and experience dental braces. With Clear Correct braces, there's no worry about metal brackets and wires that are uncomfortable and unattractive. Clear Correct braces include a series of clear plastic aligners that are virtually invisible and completely removable. You can eat what you want, drink what you want, and brush and floss more thoroughly to keep your dental health in top shape!

All Porcelain Veneers

All Porcelain Veneers 

Done by Dr. Haroonian 

Before

After 

Before 

Lower front teeth have been restored

After

Lower front teeth were restored 

Porcelain Veneers will give you a beautiful smile in Newport Beach!

Years ago, smile makeovers involved multiple dental treatments over a period of several months. That's no longer the case, thanks to porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are ultra thin shells made of translucent porcelain that can be bonded to your teeth for cosmetic purposes. Extremely versatile and durable, porcelain veneers are an excellent option whether you want a total smile makeover or need to cover a chipped tooth, mask a cracked tooth, or close gaps between your teeth. They require little to no prepping and can often be applied in just one dental visit!

Call us today to secure a consultation appointment with Dr. Haroonian, The Newport Beach Dentist at (949)646-2481.

Teeth Whitening

Superior whitening for a confident beautiful smile at The Newport Beach Dentist

Overtime our teeth tend to become discolored or stained. Whether this is from smoking, coffee or anyother foods, a beautiful smile could be closer than you think. Today's teeth whitening treatments are so safe, easy, convenient and affordable that they've become a regular part of everyone's beauty routine. If you haven't tried one yet, you'll be happy to know that you have plenty of choices. For the fastest, most dramatic results, consider laser teeth whitening. Laser teeth whitening treatments take just an hour and can whiten teeth up to 10 shades. If you're the do-it-yourself type, an at-home teeth whitening kit might be right for you. These professional grade teeth whitening kits produce excellent results over a longer period of time. They can be provided through your dentist or over-the-counter, but for best results, it's recommended that you always consult with a dentist before trying any over-the-counter teeth whitening system. We offer wide variety of whitening systems including in office light enhanced ZOOM®, Boost, custom made take home trays, disposable take home trays Tres White or GO Opalescence . If you already have your whitening trays, you can get the refill whitening gel through our office we offer Opalescence high strength gel.

ZOOM! Whitening®

If you're pressed for time but still want the best that teeth whitening has to offer, ZOOM! whitening could be perfect for you. With ZOOM!® whitening, bright, white teeth can be yours in about an hour. Using light activated whitening gel, ZOOM!® whitening is fast, safe and more effective than take-home whitening kits. Whether you're a busy professional, have a special event coming up or just want a smile boost, ZOOM!® whitening is great for just about everyone. Our team at The Newport Beach dentist  is highly skilled in giving you right recommendation of teeth whitening.

Give us a call to schedule an appointment (949)646-2481

All-on-Four Dental Implants | Teeth in One Day

Want to get rid of your denture in one day forever?
Dr. Haroonian, the premier dentist in Newport Beach and Orange County has the best solution for you.

If you have lost all of your teeth, or are losing your teeth, unsecured traditional dentures are a solution which in many cases has limited success. They are painful, inconvenient and instable, such dentures can make chewing food difficult, which could stop you from eating many of the foods you once enjoyed. They would also interfere with your speaking most of the times.

Rehabilitation of an edentulous individual (an individual without teeth) can be done in different methods.
1) Full mouth individual Dental Implants
One method is replacing missing teeth by replacing each tooth that is missing with one dental implant or using as many dental implants as we can accommodate in the bone left. This method usually needs bone grafting (like sinus lift on the upper jaw or block bone grafts…) to create enough bone to support the implants and the teeth on them. This method may take 3-4 months at least to developed bone and then implants are placed in the new bone and usually wait about 4-6 more months to start the prosthetic part (teeth or the final crowns and bridges).As you see it takes at least about 8 months to get the final prosthesis done. This method is good in localized tooth losses when there is one or more teeth left and the advantage of it is that we create more bone for the patient and it is a way to go for some patients that are edentulous (toothless). Contact us for a consultation at (949)646-2481.

2) Full Mouth Reconstruction: All-on-Four in Newport Beach
All on Four (4) dental implant is another method that requires less bone or in some cases no bone graft to replace missing teeth. It is also consider teeth in one day or same day implant. This method is suitable for individuals that are edentulous or have severe gum disease or other conditions that has caused them to lose their teeth in a single jaw or both jaws. With this technology, a special design of dental implants are used along with a special temporary bridge that could be either fixed (doesn’t come out by patient) or removable (patient can remove and place it back him/her self). All-on-Four (4) usually can be done in one day means patient walks in our office with their denture and walks out with a fixed (not removable) bridge the same day. The reason it is called All-on-4(four) is that for each jaw we need at least 4 special design dental implants to support the final bridge.

Three steps for Permanent Teeth in 1 day in Newport Beach
The treatment is done in three phases:

Phase 1: Diagnostic and Data Collection
In this phase you will meet Dr. Haroonian and we go over your goals and the options specifically for your case. A full set of Digital X-rays, study models are taken. A CT scan and fabrication of new teeth are going to be done.

Phase 2: Surgical and Temporizing
Four to six special dental implants are placed and in the same day the new prosthesis (new teeth that was made on the phase 1) is secured on top of the dental implants, so you will be able to chew, speak and smile naturally.

Phase 3: Final prosthetic
After healing of the implants (3-6 months after the second phase) a new set of teeth called implant bridge are made and installed on the dental implants.

I, (Omid Haroonian DDS, FICOI) personally usually use more than four dental implants to get better support and stability so if for any reason we are not able to use any of the implants we don’t need to do another surgery to place a new dental implant. Dr. Haroonian has over 20 years experience in placing and restoring dental implants in City of Newport Beach Orange County and Southern California. His expertise and knowledge in Dental Implants and full mouth dental implant reconstruction has made him the premier dentist in city of Newport Beach and Orange County.
Schedule you appointment for a consult online or call at (949) 646-2481.

Modern dentistry has solutions to suit a variety of needs and the All-on-4 is a wonderful solution for individuals who have suffered from not having teeth to chew well.