Dental Issues Resolved by La Costa Dental Excellence

Cavities and Fillings

One of the most prevalent dental issues are cavities—the active breakdown of your teeth. Tooth enamel will not repair itself, which is why it is so important to treat cavities with fillings early. Early treatment allows us to preserve more natural tooth structure and can prevent further complications.

When the hard exterior of our teeth is compromised, it puts the soft interior chamber of the tooth at risk of infection. If you wait to get treatment, you may need a crown to restore your tooth instead.

Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease

Without proper dental care, you can get an infection of the gums, roots of the teeth, and bone. Gum disease causes permanent loss of the mouth's foundation (bone and gum support). Those with gum disease may experience:

• Receding gum lines.
• Weakened your teeth.
• Tooth loss.
• Systemic disease.

Gum disease is linked with 57 systemic diseases. Gum disease treatment can prevent additional oral health complications that can arise from these infections. To avoid the painful complications that come with gum disease, visit La Costa Dental Excellence on a regular basis. Our general dentistry treatments can prevent gum disease from happening.

Toothaches

Are you experiencing constant tooth pain or extreme tooth sensitivity? There are a lot of causes of toothaches:

• Dental trauma.
• Cracked or broken teeth.
• Infection or abscess.

General dentistry has methods to address toothaches no matter the cause. You can get protective dental crowns, root canal therapy, or other treatments based on the cause of the toothache. There’s no need to live with tooth pain!

Tooth pain can be a symptom of serious dental issues. Don’t wait to receive treatment or the problem could get worse!

Chipped or Cracked Tooth

No one can anticipate a sudden injury or painful emergency dental situation. That’s why we’re here to accommodate and treat you with speed and precision.

Cracked or broken teeth can be scary and painful. Broken teeth need to be fixed immediately to prevent infection. Depending on the severity of the damage, this is done with different treatments:

• Veneers: Best for small chips and cracks on the front of the tooth.
• Bonding: Used for minor chips and holes.
• Crowns: Cover and protect the entire tooth.

There are even options for replacing missing teeth.

Tooth Appearance

We all want a smile that’s a little straighter, a little whiter, and a little more aligned. Concerns with how your teeth look can be addressed by general and cosmetic services such as:

• Tooth-colored fillings.
• Teeth whitening.
• Invisalign® clear braces.
• Laser dentistry.
• Prepless and porcelain veneers.
• Same-day porcelain crowns.
• Dental implants.
• Dental bonding.

You can combine these services however you need to get the smile you want. Many of these services also have health benefits. If you want a better-looking smile, our team is here for you.

Mouth Sores

When we think of dental health, the first mental images we get are of teeth. But proper oral health goes beyond our teeth. The soft tissues of your mouth, including the gums, tongue, cheeks, and soft palette, all need attention too.

Sometimes sores can appear in our mouths due to factors like stress or a reaction to a new food. It is common for these kinds of sores to resolve themselves. Sores that last more than two weeks need the attention of a dentist. They can be a symptom of underlying issues that could be painful and dangerous.

Impacted Teeth

Hidden wisdom teeth cause unforeseen complications, including pain, infection, and the shifting of your smile. We offer the latest techniques to remove the underlying tooth, making wisdom teeth removal fast and easy. While wisdom tooth extraction is typically associated with teenagers, it is also available for adults who start having trouble with their wisdom teeth.

Here are some signs you may want to consult a dentist about impacted teeth:

• Pain around an area where a tooth should come in.
• Swelling or abscesses.
• Loose permanent teeth around the area.
• Infection of the gums.
• Bad breath.

Tooth Erosion

After years of chewing and speaking, your teeth can slowly wear down. This is called tooth erosion or tooth wear and it is a natural process that occurs as we age. Unfortunately, you still need your teeth, so you can’t let them wear all the way down!

Dental bonding, dental fillings, and dental crowns help keep your teeth as strong and sharp as they need to be to help you eat. These services are all tooth-colored so your teeth will look natural with the added material to build them up and provide extra support.

Oral Cancer Screening

We include oral cancer screenings in all our exams. We don’t want you to suffer or need to undergo serious cancer treatments, so we’ll check for early symptoms such as:

• Canker sores that last more than two weeks.
• Unusual red or white spots.
• Swellings or abscesses.
• Painful areas in the cheeks, tongue, or gums.

Catching cancer early can improve your chances of successful treatment. These cancer screenings can limit pain, expenses, and time spent at a clinic if you do end up needing treatment.