Ask Your Dentist!

Before explaining how the dentists treat pulpitis, we need to know what the pulpitis means. Pulpitis is inflammation of soft tissues inside of a tooth. Pulpitis can be reversible or irreversible.

Reversible pulpitis is a mild to moderate inflammation, because of superficial decay or tooth crack, or even too much pressure during grinding and clenching. This type of pulpitis can be treated just by treating the cause of the problem, like receiving restorative treatment.

Irreversible pulpitis is a very severe inflammation, secondary to deep decays, with exposure of tooth intrinsic soft tissues to the bacteria, deep tooth cracks, or other damaging material, even chemicals which are used for filling a tooth. In this case, more aggressive treatments, like root canal therapy, may be required.

Differential diagnosis between reversible and irreversible pulpitis is not a simple task. It needs experience and knowledge of the dentist and needed equipment and technology in the dental office.

At A-Z dental care you can have all necessary factors for getting the right answers. Dr. Salek is an experienced and knowledgeable dentist. Our office is equipped with the latest imaging technology for accurate diagnosis.

If you want to get a free consultation in A-Z dental care, just call 626-699-8408 or go to our online appointment page and schedule an appointment online.

In some cases, after the first Root Canal Treatment (RCT), a second RCT may necessary due to lack of healing or the occurrence of a new infection. This second RCT is called retreatment. Since retreatment is performed on a tooth that has already been subject to RCT, no live nerve exists to cause pain. Furthermore, in all dental procedures that may cause pain, local anesthesia is administered to alleviate pain during the procedure and prescribing antibiotics and pain medication is a common practice after many dental procedures. For these reasons the patient should not be worried about experiencing pain during and after root canal retreatment.

A to Z Dental Care is a right place for having consultation and receiving necessary Re-RCT or RCT in West Covina. Dr. Salek is an expert in performing RCT or Re-RCT. Our dental office is well equipped with the latest technology for complete examination and diagnosis of dental problems. Please call us at (626) 966-8408 and make an appointment. The consultation is free and Dr. Salek is a very knowledgeable and experienced dentist and will patiently answer any questions and concerns you might have.

for a free consultation or go to our online appointment, and schedule an appointment online.

Different factors can cause pain by pressure on our teeth. All these multiple factors can cause inflammation on supporting tissues, periodontium, of the tooth structure in the jaw bone. Depends on the intensity, duration, history, and eventually type of the pain, plus clinical exam, and radiologic findings, a dentist can find the causation of pain.
Sometimes this pain is because of high spot on new filling or crown. This one is the simplest factor, which can be removed by adjustment on the restoration. But some cases are very complicated, such as tooth fracture, or cracked tooth. Other than that advanced decay with tooth pulp exposure, which has not gotten properly treatment, can cause tenderness in chewing food, or pushing pressure on teeth. Advanced periodontitis is the other causation of this kind of pain. People who are grinding or clenching on their teeth, can feel pain on their teeth by pressure.

As you can see these are a part of the factors. The best way for finding the reason of pain is seeing an expert dentist, who has enough knowledge in general dentistry, and specialty in orofacial pain, like Dr. Salek in West Covina.

In A to Z Dental Care office with high end equipment and expert dentist, you can find your answer and get help for solving the problem. If you live in San Gabriel Valley cities and suffering of pain due to the pressure on your teeth call A-Z Dental at (626) 966-8408 for a free consultation or go to our website, www.AtoZDentalCare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

Dental bone grafting is a procedure for preservation of tooth sockets. In this procedure, the dentist will graft a section of bone from another area of the patient’s body, or use a special bone grafting material, and graft it onto jaw bone. In the past, without utilizing this technique, the patient would have experienced bone loss and shrinkage of the jaw after losing a tooth. Vertical or horizontal shrinkage of the jaw has harmful consequences, such as problems for replacing the missing teeth, or depression on the facial muscles, which can cause cosmetic problems for the patient.

It is a misconception if one assumes that bone grafting is needed only in the case of dental implant. While bone grafting is usually required before and during this procedure, but it is not limited to dental implant.

With a broader vision on the required techniques for tooth extraction, socket preservation should rank high in the priorities of the dentist performing the procedure. Saving more healthy tissues around the area of extraction should be aimed at by an experienced, knowledgeable, and skillful dentist. After maximum preservation of healthy tissues, bone grafting could be considered with minimum damage to the jaw bone architecture.

If the dental implant is performed by an experienced and knowledgeable dentist and in a dental office equipped with the state of the art technology, the unexpected consequences should be minimal or non-existent.

A common concern and question by a patient who is a candidate for dental implant is: How painful is a dental implant?

A dental implant, like many other dental procedures, should not cause pain and discomfort if done the right way and under adequate anesthesia. The first day after the procedure, however, the patient may experience some degree of mild to moderate pain. For this reason, prescribing pain medication and antibiotic, to prevent infection, is a standard practice.

If the dental implant is performed by an experienced and knowledgeable dentist and in a dental office equipped with the state of the art technology, the unexpected consequences should be minimal or non-existent.
If you live in San Gabriel Valley cities and need a dental implant, Please call A-Z Dental at (626) 966-8408 for a free consultation or go to our website, www.AtoZDentalCare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

Dr. Salek, with more than two decades of experience, will be glad to answer all your questions and concerns and provide you with enough information to make the right decision. If you decide to do the implant at A-Z Dental, you should expect great experience with no or minimal pain and discomfort.

Before elaborating on this question, it should be made clear that TMJ is not a disorder, but one of the body’s joint like a knee or an elbow joint. TMJ is the joint hinging lower jaw (mandible) to the skull bone. Therefore, any dysfunction of the TMJ, like movement limitation, should be called a TMJ disorder or TMD.

If one poses this question to a TMJ specialist, like Dr. Salek of A-Z Dental Care in West Covina, the answer would be yes, jaw cramps in one of the signs and symptoms of TMD. Other diagnostic symptoms of TMD include: pain, noise, deviation of jaw during opening and closing of mouth, and jaw locking.
All of these symptoms should be taken seriously and the patient should be evaluated by a dentist, or by a TMJ specialist in complicated cases. If you live in a San Gabriel Valley city like West Covina, Covina, or Pasadena, stop suffering from TMJ. Dr. Salek is here to help.

Dr. Salek is an expert dentist with TMJ specialty at A-Z Dental Care in the city of West Covina. A-Z Dental Care is very good equipped office and with Ct-Scan machine can help you in diagnosis.

In general, there are at least three things an experienced dentist should consider: First, to find out if infection is the only reason for feeling pain in oral cavity. Second, it should be clear that tooth is not the only source of infection in the mouth, although it is the most important one. And finally, if the dentist finds out that one of the tooth is infected and it is the only source of pain, pulling out a tooth is the last solution, and after making sure that dentist cannot find out a way to save the infected tooth. In the absence of infection, this long lasting pain could be due to neuropathy or neuralgia.

In this particular case, something unusual is happening and more information is needed for making an accurate diagnosis. For example, if there is any clinical sign of infection (like abscess), or x-ray findings support the infection diagnosis. If there is an infection diagnosis, based upon clinical or x-ray findings by the dentist, what treatment plan, such as root canal therapy or even extraction, should be considered. Prescription of antibiotics is not the whole plan for treating a tooth infection.

In my opinion, this case should thoroughly be evaluated by an expert with pain specialty for correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan and to decide whether the patient should stop or continue taking antibiotics.

Dr. Salek is an expert dentist with pain specialty at A-Z Dental Care in the city of West Covina. If you live in San Gabriel Valley cities, such as West West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, and Glendora, call A-Z Dental Care in West Covina for free consultation. A-Z Dental Care is very good equipped office and with Ct-Scan machine can help you in diagnosis.

A few years ago my wife showed up at my office with a severe pain in her upper teeth. Based on her dental history, I was sure that the pain could not be caused by damage to her teeth. After taking a panoramic x-ray to rule out other possible toothache causes, I noticed a remarkable sinus infection. Consultation with an ear-nose-throat (ENT) specialist, confirmed my initial finding of an acute sinus infection.

Toothache can cause feelings that could be associated with sinus infections and vice-versa, because they share a nerve. Patients with headaches, nose congestion and even fever, may not realize that these symptoms could be related their simultaneous toothache. Going to a dental office is the best thing to do in these circumstances. A dentist can make an accurate diagnosis based on a clinical exam and an X-Ray.

If you live in San Gabriel Valley cities, such as West West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, and Glendora, and and are suffering from an on and off toothache, call A-Z Dental Care in West Covina for free consultation. Dr. Salek is an expert dentist, with Orofacial Pain specialty in very good equipped office with Ct-Scan machine can help you in the best way, which is possible. For getting free consult appointment, just call our office on (626) 966-8408 or go to our website, www.AtoZDentalCare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

During the dental procedures, nerve damage can happen, depends upon nature of procedure, or dentist’s knowledge and skill. Sometimes damage is very severe to a main branch of nerve. On the other hand this damage can be very minor and for very terminal accessory nerve branch.

Based on the damage and damaged nerve, answer to this question can be different. At the same time the way and considering golden time for treating damaged nerve is very important for getting good result, and treating patient with minimum consequences.
Therefore as you can see, it is very hard to tell and give a timeframe for healing processes of damaged nerve. As everyone knows, prevention of a problem is always more easily, than solving a problem after happening. Even it can cause less cost and more guaranteed right outcomes and results.

Prevention of any kind of possible damage to the nerve during the dental procedures have a few ways. For example avoidance of not required procedure is one of them. As well right and enough equipment can help dentist for diagnosis and making decision for picking right technique for the procedure. In between the dentist should have, adequate knowledge, experience and skill for put together all of the information and after that to diagnose very well and plan an appropriate treatment.

If you live in San Gabriel Valley cities, such as West West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, and Glendora, and you have been told that you need to get some treatment with the risk of nerve damage, or you have already had the problem of numbness, secondary to the dental procedure, call A-Z Dental Care in West Covina for free consult. Dr. Salek is an expert dentist, with Orofacial Pain specialty in very good equipped office with Ct-Scan machine can help you in the best way, which is possible. For getting free consult appointment, just call our office on (626) 966-8408 go to our website, www.AtoZDentalCare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

Wisdom teeth infection is very serious and could even become life threatening if not properly treated. This type of infection can quickly spread throughout the body with the circulation of blood, which will then require patient hospitalization. On the other hand, since wisdom teeth are near head and neck area, they can obstruct air way, cause brain infection, and even result in death. People must take wisdom teeth infection very seriously and immediately seek treatment.

When you need to have a consultation, it’s better to pick a doctor who has ample experience in this aspect of dentistry and who is able to perform the procedure with minimum trauma, reducing the need to use pain medication. Dr. Salek and his team, at A-Z Dental Care in West Covina are ready to take care of you and finish the procedure with a minimum of trauma and stress.

If you live in San Gabriel Valley area, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, and Glendora, and and suffering pain or swelling in your wisdom teeth, just call (626) 966-8408 and set your appointment with Dr. Salek.
You can also go to our website, www.AtoZDentalCare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

Swollen gums, secondary to inflammation or infection of the gingiva (gums), are one of the most frequent signs of gum diseases. However, there are many additional causes of swollen gums, including rare autoimmune diseases like pemphigus, pemphigoid, and lichen planus, or more common ailments like gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth infections. Each of these diseases warrants a visit to the dentist for diagnosis and treatment because they may be indicators of dangerous local or systemic consequences, and can be a sign of an underlying systemic disease.

Sometimes, treatment of swollen gums is not complicated. For example, a deep cleaning of the teeth or treatment for an infected tooth can solve easily the problem. On the other hand, in the case of having underlying system diseases, an oral medicine specialist with cooperation from a specialist medical doctor should take care of the patient instead.

To inquire about a free consultation, just call us at (626) 314-6908, or go to our website, www.A-ZDentalCare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

A few days ago, a patient came to my office and asked me to check for white lesions in the oral cavity and throat. The individual said the lesions were coming and going, with variations in size and duration. While the patient did not complain about pain or discomfort, the person was concerned about the risk of oral cancer.

I asked the patient about a medical history and the person stated that they only suffered from asthma, necessitating the use of an inhaler at least three to four times a day. In the clinical exam, the white patches were verified on the patient’s posterior side of their palate, soft palate, and throat, which could all be cleaned with a piece of gauze.

White lesions can indicate a wide variety of oral conditions form ulcers to oral cancer. This range justifies a patient’s worries should they have long-lasting oral lesions in their mouth. Oral candidiasis, a fungal infection also known as oral thrush, is also one of these conditions. Oral candidiasis is very common in people with a history of asthma who also have to use corticosteroid inhalers, such as fluticasone or beclomethasone. Depending on the kind of medication, dosage, and frequency of usage of the inhaler, this infection can get better or worse.

The patient was ultimately referred to his primary doctor for an adjustment for their asthma medication. Afterward, the patient needed to get antifungal infection medication to reduce the side effects of his inhaler. People with long-lasting oral cavity white lesions should be seen by their dentists for diagnosis and treatment. Dentists that specialize in oral medicine can help this condition much better than some others.

1. Stop smoking
Independent studies reported by the University of California and University of San Francisco, among others, proved that more than eight out of ten oral cancer patients were smokers.
2. Stop drinking too much alcohol
Oral cancer is largely a “lifestyle” disease. It means that the majority of oral cancers are related to tobacco and alcohol use. The combination of smoking and drinking alcohol can increase the risk of oral cancer.
3. Oral hygiene
Multiple studies conducted across Europe and the United States support evidence that there is a direct link between poor oral hygiene and the development of certain mouth and throat cancers.
4. Exercise
It’s generally believed by specialists that people who maintain a high level of physical activity have a reduced likelihood of developing various cancers, including oral cancer, compared with those who engage in lower levels of physical activity. A large body of epidemiologic evidence supports this theory.
5. Periodic oral exam
Periodic oral exams can help your dentist detect any potential tumors before they become serious. Tumors may be benign, pre-cancerous, or malignant. Diagnosis is important in these cases because early detection is highly correlated with the successful treatment of malignant or pre-cancerous masses. If you are concerned about long-lasting changes in your mouth such as an odd shape, color, bumps, ulcers, or other changes, you should be seen by an oral medicine or oral pathologist specialist.

Grinding, or other para-functions, such as chewing gum, eating hard food stuff, and clenching, can cause tension and pressure on masticatory muscles which are needed for mouth opening and closing. When someone walks or runs beyond his or her leg muscles’ capability, overwhelming muscles, soreness, activity limitation, and even pain on the relevant joints are possible. The same is possible with your mouth and jaw.

Localized myalgia and myofascial pain are two unpleasant outcomes of overused muscles. Myofascial pain can trigger headaches, and is not a direct cause of pain. People who are suffering from tension headache, migraine, or other types of headaches, will have more frequent and severe headaches when they grind their teeth.

Orofacial pain specialists are dealing with these situation. First of all, they can help in term of managing consequences of grinding and clenching, like myofascial pain, and at the end even headaches by themselves. Dr. Salek is orofacial pain specialist and in A-Z Dental Care can help for these kind of conditions.

If you live in the San Gabriel Valley, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and the surrounding areas, and have headaches, you can come to our offices here at A-Z Dental Care. Dr. Salek has years of experience in general dentistry, and his specialty in Oral Medicine and Orofacial Pain makes him ideal for treating grinding and headaches pain.

Usually, extraction can cause mild to very severe pain after the procedure. Inflammation, secondary to the trauma of the procedures and the immune system reaction needed for healing, is the main reason for pain. In the case of a chronic or active infection for involved tooth, the risk of pain is higher.

Pain medication prescriptions for patients who have gotten an extraction procedure are very common. It’s completely up to the dental professional to select the type of medication, from over-the-counter medication to opioids, based on the complexity of the procedure, patient medical history, and evaluation of all of the circumstances with an expert doctor.

1- Not all extraction procedures require opioid prescriptions. Pain management with the lowest side effects is the ideal best outcome, which is not always available.
2- Opioid medication should be avoided as much as possible, because of the well-known side effects and potential consequences. Unfortunately, several studies have shown that these medications can cause addiction to opioids that sometimes involves patients resorting to street drugs, including heroin.

When you need to have an extraction, it’s better to pick a doctor who has ample experience in this aspect of dentistry and who is able to perform the procedure with minimum trauma, reducing the need to use pain medication. Dr. Salek and his team at A-Z Dental Care in West Covina are ready to take care of you and finish the procedure with a minimum of trauma and stress.
If you live in San Gabriel Valley area, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, and Glendora, and want a free consult regarding a possible tooth extraction, just call (626) 966-8408 and set your appointment with Dr. Salek, one of the most expert and skilled dentists in the area when it comes to extraction.

There are numerous causes of pain in our gingiva (gums). Infection, trauma, tooth problems, inflammation, and even dysfunction in the nerves (neuropathy and neuralgia). Depending upon the pain described by the patient, his or her oral health history, and intraoral or extraoral pathological changes, an expert dentist can diagnose the problem and help the patient treat or manage it.

Sometimes the diagnosis of the source of the pain is very simple, like verifying a broken and infected tooth clinically or via an x-ray. However, sometimes the problem is not as simple as a broken tooth. For example in the case of autoimmune diseases, like lichen planus, pemphigoid, and pemphigus, some changes are rooted in patients’ gingiva, such as redness and ulceration.

In these circumstances, a dental specialist is needed for diagnosis and treatment. Dentists who have an oral medicine or oral pathology specialty, have had a few more years’ education after graduation compared to a general dentist, and they are expert in this area of dentistry.

On the other hand, there are some patients with more complicated cases that should be seen by another type of specialist. These patients don’t have a lesion in their oral cavity that is causing the pain. The problem is nerve dysfunction. Orofacial pain specialists are expert and knowledgeable dentists who can find the problem and manage it.

If you live in the San Gabriel Valley, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and the surrounding areas, and have pain in your gums, you can come to our offices here at A-Z Dental Care. Dr. Salek has long experience in general dentistry, and his specialty in Oral Medicine and Orofacial Pain makes him ideal for treating sore gums and other types of mouth pain.

A root canal is one of the most important treatments in dentistry due to the risk of infection and then losing the tooth which needs treatment. Usually a root canal is necessary for teeth with advanced decay as well as damage caused by trauma involving pulp exposure. In all of these conditions, there is always a high risk of infection in the future if an infection is not already present.

If there is no treatment for an infected tooth, the infection can spread to the bone and cause osteomyelitis, a bone infection. This is one the most complicated medical conditions to treat.

Whenever your dentist recommends a root canal, you should take it seriously. If you are concerned and you don’t know whether root canal therapy is required or not, it is better to go and see another dentist for a second opinion — but do not ignore it.

At the A-Z Dental Care office in West Covina, Dr. Salek is ready to provide a second opinion or to take care of your root canal. The office has a CT-Scan machine which is designed for performing more accurate root canals. Apart from that, Dr. Salek is very expert at root canals and he is here to help.

If you live in the San Gabriel Valley, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and the surrounding areas, consider a free consultation at A-Z Dental Care. Call us at (626) 966-8408 or go to our website, www.atozdentalcare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

Based on a great deal of research and many studies, we know that more than 30 percent of children grind their teeth. This number for adults is going up, and more than 60 percent of us grind at night (bruxism) or during the day (clenching).

Some signs and symptoms can help and inform you that you may grind or clench. These include sensitive teeth, pain, stiffness, as well as tiredness on the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and masticatory muscles. In highly advanced cases, broken and chipped pieces on the teeth are possible.

Although these obvious signs and symptoms are enough for patients to know they are grinding, this problem should be looked at by an expert dentist, and specifically an orofacial pain specialist. For example, people who are suffering from an unknown pain on their face, or who have clicking and popping on their joints, or even jaw locking, though there may be no visible abrasion on their teeth, can benefit from the help of a dental specialist.

For these conditions, the best course for determining where the grinding is, and planning the best treatment is to visit a dentist who has specialized in orofacial pain.

If you have grinding and clenching problems and live in the San Gabriel Valley, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and the surrounding areas, consider a free consultation at A-Z Dental Care. Call A-Z Dental Care in West Covina (626) 966-8408 or go to our website, www.atozdentalcare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

There are several reasons for getting a crown after a root canal. These include:

1. Usually, after advanced decay, a tooth needs a root canal. With huge cavities, almost all of the main part of the tooth is gone. This amount of damage to the tooth structure doesn’t let the dentist restore the tooth properly. A crown can help with the final restoration.
2. For cavity preparation, removing the roof of the pulp chamber is required. Otherwise, finding the canals and getting access for cleaning and shaping the canals is impossible.
3. Pulp chamber roof removal compromises the tooth’s resistance against mastication. A crown can help with unifying and strengthening the tooth, preventing tooth fracture.
4. Root canal therapy can stop blood circulation inside of the tooth, and eventually reduce the flexibility in dentin, because it doesn’t allow nutrition and moisturizing of the tooth. This undesirable root canal consequence makes teeth fragile and brittle. Crowns can prevent these expected tooth fractures because a crown can distribute the masticatory forces.
5. Finally, RCT brings discoloration for teeth. Usually, patients are concerned about cosmetic issues, specifically in regards to their front teeth. Crowns can help in this way as well.

If you need a crown due to a root canal, and live in the San Gabriel Valley area, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and the surrounding areas, consider a free consultation at A-Z Dental Care. Dr. Salek is expert at making crowns, which can help make a tooth both beautiful and strong. For a free consultation call A-Z Dental Care in West Covina (626) 966-8408 or go to our website, www.atozdentalcare.com, and schedule an appointment online.

Almost 10% of Americans have diabetes. Diabetes has a two-way relationship with oral health. Diabetic patients should be more concerned with their oral hygiene than people who are not suffering from this disease.

Diabetes can increase the risk of tooth decay or cavities. A reduction in saliva flow in diabetic patients is the main reason. Meanwhile, diabetes can compromise immune system function. Immune system function is very important for the protection of teeth and their supporting tissues. Tissue inflammation, called gingivitis or periodontitis, depending on the type of tissues involved, can be affected by diabetes and immune system dysfunction, secondary to diabetes. Based on several studies and much research, periodontitis can cause diabetes and make the condition worse in people who have already diabetes.

If you have diabetes and are living in the San Gabriel Valley, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and the surrounding areas and are concerned for your oral hygiene and health, you can come to our office, A-Z Dental Care in West Covina, for a free consultation. Dr. Salek, with his longtime experience can help you for in terms of obtaining an appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Just call the office in (626) 966-8408.

It is a very common question. Of course, all of the silver fillings can be replaced by white material, but we need to know the reason for replacement. There are several reasons that are good cause to replace an old filling, regardless of whether it is silver or white.

First, all failed restorations, with chipped, broken, open margins, or secondary decays should be replaced. This can be diagnosed during a periodic exam, or based on the patient’s complaint, like sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods or drinks.

Secondly, when a patient is unhappy with the shape and shade of silver fillings, then it is the patient’s choice based on their personal cosmetic concerns. Meanwhile, sometimes patients can be scared by bad advice and information, such as the alleged risk of silver fillings for health. If a patient decides to replace a silver filling only because it’s made from silver, that would be a poor decision.

If you live in West Covina, Covina, Azusa, Baldwin Park, or anywhere else in the Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley area, and are concerned about an old filling, call our A-Z Dental Care Office at (626) 966-8408, and set an appointment for a free consultation.

Doing any restoration because of decay or a cavity cannot guarantee the avoidance of secondary decay underneath the existing filling or on the margin of restoration. After secondary decay is found, the existing filling should be replaced or re-filled. For a better understanding of the reason for the filling, we need to know the mechanism behind the appearance of decay.

As you may know, bacteria in the oral cavity can turn sugar into acid. This acid can dissolve enamel and make dentin less resistant and more easily dissolved by acid. First of all, regardless of the material which is used for restoration, there is always a risk of micro-gaps between the restoration and tooth structure. Therefore, this gap offers an opportunity for the acid to penetrate the tooth. Secondly, there is a risk of leaving decayed tooth structure behind. Finally, there is a risk of weakness on the cavity margins, which can be chipped easily. A chipped margin is a likely environment for the appearance of new decay.

People who have any kind of restoration done, such as crown or filling, should be more concerned for their restored teeth than naturally intact teeth. Regular checkups and dental monitoring can prevent any more damage to their teeth.

If you live in San Gabriel Valley area, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and the surrounding areas, set an appointment with A-Z Dental Care, so Dr. Salek can help you to find out which restoration is okay, and which one needs replacement. For free consultations in regards to a suspicious tooth, just call A-Z Dental Care office in (626) 966-8408.

The short answer is yes, it is necessary, although it is important to know why and how.

First of all, diagnosing and treating problems with patients’ teeth is not the only job for dentists. Dental care providers cover a variety of duties. Dentists take care of the oral cavity for all of the soft tissues, hard tissues, as well as teeth and TMJ evaluation. Any changes in oral mucosa, which sometimes can cause serious problems, like oral cancers, should be verified and diagnosed by dentists. Therefore, for people who have dentures, other aspects of dental care exams should not be ignored.

Second, dentures can cause some infectious diseases, or soft tissue lesions, which are very important. Candidiasis is one of the infectious diseases which can be diagnosed and treated by dentists. Other than that, dentures with lack of stability and retention can traumatize the oral soft tissues and cause some lesions such as Epulis Fissuratum (a denture injury tumor), which should be diagnosed and removed by dentists. This kind of lesion sometimes is malignant (cancerous), which is very dangerous for patients.

Thirdly, using dentures can cause TMJ disorders. Usually older people have dentures and in this age group, patients are more susceptible for TMD. Osteoarthritis is one of the possible consequences. In this situation, it is a dentist’s roll to verifying the problem and prevent more damage to the TMJ.

Fourth of all, a denture by itself should be considered as one of the items for an oral exam for edentulous (toothless) patients. Dentures should be cleaned by ultrasound devices and any crack, or teeth attrition, occlusion changes, etc. need to be fixed. In the case of badly compromised dentures, replacing the denture with a new one should be considered.

Dr. Salek of A-Z Dental Care is the right doctor for taking care of patients with dentures, or requiring new dentures. After three decades working as a dentist and making many dentures, he can easily solve denture problems and create good new dentures. In addition to that, because of his specialization in oral medicine and orofacial pain, Dr. Salek can properly diagnose and manage the denture issues discussed above.

If you live in San Gabriel Valley area, including West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and the surrounding areas, and looking help for new denture, periodic exam, or having some problems with your denture, just call us at (626) 966-8408, and set an appointment for a free consultation.

Ice chewing is a bad habit which unfortunately is very common, especially among younger people. People who have this habit should stop chewing ice, ASAP.

There are two primary reasons why chewing ice so bad. As you might guess, since ice is very hard it can cause cracked or chipped teeth. Also, ice can cause sudden dramatic changes in a tooth’s temperature which can also cause it to crack. Cracked tooth syndrome always brings pain at some level. This may include sensitivity to cold, tenderness when touched and while chewing food, and sometimes pain that seems to come from out of nowhere. In some cases, ice chewing can result in a vertical fracture, which is not treatable and usually means the tooth must be extracted.

TMJ is another unpleasant problem associated with chewing ice. Clicking and popping when opening and closing the mouth are the least serious impacts of temporomandibular joint problems. Over the long term, chewing ice can cause disc displacement, jaw locking, and even osteoarthritis if there is severe damage to the mouth joints. In these cases, jaw movement can be painful, noisy, and rough.

Apart from its harmful consequences, chewing ice can sometimes be a sign of a nutritional deficiency or an eating disorder. People with anemia and other problems sometimes develop a symptom called pica, in which people crave substances with no nutritional value – not just ice (which at least is water) but clay, soil, or paper. If you have severe ice cravings, it is highly recommended that you see your medical doctor to deal with the underlying problem.

If you live in San Gabriel Valley area — West Covina, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and other cities — and are concerned about damage to your teeth and TMJ, A-Z Dental Care and Dr. Salek are here to help. The doctor has years of experience restoring teeth that have been damaged and is also a specialist in the treatment of TMJ. If you’re concerned about teeth or jaw pain, call us today at (626) 966-8408, and make an appointment for your free first-time consultation.

It’s possible. Staining or discoloration of teeth is categorized by dentists as either extrinsic or intrinsic. Substances we consume — medications, supplements, mouthwashes, specific foods, red wines, dark colored spirits, coffee, tea, tobacco, colas, and more. – can cause extrinsic discoloration and staining. Intrinsic discoloration comes from inside our bodies and can be caused by a number of factors, including: genetics, medications received before birth or during breast feeding, medications and supplements taken childhood, and even water that is oversaturated with fluoride, a substance otherwise very beneficial to teeth.

Is there any way to prevent or reduce these side effects? Some techniques can reduce the amount of staining, certainly. For example, a patient who is taking iron drops can make sure to place them the back side of the tongue and, of course, we can always reduce or eliminate our consumption of beverages and foods that tend to cause staining. Generally speaking, however, this is a problem that can be addressed to a greater or lesser extent with special toothpastes and teeth whitening techniques supervised by an experienced dentist.

Intrinsic discoloration is more complicated. First of all, this type of discoloration comes from inside the tooth and is extended from the inner dentine to the outer enamel. Extrinsic discoloration is primarily a cosmetic issue, but intrinsic discoloration is usually accompanied by weakness in the tooth structure. This kind of weakness is one of the reasons of we see early rampant dental decay in some children and young adults. Obviously, it is a far more serious problem

Extrinsic discoloration can be treated by dentists and hygienists in patients through regular cleaning and other techniques. For intrinsic discoloration, such traditional dental techniques as fillings, root canals, and crown are indicated to restore teeth as much as possible and reduce the risk of more damage – as well as dealing with some cosmetic concerns.

In West Covina and in other San Gabriel area cities such as Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Baldwin Park, and Glendora, people who have any type of discoloration problem can get in touch with A-Z Dental Care. We offer free first-time consultations and all types of treatment, from cleaning to restorative procedures that can help with discoloration and other issues. Please call (626) 966-8418, and set an appointment for a free consultation.

Before I answer this particular question, I want to discuss the overall possible consequences of a root canal.

Root canals, like other medical and dental treatment, can have side effects and complications, as well as very important benefits.

One of the possible consequences of a root canal is inflammation. Actually, inflammation is one of our body’s natural immune system responses. Inflammation is a result of infection, irritation, or injury – all of which might have necessitated your root canal in the first place. Inflammation has four signs; redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. Inflammation typically begins in the ligament surrounding the tooth and spreads to neighboring tissues. Pain and discomfort when biting down or chewing foods may present itself because of inflammation of ligaments. These symptoms should go away after a few days with a dentist’s care.

The chances of this kind of complication can increase when a dentist is not as expert as they ought to be. You can read more at my website about Root Canal:

Root Canal

There is no specific type of food patients should eat after finishing their dental treatment. However, for some procedures, like tooth extractions, your dentist will have specific instructions on which foods to avoid.

Regarding when to eat anything at all after a visit, however, local anesthesia is an important concern. Patients should wait until all of their numbness is completely gone before eating anything. Eating food while the anesthesia is still in effect can cause damage to the tongue, lip, and cheek areas because you might accidentally bite yourself and not notice.

After an extraction, it’s necessary to avoid hot and hard food, because these kinds of foods can cause bleeding. After permanent crowns are affixed, patients should avoid chewing food on that side of their mouth for at least 24 hours. For temporary crowns, the situation is little bit different. Temporary crowns are not very resistant to pressure or force, so hard, chewy, or sticky foods can cause the crowns to break. Patients should , therefore, chew carefully and stay with softer, less sticky foods.

In my experience, choosing what to eat before going to the dental office is actually often more important than what to eat after procedures. Generally, patients should feel free to eat normally prior to dental procedures. The exception is if you have been scheduled for a treatment under sedation or general anesthesia. In these cases, your doctor will tell you if it is necessary to abstain from food for a length of time prior to the procedure. Apart from that, patients should definitely stay with their regular eating routines. This is important because, for patients with an empty stomach, there is always a risk of blood sugar dropping, and that could cause issues. Obviously, this is even more of a problem for patients who have diabetes.

Most people understand that periodic dental exams are important. Unfortunately there are still a group of people who don’t believe it and they may decide that it isn’t worth showing up for their periodic exam. However, even people who visit their dentist regularly may not understand exactly how important it can be. They assume it’s mostly for the prevention of damage to the teeth and gums; of course that’s true, but it’s not the whole story.

Very often, oral cancer and pre-cancerous oral lesions, like leukoplakia or erythroplakia, can be diagnosed by dentists during an exam. These are potentially life threatening oral cancers, and early detection is very important. It’s also important to realize that poor oral health can often exacerbate serious health conditions.

A 62 year-old man who was referred to A-Z Dental. The patient’s doctor had already produced a diagnosis of oral cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation were planned, and because of that it was necessary to remove any teeth that were in danger of requiring extraction. Unfortunately, the patient had advanced generalized periodontitis.

This meant that all of his teeth were extremely loose and had to be extracted. We asked the man when he had last been to see a dentist. He did not remember, and stated that it might have been very many years ago. That much was obvious . If this patient had gone to a dentist regularly, he would have had a much better chance of keeping most or all of his teeth and, more importantly, it would have improved his overall chance of survival. Alongside my dental training, I completed a two year residency in Oral Medicine, which covers cancer and other oral lesions, so this case was particularly meaningful to me.

 

Don’t ignore red flags. If you have not visited your dentist for a periodic exam and are noticing worrisome symptoms such as long lasting discoloration, ulcers, or any other unusual changes in your mouth, now is the time to contact an experienced dentist . A-Z Dental Care is the right dental office for you if you are living in West Covina, Covina, Azusa, and other cities of San Gabriel Valley area.

If you haven’t had an exam in a long time – or even a relatively short one – I want to hear from you. Our number is 626-966-8408.

Does everyone have TMJ? Does everyone have TMD? For sure all of us have TMJ, but just 5% to 12% of people have TMD. What is the difference between TMJ and TMD?

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) is a joint like other joints, such as knee or elbow joints. This joint and a group of muscles are responsible for jaw movements. TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders) are a group dysfunctions of this joints and related muscles, which work for the jaw movements.

TMD can be verified by just some simple noises, like clicking, popping, or crepitation. Sometimes TMD is accompanied by limitation in jaw movement, and even jaw locking. Pain is not rare in TMD, and sometimes is the main reason for referring to dentists. In severe cases of TMD all of the signs and symptoms can be observed.

TMD can be caused by different factors, such as oral habits, grinding, clenching, specific diet, trauma, and any kind of malfunction like chewing gum. TMD can trigger headache, or be misdiagnosed as toothache, so it is very important to be taken very serious by patients and doctors.

Treatment of TMD is depend upon how serious the problem is, signs, and symptoms. It could be just keeping our eyes on it, and regular follow ups. Physical therapy, avoidance protocol, topical or systemic medication, and even specific muscle, or joint injections.

Efficient treatment is started by right diagnosis. Right diagnosis requires, a knowledgeable, expert, and enough equipped dentist. Dr. Salek is an Orofacial Pain specialist, who deals with TMD, with a long time experience. He helps his patients in A-Z Dental Care office, which equipped by very high tech CBCT machine, which planned for good imaging of TMJ.

If you have signs and symptoms of TMD, or have been told previously by your dentist about TMD, and looking for a TMJ specialist, who can treat you without invasive, or aggressive ways, call our office at 626-699-8408, and set up an appointment.

Before answering this particular question, we first need to know the reasons why the root canal is indicated. The first reason dentists will recommend this type of procedure is for treating advanced decay which has involved the tooth’s pulp chamber. In this case, microorganisms can gain access to the tissues of a tooth’s roots and cause infection. The same condition can happen to the teeth and cause severe wearing, as well as secondary attrition, erosion, or abrasion because of mechanical or chemical factors. These factors can be related to grinding, stress, certain types of diets, or frequent vomiting.

The second reason for a root canal is often trauma, such as breaking a large portion of a tooth crown in an accident, causing tooth pulp chamber exposure. Again, this can be a pathway for microorganisms and lead to an infection in the supporting tissues of the tooth. Sometimes traumas that don’t break the tooth can damage living tissues, such as vessels and nerves. In this case, necrosis can result. Usually necrosis (dead cells) creates what we call a sterile (uninfected) abscess around the tooth.

The third reason is when a tooth needs restoration due to abrasion or other factors — and without root canal, restorative procedures, are not likely to succeed. In some cases teeth that appear sound but at risk due to periodontal (gum) problems can be saved by a root canal.

In a standard root canal treatment, the main goals are cleaning the root canals and sealing the areas of the teeth that dentists call coronal and apical orifices. Cleaning during a root canal may employ mechanical, chemical, and surgical approaches. After cleaning, shaping, and irrigating, the population of microorganisms can be minimized. After the canals are thoroughly cleaned, dentists can achieve a good seal using a variety of special materials, including gutta-percha, a highly specialized product made from material found in certain types of exotic trees.

As you can see from all of this, root canal therapy is a means of greatly reducing the chance of an infection. Studies tell us that the success rate for root canal is between 86% and 98%. When performed properly, root canals consistently succeed. To maximize the chances of a successful – and comfortable – root canal, you want to make sure you’re working with an experienced and well-equipped dentist. Dr. Salek of A-Z Dental Care boasts many years of experience and has dealt extensively with root canal, from the simplest cases to the most complex and challenging.

If you are seeking outstanding dental care for a root canal in West Covina, Covina, Azusa, and throughout the San Gabriel Valley, please call (626) 966-8408 or visit our Appointment Page to set an appointment for a free initial consultation.

When gums bleed while brushing teeth, eating, or seemingly out of nowhere, that’s a symptom that needs to be taken seriously. While certain types of toothpaste claim to improve this unpleasant symptom, it’s important to treat the illness that is almost certainly causing it.

Make no mistake, bleeding gums are nearly always a sign that something is wrong. The most common cause is gum disease or another important periodontal issue but, in the worst instances it can be a sign of a serious illness such as leukemia. Making an appointment with a dentist is a must.

Gingiva (gum) inflammation is the main reason for bleeding. While it’s possible that some special toothpastes can reduce the inflammation, it’s a superficial solution at best. While the advertising for these products can be very persuasive, they are never a substitute for going to the dentist. Using these toothpastes is a little bit like taking aspirin for headaches that might be caused by a serious illness. Finding out the root cause is crucial.

Fortunately, a competent dentist can address all types of gum-related issues by treating the cause of the problem. Plaque and calculus in the teeth and elsewhere can damage gums and cause gingivitis (gingival inflammation) or periodontitis (inflammation of both the gums and tissues that supports teeth). These illnesses can lead to gums that are recessed or overgrown, halitosis (bad breath), itching and pain, and even teeth mobility, where teeth seem to “float” around the mouth. Toothpaste will never be enough to deal with these problems.

Gum problems can be serious business and you want an expert dental specialist to help restore your oral health. If you live in West Covina, Covina, Azusa, Baldwin Park, or anywhere else in the Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley area, please call (626) 966-8408 for a free initial consultation or visit our contact page.

Traditional bridgework and dentures are vastly better than nothing at all. They prevent problems with nutrition, social isolation, as well as many oral health problems. However, they have their share of drawbacks. Most people understand that dentures can be inconvenient in terms of their care and insuring they stay in place, and some patients are disappointed with their appearance.

Implants are prosthetic teeth that are implanted in the gums through a minor outpatient procedure. Many patients find that ordinary dentures and bridges can make just talking, eating, or even laughing problematic. Implants, however, are considered the gold standard in teeth replacement because, once the process has been completed, they are essentially identical to real teeth. For most patients they are vastly more convenient and comfortable than bridges and dentures, and they look the same as organic teeth. They also are the only solution for lost teeth that prevents the potentially devastating bone loss that can accompany tooth loss.

A less well-known issue associated with losing teeth is bone loss, which can have severe consequences in some cases, including further loss of teeth and changes in facial appearance. Because implants mimic natural teeth and are actually connected to the jawbone, they actually prevent bone loss. At present, no other treatment can do that. The benefits of improved health, better appearance, and the convenience of permanent teeth adds up to a pretty clear preference for most patients.

This is a very common issue, but the solution depends mostly on the cause of the problem. Therefore, before we know how to deal with the problem, first we need to know what’s causing painful sensations related to cold, heat, or sweet foods and drinks.

Sensitivity often comes down to the construction of the tooth itself. Every tooth has two parts: the root and the crown. Crowns are covered by enamel, and roots by cementum, a calcified substance that keeps teeth attached to the gums and bone. Enamel and cementum, much like hair and fingernails, are without feeling because they contain no living nerve tissues. Dentin the second layer, however, contains living cells and therefore can become irritated by sensory stimuli and sugar. Not surprisingly, anything that causes dentin to become more exposed, such as decay, enamel that has been chipped, cracked or broken can cause sensitivity. Similarly, enamel that has been worn due to bruxism (grinding or clenching) or abrasion can provide insufficient protection and therefore lead to sensitivity. Sometimes, dental work, such as fillings, crowns, and deep cleaning, may cause same pain or sensitivity after the work has been done.

The various causes of sensitivity have correspondingly differing solutions. In certain situations, like decay, urgent care is required, and in some circumstances, such as sensitivity to the cold after a dental procedure, we need to wait and watch. Sometimes very radical treatments, like tooth extraction or root canal are recommended, and sometimes very conservative steps are enough. It’s impossible to know what to do without understanding the source of the problem.

What we don’t know really can hurt us, and for people with sensitive teeth to try and squeak by with over-the-counter solutions can conceal potentially serious problems that, if not addressed early, can wind up patients vastly more pain and expense than addressing them immediately. If you live in West Covina or elsewhere in the San Gabriel Valley area, your best move may be to come to A-Z Dental Care, and see Dr. Salek. His years of dental experience and success promoting oral health in people of all ages make him an outstanding choice for anyone who wants a healthy smile. For further information, call (626) 966-8408 for a free initial consultation or visit our contact page.

Chipping is very common on front teeth, but it can also happen to back teeth. Chipping can be caused by an accident or other trauma, biting on something hard, bruxism (nighttime tooth grinding), habitual clenching, and even very advanced tooth decay. Treatment largely depends on the degree of chipping, and its proximity to the pulp chamber of the tooth.

Sometimes a chipped tooth may not present any symptoms beyond the altered shape of the tooth itself. In other cases, however, chipping can cause sensitivity or outright pain. If the amount of missing tooth is too big, a tooth may not restorable and may not to be replaced. In most cases, however, a great deal can be done to deal with the issue both in terms of symptoms and cosmetic issues.

The only way to deal with chipping is to visit a skilled dentist who can examine the teeth and offer a course of care. In cases of very minor damage, for example, it is sometimes possible to just shave the tooth and smooth out the surface of the tooth. Sometimes a restorative treatment, such as a filling, is the right treatment. In instances where the tooth is more badly damaged, options like root canal treatment and crowns may be needed.

Dr. Salek and the entire team at A-Z Dental Care are here to help people of all ages to have the healthiest smiles possible. If you’re dealing with chipped teeth, any other issues, or simply want to prevent dental problems before they start, we’ve been serving West Covina and the San Gabriel Valley for years. Contact us today at (626) 966-8408 or visit our contact page.