Dr. Gary Glasband, D.D.S.

Dental Fillings: Metallic vs. Composite Resin

Dr. Gary Glasband — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:05:29 +0000

While amalgam (silver) dental fillings have been around since the 1800s, they are fast losing ground to tooth-colored composite resin dental fillings. The most obvious reason for the switch to plastic dental resin has its basis in aesthetics. In the eyes of increasing numbers of patients, it’s far more preferable to have a filling material that nearly matches the color of their teeth, rather than a metallic filling that stands in dark contrast to white teeth. On top of that, composite dental resin actually bonds to the crown of the tooth to create a solid tooth structure. Amalgam, on the other hand, merely fills the cavity, allowing seepage around the “silver” filling over time, which can lead to decay. The pictures on the right show the dramatic change we can get in one short visit!

Considering your options for dental fillings, inlays, and onlays? Visit our Inlays and Onlays Page for more information.

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Beauty or Health? Choose Both for Your Teeth!

Dr. Gary Glasband — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:26:21 +0000

Beautiful smiles don’t always mean healthy teeth and gums. With so many technological advances in dentistry over the last few years, there’s no reason to walk out of the dentist’s office with a beautiful smile that hides rotting teeth, or healthy teeth that are misaligned and discolored. When it comes to taking care of our clients, we will never make you choose. We want all our clients to have healthy and beautiful teeth and gums inside and out. A healthy mouth and a beautiful smile can both be yours – without breaking your bank. You might be surprised at what modern dentistry can do for you!

Our staff will always put your needs and wishes first and advise you on the best long-term preventative plan for healthy, attractive teeth. We take the time to listen and understand patients, and explain all procedures to patients’ satisfaction.

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Would You Bathe Your Teeth in Acid?

Dr. Gary Glasband — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:53:59 +0000

There is more to worry about than sugar content and weight gain when you drink soft drinks. Many carbonated sodas are nearly as corrosive to dental enamel as battery acid. While non-cola drinks are less acidic than cola drinks in general, the erosive potential of cola is ten times that of fruit juices during just the first three minutes of consuming them. When researchers weighed slices of enamel from freshly extracted teeth 48 hours after they were immersed in 20 different commercial soft drinks, they found that the samples lost more than 5% of their weight. If you drink colas, use a straw and brush your teeth afterward.

Check out our Dental Health Page to read more about protecting your teeth.

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Smoking and Gum Disease: The Increased Risks

Dr. Gary Glasband — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:23:14 +0000

Aside from countless other smoking-related health risks, research shows that smokers are more likely to develop gum disease and their cases are more serious than those of nonsmokers. Bone loss, gum recession, and tartar (hardened plaque) all contribute to gum disease and are common among users of tobacco. If the excessive plaque is not removed, the gums become infected and pull away from the teeth. Researchers believe that nicotine and other substances in tobacco may weaken the body’s immune response to harmful bacteria and reduce blood flow to the gums. As the bacteria in plaque attacks the tissues and bone that support the teeth, the stage is set for loosened teeth and tooth loss, which is also more common among smokers than nonsmokers.

Our staff is committed to helping you keep your teeth and gums in the very best health possible. We make every effort to provide superior service and friendly assistance to all of our patients. Please contact us at 562-425-5511, to schedule an appointment. Now is the best time to take care of your teeth!

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Use it or Lose it…Your Dental Insurance Benefits, of Course!

Dr. Gary Glasband — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:41:26 +0000

Can you believe the year is almost over? In less than three weeks the New Year will begin, and your remaining dental benefits for the 2011 calendar year will run out. If you are a patient, as a service to you, we have been tracking of your insurance benefits, and you may have unused benefits remaining. If you have been postponing any dental treatment, it would be to your advantage to have this treatment completed before the year end.

Waiting until after the end of the year means you will have to pay a new deductible. The unused benefits you have paid for through your insurance premium will not roll over to the new calendar year maximum. Said in another way when it comes to dental insurance benefits accumulated throughout the year, “Use it or Lose it!”

Call us to schedule an appointment today and take full advantage of you dental insurance benefits.

(562) 425-5511

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Two Minutes of Your Time

Dr. Gary Glasband — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:26:38 +0000

Of all the ways you spent two minutes in a day, brushing your teeth might be one of the most important. A daily minimum two-minute brush is all it takes to keep most bacteria-laden plaque from damaging your teeth. Studies show that the typical American brushes for just 37 seconds on average. This inadequate brushing time results in teeth that still have some plaque left on them, leaving them vulnerable to all sorts of problems.

If the milky buildup of plaque is not removed from the teeth each day with brushing, it produces toxins that cause bloody gums and bad breath. In time, the bacteria in plaque will pull the gums away from the teeth to form pockets that fill with more plaque to cause trouble ever nearer to the bone. Rather than neglecting your teeth and facing major problems in the future, you can prevent damage with just two minutes of brushing each day. It is a small price to pay to maintain the long term health of your teeth.

Oral Hygiene is simple and easy. Now is the best time to take care of your teeth!

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Crowning Achievement

Dr. Gary Glasband — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:00:13 +0000

CEREC CAD/CAM

When the visible portion of a tooth becomes so decayed or damaged that replacement is required, the dentist will fabricate a “crown” to restore functionality to the tooth. Traditionally, this procedure has involved removing the tooth’s damaged crown, Taking impression (upon which the new crown will be constructed), fitting a temporary crown, and cementing the permanent crown in place. Recent CAD/CAM technology (computer-aided design/manufacturing technology) has made it possible to bypass the impression-making step.

It allows for the creation of a permanent crown by using a computerized image to create a restoration through a milling chamber that cuts the tooth-like ceramic material into a precise replica of the image. When this procedure is done in the office, no impression is necessary. The benefit to our patients is that we can create a crown for them in just one visit!

If this technology, of chair-side CAD/CAM, is located in the dental office there will be no need for a temporary crown or return visit for the final cementation. Our staff is dedicated to providing the best dental care in a supportive relaxed environment.

Milling Chamber

Our work is enriched by our staff’s commitment to ongoing education, use of the highest quality materials and technologies and respect for out patient’s active participation in optimal health decision-making.

Call us at 562-425-5511 to schedule your next appointment. New patients are always welcome!

We offer Gentle Dentistry in a Caring Atmosphere.

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What are Dental Bridges?

Dr. Gary Glasband — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:37:49 +0000

Partial Denture

Over the years I have come to realize that the terms dental professionals use to describe things have a different meaning to my patients then they do to me. Dental Bridge is one of those terms. When a patient hears bridge they picture teeth that come out like the ones on the right.

With all the metal and hooks it looks a little like a fishing lure. That is a lot of hardware to hold in your mouth to replace just two teeth. This is NOT a bridge , it is actually a removable partial denture. A lot of old timers will call this bridge work. The features that most patients say they do not like is that it’s not permanent, you must remove it to clean it and it shows a lot of ugly metal when they talk or smile.

When I say bridge, I am referring to the picture on lower right.

Dental Bridge

The difference here is that the teeth are sleek natural looking and do not have any metal that shows. I know that patients like these because we cement them in, so they are permanent and very cosmetic. At my practice we try not to confuse you with technical terms, however with so many new and emerging technologies in dentistry and medicine it is a good idea to ask questions to make sure you and your doctor mean the same thing when you are talking. We can show you a picture, let you handle a model or play you an animation to help explain things better.

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Gum Disease Can Increase Risk for Tongue Cancer

Dr. Gary Glasband — Tue, 03 May 2011 18:39:06 +0000

Dentists may focus on the health of teeth, but the health of all oral tissues is also a concern. Therefore, it comes as big news to dentists and male patients alike when a study showed that chronic gum disease could increase a man’s risk for tongue cancer whether or not he smokes. Researchers think that periodontal viruses and bacteria may be toxic to surrounding cells and cause changes that pave the way for oral cancer. Inflammation may also play a role. Because this association between periodontitis (gum disease) and tongue cancer is based on preliminary evidence, more research needs to be conducted to confirm the link. In the meantime, gum disease prevention is a worthy pursuit in and of itself.

Also note tongue cancer symptoms include difficulty and/or pain while chewing and swallowing and a persistent sore throat.

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Dentist As Your Personal Trainer

Dr. Gary Glasband — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:13:20 +0000

If you exercise regularly and adhere to a healthy diet, your family dentist can be as valuable to you as your personal trainer and nutritionist. That is, the dentist can play a significant role in helping patients lead longer, healthier lives. According to at least one study, dental health may be a marker for longevity. The study participants were divided into three groups: those with good natural teeth, those who wore dentures, and those with poor dental health. After ten years, it was found that people with good teeth (whether natural or artificial) were more independent and functioned at a higher level than their peers with poor teeth. They also lived longer and enjoyed better social relationships and happier moods.

FREE Exam
Call us today at 562-425-5511 to schedule your free exam and full mouth x-rays. That’s a $177 value at no cost. Simply mention that you learned about this promotion on Dr. Glasband’s blog!!!

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