Periodontics

While taking care of your teeth is an essential part of your oral hygiene routine, your gums are also an important aspect of your health and require periodontal cleaning and treatment to stay at peak health. With Dr. Shital Kazi of Lewelling Dental Care, our patients in San Lorenzo, CA can be sure their gums are well cared for.

 

Periodontal disease is responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States. This means it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts as plaque and hardens into tartar. As the tartar accumulates, bacteria collects and attacks the soft tissue in the surrounding gums. This early stage is called gingivitis, and if it is left untreated, gingivitis will become periodontitis. Periodontitis can destroy tissue around the teeth and even lead to loss of bone mass in the jaw bone. Tooth loss can result, and heart disease, stroke and diabetes have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

 

It is important to prevent periodontal disease or catch it in its early stages, and Dr. Kazi is extremely knowledgeable and experienced with periodontal therapy. She will work hard to ensure that you maintain optimal oral health. If you notice that your gums are red, swollen or tender or they bleed during normal brushing and flossing, schedule an appointment with our practice by calling (510) 276-6040. For more information, visit www.lewellingdental.com.

Partial and Full Dentures

Dentures are an option that many of our patients choose at Lewelling Dental Care. Available in both full and partial, dentures serve as a removable replacement for missing teeth. In providing patients with conventional full dentures, Dr. Shital Kazi will remove all the teeth from their mouth. Afterwards, the gums are given time to heal before dentures are placed. The patient would be without teeth during this healing process, which can take a couple months.

 

Immediate full dentures forgo this healing process with no teeth. Prior to having their teeth removed, the dentist takes measurements of the patient’s mouth, so that dentures are ready after teeth have been removed. This type of full denture requires a follow-up visit to refit the dentures once the jaw bone will slightly change shape as the mouth heals.

 

Partial dentures are another option for those who do not need all their teeth to be removed. This makes them similar to bridges, but partial dentures are not permanent fixtures. Whichever dentures our patients choose, they take time getting used to, and even though they are not real teeth, they should still be cared for as if they were. They should be brushed before removal and should be placed in room temperature water or cleaning solution overnight.

Dental Implants

Dental Implants

If you’re missing teeth or are in need of an extraction due to disease decay or injury, dental implants provide an attractive and long-lasting solution for filling the gaps in your smile. While there are other options for replacing missing teeth, bridges require alteration to adjacent teeth and dentures are not permanent. Dental implants, on the other hand, can not only last you a lifetime but also look and feel natural. At Lewelling Dental Care, we can use dental implants to help you achieve a complete smile that you can be proud of.

 

The implant process can take between three to six months to complete, and the first step in the process is to implant a titanium screw, which will serve as the replacement tooth root, in your jaw bone through an incision in your gums. The gums are then sutured, and the jaw bone is left to heal around the implant. This process is called osseointegration, and while it takes place, you may receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.

 

Once the jaw has healed, an abutment will be placed on top of the implant to serve as the foundation on which your permanent crown will be fixed. The tooth restoration is then custom made for your mouth and is either fixed or cemented in place so that you may enjoy a complete smile that looks and feels natural.

 

To learn more, call us at (510) 276-6040 or visit www.LewellingDental.com. 

Sports Mouth Guards

Mouth guards are essential in any type of contact sport regardless of how old you are. Most people believe that mouth guards are just for sports like football and hockey because they’re high contact, but in reality, you should be wearing one during any sport where contact is even a possibility. We provide custom-fit mouth guards to our patient-athletes to help prevent structural damage to their teeth and jaws. Mouth guards also help prevent lacerations to the cheeks, tongue and lips.

 

One of the most beneficial aspects of wearing a mouth guard is that it can greatly decrease the risk of concussions. There’s been a lot of news lately about the large number of concussions in professional and amateur sports. That’s because we’re finally seeing the negative impact concussions have had on these athletes. Mouth guards will not prevent concussions, but they can decrease the chances of sustaining one. The material we use to create our custom-fitted mouth guards is extremely shock absorbent and reduces transmitted forces caused during your athletic event.  

 

But you can get a mouth guard at any sporting goods store, why would you need one from us? Over-the-counter mouth guards, also known as “stock” mouth guards come in very limited sizes and are considered the least protective. There are also “boil and bite” mouth guards that claim to be “custom.” While these mouth guards are “molded” to your mouth, they do not cover the entire area, and often leave the posterior teeth exposed. Both of these over-the-counter options are bulky, uncomfortable and interfere with speaking and breathing.

 

Custom-fitted mouth guards are the only way to fully protect your teeth. If you schedule an appointment with us at Lewelling Dental Care, we will create a custom mouth guard that is specifically designed to protect your mouth. Our goal is to keep your teeth healthy. If you’re an athlete and you’re using an ill-fitting uncomfortable mouth guard or no mouth guard at all, it’s time to consider one. 

Dental Implants

If you’re missing teeth or are in need of an extraction due to disease decay or injury, dental implants provide an attractive and long-lasting solution for filling the gaps in your smile. While there are other options for replacing missing teeth, bridges require alteration to adjacent teeth and dentures are not permanent. Dental implants, on the other hand, can not only last you a lifetime but also look and feel natural. At Lewelling Dental Care, we can use dental implants to help you achieve a complete smile that you can be proud of.

 

The implant process can take between three to six months to complete, and the first step in the process is to implant a titanium screw, which will serve as the replacement tooth root, in your jaw bone through an incision in your gums. The gums are then sutured, and the jaw bone is left to heal around the implant. This process is called osseointegration, and while it takes place, you may receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.

 

Once the jaw has healed, an abutment will be placed on top of the implant to serve as the foundation on which your permanent crown will be fixed. The tooth restoration is then custom made for your mouth and is either fixed or cemented in place so that you may enjoy a complete smile that looks and feels natural.

 

To learn more, call us at (510) 276-6040 or visit www.LewellingDental.com. 

Full Dentures

Getting full dentures involves removing all the natural teeth and replacing them with prosthetic teeth. At Lewelling Dental Care, we understand if you are transitioning into full dentures, you’re likely to have questions. Our dentist and staff are happy to walk you through the process and answer all of your questions.

Having full dentures does not mean you will compromise appearance or function. In fact, getting full dentures can be beneficial in the following ways:

• Improved Appearance: Dentures can replace missing teeth and give you the confidence to smile again. Also, missing teeth can cause facial muscles to sag. Full dentures can prevent this from happening.


• Restore proper chewing and speaking: Missing teeth can mean difficulties chewing and eating. It can also cause problems speaking. Getting full dentures will help improve chewing and speech difficulties associated with missing teeth.


• Increased Self-esteem: Improving your appearance and smile is not only about looking better, but it can increase confidence. Improved confidence and self-esteem carry over to almost all areas of your life.

Getting full dentures can improve your appearance, functioning and quality of life. Dr. Kazi and her staff at Lewelling Dental Care want you to have a positive dental experience. We aim to provide excellent customer service to meet your needs.

For information on full dentures or other services call Lewelling Dental Care at (510) 276-6040.