Clear Braces

Braces aren’t just for teenagers anymore; people of all ages are turning to braces in order to improve their smiles. These days, adults make up nearly half of orthodontic patients hoping to finally get the perfect smile they've always dreamed about. That’s why Dr. Shital Kazi offers a clear braces option for her San Lorenzo, CA patients.

While traditional braces are the most commonly used to correct alignment and structure, there are other treatment options available. Dr. Kazi offers clear braces for those who are more concerned about aesthetic appearances. These braces are made from ceramic and provide a certain degree of transparency to mimic the color of your natural teeth, this makes them less visible. They are as effective as traditional braces and function the same way.

Braces are typically worn one to three years, but it really depends on each individual case. Patients who have greater pride in their smile will go further to keep up their oral hygiene. Poor oral health, particularly gum disease, has been linked to heart disease, strokes and other heart conditions, so keeping good care of your oral hygiene could improve your overall health.

If you are interested in improving your smile with braces in San Lorenzo, CA, schedule an appointment with Dr. Shital Kazi by calling (510) 276-6040. For more information on other services offered by Dr. Kazi, visit www.lewellingdental.com.

Sport Mouthguards

When it comes to protecting your mouth during physical activity, especially during contact sports, a mouthguard is an essential piece of equipment everyone should own. While collision and contact sports, such as boxing and football are higher-risk sports for the mouth, patients can suffer a dental injury during non-contact activities too. The best, most protective mouthguard is one that has been custom-made for your mouth. That’s why our dentist, Dr. Shital Kazi offers custom sports mouthguards to patients of all ages at Lewelling Dental Care in San Lorenzo, CA.

You might be asking yourself what the benefits of custom-mouthguards are compared to a stock mouthguard or a “boil and bite” option. Mouthguards created by a dental professional such as Dr. Kazi are based on a mold taken of your mouth, which means they only fit your mouth. Custom mouthguards are made of resilient and tear resistant materials, ensuring a proper fit for ultimate comfort. A properly fitting mouthguard must be comfortable, odorless, tasteless and most importantly, protective.

Dr. Kazi encourages patients to let her know if they participate in contact-oriented sports. She is able to layout the risks of injury to the teeth, jaw and oral soft tissues (mouth, lip, tongue, and cheeks) to help educate patients. From there, Dr. Kazi will discuss your protective options and create a plan of care to keep your teeth safe.

To learn more about custom sports mouth guards, visit our website, www.lewellingdental.com. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation with Dr. Shital Kazi here at Lewelling Dental Care in San Lorenzo, CA please call (510) 276-6040. 

Benefits of Digital X-rays

Dental technology has improved greatly over the years, enhancing every step of dental care, from diagnosis to treatment. New technology has even made dental X-rays safer and more convenient, and many dentists have adopted digital radiography to view their patients’ teeth.  At our office, we have many state-of-the-art technologies, including digital X-rays, to provide our patients in San Lorenzo, CA with the best dental care available.

Digital X-rays are taken in a similar manner to traditional X-rays that use film, but rather than placing film in the patient’s mouth, a digital sensor is used. This sensor is connected to an imaging program on a computer that projects the image, allowing Dr. Shital Kazi to view your teeth more closely and with better accuracy than traditional dental X-rays. Better images mean that there is a greater chance that the dentist will spot potential problems and be able to fix them before they become more serious or possibly more painful. In addition to better accuracy, digital radiography produces 80 percent less radiation than regular film X-rays, granting peace of mind to those who take X-rays frequently.

Whichever treatment you’re receiving at our practice, from a regular check-up to dental implants, we will strive to provide you with the best service with the most up-to-date technology.

To schedule an appointment at Lewelling Dental Care, call (510) 276-6040. For more information on our practice, visit www.lewellingdental.com.

Deep Cleaning

If your teeth are sensitive or your gums bleed when you floss or brush, you might be suffering from gum disease. Patients who come in for regular cleanings are much less likely to suffer from periodontal disease.  If you’re not taking care of your oral hygiene, the bacteria and plaque can advance to gum disease and it becomes more difficult to treat. While gum disease sounds like a scary thing, the good news is that there are treatment options available. At Lewelling Dental Care, our dentist, Dr. Shital Kazi treats San Lorenzo, CA area patients with a procedure known as “deep cleaning.”

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. There are many different forms of periodontal disease but all of them can cause serious damage to the mouth. The mildest form of periodontal disease is gingivitis. Gingivitis causes the gums to become red, swollen and bleed easily. The biggest cause of gingivitis is lack of a regular oral hygiene regimen. Preventative measures, such as regular brushing and flossing, go a long way when it comes to preventing periodontal disease. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral health practices at home.

We offer a non-surgical, non-invasive option known as deep cleaning for our patients who have chronic gum disease. This procedure is a great alternative to surgical options. Deep cleaning involves removing built-up plaque below the gum line using either manual scraping instruments or an ultrasonic tool. Then, Dr. Kazi will essentially gently sand your teeth, removing rough spots on the tooth surfaces and roots, which tend to harbor bacteria.

If you fear that you might be suffering from gingivitis or gum disease, set up an appointment at our San Lorenzo, CA practice so we can go over treatment options. 

Crowns

If the structure of your tooth has been compromised due to a severe decay, a chip or fracture, it harms the esthetics of your smile and puts your mouth at risk for bacterial infection, further decay and even bit misalignment.  Here at Lewelling Dental Care, we help our patients avoid such complications and restore the beauty and function of their smiles with reliable dental crowns. 

 

Crowns work to protect the structure of your tooth like a small suit of armor, while appearing as natural as normal, healthy tooth enamel.  The crowns we provide are custom crafted and securely bonded to your tooth’s structure, ensuring long lasting and reliable functionality. When you restore your smile with a crown, you will not need to make any long term dietary modifications or perform any additional oral health maintenance beyond daily hygiene measures, regular dental exams and cleanings, and crown replacement approximately every fifteen years.

 

We have a full explanation of the crown placement process and other details right on our website, but we are happy to answer all of your questions directly - simply schedule a full consultation with Dr. Shital Kazi by calling (510) 276-6040.

Full/Partial Dentures

If you have missing teeth, you know how it can interfere with your speech and chewing. Having missing teeth can also cause the structure of your face to change. In addition to physical issues caused by missing teeth, it can lead to decreased self-esteem or self-consciousness.

 

At Lewelling Dental Care, we offer solutions for replacing missing teeth including dentures. Conventional dentures involve having the teeth extracted and giving the gums time to heal. After healing takes place, dentures are placed.

 

In addition to conventional dentures, we also offer immediate dentures. This option involves placing the dentures immediately after the teeth are extracted. One benefit of immediate dentures is you don’t have to wait for your dentures to be placed. Dr. Shital Kazi will evaluate your situation and determine if immediate dentures are right for you. If you still have some remaining teeth, which don’t need to be extracted, partial dentures may also be a good option.

 

Dentures may take a little time to get used to. In most cases, dentures are a comfortable option for replacing missing teeth. It’s also important patients take proper care of their dentures. Maintaining good oral hygiene is still essential if you have dentures.

 

Our team here at Lewelling Dental Care is experienced in various areas of dentistry including cosmetic, preventative and restorative services. For more information on dentures or any of our services, please call Lewelling Dental Care at (510) 276-6040. 

Headache Relief through TMJ Care

Anyone that suffers from headaches knows that they are the last thing you want to wake up to in the morning.  A pounding headache as soon as you open your eyes is not only painful, but it makes it difficult to function and start your day.  If your morning migraines are largely focused behind your eyes, near your temples, around your jaw and ears or in the back of your head, your headaches could be a sign of a dental problem.  Although very common, it’s something few headache sufferers think about.

 

Turns out many patients that complain of chronic migraines are actually suffering from TMJ disorder.  TMJ has to do with your jaw function and is often a result of night grinding.  If you think that TMJ could be the cause of your migraine, you should be on the lookout for some of the other common symptoms.  Many of my patients that are suffering from TMJ also have pain when opening and closing their mouth, trouble chewing, find that their jaw can be stuck open or shut, have clicking or popping sounds when opening their mouth, and they grind their teeth while sleeping or during moments of stress.

 

 TMJ can cause severe pain in patients that are suffering from the disorder.  Call 510-276-6040 to schedule an appointment to find out if TMJ is the reason behind your chronic headaches.  Don’t waste time suffering from your migraines.  Let me help you with your night grinding habit and stop your headaches from interrupting your day.

Yours in good smile health,

 

Dr. Shital Kazi, DDS, FAGGD

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. 

Orthodontic Options

Thanks to advances in orthodontic technology, you no longer have to feel embarrassed or self-conscious because you’re wearing braces. While traditional bracket braces are the most commonly used throughout the industry, there are other treatment options available. Our dentist, Dr. Shital Kazi offers you the opportunity to wear clear braces, Invisalign or even traditional braces to align teeth quickly and effectively.

 

Invisalign is considered the most technologically advanced orthodontic option for aligning teeth and is very comparable to Clear Braces. This technology uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that gradually straighten teeth. Invisalign is worn a minimum of 22 hours per days, patients will take them out to eat, brush and floss. Not only does Invisalign allow patients to have a great look while straightening their teeth, it also allows for a great smile after. Because the aligners are removable, patients are able to brush and floss just as they would if they had no braces at all.

 

Clear Braces are made from ceramic and provide a certain degree of transparency in order to mimic the color of your natural teeth, this makes them less visible. They are as effective as traditional braces and function the same way. Clear Braces are also designed so that they will not stain or discolor the teeth over the period of their use.

 

Dr. Kazi also offers traditional braces for patients looking to correct bite problems while straightening their teeth. These braces are made of strong metal alloys and are considered the smallest and most comfortable option. While they do take the longest of all the orthodontic options made available by Dr. Kazi, they are the most effective when it comes to aligning teeth and correcting bite problems.

 

Give us a call today if you want to straighten your teeth and have the smile you’ve always wanted!

Sports Mouth Guards

With baseball and softball season starting up again, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about protecting yours or your children’s teeth with sports mouth guards. Mouth guards are made to protect teeth, but not many people know that they are also used to protect the head against a blow to the jaw that could result in a concussion and loss of consciousness. At Lewelling Dental Care, we provide custom fitted mouth guards for athletes to protect their mouth and head.

 

While most people think that mouthguards are only used in “contact” sports, many athletes across all sports are utilizing mouth guards. Mouth guards can be worn by athletes of all ages who participate in sports such as:

• Football
• Hockey
• Lacrosse
• Wrestling
• Basketball
• Baseball/Softball
• Soccer

Traditionally, mouth guards cover your upper teeth only. If you have braces or any other fixed dental appliances on your lower jaw, Dr. Kazi will make a mouth guard for your lower teeth as well. Dr. Kazi will evaluate each patient to determine what kind of mouth guard is best for you.

 

A custom-made mouth guard will be comfortable, durable and easy to clean. Over the counter mouth guards often restrict breathing and speech. Custom mouth guards are made of thin plastic that is hardened to protect your teeth. The thinness of a custom-made mouth guard allows for easy breathing and does not hinder speech skills whatsoever. If you are interested in a sports mouth guard for either yourself or your child-athlete, make sure to give us a call!

Bleeding Gums

If you have bleeding gums, it is most likely due to having a form of gum disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of the adults in the U.S. have periodontal disease, which is a more severe form of gum disease.

Gum disease can cause bleeding gums, as well as swollen gums, loose teeth, tooth loss, infection, and many other problems, which is why our Lewelling Dental Care dentist Dr. Shital Kazi encourages all patients to visit our office immediately after discovering bleeding gums.

Aside from bleeding gums, other symptoms of gum disease include shifting or loose teeth, deep pockets forming between the gums, changes in tooth arrangement, and bad breath that doesn’t go away.

Here at Lewelling Dental Care, we provide several treatment options for bleeding gums and gum disease, depending on other factors our patient is experiencing. Gum disease treatment usually involves various procedures like deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, and some surgical treatments. Antibiotics can help with some infections, but periodontal treatment is the best option.

Call us here at Lewelling Dental Care in San Lorenzo, CA at 510-276-6040 to talk about your treatment options if you have bleeding gums.

Source: http://www.perio.org/consumer/cdc-study.htm

Loose Teeth

Feeling loose teeth in your mouth is one of the most unpleasant and unsettling things that can happen with your teeth. Immediately you feel like something must be very wrong and that you might end up losing a tooth. You’re also hoping that you can find an effective treatment option that helps you save your teeth.

Severe form of gum disease, excessive clenching or grinding of the teeth, or even pregnancy, are among the many reasons our patients experience the feeling of loose teeth. Any time a tooth is weakened, whether following a root canal procedure or due to the bone structure being lost from periodontal gum disease, it can make the teeth loose.

Along with the feeling of loose teeth, patients may experience other symptoms. For example, patients might experience discomfort while chewing, pain along with the slight tooth movement, or the gum tissue is swollen, red, and damaged, the latter of which may be likely signs of gum disease.

The treatment for loose teeth depends on the cause. If the tooth is loose because it has been weakened, putting a crown over it can be helpful as it saves the tooth structure. However, if a loose tooth is due to clenching or grinding, we provide occlusal (bite) treatments of the teeth. Orthodontic procedures are also helpful in some cases.

Call us here at Lewelling Dental Care at 510-276-6040 to speak to our dentist Dr. Shital Kazi about your loose teeth right away so we can help you to save them.

Stained Teeth

Here at Lewelling Dental Care in San Lorenzo, CA, our patients experience a variety of dental imperfections, including lack of luster of their teeth. Stained teeth are an unfortunate result of smoking, drinking certain beverages, and eating foods with high amounts of sugar — in addition to the natural aging process.

Our dentist, Dr. Shital Kazi, provides teeth whitening procedures right here in our office that help patients whiten their teeth. While the tray whitening system we offer can whiten our patient’s teeth up to eight shades, we still believe preventative measures are an important way to keep a smile bright.
Dr. Shital Kazi recommends avoiding the following things that can stain or discolor the teeth:

• Red wine
• Black coffee
• Tea
• Smoking cigarettes
• Dark-colored sodas
• Berries
• Soy sauce
• Sugar and sweets

Our dental office provides the take home whitening system, which utilizes custom-made trays from impressions of the patient’s teeth and whitening gel to whiten their teeth in the office and at home. Our take-home trays are reusable, so our patients can use them again and again should the brightness of their smile fade.

If you have stained teeth and want to whiten them, contact us here at Lewelling Dental Care in San Lorenzo, CA at (510) 276-6040.

Migraines and TMJ

Migraines and TMJ seem to go hand-in-hand with those who suffer from both. TMJ is the term used for the joint connecting the lower jaw and temporal bone of the skull, called the temporomandibular joint. Because this joint is responsible for so many daily functions like talking, opening and closing the mouth, and chewing, it is also susceptible to a condition called TMJ disorder.

The following symptoms are common among people with TMJ disorder:
1. Headaches and migraines
2. Teeth grinding
3. Ear pain
4. Clicking and popping sounds of the jaw
5. Difficulty chewing
6. Pain while opening or closing the mouth
7. The jaw getting stuck in the open or closed position

Migraines are a severe type of head pain that also accompanies other symptoms like dizziness, flashes of light, sensitivity to bright lights, nausea, and vomiting. Unfortunately, a misaligned jaw, and the pain that may come from it, can trigger migraines in some of our patients. This is why we provide treatments to alleviate the pain here at Lewelling Dental Care, including night guards to reduce teeth grinding.

If you feel your migraines may be stemming from TMJ, visit our dentist Dr. Shital Kazi in San Lorenzo, CA to get started on treatment.

Clicking / Locking Jaw Joint

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is responsible for clicking and locking of the jaw joint. Usually, this is due to a disorder of this joint, which not only causes locking of the joint, but can also cause pain and problems chewing as well.

Here at Lewelling Dental Care, we provide diagnosis and treatment of disorders relating to a clicking and locking jaw joint. Treatments include dental procedures and orthodontic appliances that help prevent some of the side effects of TMJ disorder.

TMJ disorders cause more than just clicking and locking of the jaw joints, though this is one of the most common signs. Other symptoms include problems chewing, grinding the teeth at night, pain when opening or closing the mouth, ear pain, jaw pain and headaches, and hearing popping sounds when opening the mouth. Clicking and locking of the jaw joint often causes teeth grinding, which can be damaging to the teeth enamel and tooth structure. Patients with this condition often wake up with a sore jaw from clenching or grinding.
Dr. Shital Kazi provides oral appliances, such as mouth guards, to help keep the pain to a minimum. It is not always possible to prevent TMJ disorder, but the teeth can be protected and the pain minimized through treating the different side effects.

Call us at 510-276-6040 to find out more about treatments for clicking and locking jaw joints.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is something our patients often experience, and is one of the common things they ask us about at our practice. Quite often, having bad breath, also called halitosis, is the result of decay and can be remedied with proper cleanings and periodontal health.

Lewelling Dental Care offers a variety of dental services that help clean the patient’s mouth. Whether that means a regular cleaning, treating gum disease, or providing tips and suggestions for improving their halitosis, we help patients find better self confidence.

In general, bad breath can be caused by a number of things, including the following:

• ·         Failing to brush and floss regularly.
• ·         Smoking cigarettes.
• ·         Not drinking enough water.
• ·         Suffering from dry mouth, also called xerostomia.
• ·         Taking certain medications.

During the first dental visit, we determine the root cause of the bad breath. This helps guide us in the right direction for the best treatment options. In some cases, it is simply a matter of a deep cleaning, while other patients need treatment for periodontal disease. If you are struggling with bad breath in San Lorenzo, CA call Dr. Shital Kazi to schedule an appointment for a professional cleaning and check-up.

Teeth Whitening

If you are not happy with the shade of your teeth, you are certainly not alone. Many of our patients struggle with discoloration or staining of their teeth, which can be a natural progression due to things like tooth decay, drinking coffee or red wine, and smoking cigarettes. Lewelling Dental Care provides the tray whitening system for teeth whitening the teeth up to eight shades whiter. With the tray whitening system, custom trays are made to fit over our patient’s teeth perfectly.

This is a great benefit over store-bought trays that hardly fit right. A whitening gel is placed on the teeth, followed by the trays. We perform the first treatment in our office, then send the patient home with the gel and trays, where they repeat the process several times over a few days.

They are left with teeth that are about 5-8 shades whiter, and they stay white for quite a long time. They keep the trays for future use as well, since they were made from impressions of their own teeth. Patients enjoy not having to deal with sensitivity or soreness following this teeth whitening treatment.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Shital Kazi in San Lorenzo, CA by calling (510) 276-6040 for custom teeth whitening.

Traditional Braces

For misaligned teeth, spaces between the teeth or problems with your bite, you have multiple options for correcting these dental problems. A classic method is with traditional braces, which are made up of metal brackets, wires, and rubber brands. Regardless of the patient’s orthodontic problems, including severe cases, traditional braces are highly effective. They also cost less than some other types of braces, and most dental insurance policies have at least partial coverage.

Dr. Shital Kazi promotes the following benefits by offering traditional braces:

1. They are less expensive than other types of orthodontic braces.

2. They help with all levels of teeth problems, including severe overbites, underbites or crossbites.

3. Protruding teeth are corrected with traditional braces.

4. Most dental plans covering orthodontic treatment include coverage for these braces only.

5. They can take the same amount of time as other orthodontic options.

6. They have a very low risk of damage.


Whether you have mild spacing problems or a severe overbite, traditional braces are a very good option for orthodontic treatment. To learn more about traditional braces, contact Lewelling Dental Care at 510-276-6040 to schedule an orthodontic consultation.