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. 

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!

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.

Clear Braces

Teeth, which are protruding, crooked or crowded can make you feel self-conscious about your smile. But fixing orthodontic issues is important for more than cosmetic reasons. Crooked or crowded teeth can be hard to clean, which increases your risk of gum disease. Crooked teeth can also cause abnormal wear of the teeth. In some instances, misaligned teeth can even lead to jaw pain.

Lewelling Dental Care offers options when it comes to orthodontic care. We offer traditional braces and clear braces. Traditional braces are made of metal and are an excellent option in order to straighten and align teeth. Traditional braces can also correct bite issues.

In addition to metal braces, Lewelling Dental Care also offers clear braces. Clear braces are translucent and may make some people more comfortable with the idea of getting braces.

Braces work by gradually moving the teeth into the correct position. The amount of time braces will need to be worn varies based on the extent of the orthodontic issue. Dr. Kazi will be happy to discuss orthodontic treatments and recommend what would work best in your situation.

In addition to orthodontic services, Lewelling Dental Care offers general dentistry, periodontal care, cosmetic dentistry and prosthetic treatments. For more information on orthodontic treatment options or to make an appointment please call Lewelling Dental Care at 510- 276-6040 or visit us at www.lewellingdental.com.