Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes breaks in the person’s breathing, as well as shallow breathing. These pauses typically last a few seconds, but can be minutes. Not only does it interrupt the patient’s sleep, but it can be dangerous when the patient does not breathe multiple times at night. Dr. Shital Kazi offers a variety of sleep apnea corrections through surgery.

 

Lewelling Dental Care offers procedures to help with sleep apnea, because of the dangerous side effects it can cause. When sleep apnea is left untreated, it can lead to an increased risk of heart failure, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart attack and stroke, in addition to possible arrhythmias. It can also lead to an increase in the risk of work-related accidents and car accidents because of poor sleep. That's why it is important to get treatment if you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

 

There are three procedures offered in our San Lorenzo, CA office: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), maxillomandibular advancement, and tracheostomy.

 

The UPPP procedure removes excess tissue from the throat and mouth, and is performed in a local hospital. The maxillomandibular advancement also helps with sleep apnea by moving the jaw forward from the facial bones, helping to create an open airway. Lastly, there is the tracheostomy, which puts a tube in the patient’s throat to be covered during the day and open while sleeping.

 

Visit www.lewellingdental.com for more information about treatment for sleep apnea or call 510-276-6040 to set up an appointment with Dr. Shital Kazi. 

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

Patients who have missing teeth are at risk for more than just aesthetic issues. Their adjacent teeth may start shifting, they can experience rapid bone loss, and if multiple teeth are missing, it might cause their cheeks to look shrunken in.

To mitigate these risks, here at Lewelling Dental Care, we offer dental implants for patients who want to replace their teeth permanently. While there are other options in dentures and fixed bridges, dental implants are the most permanent option available.

There are many reasons a tooth might have been lost or needs to be extracted. Tooth decay, congenital defects, trauma, injury, or advanced gum disease may all play a role in the causal factors of missing teeth.

But with dental implants, our patients have the opportunity for a stable, secure and natural-looking alternative. The implant includes a titanium metal post implanted into the jawbone, where the bone gradually heals and grows around the post. This holds it in place and is healed in about three months. Then, the abutment and crown are placed over the top, which look just like a natural tooth.

Call us directly at 510-276-6040 to learn more about dental implants offered by Dr. Shital Kazi.

 

Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene

Oral health and dental hygiene is a top priority of Dr. Shital Kazi. Our patients often come to us for different types of dental procedures and treatments, many of which are prevented by following proper at-home dental hygiene regimes and visiting us in San Lorenzo, CA for regular examinations and cleanings. We make sure all of our patients understand the importance of keeping up with their dental hygiene and taking their oral care very seriously.

Proper dental hygiene does a variety of things for our patients, including helping patients:

• maintain fresh breath.


• keep their teeth and gums clean.


• prevent swollen and bleeding gums.


• have more comfortable professional cleanings.


• reduce the risk of gum disease or periodontal disease.


• reduce the risk of tooth loss as they get older.

In addition, by battling gum disease through proper dental hygiene, patients can reduce the risk of needing more expensive dental procedures, such as implants, dentures, or bridges later.

The important practices of dental hygiene include brushing and flossing twice a day, using a fluoride rinse, visiting us every six months for a professional cleaning and examination, and reducing the intake of sugar, soft drinks and otherwise unhealthy foods that cause tooth decay and wearing down of the enamel. Visit us here at Lewelling Dental Care to keep on top of good dental hygiene.

 

Invisalign

Invisalign

Getting straighter teeth and improving an overbite or cross bite used to require metal braces that were often uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing to wear. However, Dr. Shital Kazi offers her patients additional options, including Invisalign. Invisalign offered here at Lewelling Dental Care are effective at straightening the teeth and improving minor bite issues.

Here is what you can expect from Invisalign:

Patients who request Invisalign from our San Lorenzo, CA dental practice do so for a variety of reasons. Some opt for Invisalign simply for the fact that they are invisible, while others like that they are removable. Invisalign braces also benefit patients by not staining their teeth and allowing them to have proper oral hygiene and dental health throughout the course of treatment. We invite you to learn more about Invisalign by contacting us directly here at Lewelling Dental Care at 510-276-6040.

Languages Spoken

I always want to make sure that my patients feel comfortable and that they are able to communicate their dental needs effectively.   For this reason, there are a wide number of languages spoken at my practice.  Clients that communicate in Spanish, Hindi, Gujarati, Tagalong, and Portuguese can rest assured that my staff and I will be able to accommodate you throughout your procedure.  If you or someone you know is in need of dental care, but is having difficulty communicating due to a language barrier, let them know about our office.  We strive to effectively communicate to all of our patients their dental needs.

 

Yours in good smile health,

Dr. Shital Kazi

Our Caring and Professional Staff

When you visit the dentist you should feel comfortable and confident that you are in good hands.  I always want to make sure that my patients know that my staff truly cares about their dental needs.  There is no need to feel uneasy or nervous during a dental visit at Lewelling Dental Care.  You are never going to be treated as just a number.  When you come in for a dental appointment, whether it is for a specific problem or just for a checkup, you can feel comfortable knowing that our caring and professional staff is there to help you and understand your specific needs.  We are always here to alleviate dental discomfort and better your oral health.

 

Yours in good smile health,

Dr. Shital Kazi

Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment

If you snore loudly while you sleep, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea is a condition defined by a respiratory interference that occurs when you’re asleep, primarily due to tissue blockage in the throat or by the tongue.  Many people are unaware that they have it apart from the most common symptoms of loud snoring and daily fatigue.  If left untreated, sleep apnea can be detrimental to your health and create many systematic risks and indirect complications, such as daytime drowsiness. Dental care can help you find relief from your sleep apnea through an aptly named approach called sleep apnea dentistry.  I suggest a few different oral surgery procedures to my patients that are suffering from sleep apnea:

 

·         Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty – this procedure removes any excess tissue in a patient’s mouth and throat, making it possible to breathe more easily during the night.

·         Maxillomandibular advancement – the jaw is moved forward, leaving more room behind the soft palate.  This reduces airway obstruction.

·         Tracheostomy – a final resort for patients that have not found relief from other treatments.  A tube is inserted into the throat and keeps the airway open throughout the night.

To find out the best route for relief of your sleep apnea and nightly snoring, please make a visit for a sleep apnea dentistry consultation.

Yours in good smile health,

Dr. Shital Kazi

Advanced Training – FAGD

I am always striving to stay up-to-date with the latest dental advancements and technologies.  In recognition of these efforts I am very thankful to have been awarded the prestigious Fellowship Award from the Academy of General Dentistry.  After more than 900 hours of education and preparation, I am now trained in modern general dentistry, Invisalign, TMJ, and sleep apnea and snoring.  With this knowledge and experience, I look forward to helping my patients with their dental care every day.

 

My commitment to dentistry and to my patients does not mollify after receiving this award.  I am currently pursuing a Mastership Award through the Academy of General Dentistry that requires another 600 hours of continuing education and training.  I look forward to learning more and more about how I can better the health of my patients’ smiles.

 

Yours in good smile health,

Dr. Shital Kazi

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