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.

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.

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

Wisdom Teeth

Your wisdom teeth are your last set of molars to emerge, and they usually come in when you are between 17 and 21 years old. Because these teeth often become impacted, which means they come at an angle rather than straight through the gums, it is often necessary for them to be removed before they cause pain or crowd your other teeth. At our office in San Lorenzo, CA, Dr. Shital Kazi can determine if your wisdom teeth need to be removed and extract them if they do.

If a wisdom tooth is impacted and can only emerge partially, it is possible for an operculum to form over the tooth. This flap of skin makes the molar extremely hard to clean, which means you are susceptible to an infection called periocoronitis.

When a wisdom tooth is in danger of causing such problems, Dr. Kazi extracts the tooth. Many times all four are removed at once. This is done either by using a local anesthetic to numb the area or a general anesthetic to sedate the patient. It depends on the preference of the doctor and patient, as well as how far the wisdom tooth has emerged. After an anesthetic is applied, the gum tissue over the wisdom tooth is cut and the tooth is loosened and pulled out. If necessary, the gums will be sutured.

After surgery, rest is required. You will also need to change the gauze applied to the incision every couple hours.

To see if your wisdom teeth may need to be removed, schedule an appointment with Lewelling Dental Care by calling (510) 276-6040. For more information, visit www.lewellingdental.com.