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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things about our daily lives. Regular visits to the dentist have also changed. Many dental practices, such as Dental Express in San Diego, CA, have reopened and are using CDC guidelines to provide the safest dental care. With the help of personal protective equipment (PPE), our dental team can both protect patients and themselves while performing comprehensive dental exams and routine dental cleanings.

It’s no surprise that so many people are wondering, “is it safe to go to the dentist now?” Because COVID-19 Pandemic spreads through respiratory droplets that get into the mouth, nose, or eyes, you may be scared to sit in a dental chair. Viral transmission can happen if someone isn’t showing symptoms. Our dental team is tested and will wear masks at all times to help ensure safety.

Before your appointment

Before your appointment at Dental Express, our office may call to ask questions about your health. These same questions may be asked again before any dental service is performed. Our dental office will limit the number of people that can be brought into your appointment. We suggest that you leave your children at home or allow your teenage children to go into the office alone while you wait outside.

At your appointment

When you arrive at our dental office, you will be asked to wait outside until we are ready for you. This helps us to reduce the number of people we have inside and the amount of time that you’re close to others. Your temperature will be taken when you enter the office. We will have hand sanitizer and hand-sanitizing wipes available for you to wipe down furniture and other things. We have covered many things so that we can easily clean between patients. We have taken these precautions to help protect you and our team while we provide you dental care.

After your appointment

Our staff will thoroughly clean all areas that were used during a visit. It’s important that if you start feeling ill with COVID-19 Pandemic symptoms within 14 days of your appointment to call our office so we can properly notify others that were around you or in the same office or exam room after you.

Can I safely have a dental cleaning?

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we suggest you don’t put off dental appointments. This is because teeth cannot heal themselves, so if you have a dental issue, it can progress to become painful and/or need an extensive dental procedure, such as periodontal disease treatment.

What about dental emergencies?

Never neglect what you feel is a dental emergency since it can seriously impact your overall health. For example, if an infection is left untreated, it can get into the bloodstream and cause serious health problems.

Call us right away if you’re having a dental emergency, including:

• Broken tooth

• Severe bleeding in the gums

• Infection

• Severe tooth pain

• Swelling in the gums or face

• Abscess

We can safely treat your dental emergency and will follow all CDC guidelines while you’re in our dental office.

Learn more about dental safety at Dental Express

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we diligently follow all CDC guidelines to best protect our patients and our staff. We can explain everything we are doing to protect you and our staff before you even visit our dental office. While keeping yourself and others safe from COVID-19 is important, so is your routine dental care. More than ever an efficient oral hygiene routine from home is important as it helps to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible in between dental appointments. To schedule an appointment for a dental exam or dental cleaning, call our San Diego, CA dental office today.

Learn the Correct Way to Brush Your Teeth

To maintain the best possible oral health, closely follow a regular at-home oral hygiene routine. Your oral health can drastically impact your overall health. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, our professional team teaches our patients some of the best oral hygiene tips to keep their teeth and gums healthy. While maintaining a regular routine of comprehensive dental exams and routine dental cleanings are important, learning the best way to brush your teeth helps prevent dental pain and discomfort in the future.

Should I floss or brush my teeth first?

Whether you floss or brush first isn’t an important detail to a successful oral hygiene routine. What matters most is that you both brush and floss regularly. Flossing first helps to loosen plaque between the teeth. It removes food particles and debris from between the teeth in the tiny spaces that the toothbrush cannot touch.

When you eliminate plaque that causes tooth decay, your oral health will benefit. It’s important to focus more on the quality of cleaning your teeth and gums. While brushing your teeth removes plaque from the surface of the teeth, it cannot eliminate it entirely, which makes flossing important. Ultimately, the order in which you brush and floss is up to you; the focus should be getting your teeth and gums as clean as possible.

How to brush your teeth

The American Dental Association suggests brushing your teeth at least twice daily. Replace your toothbrush every few months or when the bristles start to fray. Use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle focused on the gums. Gently move the toothbrush back and forth to brush the inner, outer, and chewing sides of your teeth. Brush each of the four quadrants of the mouth for at least 30 seconds. Also, don’t forget to brush your teeth, which harbor harmful bacteria that can lead to tooth decay.

How not to brush your teeth

There are many ways that you can incorrectly brush your teeth, including:

1. Choosing the wrong brush: Always use a brush with soft bristles that can bend. Also, a small-headed brush is advisable as it allows you to get to hard-to-reach areas easier.

2. Brushing too hard: Don’t scrub the teeth too hard. This can lead to red and swollen gums. Plaque is soft, so you don’t need to scrub to remove it.

3. Not brushing long enough: You should brush for at least two minutes every time you brush.

4. Brushing incorrectly: Don’t brush back and forth. Start at the gums and go up and down in a circular motion to brush correctly.

5. Forgetting the gumline: Bacteria remains where the tooth meets the gum. Don’t miss that area or you will increase your risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease.

6. Brushing right after a meal: Dental professionals suggest waiting for at least 15 or 20 minutes after a meal before you brush. This is because the acid is still sitting in your mouth and you’re now using an abrasive that can erode your teeth.

What does flossing do for your health?

Flossing helps reduce your chances of developing periodontal disease. This gum inflammation occurs when bacteria below the gumline is left in your mouth. Gum disease is associated with many medical conditions, including stroke, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Type II diabetes. Regular dental examinations and routine dental cleanings at Dental Express in San Diego, CA help to effectively remove plaque.

Learn how healthy teeth and gums keep your oral health at its best

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we teach our patients tips on maintaining their oral health at home. Oral care tips help you to understand how brushing teeth and flossing can help you keep optimal oral health. When you leave bacteria, food particles, or plaque on your teeth or in the gums, gingivitis can develop. Flossing helps reduce this risk. Our goal is to help all our patients achieve healthy teeth with an efficient at-home oral hygiene routine. To schedule an appointment to learn tips for healthy teeth and gums, call us today.

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we understand that coming to the dentist for regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings can cause many of our patients’ anxiety. However, it is these visits that help keep your teeth and gums healthy. The mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, which means that these exams and cleanings help keep your overall health at its best too. When determining what makes a good dentist, consider the most important general dentistry services that patients of all ages need to maintain their oral health.

Tips for finding the best dentist

The American Dental Association offers many suggestions for finding the best possible dentist for your oral health needs. First, ask family, friends, and coworkers for recommendations for San Diego, CA dentists. Next, contact local or state dental societies for lists of certified and recommended dentists for routine dental examinations and dental cleanings.

Questions to ask a general dentist

Before committing to working with a dentist near you, you should have a consultation where you can learn more about their experience, skills, and training. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we offer these visits to answer any questions that potential patients may have about our services.

Some important questions to ask during this informative visit include:

1. Do you submit claims to all insurance companies? Finding out if they take your insurance coverage is perhaps one of the most important questions to ask before having any procedures at their San Diego, CA office.

2. Do you have payment plans for those who are uninsured? If you don’t have dental insurance, you will want to work with someone that offers patient financing options, such as Credit Care. Understanding your financial obligations ahead of time will help you to make an informed decision.

3. Are they members of professional associations? Members of the American Dental Association follow a code of professional conduct, the principles of ethics, and advisory opinions. They also complete continuing education courses that make them up to date on the latest technologies and techniques for the dental industry.

4. What are your office hours? This is especially important for those with limited schedules. If you need an office that has late hours or extended weekend hours, this may be a major determinant on which general dentist you choose in Smile Dentistry San Diego, CA.

5. Do you offer emergency dental care services? Unfortunately, emergencies do happen, and understanding the protocol associated with emergency dental care helps you be better prepared in the future.

6. Are cost estimates given for treatment plans upfront? When discussing treatment, you will want to know what to expect in terms of what your financial obligation will be (if applicable) and how many visits does the treatment take?

These are just some of the many questions that can help patients determine the Best Dentist San Diego near them to meet their needs.

Understanding general dentistry services

General dentistry covers many oral health needs. Our general dentists evaluate oral conditions that involve teeth, jawbones, jaw joints, gums, and soft tissue. Our goal is to preserve your natural structure as much as possible. General dentistry services include comprehensive dental exams, routine dental cleanings, diagnostic x-rays, fillings, crowns, gum disease treatment, sealants, and mouth guards. Our goal is to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible through bi-annual dental cleanings and annual cleanings. We advise our patients to visit us before a dental problem becomes severe as, oftentimes, this will lead to pain and lengthy procedures that could have been prevented.

Choose Dental Express in San Diego, CA for professional dental care

Comfort, professionalism, and a caring approach are just some of the many qualities that many patients look for in a dentist. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we pride ourselves on putting safety first for our patients. We never compromise quality at our office and provide personalized care for patients of all ages. To learn more about our dentists and what our team can do for your oral health, call today to schedule a consultation.

To have the best possible health, you must consider your oral health too. The mouth significantly impacts your general health. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we teach our patients optimal oral hygiene tips that allow them to keep their teeth healthy from home. While regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings are important, maintaining oral health from home helps ensure that no dental issues arise in-between visits. With dental offices closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, except for dental emergencies, it’s increasingly important to keep your teeth healthy from home. Our professional team can offer important preventive dentistry tips that assist you to maintain oral health from your home.

What is preventive dentistry?

Preventive dentistry helps our patients in San Diego, CA minimize their risk of tooth decay or gum disease. An effective at-home oral hygiene routine of regular brushing and flossing can achieve that outcome. Our experienced team approaches dental care by creating a healthy mouth that provides overall health. Regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings assist our patients with keeping their teeth and gums healthy. Our staff can also provide useful tips on how to keep your teeth healthy between office visits.

How oral health influences overall health

Maintaining oral health will decrease your risk of developing many health problems. To make sure that you have the best possible health, you will want to visit our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA who will collaborate with your physicians when any issues occur that can affect your overall health. Without efficient oral hygiene, many health problems can arise, including:

• Heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Type II Diabetes

• Stroke

• Dementia

• Premature birth

• Some cancers

Uncontrolled tooth decay or gum disease can lead to tooth loss, which can impact your health too.

How to correctly brush your teeth

For a healthy mouth and smile, the American Dental Associates suggests that you brush your teeth twice a day. Replace your toothbrush every few months or as soon as the bristles become frayed. Use ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. To brush correctly, place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle at the gums. Gently move the brush back and forth. Brush all surfaces of the teeth for 30 seconds for each of the four quadrants of the mouth.

Why is flossing important?

Unhealthy gums can increase your risk of tooth loss or the need for a tooth root canal. While brushing at least twice a day is important, brushing alone can’t protect you from developing gum disease. When left untreated, gum disease can lead to receding gums or tooth loss. Bacteria left in your mouth can even end up in your bloodstream.

This makes a good at-home oral hygiene routine that includes flossing important. To floss the most efficiently, we suggest holding the floss with most of the floss around both of your middle fingers. Leave just an inch or two for the teeth you’re working on. Hold the floss tightly with the thumbs or index fingers. Place the dental floss or your floss pick between two teeth and gently glide it up and down, rubbing the sides of each tooth. Curve the floss at the base of the tooth to form a C shape, which allows you to enter between the gums and the tooth. Repeat these steps for your entire mouth.

Learn how good oral hygiene and flossing keep you healthy

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, our professional team can teach our patients how to best care for their teeth at home. Oral care tips help us keep your teeth and gums healthy at home and not just during routine dental cleanings and regular dental exams. Flossing removes bacteria, plaque, and food particles stuck between the teeth. It reduces your chance of developing tooth decay or gum disease too. To schedule a dental examination to learn more about oral hygiene, contact our office today. We pride ourselves on helping our patients to achieve healthy teeth at all times.

When you’re experiencing severe dental symptoms, such as a persistent and acute toothache or a cracked tooth, it’s important to quickly seek emergency dental care. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many dental practices are only seeing patients with dental emergencies. This makes it important for you to understand what warrants an immediate dental visit at Dental Express in San Diego, CA. Our professional team wants to help resolve your pain and discomfort as quickly as possible.

Signs that you are experiencing a dental emergency

It’s difficult to know when something is severe enough to need help from an emergency dentist. An untreated dental issue can impact your overall health. This makes it vital for you to contact our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA immediately after experiencing a dental emergency. We are committed to offering urgent dental care 24/7 for our patients.

Here are some signs that you may be experiencing a dental emergency:

1. Tooth damage: Generally, cracks or chips can wait until regular hours. However, if you have a large break in your tooth, it is considered a dental emergency. A severe break can lead to damage inside the tooth, which may increase your risk of needing a root canal later.

2. Severe pain: If your tooth pain or sensitivity has continued to get worse over time, it could mean you’re experiencing an infection. In cases where a toothache doesn’t go away, it’s important to contact our emergency dentist at Dental Express in San Diego, CA. When left untreated, an infection in the tooth could get into the bloodstream and lead to serious health problems.

3. Lost tooth: If you have lost a tooth, place it in milk and saliva to best preserve it. The faster you can get your tooth back into the socket, the better the chance it will be functional for you again.

4. Abscess: Any signs of an abscess warrant a visit to our emergency dentist. An abscessed tooth means there is an infection at the root of the tooth. This will require a procedure where the tooth is thoroughly drained in order to treat it.

5. Swollen jaw: Swelling in the jaw can also signal an infection. Other signs of infection include bad breath, trouble breathing or swallowing, or fever. These symptoms warrant the need for urgent dental care at our office.

6. Metal taste: If you’re tasting metal, an old filling may have cracked or loosened. Emergency dental care can fully restore your tooth before any bacteria gets inside, leading to the need for more extensive dental procedures in the future.

When should I seek emergency dental care?

Many injuries or situations are considered dental emergencies. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we specialize in treating these situations to properly restore our patients’ oral health. Loose or dislodged teeth, gum injuries, and lost fillings or crowns are just a few examples of when urgent dental care is needed. Depending on your dental emergency, our emergency dentist may provide immediate treatment or prescribe antibiotics to resolve an infection before going further. Once the infection has cleared, they can provide the necessary treatment.

Treating tooth pain

The type of treatment we will use to treat your tooth pain will depend on its cause. After a thorough dental examination, we can recommend the best solution.

Some treatment methods we use to root canal pain treatment and dental emergencies can include:

• Fillings

• Crowns

• Root canal therapy

• Topical solutions

• Antibiotics

Learn more about urgent dental care services from an emergency dentist

It’s important that you’re always aware of what is going on in your mouth to avoid any serious dental issues from occurring. Any significant changes can signal a dental problem. When you have tooth pain or notice other signs of a dental emergency, you should call to schedule an emergency dental care visit with Dental Express in San Diego, CA. We are dedicated to helping our patients with any dental emergency they may be experiencing. We are available to both restore your oral health and to help resolve any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing.

What is the purpose of a dental sealant?

Tooth decay is most prevalent in the back of a child’s mouth. These surfaces aren’t smooth and have pits and fissures, which easily trap food and bacteria. It is difficult for a toothbrush to effectively reach these spots, creating a great location for cavities to form. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we can help prevent tooth decay with sealants. We can examine your child’s teeth and gums to determine if this preventive dentistry procedure is right for them.

Children, or teenagers, as well as some adults, are great candidates for sealants. As soon as the teeth first come in, children can have dental sealant applied to their permanent molars and premolars. This will protect their teeth during cavity-prone years. Sealants can also be used on children with depressions or deep grooves on baby teeth. This is because these teeth help with the proper spacing of your child’s permanent teeth, keeping them healthy and preventing them from being lost early.

What are dental sealants used for?

Dental sealants are resin coatings that smooth out the chewing surface of the molars in San Diego, CA. A sealed tooth is much less likely to develop a cavity or require more extensive dental procedures in the future. A molar sealant is placed on the top surface layer of the back molars. They help to seal out plaque, bacteria, and tartar from reaching the tooth. Those who get dental sealants won’t see or feel them. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we help our patients’ enamel to become cleaner and more protected.

How dental sealants for children improve oral health

Your child’s new permanent teeth aren’t as resistant to decay as adult teeth can be. The hard enamel that protects the teeth will change as you age and become stronger. Fluoride helps to efficiently strengthen enamel. It’s hard to get into the pits and fissures during regular brushing. Fissure sealants provide a protective coating that prevents tooth decay.

How are dental sealants applied to the teeth?

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, dental sealant application is fast and easy. The process includes the following steps:

1. The teeth are cleaned and polished to ensure that no bacteria is sealed into them.

2. Decay is removed if it is found during the examination.

3. The tooth is etched where the sealant will be placed and then rinsed and dried properly.

4. After this preparation, our professional dental team will apply the sealant and use a special light to set the sealant material. This is similar to a Cosmetic Dental Bonding procedure.

These sealed teeth will still require regular oral hygiene. Your child should regularly brush and floss their teeth, as well as have regular dental examinations and routine dental cleanings after getting dental sealant. Sealants have been proven to reduce tooth decay by up to 70%.

Are teeth sealants for children safe?

Yes, they are as there are no known risks or side effects from sealants. The American Dental Association deems sealants a safe treatment option for children, teenagers, and adults alike. Our professional staff recommends sealants for patients of all ages. They protect your child from tooth decay, the lost function of teeth, lost teeth, and the future need for more extensive dental procedures.

How long do sealants last?

Dental sealants for kids protect teeth from potential tooth decay for up to ten years with proper oral hygiene. They do need to be checked for chips or wear and tear at regular dental exams at Dental Express in San Diego, CA though. When necessary, we can easily replace sealants for our patients.

Learn more about dental sealants today

At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we offer professional dental care that prevents many dental issues from occurring. Our proactive approach helps prevent your child and your entire family from dealing with cavities and deep tooth decay. Most insurance companies cover this preventive dentistry procedure. To schedule an appointment to learn more about sealants and to have a comprehensive dental examination, call our office today.

There are many ways that our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA can help our patients to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are one of the most popular choices for tooth loss. There is no other tooth-replacement option that will give more long-lasting results than full dental implants. They help to preserve tooth-supporting bone that deteriorates over time after a tooth is lost. Bone loss is one of the most serious consequences of missing teeth.

How do dental implants work?

A dental implant is a screw-like post that is used to replace the root of a missing tooth. This surgical procedure places the implant directly into the jawbone. After a healing period completes, usually a few months’ time, the dental implant is topped off with a custom crown that is created to match the existing natural teeth.

Options for missing tooth replacement

Dental implants can be used in San Diego, CA to replace missing teeth. These implants can be used to:

1. Replace one tooth: When you’re missing one tooth, a dental implant is a great option to replace it.

2. Replace many teeth: When you’re missing more than one tooth, a dental implant can be used. Ultimately, you don’t need a dental implant for every missing tooth. Implant teeth can be a form of support for fixed bridges that help to restore function.

3. Replace all teeth: These implants can be used as support for an entire arch of teeth.

4. Support dentures: Implants can make removable dentures more comfortable to wear. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we can attach this removable denture on implants, which will prevent your denture from slipping.

Benefits of dental implants

Once you have chosen to have the dental implant placed in your jaw, they are a permanent solution to your tooth loss. When they are properly cared for, they can last a long time. When you lose teeth, the bone underneath begins to deteriorate. Dental implants are used to help prevent further tooth loss and sagging in the face. Dental implants allow you to eat your favorite foods without pain. They are the most comfortable tooth replacement option we offer at our San Diego, CA office.

Is there pain after dental implant surgery?

After you have dental implants placed into your jaw, you can expect some pain or discomfort. While the surgery is safe, pain may be experienced for a few days after surgery. Typically, our patients can use over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate this pain. If your pain feels more severe, contact our office as soon as possible.

Swelling is another common side effect, which is a natural reaction to surgery. Icing the area will help to reduce swelling. Bruising may also occur on the cheeks. Any serious complications are extremely rare. If you suspect you may have developed an infection at the incision site, do not wait to have it looked at by our professional team. Be sure to follow the instructions provided to you after surgery to ensure the best possible healing.

How long do dental implants last?

How long dental implants last will depend on how well you take care of them. Proper oral hygiene will ensure that they last a long time. Regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings also can prevent a bacterial infection known as peri-implantitis from developing. If you grind or clench your teeth, we can create a custom night guard for you which will protect your implants and other teeth too. Ultimately, dental implants are a long-term investment for your smile and oral health. Allow our professional team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA to help replace your missing teeth today.

Restore your oral health and smile with dental implants

There are many benefits to choosing to get dental implants at Dental Express in San Diego, CA. They are preferred by our patients because they both look and function like natural teeth. They are a great tooth replacement option for patients of all ages at our office. Our professional team can examine your teeth and gums thoroughly to determine whether you’re a viable candidate for the dental implant. To restore your smile and to get your confidence back, call our office today to schedule an appointment to learn more about tooth replacement options, such as dental implants.