July 27th, 2010
Though most parents know the basics of children’s dental care, San Mateo dentists continue to see cavities in young children.
Caring for your infant’s teeth should begin even before they erupt. To prevent bacteria growth, parents can wash their baby’s gums with a wet washcloth after feedings.
Babies should never be put to bed with a bottle, no matter how tempting it is for tired parents. The sugars in milk or juice that stay in contact with teeth for hours can damage the enamel. When your child gets his first tooth, it is time to brush. Parents should use non-fluoride toothpaste until the child is two years old. Then, use only a tiny dab. Young children often swallow toothpaste while brushing. If a child ingests too much fluoride, teeth can become stained.
When a child is old enough to brush his own teeth, an adult should go over them after the child finishes to make sure they are clean. Most children thoroughly clean the chewing surfaces, but often fail to clean the backsides and gumline. Consult the child-friendly staff at Michael A. Wong, DDS about dental sealants.
Monitor your child’s meals and snacks. We all know that sugary snacks are not only bad for growing bodies; they are also bad for teeth. Scheduling set times to drink anything other than water during the day can also help prevent cavities.
To schedule a dental pediatric consultation, call Michael Wong at 650-295-0016. I provide San Mateo area dental care for children and families.
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July 21st, 2010
Some people experience severe anxiety when undergoing dental treatment. With oral conscious sedation, it is possible to relax during dental procedures instead of being tense and fearful. Sedation dentistry, relaxation dentistry, conscious sedation and anxiety-free dentistry are all terms used to describe this type of treatment. In addition to alleviating anxiety, sedation dentistry can help patients with a variety of conditions.
You may want to consider dental sedation if you have any of the following issues:
- Strong gag reflex
- Fear of needles
- Sensitive teeth
- Fear and anxiety associated with dental treatment
- Difficulty getting numb
- A history of negative dental experiences
- Trouble controlling body movement due to Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy or related condition
- Need extensive dental treatment requiring lengthy dental visits
If you have avoided dental treatment due to any of these factors, give us a call. We can give you more information about sedation options and help you determine which one is right for you. At San Mateo Center for Cosmetic Dentistry we do all we can to make your visit as comfortable as possible. We look forward to discussing your oral health and dental goals.
Tags: Oral Conscious Sedation, San Mateo Sedation Dentist, Sedation Dentistry
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July 14th, 2010
There is a tooth connection that links osteoporosis and oral health. If you are a woman, you have probably heard about the high rate of osteoporosis in America, including San Mateo. The state of CA is no exception. Osteoporosis can often progress without any outward symptoms. However, there may be clues in a person’s mouth that indicate compromised bones in the rest of the body.
The following dental and periodontal issues could indicate the presence of osteoporosis:
- Gum detachment
- Ill-fitting dentures
- Jaw bone recession and erosion
- Difficulty with ordinary mouth function such as eating or speaking
There are many San Mateo dental professionals that can determine the presence of bone deterioration with x-rays and other diagnostic tools. If we suspect the possibility of osteoporosis, we can refer you to a local medical professional, whether you live in Birlingame, Hillsborough or Foster City.
Experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael A. Wong, DDS is trained in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the oral health problems sometimes associated with osteoporosis. Schedule a consultation in San Mateo by calling 650-295-0016 and we can discuss your dental concerns. While you are here, we can also tell you about the cosmetic dental services we provide. Cosmetic Dentistry continues to improve smiles for our friends and neighbors in the San Mateo area.
If you suspect you may be suffering from osteoporosis, please see your physician right away. While your dentist can help identify some of the symptoms associated with osteoporosis, you should not rely on your dentist to provide a diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Tags: Dental Health, San Mateo Dentist
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July 7th, 2010
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dentistry procedure in San Mateo and throughout California.
Numerous ads for whitening products in our local San Mateo media contain terms such as ‘white brite’, ‘22 carbamide peroxide’ and ‘peroxide teeth’. They look tempting, but how do you separate tooth whitening fact from fiction?
First, and especially for our local San Mateo California patients, we recommend talking to Dr. Michael Wong at our San Mateo office. Just because teeth whitening products are readily available, it doesn’t mean they are all safe or appropriate for every person. Getting a professional opinion is a good first step.
Don’t be fooled by smile whitening hype and risk damage, especially if you need tetracycline teeth whitening. If you have existing cosmetic dental work such as crowns, bonding, partial dentures or bridge work, it is especially important to talk to a San Diego dental professional about worry free dentistry teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening kits are not the only way to quickly improve your smile. Many of your neighbors have benefited from porcelain veneers. There are several brands of veneers such as Lumineers by Cerinate, da Vinci and Mac. We can help you decide on which is best for you.
Veneers are sometimes called ‘instant orthodontics’ because they can correct tooth misalignment and gaps as well as provide instant teeth whitening.
Porcelain veneers can also fix chipped teeth and cover stains. The vast majority of San Mateo veneer recipients are extremely pleased with the results.
- Dr. Michael Wong
- Michael A. Wong, DDS
- 256 N. San mateo Drive, Suite 8
- San Mateo, California ,94401
- 650-342-9016
- http://www.cosmeticdentistsanmateo.com
Tags: Porcelain Veneers, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, San Mateo cosmetic dentistry, San Mateo Tooth Whitening
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June 30th, 2010
If you are like most San Mateo web users, you have probably seen the multitude of ads for ‘free teeth whitening kits’.
Some show a ‘real Birlingame mom’ who discovered a ‘tooth whitening secret’. Others assure you that their system is the one that ‘Hillsborough dentists don’t want you to know about’. Many contain a link to a page that contains a convincing Foster City tooth whitening testimonial. They bolster their legitimacy by aligning themselves with respected companies such as CNN, USA Today and Forbes.
Unfortunately, most of these are rip-offs. In a recent article, the Better Business Bureau explains the scam:
The countless Web sites for various teeth whitening products claim to offer a no-risk, money back guarantee, free trial of the product. To sign up, customers must provide a credit or debit card number to cover shipping. Complainants to BBB state that they are billed before their trial ends and continue to be billed after they have told the company they want to cancel.
Complainants also may find mystery charges for other companies and services that they didn’t realize they were signing up for with their ‘free’ trial.
The BBB has received complaints about the following company/product names:
- Dazzle White
- White Smile
- Teeth Smile
- Dazzle Smile
- Ivory White
- Max White
- My Whitening
- Gleaming White Smile
- Advanced Wellness Research
Don’t trust your smile to an internet scammer. Your San Mateo tooth whitening dental office is the only place for safe teeth bleaching. You don’t want to take a chance with your credit card number or your tooth enamel! Call us at Michael A. Wong, DDS for advanced cosmetic dentistry and worry-free tooth whitening. You can reach us at 650-295-0016
.
Tags: Hillsborough Teeth Whitening, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist
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June 23rd, 2010
Veneers have myriad applications in San Mateo cosmetic smile dentistry. With veneers, you can transform your smile without significant restorative dental work.
Is your tooth enamel worn and thin? Tooth-colored porcelain veneers have the translucency of healthy tooth enamel. Many San Mateo dental clients have received veneers to cover worn enamel. Some believe they look twenty years younger!
Have your teeth developed uneven edges? Tooth grinding, natural wear and other factors can roughen tooth edges. Veneers are a minimally invasive correction for uneven tooth edges. Veneers are a popular treatment for Birlingame cosmetic dentistry patients.
Do you have chips or cracks in your teeth? If your teeth are otherwise healthy, veneers provide a flawless tooth surface. Are your teeth yellow or gray? Veneers can fix that, too. Veneers can be fabricated in any shade to perk up your smile while still blending naturally with your skin tones.
Porcelain veneers are paper-thin, tooth-shaped covers that are affixed to the front of teeth. Traditional veneers required the removal of a thin layer of tooth structure. Prepless veneers are applied to unaltered teeth.
Veneers are strong, natural looking and one of the most affordable cosmetic dentistry procedures in Hillsborough and Foster City. Veneers are usually far less expensive than complete crowns, yet they are just as strong and beautiful.
San Mateo aesthetic dentists love veneers because they correct a multitude of tooth problems. At Michael A. Wong, DDS, we would be happy to show you what veneers can do for you. Michael A. Wong, DDS is located at 256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8 in San Mateo. We provide premium dental care for many of your friends and neighbors in the greater San Mateo area. Our phone number is 650-295-0016.
You can visit http://www.cosmeticdentistsanmateo.com/ for information about our friendly team and the types of services we provide.
Tags: Dental Crown, Porcelain Veneers, prepless veneers, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist
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June 15th, 2010
At Michael A. Wong, DDS in San Mateo, we use a variety of techniques to restore damaged teeth. Most San Mateo dental clients are familiar with fillings. Traditional fillings are also called ‘direct restorations’ because they are applied to the tooth, shaped and polished in one visit.
Another type of filling is called an ‘indirect restoration’ and is fabricated in a CA dental lab. There are two types: inlays and onlays.
When a tooth needs more extensive dental restoration, a crown is often used. At Michael A. Wong, DDS in San Mateo, we create strong, natural-looking crowns from a variety of materials.
What if the tooth is damaged beyond repair? There are a number of functional replacements for missing teeth. Dentures are not the only option.
Call 650-295-0016 to learn about the restoration options available. We have been improving smiles for San Mateo and Foster City patients since 1983.
Whether the damage is caused by decay, injury, bite problems, or natural wear; Michael Wong DDS will choose the best dental treatment plan for your tooth restoration needs. Michael A. Wong, DDS is conveniently located at 256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8 in San Mateo. We provide quality dental care for Birlingame and Hillsborough families.
- Michael A. Wong, DDS
- 650-295-0016
- http://www.cosmeticdentistsanmateo.com/
- San Mateo’s Cosmetic and Sedation Dentistry Expert
Tags: Dental Crown, dental restoration, missing teeth, tooth restoration
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June 2nd, 2010
Patients often come into our San Mateo CA dental practice and complain about ‘a toothache the size of San Mateo’. I understand this kind of pain, and realize that when you describe it like that, it really hurts. I can help.
Tooth ache pain for anyone in San Mateo can be unbearable. At the very least, toothache pain can cause you to avoid eating certain foods, certain temperatures, and even talking. Severe toothache pain can be downright debilitating, forcing patients to go to extreme measures to alleviate the pain.
Around San Mateo, the most common causes of a tooth ache include tooth infection, decay, injury, and loss of a tooth. Tooth pain can also occur after a tooth has been extracted, or after an oral surgery involving anything from a tooth or your jawbone.
I can help you better understand the source of your tooth ache pain, and in most cases can provide a nearly immediate remedy. In severe cases, we are equipped to council you on a variety of resolutions.
Of course, the best way to avoid tooth ache pain is to visit your San Mateo dentist often, and to care properly for your teeth including the regular regimen of brushing and flossing.
If you are experiencing tooth ache pain, and just can’t stand it any more, please give me a call; I am standing by to help.
-Michael Wong, DDS
650-295-0016
Tags: San Mateo Dentist, tooth ache, tooth ache pain
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May 25th, 2010
Have you ever been eating an ice cream cone in San Mateo when you felt a sudden jolt of pain in one of your teeth? If the enamel is eroded, or the gums have receded, the dentin layer of the tooth is exposed. The substances that cause tooth pain travel to the pulp where the nerves of the tooth are located. Ouch!
Tooth sensitivity can be a signal that something is wrong. It may be caused by periodontal disease or bacteria build-up in a crack in a tooth.
Enamel erosion can be caused by a number of factors including acidic foods and drinks, teeth grinding, or cracked teeth. If your teeth are sensitive following a professional teeth whitening such as the ones we do here at Michael A. Wong, DDS, the sensitivity will probably be gone in a few weeks.
Surprisingly, one cause of gum recession for our San Mateo patients is brushing too hard. That’s right; it is possible to brush too hard!
If you experience constant or intermittent pain in your teeth or gums, call 650-295-0016 right away to make an appointment. Michael Wong takes tooth pain seriously.
At Michael A. Wong, DDS in San Mateo, we not only treat tooth sensitivity problems, we also perform entire smile makeovers for cosmetic dentistry patients in the Birlingame and Hillsborough areas. You’ll find us at 256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8 in San Mate0 (Zip 94401).
San Mateo’s Cosmetic and Sedation Dentistry Expert
Tags: San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, Teeth Whitening, tooth sensitivity
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