March 15th, 2010
Periodontal disease in California is more common than you might think, and can be cured 
with varying degrees of treatment depending on the severity.
What is periodontal disease? According to an article on Wikipedia, periodontal disease is ‘the name of a collection of inflammatory diseases affecting the tissues that surround and support the teeth.’
Periodontal disease, more commonly called ‘gum disease’, is an inflammation or infection of the gums. Periodontal disease can be very painful in some extreme conditions, and can limit your ability to eat normally. In some cases, periodontal disease can affect your smile, and can create cosmetic concerns.
If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause irreversible damage. When caught early and treated, periodontal disease can be little more than an inconvenience. However the best policy is to practice good dental hygiene to keep periodontal disease at bay.
One of the best ways to avoid periodontal disease is to get a regular dental check up at your local San Mateo dentist.
Give us a call at (650) 342-9016 to schedule your next dental checkup; we look forward to seeing you.
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Periodontal Disease, San Mateo Dentist
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March 9th, 2010
We are now an official provider of the Under Armour Performance Mouthwear. If you have not heard about these…they have been proven to increase strength, increase endurance, reduce fatigue and speed up reaction time. These can be used for both contact and non-contact sports. With 15 years of research and product development behind them, Under Armour Performance Mouthwear was made available to the public last year. They were recently used by Winter Olympic athletes Lindsey Vonn and Zach Parise. Check out this video. https://pattersondental.com/UnderArmour/video.aspx. I will provide more information on the benefits of these in the weeks to come.
Tags: Lindsey Vonn, Under Armour Performance Mouthwear, Winter Olympics, Zach Parise
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March 8th, 2010
Through a program called Give Back a Smile, in conjunction with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, we will be giving a new smile to our third participant. All participants in the program are victims of domestic violence, who need a new smile to help with their recovery. All treatment will be performed pro-bono for the patient, with the help of dental specialists, dental labs and myself. I will chronicle the progress of Cheryl …(name changed) through the course of her treatment. So far, we have met and discussed her situation. She is missing many teeth, some were knocked out by an abusive partner. She was extremely embarrassed about her condition. Former drug abuse also added to her teeth problems, many of the remaining teeth are badly decayed. At this first meeting, I assured her that we will… help her get her self esteem back…and that there is no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed.
Tags: domestic violence, Give back a Smile, smile makeover
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March 3rd, 2010
Michael Wong DDS specializes in local dentistry to provide that special dental care 
to our San Mateo, California dental patients.
Michael Wong DDS provides local dentistry services to our neighboring areas including Burlingame, Hillsborough and Foster City.
Our most popular local dentistry procedure is cosmetic dentistry, however we also perform sedation dentistry.
You can contact Michael Wong DDS about cosmetic dentistry or sedation dentistry, or any other local dentistry service by calling us at (650) 342-9016.
If you live in the 94401 zip code area, and are looking for a ‘home town dentist’ who provides dentistry to the San Mateo, California area, click on any of the links on this page, give us a call at (650) 342-9016, or stop by and visit. You can find us at 256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8 in San Mateo, California.
We’re your lifelong dental health partner
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, San Mateo Dentist, Sedation Dentistry
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February 27th, 2010
Do you have a son or daughter that plays San Mateo youth sports? 
Soccer, baseball, football, basketball and gymnastics can be very dangerous to your child’s teeth. Football is a violent contact sport, yet there is a relatively low rate of tooth injuries that occur in football as compared to other contact sports. Why? Football players are required to wear a mouth guard and a helmet.
Inexpensive athletic dental mouth guards are worth their weight in gold!
If your child participates in a contact sport in San Mateo, California and does not currently wear a tooth protection device, you may want to purchase an appropriately-sized mouth guard. They are available at most Burlingame and Hillsborough athletic supply stores.
At Michael Wong DDS in San Mateo, California, we care about your child’s health and safety. To discuss your child’s dental condition or to learn more about sports-related tooth injury prevention, call us at (650) 342-9016. We have been keeping San Mateo smiles healthy since 1983. Our child-friendly staff pampers our youngest dental patients. Let us show you why we are not an ordinary San Mateo dental practice.
We’re your lifelong dental health partner
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, San Mateo Dentist, Sports Mouth Guard
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February 19th, 2010
Do you have a damaged tooth that causes you embarrassment? Even if all your
other teeth are nicely shaped and pearly white, guess what other people notice? Yep, the ugly duckling. You have probably experienced that yourself when you have looked at a smile that contains one discolored tooth. No matter how hard you try, the unsightly one is impossible to ignore.
A beautiful smile is an important component of your overall appearance. Unattractive teeth draw the eye away from other pleasing features such as thick shiny hair, gorgeous eyes or a peaches and cream complexion.
Fortunately, there are several cosmetic dental procedures to restore or repair one or more teeth. At Michael Wong DDS in San Mateo we can complete most of them in one short visit. Think about it; you could achieve a stunning smile in less than an afternoon!
Veneers, Bonding and Cosmetic Implant Dentistry
Dental bonding is an affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure available in San Mateo at Michael Wong DDS. We use dental bonding in a variety of applications. In addition to repairing damage, dental bonding can close gaps between teeth. Porcelain veneers are another minimally invasive cosmetic fix. Like cosmetic dental bonding, veneers correct chips, cracks and improve tooth shape.
What if your problem is not an unattractive tooth but a missing tooth? Don’t despair, a beautiful smile is still possible in Burlingame with dental implants.
For more information about veneers, bonding, implants and other cosmetic denistry procedures, call Michael Wong DDS at (650) 342-9016. We are conveniently located at 256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8, in San Mateo, California. We provide advanced dentistry for patients in Burlingame, Hillsborough and the surrounding areas. We look forward to showing you cosmetic dentistry ‘before after’ pictures.
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, Porcelain Veneers, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, San Mateo Dentist
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February 10th, 2010
Maintaining healthy teeth is an important concern for our local San Mateo residents.
As your Dentist, it’s my job to help you understand how to care for your teeth and to keep them healthy.
Everyone knows that maintaining healthy teeth requires regular daily brushing and flossing. Regular visits to your local dental practice is also necessary to keep watch for cavities and to help you maintain proper dental hygiene. We often forget that maintaining a healthy diet can also be beneficial for the health of your teeth.
A diet that includes foods that help your muscles and bones will also help you develop healthy gums and healthy teeth. Examples of local foods to include in your diet include foods rich in vitamin B such as breads and cereals. Foods rich in vitamin C, usually fruits and vegetables, help improve the health of your gums. Zinc and magnesium are also good for the health of your teeth and are found in foods like lean beef, fish, and poultry.
All foods increase the production of saliva. Saliva is important to healthy teeth because it helps to maintain the pH balance in your mouth. Maintaining this balance helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. Foods high in fiber also encourage saliva production as does the chewing of sugar-free gum. Gum, however, can damage unhealthy teeth or pull out dental fillings, so always use caution when deciding whether to chew gum and which brand to chew.
Just as certain diet choices in the San Mateo area can be beneficial to the health of your teeth, others can be detrimental. Foods and drinks that are high in sugars are more likely to form the acids that attack your teeth and result in decay. And while table sugar is often associated with the formation of cavities, other sugars such as glucose, fructose, and maltose are also causes, and are often found in juices and sodas. Limiting the consumption of sugars to mealtimes lessens the amount of time your healthy teeth are exposed.
Making good diet choices and limiting between meal sugar consumption can improve the health of your teeth and gums.
If you would like to learn how to better care for your healthy teeth, contact Michael Wong DDS at (650) 342-9016. We would love to hear from you.
-Dr. Michael Wong
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, San Mateo Dentist
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February 3rd, 2010
Tooth whitening has really taken off in San Mateo. It has become a popular dental
procedure and can provide excellent results if done properly.
There are a lot of options when it comes to tooth whitening. You can choose from a selection of over-the-counter options that you can get at your local pharmacy, or can go to a professional to get a complete tooth whitening solution.
It is a good idea to consult with your dentist before a whitening your teeth, regardless of whether you choose to use an over-the-counter product. Your dentist will be able to help you understand the results you can expect, and can help recommend a product that will work for you.
There are many variables when it comes to tooth bleaching. The color of your teeth at the beginning of your treatment will make a difference for your ending result. Different tooth whitening treatments will each produce a different result. Your San Mateo dentist has experience with tooth coloration and the types of treatments available.
In many cases, your dentist will be able to provide you with a tooth whitening solution that you can take home with you. In some cases, your dentist may recommend a professional treatment that is done at the dentist’s office.
Professional teeth whitening can produce dramatic results in a single treatment, and is often done over a few treatments.
Tooth whitening is less expensive than it was in the earlier days of tooth whitening technology. Today, tooth whitening treatments are very affordable, and don’t take the time they used to.
If you are interested in a tooth whitening consultation in the San Mateo area, please call Michael Wong DDS and make an appointment to see me. I will be happy to give you a check up, assess your tooth color, and recommend teeth whitening treatments that may be right for you.
-Dr. Michael Wong, Dentist
Tags: Burlingame Teeth Whitening, Cosmetic Dentistry, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, San Mateo Dentist, San Mateo Tooth Whitening, Tooth Bleaching
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January 26th, 2010
If you live near San Mateo and experience severe anxiety when undergoing (or even thinking about!) dental treatment, 
oral sedation is for you.
Conscious sedation dentistry is available in San Mateo at Michael A. Wong DDS. We have been providing sedation dentistry for several years with excellent outcomes. Whether it is called relaxation dentistry, oral conscious sedation or anxiety-free dentistry, it is completely safe and very popular for our nervous cosmetic and restorative dental clients.
Though it may sound impossible, with oral conscious sedation, dentistry patients can actually relax during dental visits. In addition, healing times for oral surgery and extensive cosmetic dentistry procedures are often shorter if the patient is sedated during treatment.
Sedation dentistry is great for alleviating anxiety for our San Mateo patients, and oral conscious sedation can be effective for treating or working with the following:
- Teeth sensitivity;
- Fear of needles;
- A powerful gag reflex;
- Difficulty controlling body movement;
- Lengthy multi-procedure visits;
- Difficulty becoming numb with traditional injections.
If you need dental work more extensive than a filling; such as a root canal, tooth implant, crown replacement or wisdom tooth extraction; call Dr. Michael A. Wong at (650) 342-9016. When you come to our office at 256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8, in San Mateo, California, we can give you more information about sedation dentistry.
Sedation dentistry is only one of the services we offer at Michael A. Wong DDS, where your smile is our top priority!
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Conscious Sedation, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, San Mateo Dentist, Sedation Dentistry
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January 19th, 2010
Myth #1: Cosmetic Dentistry is Never Necessary for a Healthy Smile
Many so-called San Mateo cosmetic dental procedures are not solely cosmetic. Dental procedures such as tooth replacement are smile-enhancing and, more importantly, prevent many potential problems such as tooth movement, bone loss and difficulty chewing and speaking.
Myth #2: A Dental Bridge is the Only Way to Replace a Missing Tooth
Dental bridges are an San Mateo dental cosmetic procedure that have been used for many years with success. However, dental implants are often a better choice for replacing one or more missing teeth. Dental implants have many advantages for dental patients. They feel like natural teeth, they are stronger, and they are easier to clean than dental bridges. California tooth implants can also be used to anchor dentures or partial dentures.
Myth #3: At-Home Kits are as Effective for San Mateo Tooth Whitening Than a Professional Dental Solution
At Michael A. Wong DDS, we offer our dental patients teeth whitening treatments that provide a much greater level of whiteness than at-home kits. At-home kits may remove surface stains, but they do not provide optimum results and can often lead to uneven coloring.
Myth #4: Dental Bonding is the Best Way to Fix a Chipped Tooth.
Dental bonding can restore the shape of a tooth, but may not be the best long-term solution. If you have a damaged tooth, you may be a good candidate for porcelain veneers. Call us at (650) 342-9016 to set up an appointment so we can determine the best solution for you.
Myth #5: San Mateo Braces are the Only Way to Straighten Teeth
Braces are often part of a transforming dental makeover for our teens and adults alike. However, if your teeth are only slightly crooked, porcelain veneers can reshape your teeth and dramatically improve your smile. And the best thing about veneers? They offer instant results!
Dr. Michael A. Wong
patient comfort
San Mateo Center for Cosmetic Dentistry
256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8
San Mateo, California 94401
http://www.cosmeticdentistsanmateo.com/
(650) 342-9016
Tags: Burlingame Porcelain Veneers, Cosmetic Dentistry, Foster City Dental Implants, Hillsborough Teeth Whitening, San Mateo Cosmetic Dentist, San Mateo Dentist
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