Archive for the ‘Dental Health’ Category

Keeping Bones Strong in San Mateo

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Michael A. Wong, DDS 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.

Tooth Sensitivity Treatment in San Mateo

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Tooth Sensitivity Treatment in San Mateo 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

Healthy Teeth in San Mateo

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Implant Anchored Dentures in San Mateo Are you one of the fortunate San Mateo people with healthy teeth? Would you like to keep them healthy for the rest of your life? Many San Mateo dental clients believe that keeping their teeth healthy into the golden years is unlikely if not impossible.

At Michael A. Wong, DDS, we are happy to assure you that this is a myth. With proper dental hygiene, regular dental exams and cleanings, and a healthy lifestyle, your teeth can serve you throughout your life.

At Michael A. Wong, DDS, we help clients of all ages, including those in their seventies and eighties, maintain their beautiful smiles. Dentures are not inevitable. Even if you already wear dentures, don’t give up.

You can improve your smile and your life with new implant anchored dentures available in San Mateo at our state-of-the-art dental practice.

These new fixed dentures won’t slip and slide in your mouth, so you can start eating confidently again.

Our office is friendly and relaxed. You don’t need to worry about being embarrassed if your teeth have not seen a dentist or hygienist for a while. We can treat your dental problems and put you on the path for better oral health in the future.

Remember, without dental health, you are never truly healthy.

Preventing Gum Disease at Michael A. Wong, DDS

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Preventing Gum Disease at Michael A. Wong, DDS Run your tongue along the gumline behind your lower front teeth. Do you feel a ridge? This is probably tartar or dental calculus.

Even if you brush and floss regularly, plaque and tartar can gradually accumulate. If not removed, these bacteria-breeding substances cause the gums to become irritated and swollen. Eventually, the gums become detached from the tooth, creating a ‘pocket’. This creates a new space for plaque and tartar to grow. In advanced stages of periodontal disease, the toxins created by the bacteria literally rot the gum, teeth and bone.

At Michael A. Wong, DDS in San Mateo, we perform the most thorough dental cleanings possible. Gum disease can be reversed in its early stages.

Our goal is to help our San Mateo dental patients prevent gum disease before any damage occurs. Cleanings include root planing and periodontal scaling. Scaling removes the plaque and calculus above and, especially, below the gumline where your toothbrush cannot reach. Planing smoothes root surfaces so it is more difficult for plaque and tartar to accumulate and grow. It also creates a healthy surface for the gums to reattach to the root if necessary.

To schedule a deep cleaning, call 650-295-0016. We are located at 256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8 in San Mateo. In addition to providing comprehensive dental cleanings, we create mega-watt smiles for cosmetic dentistry clients in the Birlingame and Hillsborough area. See http://www.cosmeticdentistsanmateo.com/ for more information about our state-of-the-art dental practice.

Under Armour Performance Mouthwear

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Used the Under Armour Performance Mouthwear on a mt bike ride this morning. It was the same exact ride that I had done twice before and timed. On the same ride this time using the mouthpiece, I finished the ride 10% faster by time and 12% faster by average speed. The two times that I rode without the mouthpiece, my times were about the same. With this morning’s ride, the only difference was the mouthpiece and there was a noticable difference. I’ll check it again with another ride soon. If you would like to try one…and if you mention this fanpage…you will receive UA mouthpiece for a Fanpage Special of $250. Reg. $495. Limited to the first five people who respond.

Cheryl’s Journey Part 2

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

For Cheryl, we have taken photographs and xrays of her smile and teeth. We also took molds of her teeth for diagnostic purposes. In order to get the best possible cosmetic result for her, we will need to work together with an oral surgeon and a denture lab technician. We have arranged for a local oral surgeon to perform the extractions of the numerous broken teeth. She will also determine if implants can be placed to help secure the upper denture. The denture lab will fabricate the upper full denture for Cheryl at no charge, which the oral surgeon is doing as well. It great to see that there are individuals out there who are willing to help persons, such as Cheryl. Currently, the lab is working on a wax model of the upper full denture. Once the model is complete, we will do a trial fitting. If all looks good, we will then have it made in preparation for the oral surgery day. The denture will be fitted the same day that the teeth are removed. Cheryl seems more relaxed now. I think that just knowing that things are going to get better have taken some of the anxiety away from her.

Periodontal Disease in California

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Periodontal disease in California is more common than you might think, and can be cured Periodontal Disease in California

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 650-295-0016 to schedule your next dental checkup; we look forward to seeing you.

Cheryl’s journey

Monday, 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.

Local Dentistry

Wednesday, 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 650-295-0016.

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 650-295-0016, 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

Protecting Your San Mateo Athlete’s Teeth

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Do you have a son or daughter that plays San Mateo youth sports? Protecting Your Fremont Athlete's TeethSoccer, 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 650-295-0016. 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