New Teeth for a New Year

According to stats from the American Dentistry Association, the holidays are a busy time for dentists. It makes sense. With the whole family home and able to enjoy a little time off, it’s the perfect opportunity to go in and get that checkup. Still, many of us skip a trip to the dentist because it doesn’t feel pressing. Unless we’re actively experiencing pain, it can be difficult to even remember. Nevertheless, regular visits to the dentist are important if you want to avoid long term consequences. 

As a top dentist in Bakersfield, here at Kern Dental Specialties, our team is committed to your dental health. The CDC report that 3 out of every 4 Americans are currently suffering with some form of gum disease. Gum disease, in addition to causing tooth decay and tooth loss, is also linked to serious issues like lung disease and heart conditions. If you’re considering making a New Year’s resolution, we have an easy one for you: resolve to take good care of your teeth. If you need a root canal dentist, but experience dental anxiety we’ll help place your fears at ease. At Kern Dental Specialties, we practice sedation dentistry in Bakersfield to ensure a pain free experience for anyone with dental fear.  Visit our experts today, and greet 2015 with a smile!

With Halloween Over, Don’t Let Your Teeth Become the Next Horror Story!

Halloween may be over, but with all those leftover stashes of candy lying around the true terror may just be beginning. With no shortage of sugary sweets for you to indulge in, early November can be a terrifying time for your teeth. As a top dentist in Bakersfield and the surrounding area, at Kern Dental Specialties, we’re well aware of both the temptations and repercussions of the Halloween candy binge, and now is a perfect time for you to think about your teeth before you open that next wrapper.

First and foremost know this: enjoying a little candy is more than okay. Problems arise when a little goes to a lot, and then lands somewhere around overindulgence. The issue with Halloween candy is the sheer volume of sugar that we’re all bombarded with which of course tempts us to binge because it feels appropriate to do so. Still, exposing yourself to that much sugar, all at once, definitely isn’t good for your body, and it’s not great for your teeth either. Remember, that candy isn’t going to go bad any time soon. Take your time! 

It’s no coincidence that dentists see a spike in patients during the Halloween season. Few things can reveal dental issues quicker than a nice big bite into a sugary nugget. If you do discover you have dental problems, it’s always best to get them resolved sooner rather than later. For Bakersfield dental implants Kern Dental is a top choice for quality treatment. For a root canal Bakersfield residents rely on, our gentle treatment is well trusted for stress-free care that minimizes pain and discomfort. We’re standing by to offer the care you need!

Removing Fear from the Dentist Chair

A visit to the dentist's office should be carefree. The truth is, for most of us, it isn't. The American Association of Endodontists found that a whopping 80% of adult Americans feel fear at the dentist. This is a problem because the dentist shouldn't be a source of anxiety in your life. A dentist's responsibility is to promote a healthy lifestyle, and to support patients through outstanding care. As a dentist in Bakersfield, Kern Dental Specialists are committed to this ideal. Here's how we directly  combat dental fear to help get more patients through our doors to receive the quality care they deserve. 

It begins with atmosphere. We take steps to ensure that patients are comfortable in a friendly and warm environment to help reduce any stress or anxiety. We extend the same attitude to our treatment. Our dentists are specialty trained in endodontics which is a field devoted to the soft inner tissue of the tooth that carries the nerve endings. We're able to reduce the risk of pain while operating in these areas through experience and precision. So if you're looking for dental implants in Bakersfield,we're a top choice for top notch treatment.

Though, contrary to popular belief, a root canal can be painless, we offer patients the choice to undergo the procedure under sedation to ensure a comfortable experience. Whether patients are in need of implants or an emergency dentist in Bakersfield CA, Kern Dental Specialists are the best choice for fear free, gentle dental care.     

Two Root Canal Myths

 

It's tough being a dentist in Bakersfield sometimes, especially when you hear MYTHS about your practice around town! Here are two myths that are completely untrue~

#1: Completing a Root Canal Requires Several Appointments

Root canal therapy may be completed in one to two appointments.

Factors that determine the number of appointments necessary to complete a root canal include:

·         The extent of the infection

·         The difficulty of the root canal

Restoring the tooth after root canal therapy is necessary in order to ensure the tooth functions properly. The appointments necessary to completely restore the tooth, in essence, should not be considered part of the root canal process, and getting dental implants in Bakersfield is a whole other ballgame!

Myth #2: Teeth Need to Hurt Before Root Canal Therapy Becomes Necessary
Teeth that require root canal therapy are not always painful. In fact, teeth that are already dead may require root canal therapy to prevent the tooth from becoming infected. Tests used to confirm a dead tooth include:

·         Temperature testing

·         Percussion testing

·         Using a pulp vitality machine

Depending on your threshold for pain, we may or may not use sedation dentistry in Bakersfield for you.

 

 

 

What To Do When a Baseball Makes a Play For Your Mouth

It's summer, which means our dentist in Bakersfield is coming in contact with patients who have had a baseball come in contact with their face, ouch! It can not be avoided, at one point or another, your child, or in some cases, you or your spouse, may have to visit us to have a cracked tooth looked at. Seeing an emergency dentist in Bakersfield CA is never a fun visit, but it is extremely necessary on these rare occasions. An untreated  cracked, loose, or  missing tooth can get or worse, or even lead to infection without immediate attention.

Most chipped teeth can be repaired either by reattaching the broken piece of tooth enamel or by placing a tooth-colored filling. The treatment and outcome for your tooth depends on the type, location and extent of the crack. Types of cracks include: craze lines, fractured cusp, cracked tooth, split tooth and vertical root fracture.

The treatment you receive for a cracked tooth is important because it will relieve the pain and reduce the likelihood that the crack will worsen. We usually repair the tooth by placing a crown over it, but at times dental implants in Bakersfield are necessary.

Whatever you do, do not let the fear of getting hit stop you from playing ball! Fun times are necessary too!

Summertime Dental Health Risks and Treatments

Summer is for sunshine, vacations and less worry. But asking a dentist in Bakersfield about summer concerns can reveal activities of concern. Here are some summertime dental health risks:


Swimming
Frequenting treated swimming pools means the chemicals added to pool water contact your teeth as well as body. Spending over six hours a week in the pool could result in what is called “Swimmer’s calculus."

These hard brown deposits are created when salivary proteins break down due to higher pH in pool water than saliva, allowing organic deposits. Avid swimmers may notice brownish tooth stains. Treatment: Normally removal occurs with a professional dental cleaning.

Sports with Wheels

Dry surfaces are good for bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading and rollerskating - and broken bones and teeth.

Treatment: Immediately rinse mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress. Place loose teeth or fragments in mile or saline water, and get to a dentist. Depending on the severity, the unfortunate victim may need the assistance of sedation dentistry in Bakersfield.

Contact Sports

Football, basketball, soccer, softball and baseball can be active throughout summer. Except with football, mouthguards or face masks are not typically required.

Treatment: Same as for wheel-related sports. Trauma such as chipped or broken teeth can expose nerves and require the need for a root canal dentist.

Kern Dental Specialties is known for its endodontic expertise in the Bakersfield area. We look forward to the opportunity to help keep your teeth healthy and strong.

Not as Bad as You Think, Really!

The expression "as much fun as a root canal" pretty much says it all...or does it? Now, being the kind of responsible endodontist Bakersfield residents trust means being honest;  we're not going to compare a root canal with KDS to a trip to Disneyland. At the same time, if you come into our offices for a visit we feel confident you're going to find yourself relieved when you find out that, no, root canals are not pure torture, either.

In fact, done properly by the the kind of root canal dentist Bakersfield patients turn to, the worst thing about a root canal is that it's a relatively lengthy procedure that can get a little bit boring. Good dentists have learned how to minimize discomfort over the years to the point where a root canal is usually highly comparable to most other dental procedures you've probably experienced. Of course, the best part is that patients who are dealing with toothaches and the like come out of a root canal feeling 100% better and with a far healthier mouth.

It's possible that you may have heard a horror story or two about root canals from friends and relatives. Sadly, mishaps do still occur, but your best insurance against that is going to the very best. Kern Dental Specialties is known as the place for the best endodontic dentist in Bakersfield for a reason. We look forward to hearing from you and helping your teeth be their very best.

The Future of Bright, Healthy Smiles?

For years, creating a crown for a patient suffering from a cracked or broken tooth has been known as a complex process. At Kern Dental Specialties - your trusted dentist in Bakersfield - it's a procedure we're very familiar with. As a team of renowned dental professionals who relieve dental needs like cracked and traumatized teeth, we're always keenly aware of which procedures can cause the most discomfort for our patients - and we work hard to ensure these issues are limited as much as possible.

A crown commonly involves having a model of the tooth and surrounding area made using a mold, sending the impression to a dental laboratory to make the crown, having a temporary restoration put in place, waiting a week or more for the finished crown, and returning for a second visit to have the crown removed and new crown cemented in it's place. 

Yet, the cutting-edge new procedure, referred to as a "same-day crown" or a "crown while you wait", involves taking a digital scan of the mouth using ans intra-oral camera. A 3-D image of the teeth and gums then appears on a computer screen, and based on the position, size and shape of the damaged tooth, computer software will suggest the ideal dimensions of the needed crown.

The "same day crown" procedure is only one of many procedures that are being dramatically changed by new technology. Others include digital radiography and x-rays, cone-beam computed tomography (CT) imaging and even digital dentures.

As the root canal dentist Bakersfield trusts to provide effective, gentle dentistry with truly stunning results, our team at Kern Dental Specialties will certainly continue to keep up with all the latest advances in dentistry. Our endodontist in Bakersfield provides customers with exceptional endodontic retreatment and implant surgery, among other dental needs.