Are You Grinding Your Teeth at Night?

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By Arthur Kezian

Have you ever woken up in the morning and felt pressure or soreness in your jaw? Have you ever woken up clenching your teeth? If so, you could be grinding your teeth at nights. Most patients who grind their teeth are not aware of it until they feel soreness or see wear patterns on their teeth. Most of the grinding happens unconsciously which is why patients are not aware of the problem.

Although most of the unconscious clenching occurs at night, you can also be clenching your teeth during the day. About 70% of people clench their teeth because of stress or anxiety. If you are stressed about a certain situation or are trying to focus on a certain task, you might be clenching your teeth. Also, if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned below, you may be a grinder and may have to visit a dentist. The symptoms include but are not limited to:

- Soreness of the jaw (TMJ pain)- Headaches- Ear pain- Stiffness of the shoulders and neck - Sleep disorders

A cosmetic dentist that deals with temporomandibular joint pain can check your symptoms and help you treat your problems with grinding. If you don’t try to stop your clenching and grinding, then given time, you can wear away most of your enamel. Worn off enamel means weaker teeth, and weaker teeth are the best candidates for fractures and brakes in the teeth.

To prevent this from happening to your teeth, a dentist will most likely recommend a night guard for you to wear while you sleep. These are custom-made plastic trays (almost like sport’s guards) that fit your mouth according to your bite. They are either made for your top teeth or your bottom teeth. These trays act as a protective layer for your teeth and prevent you from grinding down your enamel. Patients who wear their night guards for a very long time notice the wear in the plastic. If they hadn’t worn the guards, that same wear, or more, would have been on their teeth. These trays are the most conservative approach when it comes to grinding or clenching and are considered one of the best options.

If you have noticed any of the aforementioned symptoms, then visit Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS. He is a dentist that helps many patients with their grinding and clenching habits. Don’t put the situation to the side. If you prioritize your teeth, you will be able to keep them in the long run.
 

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777
http://www.drkezian.com

-N.S.

Ways to a Whiter, Brighter Smile

By Arthur Kezian  

Do you have teeth that are stained or look yellow? Are you self-conscious about your smile? If you answered yes to both of these questions then maybe it’s time you consider whitening your teeth. Bleaching is one of the most requested procedures in Los Angeles today. Not only does your physical appearance change after bleaching but you will notice a lot more confidence as well. It is one of the best priced procedures to help make a change to you smile. If you are looking for a beautiful smile, then bleaching can get you one step closer to it.

There are different ways to achieve a whiter smile, but all the methods fall into two categories – in office bleaching or bleaching at home. The main difference is how the products are applied or used. Both options use bleaching agents with peroxide. At-home whitening kits can contain peroxide anywhere from 3% up to 22% while in-office bleaching can contain 15% to 43%. Although the in-office bleaching is a lot stronger, it is not necessarily better. Dr. Arthur A. Kezian has been in the dental field for over thirty years and has worked with different types of bleaching procedures. He has tried every method and believes the best one for his patients is the bleaching done at home. These at-home bleaching kits include trays with gels and let you start whenever you want and stop whenever you want; it is all for your convenience.

The Procedure

The first step in getting the bleaching kit is taking impressions of your teeth. During your first appointment, a dental assistant will take impressions of your teeth using putty that will dry and take on the shape of your smile. The putty will set and your impressions will be finished. Depending on your dentist, these impressions will be sent to a lab to create your bleaching tray which looks very similar to a mouth-guard (but not as bulky). You will be given a second appointment to pick up your bleaching trays once they are ready.

At your second appointment your bleaching trays will be given to you along with instructions and a set of rules to follow. Your dental office will show you how to wear the trays and how to apply the gel. There are different brands for whitening kits and the brand used at Dr. Kezian’s office is the Philips Zoom! If you are using the Philips Zoom kit, you will see a difference in one day, but have to bleach for about 5 days to get to a desired shade of white. There are day kits as well as night kits with a higher percent of peroxide. The night kits are usually recommended for first-time users. The trays are to be worn five nights in a row to see a dramatic difference.

Although getting a Hollywood smile through bleaching seems effortless, sometimes it can be a little difficult. Depending on your body, you may experience sensitivity due to the bleaching. If you notice a lot of sensitivity, you can start bleaching your teeth every other night rather than every night. Giving yourself a break from the whitening would help ease the sensitivity. Amongst this, there are other ways to decrease sensitivity, like using Sensodyne as your toothpaste while you are bleaching. This toothpaste will relieve tooth pain due to sensitivity. You are also advised to stay away from citrus foods and drinks during bleaching to prevent sensitivity.

For other tips about using bleaching trays, feel free to contact Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS and staff. They will be more than happy to help answer all your questions about bleaching. If you are ready to start, make an appointment today! You can be five days away from brighter, whiter teeth!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com
 

-N.S.

What to Expect from Your First Visit

By Arthur Kezian

Are you looking for a new dentist? Maybe you have recently moved and want a dentist closer to your home, or maybe you are looking for a dentist who is up-to-date with the latest technology; whatever the reason is, it is important to do your research correctly.  If you are an internet savvy person, one of the best ways to find a good dentist is online. Checking websites like Google, Yelp, Angie’s List, or ZocDoc can be really beneficial in helping you find the right dentist. You can also get word of mouth from friends and family members and have them tell you about some good dentists. Apart from collecting your information, it is important to also try out a dental office. Just as first impressions are important in meeting new people, they also matter in finding a good dentist. Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS, a dentist in Los Angeles, has been welcoming new patients into his office for over thirty years. His office is equipped with the latest technology in dental care, and he and his staff make a great team. Visit his office and make your own opinion about the place, you will more than likely be very pleased.

During your visit at Dr. Arthur A. Kezian’s office, you will be taken into one of the dental rooms to have your consultation with the doctor. Prior to this consultation, you will meet one of the lovely staff members who, depending upon your situation, will take a few X-Rays for the doctor to be able to diagnose your teeth. The X-Rays at Dr. Kezian’s office are digital X-Rays that are linked to the computer that will be facing you. These digital X-Rays are very low in radiation, are very quick, and are very accurate. Once the dental assistant steps out of the room to take the X-Ray, you will automatically see it on the screen in the room. This means you don’t have to wait for any film to be processed, you can zoom in and out of the X-Ray on the screen to focus on problem areas, and you don’t have to bite on the X-Ray for too long (this is good news for those who have gag reflexes)!

After the X-Rays are completed, the dental assistant will also take some intra-oral photos of your teeth. For those who have not had intra-oral photos taken before, they are digitalized cameras made specifically for the mouth. They capture pictures of your teeth including the biting surfaces that are hard to see in the mirror. These intra-oral photos will not only give the doctor a better understanding of what is going on in your mouth, but you will learn from them as well. Many parts of the mouth are hard to check out in the mirror, so these pictures will allow you to see everything you hadn’t before. Also, it is hard for patients to understand and read X-Rays, but with the intra-oral photos, your dentist can explain to and show you what you may not see in the X-Ray.

Once the X-Rays and the intra-oral photos are complete, you are ready to meet your dentist!

The first visits at the office are usually diagnostic. The doctor will take preventive measures and examine all your teeth. Using the X-Rays, the intra-orals, and the oral examination, he can let you know exactly what it is you need. Depending on your case, you and the dentist will devise a treatment plan. This treatment plan will consist of the items that need to be taken care of and the cost. Dr. Kezian’s office is preferred providers with much insurance companies. For patients who do not have insurance, the insurance coordinator can help with various payment options!  

Take control of your dental health and visit Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS today! He and his staff will make you feel comfortable with your decision and will guide you through every step. If you are looking for a new dental professional, look no further! Dr. Kezian has a flexible schedule, call his office today for a free consultation with him!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com

-N.S.

Dental Health – Effects of Smoking

By Arthur Kezian

Tobacco products are known to be very harmful. Everyone knows the effect they have on the lungs and the heart, but what a lot of people don’t know is that it is far more than that. Smoking also affects your bones, vision, blood, and autoimmune system. Smoking can also cause cancer of the lungs, stomach, nose, mouth, throat, and other areas of the body. Smoking can also cause dental problems. If you are a smoker and think it is important to take care of your body as well as pay importance to your dental care, then maybe it is time you not only consider quitting, but try your best to quit.

Smoking leads to dental problems such as:

• An increase of dental plaque on your teeth
• An increased risk of gum disease
• An increased risk of developing oral cancer
• Inflammation of your salivary glands
• Constant bad breath
• Tooth discoloration and staining 

The list above just goes to show how smoking can affect your dental health in so many ways. One main danger that tobacco products can bring is oral cancer; about 90% of people who have oral cancer use or have used tobacco. It is said that smokers are six times more likely to get oral cancer than nonsmokers. If you think your health is important, then quitting smoking will benefit you in so many ways. Even reducing the amount you smoke can help you. Smokers who go from smoking a pack a day to less than half a pack a day reduce their risk of getting oral cancer or gum disease. Ask your dental office about some helpful tips on reducing smoking and taking small steps to quitting.

Another danger that tobacco products can bring is the increase of gum disease as it is harmful to your gum tissue cells. Smoking affects the connection of your bones and your soft tissue to your teeth. This makes smokers more prone to getting infections in the mouth, such as gingivitis. This is a mild form of gum disease that only affects the gums, and if not taken care of, can lead to periodontitis. Periodontitis is a more severe form of gum disease which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. This gum recession causes deep pockets where bacteria can reside; this bacteria can damage the bone that supports your teeth. Overtime, your teeth will get loose because of the lack of support and will have to be pulled out or will fall out on their own. It is important to prevent this from happening. Having routine check-ups with your dentist is crucial, especially if you are a chain-smoker.

Apart from the damage cigarettes can do to your oral health, they also cause damage esthetically. If you care about the looks of your teeth, then smoking is something you should try to do without. For many people, smoker stains are a very common side-effect. Whitening your teeth or using toothpastes with whiteners can change the look of your teeth, but if you continue to smoke and do not get the stains cleaned by your dentist, the whitening will only mask the staining.

Quitting smoking will also cure bad breath. Many smokers experience a specific odor that may bug them and others as well. It is a very unpleasant feeling knowing that the people around you can be affected by your breath. Not only is your breath a problem to them, but they are also inhaling second-hand smoke. Think about your overall health and consider quitting if you haven’t already. If you can’t quit for yourself, maybe you can try to quit for the sake of the people around you. You will be doing yourself, your family, your friends, and everyone else you spend time with a great favor!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com

 

-N.S.