Our teeth have many critical functions. We need them to chew our food, talk, and smile. But have you ever considered their role in holding up your face? When we lose teeth, the bone around the site of the extraction begins to shrink. This, in turn, causes our facial muscles to sink in and collapse.
Bone Metabolism
We sometimes think of bone as a solid mass, unlike the softer tissues in our body. In reality, below the seemingly rock-hard surface, bone tissue is full of small holes – kind of like a sponge. In the interior bone tissue, the bone is continually regenerating itself. This important process is sometimes called “bone metabolism.” In the jaw bone, the movement of the teeth stimulate this process of rebuilding. When the tooth is gone, the bone starts to shrink as blood flow is reduced.
People with missing teeth not only have an unattractive gap in their smile, they begin to look older because of the bone recession and eventual facial sagging. It is not simply an issue of attractiveness – it poses serious health dangers. It may become difficult to chew food, making it harder to get adequate nutrition. Mental health can also be affected when a patient with missing teeth loses confidence in themself or withdraws from social situations because they are self-conscious about their smile.
Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Recession
Modern dentistry to the rescue! Dental implant technology provides a tooth restoration solution that maintains healthy bone metabolism while providing near-normal tooth function. For patients missing many (or all) of their teeth, it may not be possible to replace every single tooth with an implant. In many of these cases, dental implants can be used to provide an anchor for a partial denture.
What if your bone has shrunken so much that there is not enough to support an implant? You may be a candidate for bone augmentation or bone grafting. This procedure is routinely performed with success.
If you are missing teeth, don’t resign yourself to dentures. Tooth implants can provide a stunning smile! Schedule a consultation with Doctor Robert McCulla by calling 209-667-7889.
In this blog post from Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we are going to talk about stomatitis. Stomatitis refers to non-specific irritations in the mouth. It is usually caused by cold sores, gum disease, or even from biting the inside of the mouth.
Most of us have probably suffered from stomatitis and donít think it is a big deal. That is generally the case because most of these irritations clear up on their own in less than two weeks.
However, there are cases where a bacterial or viral infection can occur in these areas of inflammation.
Because of this possibility, be sure to tell us if you have any of these issues. Even if there is no infection present, we can always help treat the symptoms.
At Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we want the best possible dental health for all of our valued patients. People from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale come to our office for general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!
Have you lost teeth? It’s a lot different than when you lost your baby teeth way back in the day. Unfortunately, these don’t grow back. (And a gap-toothed smile doesn’t look as adorable as it did when you were in elementary school.)
If you have had teeth extracted or if your teeth are compromised by staining, decay, chipping, or brittle aging, then it’s time to visit with doctor Robert McCulla at Turlock Dental Care.
Since 1986, doctor McCulla has built a practice teeming with experience, filled with kindness, flowing with a gentle touch, and carrying all the wisdom of experienced professionals.
When it comes to the prospect of losing your adult teeth, the preference is always to save your natural teeth. If this is not possible, we offer several ways to maintain your ability to eat, drink, speak, laugh, and smile in selfies.
If you still have your teeth, but are not satisfied with them, these might be your solution. Stunning porcelain veneers offer an affordable approach to cosmetic adjustments—uneven color, size, or shape. These are very thin shells bonded to the front of the teeth. They enhance unsightly, but structurally sound teeth.
Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is used where a tooth is missing. It “bridges” a gap between teeth. It is a restoration with a false tooth (or teeth) attached to the surrounding teeth. Dental bridges have been used successfully for decades.
Dental Implant
A dental implant is a more extensive replacement for a missing tooth. An implant consists of an artificial tooth PLUS an artificial root (usually biocompatible titanium). With local anesthesia, the artificial root is actually inserted into the jaw bone where it integrates with the bone tissue. There are three parts to a dental implant: the artificial root, the connecting abutment, and the final crown or denture. An implant is often the proper restoration as it offers beauty, strength, natural function, and protection from bone recession that often transpires at the site of a missing tooth.
Dentures
Most people have heard of dentures: a plate holding artificial teeth that can be removed by the wearer. These are tailor-made and can contain varying numbers of teeth. Sometimes the entire set of upper and lower teeth have to be pulled and a denture created. Modern dentistry offers a myriad of custom dental implant-denture combinations to restore missing teeth.
Don’t worry about losing your grip on the adult teeth you’ve been enjoying all these years. We have experience and training in many critical services to meet your dental needs including sedation dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, emergency dentistry, and clear aligners.
Schedule your initial consultation at 209-667-7889 to visit us at 990 Delbon Ave in Turlock, California. We are perfectly situated for our neighbors throughout the San Jose area.
Your consultation will include a customized treatment plan for restoring teeth, an outline of the cost of desired care and a schedule for completing the work. Come with questions and leave with answers.
Regular check-ups and cleanings at Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA are essential for good dental health. But some people tend to have gums that bleed after a thorough cleaning, causing them concern.
Is this a problem? Well, it depends. If your gums bleed for a couple days after your dental cleaning, don’t worry about it. But, if the bleeding and tenderness last longer, you should be checked for the possibility of gum disease.
Gum disease arises when plaque builds up along the gum line. You might also see bad breath, painful chewing, and loose teeth.
It is a progressive condition and a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. It is also treatable, but as with most conditions, the earlier it is diagnosed and the treatment begins, the better.
We treat gum disease at Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA. Patients from throughout Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale know they can trust us with their dental health. They also come to our practice for general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!
While poor oral hygiene is the most prevalent cause of halitosis, many circumstances can contribute to or intensify the condition. One of these is the lack of saliva or xerostomia.
Saliva and Oral Health
Saliva moistens the teeth and gums and cleans away odiferous dead cells. Saliva also neutralizes the ever-present acids on the tongue, gums, and cheeks, and the minerals in saliva help to maintain enamel stability. Immunoproteins in saliva curb the overgrowth of microbes in the mouth, thereby safeguarding the gums from gingivitis. Saliva also functions as a disinfectant by cleansing the mouth of leftover food, bacteria, and fungi. This protects against cavities and infections.
Many individuals suffer from dry mouth infrequently; perhaps when they are perceiving anxiety or stress. Limiting caffeine, chewing sugar-free gum, using OTC saliva substitutes, and using a humidifier can add moisture to the mouth.
If you have infrequent periods of dry mouth, there is probably nothing to worry about. Constant dry mouth, however, can lead to additional oral and physical health problems.
I am Doctor McCulla of Turlock Dental Care. I have been treating xerostomia and bad breath since 1986. If you experience either condition, we recommend that you set up an exam and consultation with your dentist. Your dentist will help you discover the source and guide you on treatment.
A dental implant is a tooth replacement that is screwed directly into the jaw bone. It is not attached to the adjacent teeth like a dental bridge. The post replaces the tooth root and is implanted where the tooth root used to be. When the post fuses with the bone, the dentist attaches an abutment and then a crown for the visible portion of the tooth.
It’s important to understand that a tooth implant involves several elements:
The post (screw)
The abutment
The crown
So, how much does a tooth implant cost?
Give me a rough estimate….
In Michigan, you can expect to pay from $1,000 to $3,000 for one implant (the post that is screwed in).
Then there is the abutment (connector piece) and crown. These fundamentals could cost from $900 to $3,000.
This would bring the total price tag from $1900 to north of $5,000.
Remember, this is for ONE post, abutment, and crown.
What if I need a whole bunch of implants?
Some people spend between $20,000 and $50,000 for a total mouth reconstruction.
Wow!
Implants seem really costly…
An implant procedure is an oral surgery. It requires consultation and additional visits. It requires X-rays and impressions. You might need bone grafting to augment the bone where the implant will be placed.
There are indirect expenses as well…
Your dentist will pick up the components from a dental supplier. The dental crown is custom-made in a lab. Dental laboratories have pricey equipment. They employ professionals who are specially trained.
Consider your dentist’s schooling. Just one year of dental school costs between $30,000 and $70,000… (Don’t forget, your dentist earned an undergraduate degree before attending dental school.)
Your dentist employs a team of professionals. A dental office must purchase and maintain expensive equipment and supplies.
According to the American Dental Association, it costs at least $500,000 to open a dental practice. The yearly overhead can run over $200,000.
Does my dental insurance cover dental implant procedures?
Some dental insurance carriers cover dental implants. Some only cover the crown portion. Others don’t cover any portion of the procedure. It’s unfortunate that more dental insurers don’t cover implants. They are significantly less expensive over the long run. They preserve bone. They don’t require removing tooth structure like dental bridges. They don’t have as many complications as dental bridges.
Talk to your provider. If your insurance company doesn’t cover them, or if you don’t have dental insurance, talk to us about financing.
Dental implants are pricey. No doubt about it.
But if you talk to our patients, each one will tell you that they are worth every penny.
Hello, I’m from Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA. Thanks for visiting my blog. In today’s post, we will focus on something that happens occasionally when a patient requests cosmetic dentistry from their dentist.
Let me set the stage. The patient comes in for a consultation about a smile makeover. We’ll call him Mr. Jones. The dentist listens carefully as he explains the esthetic problems that he wants to remedy. Mr. Jones wants to fix two chipped teeth, get a dental implant for a tooth that is missing altogether, and whiten his whole smile. He describes what he envisions for his smile after undergoing treatment.
The dentist performs an examination of his entire mouth and takes x-rays. The dentist discovers some additional problems. There are three teeth with moderate decay, one tooth with extreme decay, gum disease, an old crown with a crack in it, and severe bone recession at the potential dental implant site where the tooth was extracted ten years ago.
The dentist explains that these dilemmas need to be addressed before the smile transformation is performed. Mr. Jones says that the smile makeover is his first priority and plans to deal with the other problems sometime in the future.
How does the dentist advise Mr. Jones? The dentist will probably explain that the lasting success of a cosmetic dental procedure such as porcelain veneers, dental bonding, or tooth whitening is influenced by the condition of the mouth at the time of treatment. There must be a solid, healthy foundation, so to speak, on which to build the smile makeover.
First things first. It makes no sense to attach a veneer to a decayed tooth that may need a root canal. A dental implant may not integrate with the surrounding bone structure if placed at a site where there is bone recession. Tooth whitening will probably not produce favorable results where there is gum disease and exposed tooth roots.
Can Mr. Jones ever have his dream smile? Yes! There are treatments to correct all of the problems mentioned previously. But just like many other things in life, the order of operations is critical.
If you are interested in a smile makeover or simply need a check-up, schedule an appointment by calling us. I look forward to discussing both your oral health and esthetic concerns.
Countless people see their stress levels rise as they anticipate an upcoming dental appointment. It’s so common there’s a term for it: dental anxiety. But a calm and comfortable atmosphere, as well as a focus on patient communication, can often be the best answer to this sort of stress. This is what we offer at Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA can help even severe cases get the dental care they deserve.
Some people get so concerned at the thought of a dental checkup that they’ll put it off for months, even years. In severe cases, they’ll avoid the dentist completely, and trust to daily flossing and brushing to keep their teeth and gums in good shape. We’ll never discourage regular flossing and brushing, but skipping the dentist is never a good idea.
No matter how good a job you do with dental hygiene, even if it’s brushing after every meal and right before bed, it is no substitute for a dental checkup. But we understand how difficult it is, for whatever reason, for some people to get themselves to our office. Our unique, patient-centered approach has helped hundreds of people get through their appointments.
We pride ourselves in three calming, anxiety-reducing factors:
Patient Communication: Most fear stems from ignorance. With our direct approach, you’ll have all the information about your procedure communicated to you in simple terms. This way, you can choose which treatments you are comfortable.
Topical Anesthesia: Over the last few decades, local anesthetics have become incredibly effective at numbing pain. This, combined with a dental team that is ready to coach you through your treatment, means you are in safe, pain-free hands.
Patient Amenities: Whether you need a glass of water, a re-explanation of a procedure, or even calming music, we are at your service. We will strive to make this appointment as close to a spa experience as possible!
Never take the chance of compromising your dental health by skipping the dentist. Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA can help you overcome your dental phobia. Patients from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale rely on us for general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!
In this post from Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA, we are talking about nutrition. There is nothing that impacts your smile as much as your eating habits.
1. Rinse after eating
Rinse your mouth with a drink of water or brush your teeth after meals. People who snack all day long subject their teeth to sugars and food debris. Planned meals with brushing in between keep your oral health on top. 2. Avoid sugary gum
Sugar-free gum doesn’t leave sugar to break down on your teeth and jeopardize your hard-earned healthy gums. If you are a gum chewer, do your smile a favor and go sugarless.
3. Avoid sticky foods
Sticky foods have a habit of clinging to your teeth, which puts you at risk of decay. Toffee, gummy candy, fruit snacks, and even excessive dried fruit can be risky for smiles. Brushing doesn’t always remove the obstinate particles, so remember to floss after eating sticky items.
4. Consume nutritious foods
A balanced diet with a variety of vitamins and minerals can keep the immune system strong and able to resist infection.
5. Say ‘cheese!’
Cheese contains calcium and protects teeth from acid that weakens tooth enamel. (It’s vital not to go overboard as cheese is high in fat.)
6. Avoid acidic foods
Acid will eat away enamel over time: lemons, red wine, soda pop. Limit direct, constant, consistent exposure. All things in moderation.
At Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we are passionate about dental health. We offer complete general dentistry, and patients from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale also improve their smiles with our cosmetic dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment today!
At Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA, we know that a common dental problem tends to go undiagnosed for years. This is because people chalk it up to genetics and don’t even realize it’s a problem. The problem we’re talking about is, of course, malocclusion.
Literally meaning “bad bite,” it is a term coined by Edward Angle, a pioneer in modern orthodontics. Malocclusion is fairly common in the population as a whole but often, the misalignment is so slight that it causes no issues. Sometimes, however, it can cause symptoms like headaches, neck pain, and tooth pain.
When you combine multiple teeth on two arches and a jaw joint with a considerable range of motion, it is easy to see how these elements can fail to align properly. In fact, it is a wonder that they work correctly for most people – allowing them to talk, eat, and breathe without giving it a second thought.
There are many causes of malocclusion – some originating with the teeth and some originating with the jaw. Misshapen teeth, extracted teeth, impacted teeth, crowded teeth, and widely spaced teeth can influence the bite. Injury to the jaw can also cause malocclusion as well as improperly fitting restorations and other dental appliances.
Children with a normal bite can develop bite dilemmas with prolonged pacifier use, thumb sucking, or bottle drinking. In rarer cases, oral tumors can move a bite out of alignment.
The treatment for malocclusion depends on the cause. Invisalign® clear braces can move teeth into alignment to fix bite issues. Overcrowding often requires the extraction of one or more teeth. Misshapen teeth that affect the bite can often be corrected with crowns or dental bonding.
At Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA, we are ready to discuss your options and design a dental plan to deal with your malocclusion. Don’t hesitate. Patients from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale come to us for cosmetic and family dentistry. Contact us today!
This place is great! State of the art equipment. Friendly staff and they have cookies! ?? Fresh ones!
Vanessa P
I have finally found a dentist/hygienist that I feel comfortable with. I was there today and felt relaxed the entire time and am actually looking forward to going back for more dental work. Weird, but true.
Carol S
I came in and I felt so welcomed with the lady I met up front. The assistant and hygienist was so amazing and made me feel so comfortable. And then the dr he was awesome I will definitely make this my new home!
Anonymous
The staff here is always happy to help me with my questions and concerns.
Evan C.
Wow what a great place: treated like a queen Staff are friendly and genuine care about my health.
Noreen S.
What a warm and professional office. It really shows that they care a great deal for their patients. Dr.McCulla is wonderful and has an amazing chairside manner.
Charlene T
New Patient Online Offer
FREE Cosmetic or Dental Implant Consultation (including necessary x-rays)
~ OR ~
FREE Second Opinion
($199 value)
Call 209-667-7889 today to schedule.
Today’s post focuses on missing teeth and bone health.
