Redwood Dental Smiles: Blog

Among the many means by which we can restore teeth at Redwood Dental Smiles, one of the oldest is the dental bridge. This prosthetic is used when there are several teeth in a row that need new crowns or are missing entirely. A single implant supports an artificial crown for just one tooth, but a bridge is several crowns linked together. Typically, the crowns at the end would be supported and the crown in the middle would be suspended between them. The supported crowns may be attached to fixed implants or they may be removable in the form of a partial denture. It is also possible to have the crowns supported by reshaped natural teeth. Because natural teeth tend to have fewer problems, dentists would not usually want to reshape natural crowns to have bridges put over them unless they were already decayed. However, there may be an advantage to having a patient retain the natural roots of their supporting teeth, particularly if their jawbones may not be able to support implants. Modern bri...

Patients often come to Redwood Dental Smiles in Castro Valley with questions about the vast number of oral hygiene products available to them. A lot of people are considering whether to buy electric toothbrushes and we want to help our patients understand the benefits and drawbacks. With a manual toothbrush, people should brush for two full minutes twice a day. Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes do not get better results than manual toothbrushes that are being used properly, but most people do not use manual toothbrushes correctly. An electric toothbrush can be set to a timer and is able to brush thousands of times per minute. Some also come with settings to inform the user if they are brushing too hard. Electric toothbrushes are particularly beneficial to people with motor control problems or who have experienced tooth decay in the past. Many modern ones come with phone apps that reward children for improving their brushing or inform users if they are skipping over tooth su...

If gingivitis is left untreated, it will advance into a more aggressive form of periodontal disease known as periodontitis. Periodontitis refers to inflammation of the teeth that attacks the bone structure surrounding teeth, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. To treat this form of gum disease, Dr. Vijay Munagala of Redwood Dental Smiles will clean the pockets around the teeth using ARESTIN. ARESTIN has the ability to reduce the severity of periodontal disease. In a clinical study, when used in addition to scaling and root planing, ARESTIN reduced harmful bacteria by nearly 2 times as much as scaling and root planing alone. This is because adding ARESTIN to the mix disrupts the progression of periodontitis by specifically targeting the active infection. ARESTIN is easy for the doctor to use and is 100% safe for the patient. If you have questions or concerns regarding periodontal treatment, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit  www.re...

It’s important to maintain optimal oral health from our first dental checkup to the last. Oral problems such as bad breath, dry mouth, tooth decay, and TMD, can lead to costly dental procedures down the road. Some patients believe that they only need to see a dentist when he or she is in pain. Instead, it’s critical to visit Dr. Vijay Munagala of Redwood Dental Smiles twice a year to upkeep a healthy smile. See your dentist regularly -- Regular dental exams and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent problems or to stop small problems from getting worse. Keep your mouth clean - Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal disease (gum disease). Eat, drink, but be wary - Healthy food is good for your general health and your oral health. The nutrients that come from healthy foods help you to fight cavities and gum disease. Check your mouth regularly – Lo...