Zoom Archives - Eric B. Wong DDS

6 Ways to Improve Your Smile

Today, cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, from whitening and shaping of teeth to closing spaces and replacing teeth completely. At Northgate Dental, we have a wide array of tools and techniques at our disposal for improving the look of your smile. Of course good oral health involves daily brushing and flossing and going to your dentist twice a year. These alone can do a lot to improve your smile. And aside from your dentist checking for cavities and oral diseases and doing routine cleaning, here are some ideas to improve your smile even more.

1) Same Day Crowns

A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance. Crowns can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. At Northgate Dental, we are proud to offer Cerec Same Day Crowns. This new technology has been a great convenience to our patients, allowing them to avoid the 2-3 week wait for their crown to return from the lab. We create a strong, customized, tooth-colored ceramic restoration right here in our office during your appointment.

2) Veneers

Veneers are custom-made wafer-thin shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are an option for correcting stained, chipped, decayed or crooked teeth. Unlike bonding, it is necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth to accommodate the shell. Based on a model of your mouth, they are meant to look like your natural teeth. People love the end result and Veneers are one of the most popular solutions to imperfect teeth.

3) Whitening Options

When it comes to getting a whiter and brighter smile, there are a variety of teeth-whitening products you can try. Your main options are in-office bleaching or at-home bleaching. We recommend you always look for a whitening product that has earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Before starting any whitening treatment, we recommend speaking with your dentist, who will tell you what, if any, whitening procedures will work best for you. Here are the options:

Whitening Toothpastes: are helpful but can only remove surface stains and do not contain bleach and lighten the tooth’s color by about one shade
Light-activated bleaching techniques: can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter
Other Whitening Options: Check out this range of teeth whitening options on our website

4) Dental Bonding

Not happy with the way your teeth look? Bonding may be the answer. For some, it can help restore the natural look of your teeth. Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied to the tooth surface and hardened with a special light, which ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth. Your natural tooth enamel and dentin are fused together to create a strong structure that looks great.

5) Implants

Dental implants are a procedure that replace damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like real ones. Dental implant surgery can offer a welcome alternative to bridgework or dentures that don’t fit well. Surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, they function as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth. Made of titanium and other materials, implants are designed to hold restorations (like crowns or bridges) and to blend in with your other teeth.

6) To Avoid Yellow Teeth Try This

Have your pearly whites lost their luster? Tired of yellow looking teeth? It’s a common complaint we hear from our patients. If a food or beverage can leave a permanent stain on clothing, it will stain your teeth as well. Avoid this list for whiter teeth:

No Cigarettes, Cigars and Chewing Tobacco, they are the worst offenders
Limit your Coffee, Tea, and Colas, these are culprits as well
Watch out for grape juice, red wine, sports drinks and popsicles which can stain teeth
Fruits such as blueberries, blackberries and strawberries leave residue
Processed foods and snacks use coloring chemicals that are bad for teeth

Our Practice Is Built Around Your Smile

A beautiful and healthy smile is just around the corner at Northgate Dental. To discover which teeth whitening or dental procedure is best for you please contact us. We will be more than glad to help with any advice we can. Or if you prefer, request an appointment and receive a free consultation. We look forward to improving your smile, and your health.

Making Oral Care Cool For Teens

Making oral hygiene important or “cool” for teens is no easy task. As any parent knows it can be difficult to get a teenager to practice good oral hygiene, or to even take out the garbage. The teenage years are full of distractions teeming with junk food, soda consumption, coffee, and sometimes an unwillingness to brush or floss on a daily basis. To motivate your teen’s interest in oral care try the following technology. Teens love tech and gadgets, so why not give it a shot. The important thing is to let your child or teen choose the item. If they like it, they will be more likely to use it.

The Electric Tooth Brush: This is a no-brainer since it’s easier and faster and techy, all three things that resonate with teens. You will have to pay more for this but it last longer than a toothbrush and is more effective.
The Water Flosser: Flossing the old-fashioned way can seem tedious. Using a water flosser or power flosser are easier and more fun! Even teenagers seem to love the idea of power washing their teeth.
The Shower Flosser: This makes it even more convenient to floss your teeth. Simply attach a unit to your shower head for mess-free flossing!
Natural Sweeteners: Many new snacks and candies contain a non-sugar sweetener which is effective in fighting off plaque and cavities. Research shows that xylitol protects teeth from decay so try some sugar-free sweetened gum or mints.

Things to Watch Out For With Your Kids Teeth

Here are a few things to keep an eye on when caring for your child’s teeth. Dark or brown spots on teeth, which can be cavities. Yellow stains on the teeth and along the gum line which could mean that teeth are not being cleaned properly. And also, redness or irritation of the gums or other tissues which implies that the affected areas are not being cleaned thoroughly or are experiencing an inflammatory reaction.

If you need ideas or guidance regarding how to teach or motivate your children to brush and floss and the importance of oral hygiene please contact Northgate Dental and ask us. We will be more than glad to help with any advice we can. Or if you prefer, just request an appointment and we will provide a free consultation for you and your child. Our practice is built around your smile.

Win a Free Teeth Whitening

Win a Free Sinsational Smile Teeth Whitening

When Dr. Cox decided to change her business name to Northgate Dental we realized that changing the name was similar to a Grand Opening! So we wanted to celebrate our new name with a FREE offer for current patients. To add to our improved website and bold new logo brand, we are giving away something people want and can use, a free teeth whitening with a friend referral. And good news, we’re still at the same convenient location at 750 Las Gallinas Avenue in the Terra Linda, San Rafael area right behind the Northgate One Mall located on the second floor of the Northgate Medical & Dental Center.

Receive a Free Sinsational Smile Whitening by Referring a Friend

We want you to leave your appointment with us smiling. So any current patient can receive a FREE Sinsational Smile whitening simply by referring a friend to Northgate Dental who becomes a new patient. We want to make sure your teeth whitening comes out exactly as expected and with all the advances in cosmetic dentistry you can have the exact look you want. Cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance and sometimes the function of your teeth, gums and bite. It focuses on improving dental aesthetics in color, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance. And at Northgate Dental you can choose from Sinsational Smile, Zoom and Opalescence.

The Sinsational Smile Whitening Method

This is a fast and effective technology using a pre-filled silicone tray. This allows the jaw to remain relaxed and the patient comfortable throughout the 20 minute procedure. The procedure uses an LED accelerating light to activate the gel’s whitening ingredients at a faster rate, resulting in a brighter smile and whiter teeth in less time. Perfect for busy people who want their teeth to look their best.

Cosmetic Options For Your Teeth

A beautiful smile is an important asset. Not only do white teeth enhance your smile, but they make you feel more confident about your appearance. Before deciding whether an in-office teeth whitening option is right for you, we conduct a comprehensive examination of your teeth and gums to ensure proper health, and talk with you about your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits to determine if you will benefit from whitening. This helps us agree on the whitening product or technique that’s best for you. Enemies of a bright and confident smile are numerous. Tooth discoloration may result from drinking coffee, tea, cola and red wine; or from smoking. The aging process can also stain and darken your teeth. To help you decide what’s best for you, here are some options to consider when considering teeth whitening.

Whitening Toothpastes Are Helpful

These can help remove surface stains only and do not contain bleach. Whitening toothpastes can lighten the tooth’s color by about one shade. On the other hand, light-activated whitening or bleaching techniques, can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter. At Northgate Dental we offer our customers a range of teeth whitening that begins with:

The Sinsational Smile® method: Look younger and feel better in just 20 minutes! This method uses a fast and effective technology with a patented pre-filled silicone tray. This allows the jaw to remain relaxed and the person comfortable throughout the 20 minute procedure.
The Zoom Teeth Whitening method: This procedure uses a hydrogen peroxide whitening gel that is applied working together with the Zoom light to penetrate the enamel and break up the stains and discoloration. The gel remains in place for 15 minutes, 3 consecutive times, for a total of 45 minutes while the light is activated. During this time, you can relax by listening to music.
Opalescence Tooth Bleaching method: This is an affordable and convenient at home bleaching solution with custom take home trays. The bleach is placed in the tray and worn for 30-60 minutes a day until the desired whiteness and results are achieved. The custom trays can be used for years, reapplying as needed to sustain the desired shade of your teeth. This is clinically proven to make your teeth their whitest!

How Can I Change the Shape of My Teeth?

There are several different options available to change the shape of your teeth. You can choose to make your teeth look longer, close spaces between your teeth or repair a chipped or cracked tooth. Among the options are bonding, crowns, veneers, and re-contouring.

Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied to the tooth surface and hardened with a special light, which ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth.
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped “caps” that are placed over teeth. The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
Veneers (also called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials that are designed to cover the front surface of teeth. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth.
Re-contouring or reshaping of the teeth (also called odontoplasty, enameloplasty, stripping, or slenderizing) is a procedure in which small amounts of tooth enamel are removed to change a tooth’s length, shape or surface.

Each option differs with regard to cost, durability, and “chair time” necessary to complete the procedure and the best cosmetic approach to resolving your specific problem. We would be glad to discuss which one is right for you.

My tooth is cracked, how should I proceed?

If your tooth is broken, chipped, or fractured, see your dentist as soon as possible. Otherwise, your tooth could be damaged further or become infected, possibly causing you to end up losing the tooth.

Dental bonding of a chipped tooth is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied to the tooth surface. Bonding is a simple procedure that typically does not require numbing the tooth. After shaping the bonding material to look like a natural tooth, we use an ultraviolet light to harden the material, which ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth.

Veneers are also an option for a broken tooth. These are thin, bonded custom-made shells of tooth-colored material designed to cover the front surface of a tooth. The major benefits of veneers is how great they make a smile look with minimal reduction to tooth structure, improving the shape and color.

If you have any questions about your cosmetic options please contact Northgate Dental. We’re happy to help with any advice we can give. Or if you prefer, request an appointment and we will provide a free consultation. Our practice is built around your smile.