Caring for Invisalign

Fullerton Dental offers Invisalign, the clear aligner system that straightens teeth without the metallic look of braces. Another perk of Invisalign clear aligners is that they require less maintenance and won’t prevent you from eating certain foods.  Although you won’t have to make too many changes, there are still guidelines you should follow to wear and care for your aligners!

You should remove Invisalign each time you eat, but if you do eat anything while wearing the aligners make sure to clean them thoroughly afterwards. It is also best to brush and floss your teeth before putting the aligners back in.  Ideally when wearing clear aligners, you would only drink water. Colorful drinks can stain the aligners and too many hot drinks can eventually warp the plastic.  If you do drink anything other than water while wearing the aligners you should rinse them with warm water afterwards. 

Cleaning the clear aligners regularly is important for your teeth and straightening treatment.  Clear aligners can become discolored over time without losing their effectiveness, but the color can show on your own teeth and continue to darken.  Invisalign offers its own brand of cleaning solution, and there are several soaking solutions available over the counter, but brushing the aligners is also a sufficient cleaning option.  Do not use toothpaste to brush the aligners because subtle abrasive properties of toothpaste could harm the aligner.  It is best to use mild dish soap and a soft bristle brush to clean the aligners each time you brush your teeth.

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton CA, call 714-879-7943.

Invisalign

Invisalign is the invisible alternative to traditional braces for adults and teens, and the doctors at Fullerton Dental have seen Invisalign transform smiles for patients of all ages.  Invisalign is recommended to correct mild to moderate spacing or crowding of the teeth.  Any severe misalignment may require another method, so always consult your dentist.  An Invisalign treatment plan consists of a series of clear, removable plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth, and a typical treatment plan can be completed in less than a year.

To straighten your teeth with Invisalign, we begin with an examination. A dentist can determine if Invisalign will be effective in achieving the smile you want. Impressions or scans of your teeth are used to create a full set of aligners customized to your teeth and your treatment plan. Each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks, depending on your individual treatment plan.  The aligners should be worn at least 20 hours a day. You should remove the aligners to eat, and to brush and floss.

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton CA, call 714-879-7943.

Reasons Adults May Desire Braces

Let’s just say that you had braces as a kid and you may not have followed the proper aftercare, such as wearing a retainer. This has likely caused your teeth to shift and now as an adult you are regretting your lack of commitment. Fortunately, at the dental practice of Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, we offer orthodontic options for adults such as Invisalign.

It’s never too late to get an education and it’s never too late to straighten your smile. Teeth shift as you get older and some people’s teeth shift more than others. If you’ve received orthodontic treatment in the past and didn’t wear your retainer for the recommended amount of time, your teeth will shift and return to their natural position. Other adults get braces because they’ve always had crooked or crowded teeth, overbites, and underbites or incorrect jaw position.

If you desire a straighter smile and would like to discuss your orthodontic options, give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton CA, call 714-879-7943.

Braces Vs Invisalign

When it comes to orthodontic options, Invisalign is a favorite of many patients. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA offer Invisalign to his patients because of the convenience, the comfort, and the near invisibility.

The Invisalign trays are to be worn for twenty to twenty-two hours per day. You can take them out to eat, brush, and floss, unlike with braces. This means no need to buy special supplies like interdental cleaners and floss threaders. Also, no worrying about uneven stains that braces might leave.

You also take out Invisalign to eat. So this means that there are no restrictions on what you can eat with Invisalign, so you do not have to avoid crunchy, hard, sticky, or chewy foods. With braces, you need to be careful so you do not break brackets or wires.

The smooth plastic trays are also more comfortable than metal braces, so the calluses and irritated spots that braces cause are less likely. In addition, the trays are clear. This means you can straighten your teeth discreetly and will not have the metal look to your smile.  

If you are ready to use Invisalign to create your perfect smile, be sure to contact us! To set up an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA, call us at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

How Invisalign Moves Teeth

At Fullerton Dental, Dr. Eric M Meyer wants you to have the healthiest smile achievably possible, and sometimes that may require straightening your teeth. Unlike traditional braces, the Invisalign straightening method includes no irritating brackets in the mouth; however, they do have attachments known as “bumps.” These bumps assist the aligners in moving the teeth to where they need to be once the treatment plan is completed.

These “bumps” are small tooth-colored dots of dental bonding (white filling material) that are placed on specific locations on specific teeth. They may be rectangular, square, circular, or triangular in shape. The shape and orientation of a button is dictated by the purpose it serves, such as tooth rotation, translation, intrusion or extrusion.

These attachments assist with the process, as well as how they’re placed and what they look like. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place. Approximately every two weeks, you will begin wearing a new set of aligners, discreetly advancing you to the next stage of your treatment.

If you are searching to straighten your smile, give us a call to discuss your orthodontic treatment options. For more information about Invisalign, as well as services provided at the practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton, CA, call 714-879-7943. 

Health Benefits of Straight Teeth

Straight teeth are an obvious aesthetic improvement for a smile. However, did you know that straight teeth also offer numerous health benefits? Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA wants his patients to understand how straightening their teeth will affect their oral health and the health of the rest of their body.

Teeth that are too crowded, spaced awkwardly, or too gapped often create hiding places for debris and bacteria. Even with routine brushing and flossing, these spaces can be missed, leading to an accumulation of bacteria. When bacteria become trapped and sit on teeth and gums for a long time, it can lead to gum disease and cavities. Gum disease can lead to infection which is dangerous for your overall health. In addition, tight spaces and gaps can also lead to more injury to the gums. While biting, chewing, and cleaning your teeth, the gums that are left more open due to gaps are more vulnerable to being poked, scraped, or cut. When teeth are aligned properly, it protects the gums and allows the gums to properly protect the teeth.

Straight teeth also decrease risk of injury and wear. Abnormal tooth wear can happen when teeth rub together in a way that they shouldn’t. This can lead to worn down tooth enamel, cavities, and damage. Awkwardly positioned teeth can also break or cut your cheeks, lips, or tongue when hit from an outside force.

Straight teeth allow your teeth and gums to be cleaned properly and be well-protected. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS offers Invisalign to straighten teeth in our Fullerton, CA dental office. To schedule an appointment, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

How Invisalign Works

Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you were over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements Dr. Eric Meyer, D.D.S. plans out for you.

To begin the Invisalign treatment process, Dr. Eric Meyer, D.D.S. will take pictures and impressions of your teeth, which Invisalign will use to create a digital 3-D image of them. From these images, he will map out a precise treatment plan including the exact movements of your teeth, and tell you the approximate length of treatment. Using the same technology as the Invisalign lab, Dr. Eric Meyer, D.D.S. will be able to show you a virtual representation of how your teeth will move with each stage of treatment. Over the course of treatment, you will be supplied with a series of aligners. When the aligners are placed on the teeth, they cause the teeth to gradually shift from their current position. After approximately two weeks, you will begin using the next set of aligners, which will continue the teeth straightening process.

To learn more about Invisalign visit www.fullertondental.com for more information or call 714-879-7943 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric Meyer, DDS in Fullerton, CA. 

Straighten your Teeth with Invisalign

Teen and adult patients in Fullerton, CA often visit Meyer Dental Group to get their teeth straightened by Dr. Matthew P. Meyer, D.D.S. Here, they can choose to be treated with Invisalign. Invisalign uses clear, removable trays that are custom-made for their teeth. Invisalign trays are "Clear, Comfortable and Removable."  These trays can be removed when the patient needs to brush and floss their teeth or when they are eating.

The first step to the Invisalign process requires an examination with Dr. Eric M. Meyer in Fullerton, CA. He evaluates the patient’s orthodontic issues to determine if he or she is a good candidate for Invisalign. Severe bite and teeth issues may need traditional braces. However, most patients needing braces for overcrowding or space issues can get Invisalign. Dr. Meyer’s patients have impressions and photographs taken of their teeth. A computerized video of predicted outcome is then developed and shown to patients. Once approved, trays are then made. Over the course of treatment, patients are seen typically every 6 weeks to receive new aligner trays to help move their teeth into position, similar to braces that get tightened.

Patients who choose to get Invisalign have the ability to remove them while eating and brushing their teeth. Being removable is a favorite benefit of many who choose Invisalign, as are the braces being virtually invisible to others and comfortable to wear. Invisalign patients also don’t have to worry about the braces causing stains to their teeth.

For more information about Invisalign offered at Dr. Meyer’s General and Cosmetic Dentistry, visit www.fullertondental.com or schedule a consultation with Dr. Eric M. Meyer in Fullerton, CA by calling (714) 879-7943.

Perfect Your Smile in 2015 with Invisalign

As 2014 comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to accomplish in the new year, And we think getting the smile you’ve always wanted is a great resolution. At our office in Fullerton, CA, we offer Invisalign aligners so that you can straighten your teeth without committing to a mouth full of metal. By using a series of thin, clear, plastic aligners, Dr. Eric Meyer can guide your teeth into a smile you will be proud to show off without anybody even knowing.  

While regular braces are still best for the most serious cases of teeth straightening, Invisalign is great for cases of mild to moderate spacing or crowding. For these cases, Invisalign provides teeth correction that bypasses the discomfort, soreness and restrictive diet that those who have traditional braces must face.

A computer program will generate a series of aligners with small changes in each to straighten your teeth a little at a time. The trays are completely removable for easy eating and cleaning, so your teeth will not experience the same discoloration and plaque buildup that can normally occur with brackets and wire. In addition, you will be able to eat all the foods you like, such as popcorn, chips, pretzels, nuts, apples, carrots and corn.

If you think Invisalign might be the best option for achieving the smile you’ve been dreaming of, schedule an appointment at with Dr. Meyer by calling 714.879.7943. For more information about the orthodontic treatment or other services, please visit www.fullertondental.com.

Sedation

At Eric Meyer General and Cosmetic Dentistry, we believe that patients should be comfortable at all times. Whether it’s just a normal cleaning or an invasive procedure, we offer different sedation methods for those suffering from dental phobias. Studies have shown that nearly 15 percent of Americans suffer from a dental anxiety issues. Dental fears can come from a number of situations. If you had a negative experience in the past, feel like you don’t have any control or even if you’re embarrassed about your teeth then it might be tough to make that follow-up appointment. Luckily, for these situations we offer a number of options when it comes to sedation.

The most common form of sedation is Nitrous Oxide (N2O), also known as laughing gas. N2O works very rapidly, reaching the brain within 20 seconds or so. Patients will be able to hear and respond to and directives or requests Dr. Meyer may have. You will feel like you’re in a euphoric state and may experience dreams as a result. IV sedation is another service we offer. The sedation will be administered through a vein and offer immediate effects. Patients will have less of a recovery time as well because once it is cut off the sedatives will leave the blood stream.

For patients who have trouble with needles or gas, there are other options available. We can offer you anxiolysis sedation, such as valium to reduce anxiety. The final way in which we utilize sedation is through oral conscious sedation. This local anesthetic will not knock you out completely, but will allow you to be treated without any anxiety. Oral sedations are often used for patients with mild to moderate anxiety and are not as powerful as the other sedation methods.

If you have a dental phobia and aren’t sure which sedation method is right for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric Meyer to discuss which option is best for you.

Sealants

Dental sealants are a great option for patients hoping to protect their teeth from developing decay in the depressions and grooves of their teeth. Sealants are most widely used by children and teenagers. Our Fullerton, CA office applies sealants to children regularly in order to protect their teeth from harmful bacteria that can lead to decay.

A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating that is painted on the chewing surface of the teeth, mostly the back molars and premolars. Children typically receive sealants once their permanent molars come in. Children are most at-risk for cavities between the ages of 6 and 14. These sealants typically last up to ten years but need to be checked regularly for chipping or wearing.

We can complete a full sealant procedure in one sitting. We have a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes children feel as comfortable as possible. Applying the sealant is a painless process. Dr. Meyer will first clean your child’s mouth, dry each tooth individually, apply a solution to the chewing surface to roughen them up (which helps the sealant bond), and finally apply the sealant to the tooth enamel.

Sealants are a great preventative measure for parents to take. Rather than risking possible decay, parents who choose to utilize sealants are assuring that their children will have a bright beautiful smile for years to come. As long as they have a great dental hygiene regimen, children with sealants will maintain a smile they can be proud!

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Meyer today to talk about sealants for your child!

Dental Hygiene

At our Fullerton, CA office, we love to promote proper oral hygiene to all of our patients! We will provide you with the tools to succeed when it comes to your oral hygiene routine. With a wide array of options available at any drug store, patients need to know what type of toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash or any number of other dental tools will work best for them.

Brushing techniques are also very important. The goal of brushing is to avoid cavities and to have a bright, beautiful smile; you should know what the proper technique is so you’re not doing it wrong. You should be brushing at least two minutes, twice a day. You should also be using the correct toothbrush, the best way to find out is to just ask, we’ll gladly point you in the right direction! When it comes to the brushing process, you should be using short, gentle strokes, paying close attention to the gum line and the hard-to-reach areas in the back of your mouth. Don’t forget to brush your tongue too! It helps avoid bad breath.

Now, most people think that just brushing will keep their teeth healthy and clean. While it’s certainly not a bad thing to do, brushing needs to be combined with flossing in order to optimize your oral health. Through flossing, you’re able to get to those hard-to-reach areas that often go unnoticed. Bacteria will build up in these areas and eventually lead to tooth damage if left untouched.

Regular cleanings should also be part of your dental hygiene routine. By having your teeth professionally cleaned and examined, you’re working to catch troubled areas before they become real problems. Schedule your cleaning today!

Digital X-Rays

We believe that early detection is the best way to treat our patients. With that being said, we have recently adopted digital X-ray technology into our practice. Digital radiography will better allow us to diagnose and treat patients the right way before it becomes a more serious issue.

Digital X-ray technology offers many benefits over traditional X-rays. The biggest difference is the amount of radiation it emits, about 90 percent less than traditional machines. While the radiation in traditional X-rays is not necessarily harmful, it’s never a good idea to expose someone to any type of radiation.

Another great benefit of digital radiography is the immediacy of it. You don’t have to wait for the image to develop anymore. Right after the image is taken it is immediately displayed on a bedside monitor. This greatly cuts down on patient chair-time. The instant imaging software is a great way for us to “Go Green” because there’s no harmful chemicals used to develop the images and the image itself is not printed so there is no waster there. The image is displayed on an environmentally friendly monitor that files it away with your personal records for future use without printing.

In many cases, digital X-rays are able to detect early stages of tooth decay where traditional X-rays would not. The image we get is far more detailed than other imaging software. Catching decay early can prevent cavities, gum disease and other periodontal issues. By getting to these symptoms earlier, our staff is better equipped to stop it now and even prevent it in the future.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Meyers in Fullerton, CA today to get your digital X-rays taken!

Dentures

Here at our Fullerton, CA general and cosmetic dentistry practice, we providedentures for our patients who have multiple missing teeth and want to restore their smile. Not only do dentures allow our patients to have a complete smile, but it also helps them speak more clearly and eat what they want!

We offer several options of dentures, ranging from immediate and conventional full dentures. Conventional full dentures are completed after the tissue from the extracted teeth has healed completely, which can take several months. Immediate dentures are provided right after the teeth have been removed.

Another option we offer is partial dentures, which are a great choice for our patients who have multiple missing teeth, but not all of the teeth. Partial dentures are similar to a bridge, but are removable like dentures.
No matter what type our patients choose, all dentures are made to fit the patient’s mouth and their previous teeth if possible. If we know patients want dentures before removing their teeth, we take pictures and impressions to have them made close to what they had before in their natural teeth. There is a small adjustment period after getting their first set of dentures, but patients get used to them in no time.

Visit Dr. Eric Meyer to discuss the many benefits of having dentures.

Bridges

Here at Dr. Eric Meyer’s dental practice, we provide multiple ways to replace missing teeth, including dental bridges. One or multiple missing teeth are replaced using a bridge made of porcelain, gold, alloy, or metal. Besides improving our patient’s ability to chew and restoring their smile, bridges help to prevent their teeth from shifting.

Our patients are always curious as to the requirements and process of getting a bridge. The main requirement for bridges is that the patient has a tooth on either side of the missing teeth, as this is where the bridge is attached. There is an abutment tooth to replace the missing teeth, plus crowns on the adjacent teeth that act as the tether for the bridge. The teeth are filed down and covered with crowns, which helps stabilize and strengthen them, so that they can support the bridge.

The better a patient takes care of their teeth and crowns, the longer the bridge lasts. Bridges are brushed twice daily just like your other teeth. Like dentures and partials, there is an adjustment period for eating with a bridge, but it isn’t too difficult once patients learn proper chewing techniques.

Like crowns and other restorative care, bridges last around 10-15 years. Our patients appreciate that this is a long-lasting option.

Call our dentist Dr. Eric Meyer at 714-879-7943 here in our Fullerton, CA dental office to schedule an appointment. When you call, be sure to ask us about our patient specials.

Crowns

Having a beautiful smile is something many of our patients long for, but their teeth can become less than perfect over time. Gum disease, tooth decay, cracks, chips, discoloration, or trauma are all factors that can lead to an imperfect smile.

Luckily, crowns, which are often referred to as caps, are an excellent way to improve the smile by covering the tooth. Crowns here at our Fullerton, CA dental office are made from porcelain and match our patient’s other teeth so they don’t stand out and fit in perfectly.

The following steps depict how the crown procedure works:

1. The tooth is first prepared by being filed down and reshaped. This is done to make room for the crown.
2. Impressions are made, which are then sent off to the dental lab.
3. In about two weeks, the patient returns to our office, where our dentist Dr. Eric Meyer bonds the crown to their tooth.
4. The crown is polished once dry.
5. Our patient is instructed to be careful with what they chew for the first few days.

This entire process takes about 2-3 weeks, but our patients are thrilled that their crowns last around 10 years on average. Visit our dental office in Fullerton, CA to find out more about getting crowns placed by Dr. Eric Meyer.

BriteSmile

At our dental practice, we love to provide our patients with cosmetic treatments, including teeth whitening. With teeth whitening, we understand that patients have unique needs based on personal preferences. That’s why we offer teeth whitening options.

BriteSmile is one of the most requested types of whitening here in our Fullerton, CA dental office, as it is fast, convenient, and safe for the patients. It is a whitening procedure done right in our office, combining a whitening gel with a low intensity lamp that activates the gel and whitens the teeth.

There are many benefits to choosing BriteSmile, including the following:

• It is a fast procedure, done in about an hour.
• Results are immediate.
• The gel and lamp are completely safe for all patients, even on sensitive gums and teeth.
•  It is a highly effective whitening procedure, making the teeth 6-8 shades whiter.
• Tooth sensitivity after the procedure is minimal.

Our patients that are in a hurry to get their teeth whitened, have a special occasion coming up, or prefer chairside whitening options will benefit the most from BriteSmile.

Contact Dr. Eric Meyer at 714-879-7943 to learn more about BriteSmile teeth whitening.

ZOOM! Whitening

Teeth whitening is one of many cosmetic dental services we provide here in our Fullerton, CA clinic. Patients come to us with discoloration or staining of their teeth, and can choose from a variety of whitening products. ZOOM! whitening is one of our more popular types of teeth whitening due to the fast results and that it is done in about an hour.

ZOOM! whitening works by first applying a whitening gel, then using a low intensity lamp to shine directly onto the teeth. The light helps activate the whitening gel, which then causes it to seep deep into the tooth enamel. It is a safe and effective process that only takes about an hour in our practice. Many patients get it done during their lunch break, and can go right back to work.

Patients often prefer ZOOM! whitening not just for the quick results, but because it doesn’t leave sensitivity or soreness of the gums — not to mention that it is long-lasting.

If you want to get your teeth whitened through our chair side procedure, schedule a ZOOM! whitening appointment today with Dr. Eric Meyer.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a popular type of orthodontics offered here in our dental practice. We provide Invisalign as an alternative to traditional braces. They are comfortable to wear and utilize plastic aligners, as opposed to metal brackets and wires. Most patients with mild or moderate spacing and bite issues make good candidates for Invisalign.

As compared to traditional braces, Invisalign offers the following benefits to our patients:

1. Inconspicuous clear, plastic aligners that most people won’t notice.
2. The ability to remove them for eating, brushing, and flossing the teeth.
3. Improved oral hygiene because they can be removed and are gentle on the teeth.
4. Less irritation of the teeth and gums.
5. Lack of dietary restrictions.
6. They don’t stain the teeth or affect the enamel.

Invisalign works by having aligners made from impressions of the patient’s teeth. These are worn at all times, except during meals and oral care. New aligners are provided to patients by Dr. Eric Meyer every few weeks, similar to visiting periodically to get wires on traditional braces tightened.

Call our dental practice today at 714-879-7943 to schedule a consultation and find out if Invisalign is a good option for you.

Veneers (Hollywood Smile)

Having a Hollywood smile is on many of our patient’s minds. They want beautiful, perfectly aligned, and bright white teeth, just like many celebrities have. Veneers help our patients accomplish this by covering up many imperfections they might have on their teeth. Not only do they get the smile they have always wanted, but veneers look and feel like natural teeth.

Our own Dr. Eric Meyer provides veneers made from porcelain, which is a beautiful and long-lasting material. Porcelain veneers can help with the following dental issues:

• ·         Misaligned and oddly-shaped teeth.


• ·         Broken or chipped teeth.


• ·         Gaps and spaces between the teeth.


• ·         Enamel of the teeth that is worn down from clenching or grinding.


• ·         Stains and discoloration.

The process of getting veneers is a simple one, beginning with preparing the natural teeth. Some teeth need to be filed down slightly, in order to make room for the veneers. Dr. Eric Meyer wants them to look as natural as possible, which is why the filing down occurs. After they are ready, we bond them to the teeth and polish for a sparkling, white sheen.

Give us a call or visit our office in Fullerton, CA to discuss getting veneers so you too can have a Hollywood Smile!