ZOOM! Whitening

Keeping our teeth their whitest is a lot harder than it sounds. With all the coffee, wine, smoking and other foods that have the ability to stain our teeth on a daily basis, even proper maintenance sometimes leaves them discolored. To accomplish the whitening of your teeth, Dr. Eric Meyer, D.D.S. utilizes a product called ZOOM!.

ZOOM! is a bleaching process widely used throughout the country and around the world to lighten discoloration of enamel and dentin. The ZOOM! in-office tooth whitening procedure uses the ZOOM! Advanced Power Chairside Lamp – said to accelerate the bleaching process- to activate the 25 percent hydrogen peroxide whitening. As the hydrogen peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin to bleach the stained substances, leaving the structure of the tooth unchanged. This combination allows us to provide you with teeth that are 6-10 shades whiter in about an hour.

Before deciding whether ZOOM! in-office whitening is right for you, Dr. Eric Meyer, D.D.S. will conduct a comprehensive examination of your teeth and gums to ensure proper health, as well as talk with you about your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits to determine if you will benefit from whitening. To learn more about ZOOM! visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric Meyer, D.D.S. in Fullerton, CA, call 714-879-7943.

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!

 

Dental Implants

Having missing teeth is often embarrassing and frustrating. It keeps patients from being comfortable with smiling, but it also makes it difficult to do other normal everyday things, like talking and eating.

With dental implants, patients have the opportunity to replace their missing teeth without having to get dentures or dental bridges. Dental implants are done by implanting a titanium metal post into the jawbone, which then causes the bone to heal around the implant. This metal post acts as the new tooth root. Once the healing is complete, an abutment is placed over the top of the post, followed by a crown.

Here in our Fullerton, CA dental office, we make porcelain crowns that look and feel like natural teeth, using the adjacent teeth to create a tooth to match them in color, size and shape. From beginning to end, dental implants in our practice take 3-6 months and 2-3 visits. The longest wait is the initial healing time after implanting the post into the jawbone. After that is complete, we finish it with the crown. While the implant itself is permanent, the crown may need to be replaced after 10-15 years.

Call Dr. Eric Meyer at 714-879-7943 to schedule an appointment for dental implants.

Laser Bleaching for the Holidays

With the holidays coming up, you want to look your best for parties and holiday pictures. This is possible when you get laser bleaching right here in our office. Laser bleaching is one of the best ways of to get your teeth looking their whitest as it is safe, quick and very effective.

If your teeth are looking a little discolored or stained, make them brighter with laser bleaching, performed by Dr. Eric Meyer. Also known as power whitening, laser bleaching uses safe laser technology for getting the teeth up to 10 shades whiter in as little as an hour.

With laser bleaching, we add a whitening gel to your teeth and shine a low intensity laser on them for short periods of time throughout the hour you sit comfortably in the chair. During each increment, your teeth continue to get whiter and whiter until you are satisfied with the results.

Not only is laser bleaching very successful for our patients, but the results are long lasting. This means you have your bright smile through the holidays and long after. By the holidays next year, your teeth may still be bright and shining without needing a repeat treatment.

We encourage patients to get a brighter, happier smile before the holidays to call our Fullerton, CA office at 714-879-7943 for laser bleaching.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer screenings are one of many services we offer here at Fullerton Dental. Dr. Eric Meyer provides these screenings during each dental check-up to look for early signs of oral cancer, which is usually treatable if found early. It only takes a few moments to complete and lets our patients get an early diagnosis for more successful treatment.

Approximately 41,000 people have been diagnosed with oral cancer in the United States in 2013 alone, according to the American Dental Association, so it is important to get screened. If you smoke or drink heavily, it is essential that you have regular oral cancer screenings.

The following steps are completed during oral cancer screenings:

1. An ultraviolet light is used to look inside the mouth and on the gums and tongue.

2. The outside of the face is inspected for sores, including the lips, cheeks and neck.

3. Sores and other spots are examined inside the mouth, including the cheeks, inner lips, gums and roof of the mouth.

Oral screenings are a part of dental hygiene exams and check-ups and take only about 5-10 minutes in total. If Dr. Eric Meyer finds any unusual spots, a biopsy is taken of the tissue for further testing.

Call our office at 714-879-7943 if you have more questions about how these screenings are performed or to schedule an oral cancer screening.

Intraoral Camera

Here at Fullerton Dental, we are happy to announce that we are now using a new intraoral camera in the office. The intraoral camera provides many benefits to our patients and our dentist, Dr. Eric Meyer. It is a handy diagnostic tool that lets us look into your mouth to diagnose any potential issues early so they can be treated as soon as possible. The intraoral camera is the newest addition to the advanced technology we are already utilizing for diagnosing and treatment of different dental conditions.

The new intraoral camera in the office provides the following advantages:

• ·         Dental problems are detected and diagnosed early.


• ·         There is more interaction between our dentist and patients.


• ·         There is better record keeping.


• ·         Patients view the same images on the computer that the dentist does.

Once the intraoral camera, which is the size of a pen, views inside the patient’s mouth, images show up on a computer screen in the office. Patients follow along as we show them various issues with their teeth or gums, whether it is a cavity or periodontal disease signs. It is a safe and effective diagnostic tool we are happy to be using.

Visit our dental office in Fullerton, CA to try out the intraoral camera for yourself!

Importance of Using Insurance Benefits Before the End of the Year

It is nearing the end of the year, which means it is time to use your remaining dental insurance benefits. Dr. Eric Meyer here at Fullerton Dental wants all of his patients to understand the importance of using insurance benefits before the end of the year.

Most dental insurance policies lapse at the end of the year, which means you're only entitled to those benefits until December 31st. When January 1st starts again, so does your insurance. By fitting in dental visits now, you take advantage of the benefits awarded to you and save in the long run.

If you’ve been putting off needed dental work, now is the time to schedule it here at Fullerton Dental -- before year end. If you get dental procedures now and have benefits left, you can get them covered and not have to add the costs to next year’s maximum benefit amount.

Since insurance benefits for dental rarely roll over, we encourage you to use them or lose them. Remember, you dental insurance is in place to maintain your good oral health, so be sure to take full advantage of it.

Contact us at 714-879-7943 for questions about your dental insurance benefits and to schedule an appointment.