Gum Disease Stages

If you want to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, then you need to practice a proper oral hygiene routine on a daily basis. If you don’t, you’re already headed down the road toward gum disease. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth and there are three stages that you need to be aware of. You should always schedule professional cleanings and oral exams with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS twice a year to avoid this condition.

• Gingivitis – This is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum line. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. This is when you’ll notice blood in the sink after you complete your brushing routine. However, at this early stage, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.


• Periodontitis – This is the second stage of gum disease. By this point, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may even begin to form a pocket below the gum line, which traps food and plaque.


• Advanced Periodontitis – This is the final stage of gum disease, and the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are officially destroyed. In this case, your teeth may begin to shift or loosen and your bite may also be affected. If aggressive treatment can’t save them, the teeth will need to be extracted.

If you have sensitive gums, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

How an Apicoectomy Saves a Tooth

When root canals fail to completely clear up a tooth infection, it means the infection is very deep. To clear up the infection for good, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS can perform an apicoectomy here in our Fullerton, CA office. An apicoectomy is a procedure to clean out a root canal from the tip of the root.

An apicoectomy may be necessary to save a tooth if one or more root canal procedures failed to keep the infection away. An apicoectomy is a surgical procedure that cleans out the infection from the other side of the tooth, directly through the tooth’s root. First, Dr. Meyer will make incisions in the gums to reveal the root’s tip. Sometimes bone tissue will need to be removed to access the root, so in that case, bone tissue removal will be the next step. Upon access to the root, any infected tissue surrounding the root will be removed. The last few millimeters of the root will also be removed so the root canal can then be cleaned out and sealed again. The bone and gum tissues are put back in place and the gums are stitched together to heal.

When root canals fail, an apicoectomy is the next step to make sure the patient does not lose the tooth. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, call our Fullerton, CA office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Implant-Retained Dentures

Dentures are a common tooth replacement option; however, many patients do not like when dentures are ill-fitting or loose. For a more stable option, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS provides his patients with implant-retained dentures here in his Fullerton, CA dental practice.

Implant-retained dentures are a much stronger and more stable base for dentures. This is because the dentures are clipped onto implants that are inserted into your bone sockets. It is like giving the implants an anchor. To do this, Dr. Meyer will insert four to six mini implants into the upper or lower gum line. Mini implants are about half the size of traditional implants, so they do not require an incision. This means healing takes much less time; the dentures can be installed the same day as the implants. In addition, most denture sets are able to be altered to fit onto implants, so many patients can keep the dentures they are already using.

The dentures are able to be clipped in and out by the patient. Patients will now be able to enjoy talking, laughing, eating, and smiling all without worrying about their dentures moving around. Implants also slow down the degeneration of the jaw bone, which is a natural occurrence when teeth are missing. This means the dentures will remain fitting comfortably for a long time.

If you are experiencing ill-fitting dentures, it may be time to look into implant-retained dentures. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS in Fullerton, CA, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Dental Benefits of Xylitol

If you wish to reduce the bacteria in your mouth and have healthier teeth, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS suggests incorporating some xylitol into your diet. Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that helps prevent cavities and unlike regular table sugar (sucrose) that causes cavities, xylitol protects the teeth from decay. The next time you decide to sweeten your coffee or tea with some sugar, reach for the xylitol instead.

Xylitol is equal in sweetness and volume to sugar and the granular form can be used in many of the ways that sugar is used, including to sweeten cereals and hot beverages. Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consume the sugars we eat. When we eat food that contains ordinary sugar, it gives bacteria on your teeth energy, allowing them to multiply and start producing acids that can eat away the enamel on teeth. Xylitol has the properties to reduce these cavity-causing pests because the bacteria are unable to digest it.  Xylitol is widely available in health food stores and since it comes in a variety of forms, you can use it for almost anything.

If you have further questions about the dental benefits of xylitol, please give us a call. To learn about our services we provide 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.

Show Off Your Smile!

At the dental practice of Dr. Eric M Meyer DDS, we always want you to be ready to smile for the camera. If you need a confidence boost because your smile looks a little lackluster, we offer a variety of teeth whitening services to help your pearly whites shine bright. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we thought we’d share these tips that will help you show off the photogenic smile you already have.

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.


• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.


• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

If you wish to improve the appearance of your smile, please give us a call. To learn about our services we provide 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.

Teeth Types and Functions

Teeth talk is popular at the dental practice of Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS. In fact, our staff takes pride in educating you about keeping your teeth healthy on a regular basis. Since we’re already on the topic of teeth, have you ever wondered why all of your choppers are shaped differently? That’s because you have different types that all serve a different purpose. Your teeth look different from one another because they are designed to do different things. Not only do they help you speak, but how else would you be able to swallow your food?  Read on to learn about the different types of teeth and their functions!

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your pearly whites, please give us a call. To learn about our services we provide 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.

Make Sure You Are Brushing For Two Minutes!

To get a good cleaning, you should be spending about two minutes brushing your teeth. However, many patients only spend a few seconds. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA wants to ensure his patients are taking excellent home oral care. Take some tips for making sure you are spending enough time brushing!

When brushing, you need to make sure you hit all the surfaces of the teeth including the insides, the fronts, the chewing surfaces, and the backs of the back molars. In addition, you should be brushing the roof of your mouth, your tongue, and the insides of your cheeks. These are places where bacteria can collect and make dental plaque worse.

Many music players have counters on them, so turn on your favorite tune and rock out while you brush! Just look for the two-minute mark. Another great way is to set up an hour glass, or in this case, a minute glass. You just need to turn it over a second time for the full two minutes.

Splitting the mouth into four sections is also a good way to break up the minutes and get an even brushing. Spend thirty seconds on the upper-right section, thirty seconds on the upper-left section, and so on for the two lower sections.

Good dental care will lead to good dental checkups. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com.