Toothbrush Care

Brushing your teeth plays an important everyday role for personal oral hygiene and effective plaque removal. You may not give much thought to cleaning your toothbrush; however appropriate toothbrush care and maintenance are important considerations for oral hygiene. At the dental practice of Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, we want you to know how and when to replace, clean, and store your toothbrush.

The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush approximately every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed. However, toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on factors unique to each patient. It is also important to never share a toothbrush because this practice could be a concern for people with compromised immune systems or existing infectious diseases. If your toothbrush comes in contact with another, thoroughly rinse the brush with warm tap water to remove any remaining toothbrush and debris. When you are done using the toothbrush, store it in an upright position and allow the toothbrush to air-dry until used again.

If you have further questions regarding toothbrush care, 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.

Veneers and Lumineers

The office of Eric M. Meyer in Fullerton is a high-tech clinic for general and cosmetic dentistry. Among our most highly-sought after cosmetic procedures are veneers. These thin porcelain shells fit over the front and edges of teeth, masking discoloration, chips, small gaps, and minor degrees of crookedness. While traditional veneers have a very high rate of approval among patients, Dr. Meyer’s office also offers the brand product Lumineers, which is less strenuous on patients during the application process.

The main difference between Lumineers and other veneers is their thickness. Older veneers were heavy enough to make a big difference on bones as small as the front teeth. To make them fit, dentists had to reshape their patients’ teeth by grinding and sanding them, which could cause a painful recovery. Lumineers are much thinner, which means they can usually be applied without making more than superficial changes to the teeth they are being placed over. Besides being less obtrusive and painful, they can also be removed.

Other than sanding, the application of traditional veneers and Lumineers is much the same. A doctor will make an impression of the patient’s mouth, and order custom-made porcelain shells from a manufacturer (Lumineers are made by DenMat Labs). Following a deep cleaning, they will be attached with dental cement. Neither kind of veneer relieves patients of their obligation to brush and floss regularly, but they can provide a huge boost in confidence and appearance.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Oral Cancer and HPV

At Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton Dental practice, we’ve paid close attention to the latest research into oral cancers. The good news is that scientists have recently made progress identifying how cancers spread between different organs, which is relevant to a group of cancers which affect everything from the hard palate to the tonsils. The bad news is that, while overall cancer rates have declined, new diagnoses of oral cancer have skyrocketed in the United States and United Kingdom. Researchers believe this is due to the human papillomavirus (HPV).

In the past, most oral cancers were caused by nicotine use, so anti-cancer efforts focused on smoking. While these efforts successfully caused tobacco use to decline, they may have unintentionally created a false sense of security among young people which led them to forego oral cancer screenings. In fact, risky sexual practices have led to widespread oral HPV, particularly among young men, and while most strains of the virus have no known effect, there are at least nine which cause some kind of cancer.

HPV-related oral and oropharyngeal cancers usually develop further back in the throat than nicotine-related related cancers and are less likely to be noticed by patients before becoming extremely dangerous. Therefore, it is of crucial importance for sexually-active people of all ages to get oral cancer screenings regardless of their smoking or drinking habits.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Soft Tissue Grafting

After gum disease, your gums can be left with recession, which unfortunately causes further complications. In order to fix recessed gums, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA can perform a soft tissue graft.

When gum disease advances, it can cause the gum to recede, which means they pull back from the teeth. This elongates visible tooth material, causing exposure of the tooth roots. This can cause sensitivity, pain, and it can even cause a resurgence of gum disease. In order to prevent these problems, Dr. Meyer performs a soft tissue graft.

Soft tissue grafting takes tissue from the roof of the mouth or palate and stitches it down to the gums to cover the exposed area. In cases where there is a lot of gum tissue near the tooth, the gums may be cut and stretched over the exposed root, instead of taking tissue from the roof or palate of the mouth. The graft promotes even more gum growth and when the healing is complete, the patient will have a healthy gum line that holds teeth snuggly.  

Gum disease can become a vicious cycle it if is allowed. To inquire about soft tissue grafting, give our Fullerton, CA office a call at (714) 879-7943 or visit Dr. Eric M Meyer’s website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Sinus Lift

Bone grafting can be necessary when a patient does not have enough bone material in their jawline to hold a dental implant. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS offers sinus lifts here in our Fullerton, CA office. This is a procedure that adds bone to the space between the upper molars and the sinus cavity.

Sometimes the jawbone right below the sinus cavity is too small to allow a dental implant to be successfully placed. When a tooth is missing for a while, the bone in the area where the tooth used to be can begin to deteriorate. In other cases, a patient may just be born with a smaller jawbone. Also, sometimes the sinuses on either side of the nose are just too low for placing an implant. A sinus lift adds bone to the area between the upper jaw and the sinuses.

The bone for the graft is usually taken from another area in the jaw or from a place like the hip bone or shin bone. Sometimes it is from a bone bank. The grafting process begins with cutting the tissue where the implant will be. The bone is exposed and a small opening is created. The membrane separating the sinus cavity from the jaw is pushed up and away. The bone graft material is then packed into the space. Afterward, the area is stitched closed. The area will need several months to heal and during this time, the new bone material will promote even more new bone growth. The end result is a large and strong jawbone that can hold a dental implant for life.

If you are interested in a dental implant or the process of bone grafting, be sure to visit our website or give us a call. To set up an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, call our Fullerton, CA office at (714) 879-7943. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Do Wisdom Teeth Have a Purpose?

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. During this “age of wisdom” phase, sometimes teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often they are misaligned and require removal. Some might think of wisdom teeth as spare tires, because if you lost your teeth, the wisdom teeth would be extra teeth that come in and function like normal teeth. At the dental practice of Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, we may recommend extraction depending on their position and stage of development.

So why do we have them? Anthropologists believe wisdom teeth or the third set of molars, were the evolutionary answer to our ancestor’s early diet of coarse, rough food – like leaves, roots, nuts, and meats – which required more chewing power and resulted in excessive wear of the teeth. The modern diet with its softer foods, along with marvels of modern technologies such as forks, spoons, and knives, has made the need for wisdom teeth nonexistent; however, they don’t always need to be removed.

If your wisdom teeth are still present and they are beginning to bother you, give us a call to discuss your 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.

Post-Op Tooth Extraction Care

There are many reasons why a tooth may need to be extracted. Tooth decay, gum disease, or even for orthodontic purposes name a few. After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches and you will need to follow strict instructions that Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS will give you. After the surgery, you will need to rest and you should expect the extraction site to bleed a little following extraction. In addition, here are a few things to remember during post-op care.

If bleeding continues for longer than 24 hours you should call our office immediately. Once you return home after the surgery you should rest, but do not lie flat. This could prolong the bleeding. One of our doctors will prescribe you pain medication, as well as cleaning solution for the extraction site, so if you become sore take as directed. It’s important to limit yourself to soft foods such as gelatin, pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes, etc. so that the stitches are not punctured. When drinking, make sure you do not use a straw, because the sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process.

If you are experiencing tooth discomfort or have questions about post-op aftercare, please 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.