If you suffer from migraine headaches, you’re well versed in that throbbing viselike pain squeezing one or both sides of your head. What you may not know is that clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth may be the real culprit. Both of these behaviors, known as bruxism, can cause disorders of your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the hinge-like joints that connect your upper and lower jaw.
At Sargon Dental in Encino and West Hollywood, California, our experienced team has helped many patients say goodbye to headache agony by diagnosing and treating the actual underlining problem: a TMJ disorder (TMJD).
Migraines and your jaw
Your TMJ is supported by muscles that enable you to move your jaw when speaking, eating, and yawning. Pain that starts here can travel to the skull, mimicking the same all-encompassing symptoms as migraines. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching, also known as bruxism, can occur during the day or at night while you sleep. If you regularly wake up with a heading, there’s a likely chance that a TMJ disorder spurred by night bruxism is to blame.
What causes bruxism?
Why some people suffer from bruxism and others don’t isn’t entirely understood. Still, medical experts suspect it’s due to a combination of factors, including anxiety, stress, a misaligned bite, certain sleep disorders, and side effects of certain types of medicine, such as the group of antidepressants known as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Is your migraine really a TMJ disorder?
If conventional migraine treatments have been unsuccessful in providing relief, it’s worth investigating whether bruxism may be the underlining issue.
Other common signs of a TMJ disorder to consider include:
It’s also possible to be diagnosed with migraines and TMJ problems. The two often co-exist. Having TMJ increases your risk of migraines by almost 60%.
Treating TMJ pain
Depending on the severity of your pain, your dentist may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
To learn whether your migraine pain is a TMJ condition and how to treat it, schedule an appointment at Sargon Dental today.
You don’t have to live with what’s bothering you about your smile. Whether you’ve got a gap in your teeth, staining, a cracked tooth, or some other cosmetic issue, veneers can correct the problem and deliver a full set of even pearly whites.
That’s why our Sargon Dental team — Sargon Lazarof, DDS, Dan Dansie, DDS, Fahtema Sadat, DDS, and Mitra Tahvildarian, PhD, CFMP, AGNP — offer veneers at our offices in Encino and West Hollywood, California, and Pleasant Grove, Utah.
We bond these thin shells to the front of your teeth, allowing you to cover a broad range of dental problems.
Should you consider veneers? Here are a few reasons we might recommend them for you:
Most people are candidates
Veneers work for a broad range of people trying to correct myriad smile imperfections. At our offices, our dental team can help you find out if you’re a candidate for veneers by performing an oral exam, reviewing your oral history, taking digital X-rays, and talking with you about your smile goals.
The good news? The majority of people are candidates for veneers.
They deliver smile transformation
We often recommend veneers to correct dental problems because of their versatility. These smile-improvement tools can cover up:
How can veneers do all of this? We create each custom-made veneer based on your specific smile goals. Whether you want to correct a single tooth or you want to transform your entire smile, we can create veneers that blend seamlessly into your mouth.
They work fast
If something’s bothering you about your smile, you probably want it corrected as quickly as possible. When you choose veneers, you can usually have a dazzling new smile within two simple office visits.
At your first appointment, our team confirms that you’re a candidate for veneers. After that, we prepare your tooth for the veneer by removing a small amount (about one millimeter) of enamel from its surface. This step ensures your veneer can fit properly without sticking out further than your surrounding teeth.
Then, we take a mold of the prepared tooth to create your custom-made veneer. We send you home with temporary veneers.
Roughly a week later, your veneer arrives from the dental lab and you return to our office for placement. This visit involves a thorough cleaning, final tooth prep, and bonding the veneer permanently in place with special dental cement, hardened into place with ultraviolet light.
You leave that appointment with a completely transformed smile. You can eat, talk, and drink right away.
If you think veneers might be right for you, don’t hesitate to find out if you’re a candidate. Contact Sargon Dental by calling the office nearest you or booking your appointment online today.
When you feel good about how you look, you proceed through the world with confidence, and your smile is a critical part of how you look. A great smile can make you look younger, it gives the impression of excellent health, friendliness, and it can change how people feel about you.
Whether you’re seeking to improve your professional or your social life, feeling good about how you look can help. Even if you just want to improve your smile for yourself, you may be surprised at the other benefits a smile makeover can have!
The highly trained professionals at Sargon Dental understand how important a great smile is, and we want to help you get exactly the look you’ve always wanted. When we design a smile makeover, we make sure it’s tailored exactly to you, which means you get a look that suits you better than you can even imagine. Whether you need a crown, whitening, veneers, or some combination of treatments, we can help.
Designing your smile
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you notice that some teeth aren’t quite as white or as straight as you’d like? If you’re like many people, the list of imperfections you notice is quite long and leaves you wondering where you could even start.
We can help! We begin with a consultation so that we can assess your oral health. Once we understand your needs, we can discuss what you want to see when you look in the mirror and the best route to make that happen.
If you have missing, discolored, chipped, or broken teeth, we’ll certainly address those issues. However, we also take into account your unique features, lifestyle, and goals. No two smiles are alike, and we want to design one that suits you and your budget.
It’s about more than looks
Although you may begin your smile makeover journey with cosmetic concerns at the top of your mind, we also make sure to address your oral health, too. We work hard to make the most of your time in the dental chair by combining procedures when we can, saving you time.
Some procedures may require multiple visits, so it makes sense to combine procedures when possible. You’ll reach your goal of a perfect smile all the more quickly!
Another benefit is that we provide the services you need in an order that makes sense. If your teeth are crooked and need to be straightened, we handle that problem first before something like whitening. Too often, people have to have procedures repeated because one cosmetic procedure undoes a previous one. We create a sensible plan that saves you time, hassle, and money.
You have choices
A few of the procedures our smile makeover patients choose from include:
Regardless of your current situation, we can help you get a smile that reflects your personality and draws others to you. If you’re ready to find out how we can improve your smile, schedule an appointment today!
Your teeth are designed to last a lifetime, but unfortunately, life may have other plans, forcing you to join the 178 million Americans who are missing at least one tooth. Although there are several replacement options, none excel in both form and function the way that dental implants do — mimicking your tooth right down to the roots. Now imagine that you can replace your tooth in just one visit with an option that will go the distance.
At Sargon Dental, our own Dr. Sargon Lazarof is the pioneer and inventor of Ultratooth, a dental implant restoration that is ready to perform after just one visit.
Here’s a look at how Ultratooth provides you with an immediate restoration option, giving you something to smile about.
Dental implants: The gold standard for missing teeth
Whether decay, disease, or an accident has robbed you of a tooth (or teeth), you need to find a replacement option that will help you smile, chew, and talk with ease. Checking all of these boxes are dental implants, which provide superior stability as we’re able to anchor the implant right into your jawbone. It’s for this reason, and more, that dentists place about five million implants each year in the United States.
One of the more serious problems that crops up with missing teeth is that you lose much more than meets the eye, namely the roots that go down into your jawbone. This loss causes bone deterioration since your jaw no longer registers activity in the area and ceases to rebuild the bone.
With a dental implant, we place a metal post into your jaw, and the bone builds up around it, fusing it into place. We then cap the post with a crown, which fits in seamlessly with your surrounding teeth.
Ultratooth: The platinum standard for missing teeth
Although there are many advantages to choosing a dental implant, the one challenge was that it was often a months-long process to place the implant because we had to wait for it to fuse into place before capping the implant.
Recognizing the need of our patients for faster replacement options, Dr. Sargon invented Ultratooth, which connects into your jawbone immediately after placement thanks to an innovative expansion feature that holds the implant in place. This feature allows you to use your tooth right away, while also allowing your jawbone to build up and around it naturally, further securing the implant.
To find out whether you’re a candidate for Ultratooth, Dr. Sargon first performs a complete evaluation of your dental and general health. Using advanced imaging, he ensures that your jawbone is healthy and that there are no signs of decay or disease.
Once he gives you the greenlight, Dr. Sargon is able to place the implant and crown in a single visit, allowing you to walk out with a tooth that’s clinically shown to last 30 years or more.
To get the most out of your Ultratooth implant, we recommend that you care for it as you would your existing teeth, which means brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and rinsing after meals.
If you aren’t keen on the idea of waiting months to finally restore your smile, contact one of our locations in Encino or West Hollywood, California, to schedule your Ultratooth consultation.
Following the Boy Scout motto to “be prepared” comes in handy in case of a dental emergency. The ability to handle the unexpected is always a plus, so things don’t go from bad to worse.
Knowing what to do if you or a loved one experiences a cracked tooth or crown or a bad toothache can make a difference in your recovery.
At Sargon Dental in Encino and West Hollywood, California, we leave room in our schedule for dental emergencies. We understand that “life happens,” and even though we don’t wish for them, accidents occur.
In addition to getting you in the chair as soon as possible, our team provides solid over-the-phone advice to help you ease your pain, reduce oral irritation, and keep your problem under control until you receive proper treatment.
Here’s what to know when the unexpected happens, as well as the type of self-care strategies that help you manage your problem on the way to our office.
What constitutes a dental emergency?
Following are problems that classify as emergencies. If you experience any of these, it’s important to seek dental treatment as soon as possible.
Simply put, any acute oral injury or pain that you can’t effectively treat or relieve on your own qualifies as a dental emergency.
Self-care when the emergency occurs
Knowing what to do if you have a dental emergency can improve the outcome, especially if you’re dealing with a time-sensitive problem like a knocked-out adult tooth. Following are the self-care strategies we typically recommend:
Toothache
An aching tooth is likely the result of decay that hasn’t been treated or an infection at the base of your tooth. Both situations require immediate treatment.
Once you call our office for a same-day appointment, rinse your mouth with warm salt water to cleanse the area and remove food particles. Holding a cold compress over the area can also provide gentle relief.
If you need pain relief, take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) other than aspirin because aspirin can increase bleeding during dental procedures.
Cracked or chipped teeth
Follow the same self-care routine as for a toothache. In addition, don’t chew in the area of the affected tooth. Ingest soft foods until you can come into the office. If you have part of the tooth that has broken off, save it in a container with water; we may be able to reattach it.
Lost crowns or other dental work
If you’ve lost a crown, a filling or bonding, call our office for an appointment. These cases don’t necessarily require same-day treatment, but they should be treated within a few days to keep bacteria out of the opening in your tooth.
Pharmacies have an over-the-counter filling material that seals an exposed cavity and protects it from infection until you come in for your appointment.
You can also find over-the-counter dental cement at your pharmacy that temporarily holds a loose crown in place. Make sure your tooth is clean before applying either product.
Unattached permanent tooth
If a tooth is knocked out, coming into the office as soon as possible can mean the difference between saving your natural tooth or winding up with a dental implant.
You should rinse the tooth, place it in a clean container, and soak it in milk, saliva, or water — keeping it moist is key to keeping it alive. Then, head directly to our office so we can determine whether your tooth can be successfully reattached.
We’re here for you if you need emergency dental work. Call Sargon Dental in case of emergency, and call or book online to keep your regular twice-a-year appointments.
It’s challenging to know which activities are safe and which are not during a pandemic. Regular dental care is an important part of your overall health, and at Sargon Dental, we want to reassure you that our office is safe during COVID-19 for you and your loved ones.
Across the state of California, dentist offices are open under new health protocols during COVID-19. At Sargon Dental in Encino and West Hollywood, California, new security measures are in place to keep you and your family healthy so you can get the dental care you need.
Your health and safety is the top priority for Dr. Sargon Lazarof and our team of dentistry experts. That’s why we follow all protocols set forth by our state and local governments concerning the pandemic.
We also know education is the key to helping our patients feel safe and protected. We’ve curated this guide about the COVID-19 virus and dental care, and what we’re doing to protect you.
About COVID-19
New information about COVID-19 is being discovered every day, and scientists are working hard to develop a safe and effective vaccine. But the distribution of an FDA-approved vaccine is still months away. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe in the meantime.
COVID-19 is transmitted via airborne droplets, making masks essential. If an infected person sneezes, laughs, coughs, or even talks near you — even if they are asymptomatic — you could breathe in the contaminated air and become sick.
The COVID-19 virus can remain alive in the air for up to three hours. This means that even if you’re not around other people, you’re still at risk. Practicing social distancing and only going out for essential activities helps eliminate some of the risks.
Infected surfaces can also spread the virus since COVID-19 can stay active and alive for up to three days on plastic and stainless steel materials. For example, if an infected person touches a countertop, door handle, or sink, they can leave behind germs that the next person touching the surface may pick up.
To reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 through surface contact, it’s vital to wear a mask and keep your hands clean and away from your face where the virus can enter your system.
About COVID-19 and dental care
To prevent dental issues from becoming more serious and leading to potentially life-threatening infections, it’s imperative to get dental care early. Preventive dental care keeps more than your teeth and gums healthy — it protects your overall health.
New regulations by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are taken seriously at Sargon Dental. We follow all guidelines put forth by the State of California and our local government, taking extra precautions to ensure your safety and wellbeing.
All patients must wear a mask inside our office, and we urge patients to reschedule their dental appointment if they’ve been sick or if someone in the household is ill. Anyone with a fever higher than 100 degrees should not visit the office.
To protect your health and the health of those in our community, patients should come to our Encino office alone, unless instructed otherwise. This helps restrict the possibility of infection for everyone.
Our practice is also limiting the number of people in our office at one time, following all guidelines from the state and ADA. We’ve also cleared the office of any frequently touched shared objects, such as magazines, to help reduce the risk of spreading any viruses.
All tools and remaining surfaces in our office and lobby are cleaned and sanitized regularly. In addition, you may notice our staff wearing extra personal protective equipment (PPE), and patients will be required to wear a mask when not undergoing treatment or an exam.
Dental care is safe during COVID-19
To help Americans stay safe during COVID-19 and still get the regular dental care they need, the CDC has implemented universal control measures for all dentist offices. We adhere to these standards.
At Sargon Dental, you can rest easy knowing you and your loved ones are safe while getting the oral treatment you need. If you’re suffering from any dental discomfort, don’t wait to seek treatment! And if you’ve put off your regular exam, now is the time to come in to ensure we catch any issues early.
Contact us today to schedule a dental exam at our Encino or West Hollywood office. You can also request an appointment online using our convenient booking tool.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.
But what do you do if you still need health care? Fortunately, Telehealth can help.
How Telehealth works
Telehealth — or telemedicine — is a healthcare solution that allows you to meet with your doctor virtually instead of going to the office. Our 100% HIPAA-compliant system uses a two-way, high definition video, so we can talk face-to-face as if we’re in the same room together.
With Telehealth, you can also:
This streamlined approach originally evolved to help expand medical care to men, women, and children living in remote areas. Today, 76% of hospitals use Telehealth technology, and US employers could save as much as $6 billion a year by making telemedicine technology available to their employees. But the advantages of Telehealth go far beyond financial savings.
The benefits of telemedicine
Whether you live close to your doctor or in a rural area, you probably know firsthand that even a routine visit involves wait times of 18 minutes or longer — and that doesn’t even include the time you spend getting there. Telehealth technology eliminates that.
By connecting to your doctor in a virtual setting, you can expect to:
At the same time, you also reduce your risk of exposure to contagious illnesses, like the common cold, flu, and COVID-19.
Telemedicine is also available to patients of all ages, including children, older adults, and those in vulnerable health. That makes it an ideal healthcare solution for everyone, especially when someone can no longer leave their home safely but still requires medical attention.
What to expect during a Telehealth appointment
Telemedicine technology has never been easier to use, simply:
You can also upload photos, if needed, to help us diagnose your symptoms.
For more information on telemedicine or to schedule your virtual visit, contact us by calling or requesting your Telehealth appointment online today.
A radiant smile is rooted not only in confidence, but in good oral health that’s why next to hair care, teeth whitening is the most in-demand cosmetic procedure in the USA Teeth whitening is suitable for most people with good general and dental health.
What are the options!
Teeth whitening is the process used for improving the color of a person’s teeth by correcting the yellow, brown or reddish stains. Teeth whitening is suitable for most people with good general and dental health, so number of options are available for you to get brighter smile than ever
Teeth whitening at home
Teeth whitening at home with a kit you can buy at any drugstore or even one that can be bought from your dentist with easy method written on kit. It’s as handy as it sounds
In-office teeth whitening
The newest procedure for whitening your teeth is the laser method and this too is done in the dentist’s chair. Often your regular dentist doesn’t perform laser bleach teeth whitening; rather a dentist schooled in cosmetic dentistry is the one to perform the procedure.
He applies teeth whitening gel with a laser instrument. Then a translucent gel will be applied to your teeth. The gel is infused with crystals and a laser light will be used in order to activate those crystals. They in turn absorb energy from the laser light in order to penetrate into the enamel to increase the teeth whitening effect.
Take notes, Customers getting their teeth whitened solely using a dentist can be costly!
Is teeth whitening a lengthy process?
If you ask how much time does the procedure take, well the time taken to whiten your teeth will depend entirely on how discolored and stained your teeth are at present.
If your teeth are fairly close to your desired color, then you will only need to be in the chair for a short period. Typically, it takes about an hour to accomplish a whiter smile. But one thing is sure, that you only need one visit to see a visible difference in the colorr of you teeth.
How White Can Your Teeth Get?
First thing first, teeth whitening procedure cannot perform miracles so if your teeth are discolored because of heavy smoking, coffee or cola beverages, you can rest assured that they will become brighter than before.
Vita shade guide
Although there is no set standard in the field of cosmetic dentistry for labeling the color of your teeth but one standard that is often used is called the Vita shade guide. There are four ranges of shade in the Vita guide and they are:
When it comes to the A shade group there are five different levels of darknes For B, C, and D ranges, there are just four different levels of darkness.
They still look natural
The goal for anyone having a teeth whitening procedure is to have their teeth looking as bright as possible and also looking natural. Therefore, not all of your teeth will be of the same color. Eye teeth are usually the darkest of the teeth and your front teeth are often the whitest. Molars can land between the brightest and the darkest of your teeth.
What to look forward to
In most cases professional teeth whitening treatments will only last as long as your bad habits will prevail so if you continue smoking or drinking coffee then the staining will return around six to nine months after the treatment but can last up to eighteen months if care and attention is considered. How your teeth are structured and the amount of dental work you have had before as well as the teeth whitening procedure you choose will directly affect the end results But there’s one thing you can be sure of: you’ll smile your brightest !!
Teeth whitening is becoming more popular as the years go by. The truth is, that more and more people want to have whiter teeth. A bright smile is a symbol of confidence and beauty, among other valuable attributes. It’s something that the majority of people strive for. If you are considering teeth whitening near you, in this article you will find all the information you need.
Why do teeth become stained?
There are many reasons why teeth can become discolored. One reason that can’t be prevented, is growing older. As we age, the enamel, which is the external layer of your teeth, gradually wears off. As this happens, the underlying yellow tissue called dentin is exposed and this alters the color of your teeth.
Teeth can also become stained from certain foods and beverages. Some of the most common staining foods and beverages are red wine, coffee, sodas, tomato-based sauces, and soy sauce. These introduce pigments into your enamel that are difficult to eliminate and that discolor your teeth.
How can you prevent tooth discoloration?
There are two easy ways to prevent this from happening. The first one is to have excellent oral health habits. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily and having regular checkups with a dentist in Encino can keep your teeth from becoming stained to a certain extent. However, if you want to make a significant difference, then avoid all staining foods and beverages. If you eventually consume one of these beverages at some point, then it is a good idea to use a straw to keep the beverage from coming into contact with your front teeth, since these stains are the most noticeable.
Is professional teeth whitening worth it?
If your teeth are already stained, then it’s a good idea to consider teeth whitening in Encino. During this procedure, your dentist will apply a high-concentration bleaching gel on your teeth which interacts with the enamel to break apart any discolored molecules. After this procedure, your teeth will end up becoming three to eight shades lighter.
Generally, this procedure costs between $650 and $1000. These prices are considerably higher than other options found on the market, but they provide much faster and more dramatic results than any other technique. Therefore, if what you are looking for is a drastic change in the color of your teeth, you should visit a dental office in Encino.
What other teeth whitening options are on the market?
Nowadays, the market is saturated with teeth whitening products. The most popular ones are products you can use in the comfort of your own home. They contain a bleaching gel with the same ingredients as the ones used by dentists, but the concentrations of these chemicals are significantly lower for safety reasons. Therefore, the whitening potential of the gel is not that impressive and may induce very slight changes in the color of your teeth.
Are there any side effects?
If you are looking into Encino teeth whitening, you should learn about the side effects associated with this procedure. The most common one is an increase in tooth sensitivity. This happens because the bleaching gel opens up the pores in your teeth. Therefore, your nerves are much more exposed to the external world and can be stimulated by slight temperature changes. This can be a bit bothersome, but it fades after a couple of days. Another side effect is experiencing some irritation to your gums when they come in contact with the bleaching gel. However, your dentist will apply a protective gel to prevent this from happening. For more information on professional teeth whitening, speak with a dentist near you.
When you wake up in the morning, you expect to feel well rested and ready for the day, but what if instead of feeling great, you constantly have headaches or jaw pain? The answer might be something that you don’t even know you’re doing: grinding your teeth.
Though we’re mostly conscious of our actions throughout the day, when we undergo stress or are bored, sometimes our body finds a way to cope and for some, that’s grinding their teeth. Sometimes it happens at night while we sleep, in which case a night guard near you can be prescribed by your dentist in Encino. You don’t have to wait for a prescription though if you already know that teeth grinding is an issue for you. Night guards near you are available at most pharmacies and drug stores over the counter, but while they may be affordable, they’re not always comfortable. Getting a night guard through your dentist, although expensive, is far more comfortable as it is fitted to your mouth.
If a night guard in Encino doesn’t seem like a fitting choice for you, there are a couple other options.
Straightening Your Teeth: Misaligned teeth that don’t fit together properly in your mouth can lead to some uncomfortable situations. By using braces or Invisalign, you can correct the problem and avoid the symptoms of teeth grinding in the process.
Coping Strategies for Stress: The most common reason that people clench and grind their teeth is because of stress. However, having a healthy way of dealing with the stress such as a stress ball and other objects, may prevent you from resorting to clenching your teeth.
Contact us today for a consultation at our dentist office near you, to find out the best way to help with your teeth grinding.