Our Services

Arestin

ARESTIN® is a prescription product approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is used together with scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures performed by Dr. Takamatsu and our hygienists for the treatment of adult periodontitis.Treating periodontal disease with ARESTIN® and SRP may help you manage adult periodontitis more effectively than SRP alone. ARESTIN® contains “Microspheres”-tiny, bead-like particles that are smaller than grains of sand and are not visible to the eye. The Microspheres are filled with the antibiotic minocycline, and they release the drug over time into the infected periodontal pocket, killing bacteria that live there for up to 21 days. Treatment time for placement of ARESTIN® depends on the number of affected periodontal pocket sites, but generally the procedure is relatively fast, easy, and comfortable. A combined therapy of ARESTIN® and SRP is more effective at fighting periodontal disease than SRP alone. ARESTIN® was shown to be effective in even the more-difficult-to-treat patients, such as perio-maintenance patients, smokers, or people over the age of 50. For more information, please visit www.arestin.com.

Bridges

Bridges, also known as Fixed Bridges, replace missing teeth. Bridges are usually made of gold, other metals, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal. Many people who lose a back tooth are inclined to do nothing to replace it. After all, the tooth never was visible. Unfortunately, losing a tooth can start a vicious cycle of destruction. In a healthy mouth, the teeth have a natural balance. Each upper tooth connects with the corresponding lower tooth, allowing for well-balanced chewing. Losing a tooth quickly destroys this balance. The adult mouth has 28 teeth. The teeth work as a team. Each tooth has three or four companion teeth: the two neighboring teeth, and one or two opposite biting partners. These companion teeth provide support and stability. Drifting, shifting, periodontal disease, and abnormal decay can occur when a tooth loses the support of a companion tooth. Left untreated, this neighboring tooth will be lost. Then, the next tooth, and the next, and so on. With each lost tooth, the problems are magnified and the cycle continues. A fixed bridge will replace missing teeth, help balance a normal bite and prevent unnatural stress on the dental ridge, prevent over-eruption of opposing teeth and drift and tilt of adjacent teeth, and help prevent formation of decay in abnormal areas and delay the onset of periodontal disease. Although some bridges may have other designs, a typical bridge has two crowns (artificial teeth) linked by a replacement tooth. The replacement tooth fills the gap of the lost tooth. Your natural teeth on either side of the gap are shaped so the crowns can fit over them.

Cavity Fillings

Dental amalgam is a stable alloy made by combining elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metallic elements. Although dental amalgam continues to be a safe, commonly used restorative material, some concern has been raised because of its mercury content. However, the mercury in amalgam combines with other metals to render it stable and safe for use in filling teeth. It is durable, easy to use, highly resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other materials. For those reasons, it remains a valued treatment option for dentists and their patients. There are a few disadvantages of amalgam. For instance, possible short-term sensitivity to hot or cold after the filling is placed. Also, the silver-colored filling is not as natural looking as one that is tooth-colored, especially when the restoration is near the front of the mouth, and shows when the patient laughs or speaks. Furthermore, to prepare the tooth, the dentist may need to remove more tooth structure to accommodate an amalgam filling than for other types of fillings. The amalgam is not really attached to the sides of the hole so when the tooth is stressed as in chewing or grinding, it is possible that the tooth can flex away from the filling and little cracks may begin to develop. Like a crack in a car windshield, with each successive stress, the crack gets longer until part of the tooth falls off. Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored filling. They are composed of an organic polymer known as bisphenol-aglycidyl methacrylate (BIS-GMA), and inorganic particles such as quartz, borosilicate glass, and lithium aluminum silicate. They are sometimes referred to as composites or filled resins. Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid size restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Less tooth structure is removed when Dr. Takamatsu prepares the tooth, and this may result in a smaller filling than that of an amalgam. Composites can also be “bonded” or adhesively held in a cavity, often allowing Dr. Takamatsu to make a more conservative repair to the tooth.

Crowns

Crowns are perhaps the most versatile feature of modern dentistry. A crown is an artificial cover that fits over the damaged visible part of a tooth. Crowns are used to restore and preserve teeth that are decayed, chipped, broken, or cracked. Crowns can also be used cosmetically to enhance the appearance of teeth. Moreover, they may be recommended for a bite problem. A crown can cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth left. It can be used to attach a bridge, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. Crowns are a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or poorly shaped. They are also used to cover a dental implants. If you want a smile that’s your crowning glory, you may need a crown to cover a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size, and to strengthen the tooth as well as improve its appearance. A crown can be made of gold, other metals, or porcelain. In constructing a crown, the combination of materials that provides the most satisfying results is porcelain fused to metal (either gold or non-precious). The metal provides strength, and the porcelain, strength and beauty. Dr. Takamatsu would recommend which variation of crown would best suit you based on your individual needs.

Dentures

If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury, complete dentures can replace your missing teeth and your smile. Replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Without support from the denture, facial muscles sag, making a person look older. You’ll also be able to eat and speak with confidence—activities that people often take for granted until their natural teeth are lost. There are various types of complete dentures. One type, the conventional full denture, is made and placed in the patient’s mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which may take several months. Another type of denture is the immediate complete denture, which is inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are removed. The dentist takes measurements and makes models of the patient’s jaws during a preliminary visit. With immediate dentures, the denture wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. When you have been fitted with a new denture, there is a period of adjustment when it is especially important to visit Dr. Takamatsu so that he may make minor modifications until your denture fits comfortably. It is also important to visit Dr. Takamatsu periodically during the lifetime of your denture to ensure it continues to fit properly and adjustments are made as soon as they are needed. It is natural for the bone and tissue beneath the denture to change over time, so periodic adjustments will allow a continued good fit and protect the health of the underlying bone and tissue. Even if you wear full dentures, you still must take good care of your mouth. Brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.

Digital X-Rays

Digital radiography has changed the dental field significantly. Digital radiography is a form of x-ray imaging, where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film. Advantages include time efficiency through bypassing chemical processing and the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images. Also less radiation can be used to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional radiography. Image manipulation is perhaps the greatest advantage of digital imaging over conventional film. It involves selecting the information of greatest diagnostic value and suppressing the rest. Much time is gained especially with the digital x-rays where the image is displayed at the chairside immediately post exposure. Finally, digital imaging is environmentally friendly in that no processing chemicals are used or disposed of and digital x-rays are capable of being reused for many thousands of exposures using the disposable sleeves.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a virtually invisible way to straighten teeth. Your Invisalign treatment will consist of a series of aligners that you switch out about every two weeks. Each aligner is individually manufactured with exact calculations to gradually shift your teeth into place. And since your Invisalign system is custom-made for your teeth and your teeth only, with a plan devised by you and Dr. Takamatsu, you know you’ll end up with a smile that truly fits. We offer FREE Invisalign Consultation. Call our office at 909-593-3578 to schedule a consultation. For more information, please visit www.invisalign.com.

Nightguards

Bruxism is the habit of grinding or clenching the teeth. Clenching means you tightly hold your top and bottom teeth together. Grinding occurs when you silde your teeth back and forth over each other. Bruxism can develop at any age, and children as well as adults can develop the habit of grinding their teeth. Although the causes of bruxisum are not certain, several factors may be involved, such as stressful situations, sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, and crooked or missing teeth may be responsible. The involuntary grinding or clenching often occurs when a person is asleep. Although it isn't necessarily a harmful condition unless it is chronic, a loss in the integrity of a tooth may develop which can lead to tooth fractures or a loose tooth. It is also common for sufferers of bruxism during sleep to experience jaw pain or a dull headache upon waking up. Eventually, a very painful condition called TMJ may develop. The good news is there is a piece of equipment that can help. Nightguards are helpful for bruxism caused by sleep disorders, crooked or missing teeth or stress. Custom-made by Dr. Takamatsu from soft material to fit your teeth, the night-guard slips over the upper teeth and prevents contact between upper and lower teeth. It helps relieve some of the pressure of grinding or clenching, which, over time, can damage delicate jaw joints.

Periodontal Care

The word periodontal means “around the tooth.” Healthy gum tissue fits like a cuff around each tooth. Where the gum line meets the tooth, it forms a slight v-shaped crevice called a sulcus. In healthy teeth, this space is usually three millimeters or less. Periodontal diseases are infections that affect the tissues and bone that support teeth. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket that is greater than three millimeters. Generally, the more severe the disease, the deeper the pocket depth and greater the bone loss. The enlarged pockets allow harmful bacteria to grow and make it difficult to practice effective oral hygiene. Left untreated, periodontal diseases may eventually lead to tooth loss. The mouth is filled with countless bacteria. Periodontal disease begins when certain bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on the teeth and the surfaces lining the mouth) produce toxins and enzymes that irritate the gums and cause inflammation. The resulting inflammation, which may be painless, can damage the attachment of the gums and bone to the teeth. During your dental checkup, Dr. Takamatsu or the hygienist examines your gums. A periodontal probe is gently used to measure the depth of the sulcus surrounding each tooth. The periodontal probe can indicate whether you have developed any pockets and the depth of those pockets. There are many types of periodontal diseases and they can affect individuals of all ages from children to seniors. To name a few: Gingivitis - The mildest form of periodontal disease. Gingivitis causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral care at home. Chronic Periodontitis - A form of periodontal disease that results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth. Patients experience progressive loss of tissue attachment and bone. Chronic peridontitis is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of gum tissue and is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur. Aggressive Periodontitis - A highly destructive form of periodontal disease that occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common symptoms include rapid loss of tissue attachment and destruction of bone. This disease may occur in localized or generalized patterns. Periodontitis as a Manifestation of Systemic Diseases - The form of periodontitis associated with one of several systemic diseases, such as diabetes. Patients who have rare but specified blood diseases or genetic disorders may also frequently show signs of periodontal diseases. Necrotizing Periodontal Diseases - Infections characterized by necrosis (death) of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly associated with pain, bleeding, and a foul odor. Contributing factors can include emotional stress, tobacco use and HIV infection. Periodontal treatment methods depend upon the type and severity of the disease. The first step usually involves a special cleaning, called scaling and root planing. This procedure removes plaque and tartar deposits on the tooth and root surfaces. The treatment helps gum tissue to heal and pockets to shrink, which makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces. This is sometimes referred to as “periodontal” or “deep cleaning” and may take more than one visit. Once your periodontal treatment is completed, you will be seen at regular intervals. In some cases, your appointments may alternate between Dr. Takamatsu and a periodontist. You may be recommended more frequent checkups to keep the periodontal disease under control.

Preventive Care

A good oral hygiene routine practiced for a few minutes twice a day can help reduce your risk of developing periodontal diseases and tooth decay. Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. With thorough brushing, you can remove plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces of each tooth. Dr. Takamatsu or one of the hygienists can show you proper brushing technique at your next visit. Clean between teeth once a day with dental floss or another interdental cleaner to remove plaque and debris from areas your toothbrush can’t reach. If you need extra help controlling gingivitis and plaque that forms above the gum line, Dr Takamatsu can recommend using Oxyfresh mouthrinse or other hygiene aids as an effective addition to your daily oral hygiene routine. Eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks is not only good for general health but for oral health as well. Visit your hygienist regularly. Professional dental cleanings are the only way to remove tartar, which traps bacteria along the gum line. Good oral hygiene at home is essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or from recurring. It just takes a few minutes twice a day to care for your teeth and gums.

Root Canals

Root canal treatment is used to find the cause and then treat problems of the tooth’s soft core (the dental pulp). Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, modern dentistry makes it possible to save the damaged teeth. An abscessed (infected) tooth is usually caused by tooth decay. When the pulp is diseased or injured and can’t repair itself, it dies. The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity. Both of these problems can let germs (bacteria) enter the pulp causing an infection inside the tooth. Left without treatment, pus builds up at the root tip, in the jawbone, forming a “pus-pocket” called an abscess. An abscess can cause damage to the bone around the teeth. When the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result. Certain byproducts of the infection can injure your jaw bones. Without treatment, your tooth may have to be removed. During treatment, Dr. Takamatsu removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed. Your restored tooth could last a lifetime, if you continue to care for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups are necessary. As long as the root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth will remain healthy.

Sealants

A sealant is an adhesive material that bonds with the tooth to provide a physical barrier or shield from threats to the health of teeth. A sealant reduces the risk of tooth decay by shielding cavity-prone areas from food and plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that causes decay (cavities). The sealant is a tough plastic material designed to bond with tooth enamel (hard outer coating of the tooth) and form a shield against plaque. Sealants are barely visible because they are white or tooth-colored and are applied to the chewing surfaces of molars (back teeth) to keep food and plaque out of cavity-prone areas. Sealants are usually applied to permanent back teeth that have just erupted. In some cases, sealants can be applied to baby teeth and to adult teeth, for patients who are especially prone to tooth decay. If the decay process has already started, it is too late to apply sealants. This is why it’s important to apply sealants as soon as the permanent teeth erupt. Decay will not start under a sealant because bacteria are deprived of the food and oxygen they need to flourish. Sealants are usually long-lasting if the seal remains intact. Regular checkups are necessary to make sure sealants have not been dislodged. Abrasive foods such as candy, ice or sticky foods, can dislodge or damage sealants and should be avoided.

Tooth Extractions

There are a number of reasons why Dr. Takamatsu might recommend that you have a tooth, or even several teeth, extracted. Some teeth will have extensive decay, or be broken or cracked in such an extreme manner that an extraction might be considered the best, or at least a reasonable, solution. Teeth that are unsuitable candidates for root canal treatment should be extracted. Teeth associated with advanced periodontal disease (gum disease) may also need to be pulled. While extracting a tooth might be less expensive than the other treatment options Dr. Takamatsu proposes, it may not be the least expensive treatment in the long-run. When a tooth is removed its neighboring teeth will tend to shift, sometimes significantly. Any alignment changes that do occur can have a major impact on your dental health. Removing even a single tooth can lead to problems associated with chewing ability or jaw joint function. Additionally, teeth whose alignment has changed can become traps for food or be harder to clean thoroughly, thus placing them at greater risk for tooth decay and gum disease. So to avoid these types of complications, in most cases, Dr. Takamatsu will probably recommend that you replace any tooth that has been extracted. Replacing a tooth after an extraction with an artificial one can easily cost more than the alternative of not extracting a tooth and instead rebuilding it.

Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Once applied, they correct or camouflage misaligned, poorly shaped, damaged, or discolored teeth. There’s no reason to put up with gaps in your teeth or with teeth that are stained, badly shaped, crooked or chipped as result of injury if you don't want to. Today a veneer placed on top of your teeth can enhance your smile However, applying veneers is usually an irreversible process, because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell. Furthermore, the aftercare involves avoiding some foods and beverages that may stain or discolor your veneers such as coffee, tea or red wine. Sometimes a veneer might chip or fracture. But for many people, the results are more than worth it.