How can we help you?
If you are new to the Irvine, CA area, or you simply want a new dental home for you and your family, you probably have a few questions about the services we provide and whether we are the right office for you. Here you will find some of the frequently asked questions we receive in our office. Take a moment to look through them. If yours is not listed here, simply give us a call or use our handy online contact form. We are always happy to help!
Other
Natural teeth have pits and grooves that are sometimes difficult to clean. Take a look at figure 1. It shows a magnified view of what it looks like when the tip of a toothbrush bristle reaches the groove of a tooth. It is unable to clean deep down inside the grooves of our teeth. This is when sealants come into play. Sealant, a resin material, are used as a preventative restoration and seal the grooves as depicted in figure 2. This way, cavity along the pits and grooves of our teeth can be prevented.
In fact, an article from this August's The Journal of the American Dental Association encourages clinicians to increase the use of sealants since they:
- are effective in preventing pit-and-fissure cavity when compared to no sealants or just fluoride varnish applications.
- can minimize the progression of initial cavity lesions if enamel is not compromised.
It is time to think and plan ahead with preventative measures in order to protect your teeth from cavities!
Starting November of 2016, we will be launching our Formosa TotalCare Program for all of our active patients. Upon completion of necessary preventative care, patients will receive our usual care package, which consists of toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and sample mouthwash.
Our toothpaste tubes will change from sample size to full-sized tubes. We have also recently upgraded our sample floss to full-size floss! Manual toothbrushes will be provided to our patients. For patients who either received or purchased Philips Sonicare toothbrushes through us, brush heads will be provided instead as part of the package at every recall.
With our TotalCare Program, the goal is to provide our patients continuous care from our office to home. Best of all, there is no additional cost for our patients! We will make the purchases so that our patients won't have to. There is no catch! All of this will be provided to you at our cost simply because we are grateful and appreciate all of our patients' loyalty and trust. This is the least we can do! Don't hesitate, join us!
Unfortunately, dental emergencies do happen. Whether it is from accident or neglect, here are some useful suggestions to handle different situations before heading to your dental emergency visits in order to help your dentist deliver a more promising result.
More often than not, these complications can be easily prevented with regular check-ups and cleanings. By going to your recall exams regularly, you enable your dentist or hygienist to screen for early detections of issues that can potentially cause significant damage to your health and your wallet. Here at Formosa Dental Arts, we are strong advocate of comprehensive and preventative dentistry. Contact us to learn more about how to handle dental emergencies and, more importantly, how to prevent complications from happening.
Complete (Full) and Partial Dentures
Ill-fitting dentures can be painful and may make it difficult to enjoy some of the best things in life – smiling and laughing! It is common for the fit of your denture to change over time because tooth loss can cause bone loss in your jaw and facial structure. A denture that fit well five or more years ago may no longer feel snug, or it may even move around when you chew.
We encourage you to contact Formosa Dental Arts to schedule an exam with Dr. Alexander Chang. Dr. Chang can evaluate your denture to determine whether a reline or a new denture will help you regain full function. We strive for quick turnaround times so that you do not have to go for days without your teeth.
Another option for securing a loose denture is dental implants. By placing a few dental implants in your jawbone, we can create a denture that locks in place using dental implants as anchors. Implant-retained dentures combine the security that comes with dental implants and the affordability of dentures.
Having dentures that give you confidence when you eat or look in the mirror can make life a much more enjoyable experience. Properly fitting dentures also give you wider variety when it comes to your diet.
Dental Implants
Here at Formosa Dental Arts, we strive for nothing but the best quality for our patients. As you may have read in our technology page, we use Nobel Biocare and/or Hahn Implant for our dental implant system. With their long history and solid foundation, we are able to provide our patients with products that have been long tested and supported by research and cutting-edge technology. Check out how our implants are made on the featured video on "How It's Made" below!
We consider a number of factors when it comes to replacing missing teeth for our patients. Your best option depends largely upon your goals for your smile. Here are the options we offer in our Irvine, CA dental office:
Fixed dental bridge – We place crowns on the teeth adjacent to your missing tooth and anchor an artificial tooth in place, filling the gap in your smile. A fixed dental bridge can complete your smile and keep your teeth from shifting, but does not prevent bone loss. We create custom dental bridges to match your existing smile.
Partial denture – A partial denture can replace multiple missing teeth. We provide esthetic, comfortable, and functional partial dentures that allow our patients to smile confidently again.
Dental implants – Considered the best replacement for missing teeth by most surgeons and dentists, dental implants replace missing teeth using a titanium screw that naturally integrates with your jawbone. Dental implants keep your remaining teeth from shifting, are highly esthetic and stable, and provide reliable long-term solutions to tooth loss.
To discover your options, contact Formosa Dental Arts today. An evaluation with Dr. Alexander Chang will help to answer your questions and make a decision that gives you a healthy, confident smile.
Metal-Free Restorations
Natural teeth have pits and grooves that are sometimes difficult to clean. Take a look at figure 1. It shows a magnified view of what it looks like when the tip of a toothbrush bristle reaches the groove of a tooth. It is unable to clean deep down inside the grooves of our teeth. This is when sealants come into play. Sealant, a resin material, are used as a preventative restoration and seal the grooves as depicted in figure 2. This way, cavity along the pits and grooves of our teeth can be prevented.
In fact, an article from this August's The Journal of the American Dental Association encourages clinicians to increase the use of sealants since they:
- are effective in preventing pit-and-fissure cavity when compared to no sealants or just fluoride varnish applications.
- can minimize the progression of initial cavity lesions if enamel is not compromised.
It is time to think and plan ahead with preventative measures in order to protect your teeth from cavities!
Many patients wish to improve the appearance of their smiles but worry about fitting their cosmetic dentistry into their budgets. Cosmetic dentistry provides many versatile options to improve your smile for every budget.
From small changes to full smile makeovers, Formosa Dental Arts is your destination for a beautiful smile. Some of the options we provide include:
Zoom! teeth whitening – One of the most affordable ways to achieve a more beautiful and younger looking smile is with laser teeth whitening. You can expect to see up to six shades of improvement in a single visit!
Cosmetic dental bonding – To repair small chips and gaps and make other minor repairs to your smile, we can use composite material that comes in a wide variety of shades to match your natural teeth. Bonding is an inexpensive way to spruce up your smile conservatively. We add composite to your existing tooth structure rather than prepping your entire tooth.
Tooth-colored restorations – At our Irvine, CA dental office, we provide tooth-colored restorations that complement rather than mar your smile. Our highly-esthetic and long-lasting restorations will provide reliable stability.
The best way to learn about how much cosmetic dentistry will cost for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Alexander Chang to discuss the goals for your health and your appearance.
Oral Sedation Dentistry
Your comfort is a big priority to our Irvine, CA dental team. Dr. Alexander Chang is highly skilled at delivering painless injections and making sure you receive the precise amount of anesthetic necessary to ensure completely comfortable treatment.
Dental procedures, even complex ones, should not be painful. After administering anesthetic, we allow time for it to take effect before starting any dental work. Dr. Chang will communicate with you throughout the process to ensure that your tooth is completely numb before beginning work.
If you have significant dental anxiety, it might be more difficult for you to become numb or stay numb during treatment. Stress chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol can prevent anesthetic from working properly. By addressing your anxiety, we can help you enjoy the full effects of anesthesia and a painless dental experience.
At Formosa Dental Arts, we offer sedation dentistry to our patients who are fearful about their dental appointments. Sedation dentistry helps patients relax fully, reduces the gag reflex that sometimes plagues patients during treatment, and makes treatment feel like a breeze.
To learn more about pain-free dentistry, contact our dental office. We help patients get the dental treatment they need comfortably in a relaxed, compassionate environment.
Millions of Americans have a fear of the dentist or complain of some level of anxiety when it comes to dental treatment. We take a compassionate approach to dentistry with all of our patients because we want your experience to be the best possible.
Our friendly team is highly skilled and dedicated to helping patients achieve excellent oral health. We take the time to get to know each patient on a personal level because we value long-term relationships with the members of our community.
When you need a little more help to relax during your treatment, we offer oral sedation dentistry. Oral sedation dentistry uses prescription medication to relax you both physically and mentally during treatment. It will last throughout your procedure and leave you with little to no memory of your treatment.
Oral sedation is a great option to calm nerves and also helps the local anesthetic we use during treatment work more efficiently.
If you have been putting off dental treatment due to a fear of the dentist, this may provide you with a solution that allows you to have the dental treatment you need for a healthy, comfortable, beautiful smile.
Contact us to learn more about how oral sedation dentistry can benefit you.
Periodontal Treatment
Bleeding gums can happen when something like a seed or a popcorn hull becomes lodges between your tooth and gums. While this can be a painful experience, the bleeding usually subsides once the foreign object is removed.
Prolonged bleeding of your gums can indicate a serious condition known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is often accompanied by pain in your gums and bad breath due to infection. Any time your gums bleed, it is your body indicating that something is wrong. You should call our Irvine, CA dental office as quickly as possible to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Chang. Dr. Chang will perform a periodontal exam to determine the level of your health.
We treat all levels of periodontal disease here at Formosa Dental Arts and can help you get back on track with excellent health.
Dr. Chang will recommend a periodontal treatment plan to restore your oral health and protect your teeth. Not only that, but you can enjoy fresh breath again! Our hygienists are gentle and thorough. They educate our patients on how to maximize their home care routines and keep their smiles looking, feeling, and smelling fresh.
Contact us to schedule your next dental cleaning!