Dentistry Archives

Here Are the Top 10 Dental Procedures for a Brighter Smile in 2021

Posted on December 19, 2020 - 10:53 AM by admin

There’s more to looking good than what meets the eye. It takes a lot of discipline, mindfulness, and self-care to look and feel your optimal best. One of the instant ways to spread cheer is with a warm, big smile.

But how many of us pay attention to our teeth and give it the TLC that it deserves? Are your teeth yellow, chipped, uneven, or crooked? A smile can boost your confidence, and yet many people are self-conscious about their teeth, and more so, their smile.

Thankfully, there are affordable dental procedures that give you a smile makeover and help you create the best impression every time.

Dental Procedures For a Brighter Smile

With technological advancements, dental procedures is not just for the rich and famous anymore. Cosmetic, restorative, and orthodontic procedures are more affordable and accessible to everyone today. Modern dentistry can transform your smile through one or more procedures in consultation with and under the supervision of our Top Dentists in Palo Alto at Blue Turtle Dental.

Modern dentistry is more than just cleanings, fillings, and whitening. There are many dental procedures that improve not only your smile but overall dental health. Let’s look at the various cosmetic, restorative, and orthodontic procedures for your teeth and discuss them.

Types of Modern Dental Procedures to Beautify Your Smile

We list the ten best dental procedures available for various dental conditions. Your Best Cosmetic & Orthodontic Dentists in Palo Alto can help determine the right procedures for you.

1. Dental Bonding

Considered the easiest and most inexpensive cosmetic procedure: dental bonding. Bonding is a versatile treatment to fix various conditions such as stained, chipped, cracked, broken teeth, bite alignment, bad breath, tooth decay, teeth gaps, and as an alternative to silver or amalgam fillings.

A tooth-colored resin, which is putty-like or flexible, is contoured, polished, and applied to the natural tooth and then hardened with ultraviolet or laser light. This quick and painless process is called bonding.

2. Veneers

Known as “Hollywood teeth,” veneers are a cosmetic procedure to correct stained, mottled, cracked, chipped, broken teeth and fill in tooth gaps.

Veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made tooth-colored shells made of strong, durable, porcelain, resin, or ceramic glass which are cemented to the front surface of the teeth. They are used to reshape, resize, or change the color of the tooth. Veneers are an excellent option for stained or discolored teeth that cannot be treated with bleaching and usually used for the front teeth, visible during smiling and talking. Veneers are a more conservative option compared to crowns, but it’s a non-reversible process. They are non-porous, meaning they cannot be stained from foods and beverages, unlike natural teeth. However, they need to be regularly cleaned and maintained to avoid teeth decay and gum disease.

3. Crowns

When you have a damaged tooth that a filling or veneer cannot fix, crowns come to your rescue.

Crowns are caps for the whole tooth, unlike bonding, which is for a particular section of the tooth. Crowns are used to improve the appearance as well as to strengthen the tooth. They are made from metal, resin, ceramic, porcelain, or acrylic-fused-to-metal. Crowns can be used to treat many conditions like stained, cracked, broken, or missing teeth, bite alignment, and even bad breath. The tooth-shaped caps keep a weak or cracked tooth from breaking apart and strengthen it. It can also be part of a dental bridge and used to cover a dental implant.

Crowns are durable and last for several years but will have to be regularly maintained to prevent plaque buildup and decay.

4. Contouring/ Reshaping

If your teeth are in good condition, but there are minor issues such as uneven, overcrowded, or overlapped teeth, then enamel contouring or reshaping could be your solution. Small, discreet changes are done on the enamel, which yields big results to the overall look of your smile. It’s a fast, painless, and affordable option with immediate results and often combined with other procedures such as bleaching and bonding.

5. Orthodontics/ Braces

Orthodontics or braces can treat cosmetic issues such as buck teeth, crooked teeth, crowded teeth, irregular teeth spacing, bite issues, and chronic headaches that accompany teeth misalignment. Braces are not just for kids; technology has advanced to include orthodontic treatment for adults, too.

At Blue Turtle Dental, the Best Orthodontist In Palo Alto, CA, you can choose from three options:

Invisalign, which are removable, transparent plastic aligners to correct simple to complex teeth alignment issues.

The traditional metal braces used to correct bite and alignment issues are attached to your teeth for the entire treatment period. There are restrictions concerning food and drinks.

Clear braces are just like your traditional metal braces and function the same way. Except they are tooth-colored ceramic in nature; thus less visible and more aesthetic than the metal braces.

6. Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening or bleaching is an effective treatment option if you have yellow, stained, or discolored teeth. While there are many safe and effective over-the-counter whitening products, their results are not as quick, durable and effective as the professional treatment by dentists.

At Blue Turtle Dental, you can achieve teeth whitening results up to eight shades lighter, quickly. The teeth whitening procedure can be done in our dental office or at home with a custom-made mold and gels prescribed by our dentists.

7. Composite Fillings

Traditional silver metal fillings do not look good, even though they get the job done. It’s not just about the aesthetics, but also about the mercury content in silver amalgam fillings that make silver metal fillings less desirable. You have the option now to get your cavities filled with white fillings to prevent further decay and achieve a more natural look and safe result.

8. Dentures

Dentures are the perfect cosmetic procedure for many extracted, lost, or missing teeth. Dentures are custom-fit, removable, and look just like your natural teeth. There are complete dentures that replace all the teeth, and partial dentures, which are used to replace some of the missing teeth, alongside natural teeth.

9. Implants

Many people lose their complete tooth owing to decay, gum disease, injury, or trauma. Dental implants are tooth root replacements and usually made of titanium. Implants are fixed in the jawbone through minor surgery. They provide the foundation for permanent teeth, removable tooth or crowns, and attachments that support removable dentures.

Implants are a safe, comfortable, and durable option which can last for several decades with proper oral hygiene. If you are considering dental implants, consult our dentists who have extensive experience with a 98% success rate in choosing the right dental implants for you.

10. Bridges

Bridges are used to fill in the missing teeth so that the surrounding natural teeth do not move and shift from their original places and retain a natural, aesthetic look and smile.

There are two kinds of bridges: fixed or permanent bridge and cantilever bridge. The fixed bridge adheres crowns on the natural teeth on the two edges and attaches artificial teeth to fill in for the missing teeth in between. A cantilever bridge is used to replace missing teeth on only one side of the gap.

We Want To See You Smile!

Our dentists at Blue Turtle Dental, the best cosmetic dental services in Palo Alto, can help you find the right cosmetic dental procedure to improve your smile and overall oral health.

Contact the best cosmetic dentists in Palo Alto, CA, to schedule your initial consultation and get that dazzling smile you’ve always dreamed of.

(Disclaimer: We routinely draw upon public health resources to inform our write-ups. Information in this article has been gathered from multiple public health sources, including:

Schedule Appointment with Top Cosmetic Dentist in Redwood City

Best Dental Tips for a Fun and Healthy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2020 - 8:24 AM by admin

There is something comforting about Thanksgiving – the gift of family, friends, and a nice heartwarming meal together laden with classic Thanksgiving staple dishes – whole turkey roast, bread stuffing, marshmallow sweet potatoes or yam casserole and gravy, cranberry sauce, an apple, pumpkin or pecan pie, and mulled cider.

It’s good to count our blessings and celebrate life with loved ones at the end of a pandemic year. We all deserve the indulgence, warmth, and joy this Thanksgiving.

However, we must extend the same kindness to our teeth and gums, which can take a beating during the festive season.

In this article, we share simple and easy tips, so you don’t have to worry about the health of your teeth and gums this Thanksgiving day and after.

Reduce the sugar intake

Thanksgiving meals are notorious for their high sugar content. Be it pecan pie or cranberry sauce. However, if you avoid or reduce the extra sugar in these dishes, it will have the opposite effect which will benefit your teeth.

For example, sweet potatoes are loaded with Vitamin A and C, which helps keep a hard enamel and healthy gums. When it is topped with whipped cream and marshmallows, it can create an environment for bacteria to cause teeth decay and cavities.

According to the California Dental Association, an effective solution is to skip, limit, or swap sugar with substitutes like xylitol and erythritol, which do not cause teeth decay. Practice portion control when having sugary meals and desserts. Follow it by rinsing your mouth with water to wash away the sugar and food particles and prevent it from sticking to your teeth and gums.

Making smart choices like making the sauce with fresh cranberries instead of the canned variety helps cut the sugar content drastically. Also, the flavonoids in fresh cranberries help prevent the buildup of plaque and destroy the harmful bacteria in your mouth.

Be on the watch for starchy foods

Starchy foods are the silent killers of your teeth. They don’t seem harmful at the outset, but starch converts into sugar, which then feeds the bacteria in your mouth. Foods like breaded stuffing, mashed potato, potato chips, cornbread, and dinner rolls are common culprits, and this problem can be resolved by pairing it with fiber and protein foods.

Have a nutritious and balanced Thanksgiving meal

Thanksgiving meals are not all bad. There is a wide range of healthy food options to choose from – leafy greens loaded with calcium, fruits, and veggies loaded with different kinds of vitamins and minerals which are good for your teeth and gums, raw carrots which make natural teeth cleansers, turkey which is high in phosphorus and aids in teeth development.

The time is taken for chewing healthy food aids in saliva production, and it helps to clean, fight bacteria, and keep your mouth healthy. Also, some foods like the fibrous strands in celery or hard vegetables like raw carrots help clean the particles stuck between teeth.

Aim to have an array of rainbow-colored food on your plate. The safest and healthiest choices are turkey, vegetables, and fruits. Go easy on the sweets, bread, marshmallows, and gooey syrups, and binge on the Brussel sprouts, turkey, carrots, sweet potatoes, snap peas, pumpkins, and apples.

Snack wisely

It’s not just the Thanksgiving meal that could damage your teeth, but also the snacks you have during the day. Instead of sugary cookies and candies, opt for nuts, dried fruits, and cheese to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Cheese contains calcium and protein, which strengthens teeth and prevents cavities by balancing your mouth’s PH levels. But be wary of melted cheese, which can get stuck between teeth and difficult to clean.

Assorted nuts are another great snack option as it strengthens your teeth. The chewing of the nuts helps in saliva production, which washes away the harmful bacteria and prevents tooth decay.

Avoid teeth stains

Brightly colored foods and beverages are nutritious, but on the downside, they can stain your teeth as well. The acidic content in drinks such as coffee, wine, cranberry juice, or sauce can erode the enamel and stain it. Go easy on the blueberry or cherry pies!

One solution to lessen the impact is to limit the intake of such food, have it alongside non-acidic foods and water, and schedule a post-Thanksgiving dentist checkup.

Set a fixed mealtime

Setting a fixed Thanksgiving time and giving it priority over snack time is a smart move. Thanksgiving often finds people grazing all day on snacks. This is not just bad news for your waistline, but also your teeth. So, make a conscious effort to save your appetite for the main meal, and limit snacks during the day at fixed intervals. Ensure there are other non-eating related activities to keep you and the crowd engaged during the day.

Guard your mouth

Use relevant tools like a bottle opener or nutcracker instead of using your mouth to open bottles and crack nuts. You need to be extra cautious if you have braces. Even hard popcorn kernels can break your teeth or braces if you’re not careful. Holidays are a time when teeth accidents and cracked teeth are common occurrences.

Chew sugar-free gum

Having sugar-free gum helps when there is no access to floss or brush your teeth during the party in someone else’s home. Chewing sugar-free gum right after a meal helps clear your mouth from food particles and produces extra saliva. Sugared chewing gum does more harm than good, and it’s best to avoid it.

Stay hydrated with healthy drink options

Skip or limit coffee, carbonated, sugary, alcoholic drinks and consider healthier drink options

Water is one of the best allies for your dental health. It helps clear the buildup of plaque, bacteria, clears the food particles from the mouth, and stimulates saliva production. Fluoridated water is even better as it counters the harmful acidic effects caused by some foods and drinks.

Green or black tea is also useful as it washes away the acid from sugary and starchy foods. You can prepare it with regular tap water, which contains fluoride and double its benefits for your dental health.

Milk is another teeth-friendly option for its calcium and protein content.

Maintain dental hygiene

Continue to brush and floss your teeth on Thanksgiving Day, and amplify your routine if need be. There is no such thing as being overly cautious with your dental health.

However, when consuming acidic food, wait for at least half an hour before you brush your teeth. You can drink water, chew gum, and floss immediately after a meal.

When you cannot brush, floss, or chew gum on D-day, you can use toothpicks. It is useful to remove sticky food particles and loosen the plaque buildup, but you need to be cautious not to damage your gums while doing so.

Finally, make that appointment with your dentist post-Thanksgiving day for a checkup and teeth cleaning. It also gives your dentist the chance to spot any dental issues early on and treat them accordingly.

We, the Blue Turtle Dental team, wish you a fun, safe, and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

We are thankful for our patients, and you can Blue Turtle Dental services in Palo Alto, and call us anytime with any dental queries, concerns, or to schedule an appointment.

You can trust Blue Turtle Dental services in Palo Alto, CA, for expert dental care. We are enthusiastic about helping you and your children have a happy & safe Halloween.

Schedule Appointment with Palo Alto Dentists

Schedule Appointment with Redwood City Dentists

Contact Dentists in Palo Alto

Top 5 Dental Tips for a Healthy Halloween

Posted on October 20, 2020 - 5:39 PM by admin

2020 has been a hard year, and all of us need a break right now. Halloween comes as the perfect opportunity to let our hair down and enjoy the beginning of the holiday season. Get the dental tips from the experts!!

Of course, it doesn’t mean we throw caution to the wind during a global pandemic. We still need to follow the coronavirus guidelines of wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, maintaining at least a six feet distance from others, staying away from crowded places, and washing hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.

You can still indulge in all the fun that accompanies the Halloween season – pumpkin carving, scavenger hunting, dressing up in Halloween costumes, and eating candy.

Talking of candy, that’s where the horror story for dentists begins. Halloween can spell disaster for the teeth, if the dental tips for this holiday are not followed. Eating candy occasionally and in moderation can do no serious harm. It’s the choice of candy, how many you eat, and how long it lasts in your mouth that determines the extent of damage on your teeth.

Let’s discuss in detail the preventive dental tips for Halloween to ensure you have many reasons to smile this holiday season.

1. Choose Treats Wisely

Halloween treats usually mean candy. You don’t have to be a killjoy and eliminate candy entirely from the party list.

Fortunately, not all candies are made alike, and you can still choose the healthiest options available on the menu.

Here is a lowdown of all the traditional candy options for Halloween and the best dental tips and picks for your teeth.

Chocolate: When it comes to the best traditional Halloween candy, chocolate wins hands down. The fact that it is popular among children and adults works in its favor as well. Chocolate melts easily and doesn’t stick to your teeth or stay in your mouth long to cause tooth damage. The darker the chocolate, the better for your teeth. It also has a lesser sugar content than the milk version.

Hard Candy: They harm your teeth, and can break it if you are not careful. Hard candy tends to stay in your mouth for a longer time, allowing the sugar to damage your teeth and gums. Unless it is a sugar-free product, try to avoid or limit this type of candy for Halloween.

Sticky Candy: Candies like taffy and gummies are sticky and can spell bad news for your dental health. It clings to your teeth, stays longer in your mouth, and tough to remove, allowing enough time to damage your teeth and gums.

Sour Candy: Though delicious, sour candy is highly acidic. The acid in sour candy can weaken and damage the teeth enamel putting it at higher risk for cavities. Be it hard or sticky form; sour candies are among the worst offenders of teeth and gums.

Popcorn: Popcorn might seem like a harmless, healthy treat at the outset, but it can also potentially damage your teeth. The hard kernels can get stuck in-between your teeth, and the caramel version is sticky and sugary.

2. Tackle the Bacteria

It’s not the candy per se, which wreaks havoc on your teeth. It is the bacteria that develops in your mouth due to the high sugar content in candies. The bacteria feast on the sugar and leftover food in your mouth, leaving behind erosive acids that cause teeth decay, cavities, and gum diseases.

One effective solution and dental tip is to chew sugarless gum with the ADA seal for 20 minutes after your meal. Chewing gum increases the saliva in our mouth and helps in neutralizing the acid produced by the bacteria. You can add the sugarless gum in your bag of treats for the Halloween party instead of candy.

3. Have a Plan

Having a plan in action beforehand will help you enjoy the candy treats as well as keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Candy is not harmful when eaten in moderation. The best time to eat candy is along with meals or immediately after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps rinse away the sugar, food particles, and harmful acids.

Educate and emphasize the need for a balanced diet for your family. Eating candy and consuming sugary carbonated beverages does nothing good for your body, including your teeth and gums. They lead to tooth decay and gum diseases.

Drink fluoridated water to prevent tooth decay and wash down the harmful effects of sugary candies and beverages is a good idea. Keep sufficient stock of water in handy for your Halloween party. Opting for sugar-free candies and drinks for ‘trick or treat’ is a smart choice as well.

You can take control and set a limit on your family’s candy consumption by keeping a limited stock and donating the rest to other people and charitable organizations.

4. Maintain Dental Hygiene

While you may know the basics and benefits of daily dental hygiene, you need to amplify your cleaning routine during Halloween.

Here’s how you can do it!

Don’t rush. Curb the tendency to rush to the bathroom to brush your teeth immediately after eating the candies. Brushing after you eat acidic foods can further damage your teeth enamel when it’s hypersensitive. Instead, drink lots of water to rinse away the sugar and food bits in your mouth, and wait for at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth with an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste. You can also check with your dentist about the recommended toothpaste based on your teeth condition and type.

Take extra care of your teeth during Halloween. You can brush your teeth three times a day instead of the standard practice of 2 times a day and spend more time thoroughly brushing your teeth. Continue to floss once a day as it helps remove plaque and food bits from hard to reach places in your mouth.

5. Be Cautious about Halloween Costumes

This might sound bizarre, but your Halloween costume can indeed cause damage to your teeth.

The makeup, cosmetics, or accessories you use on your teeth to achieve a specific look, can harm your teeth. Check with your dentist before putting anything inside your mouth – fake teeth, prosthetics, or makeup. While they might not cause teeth cavities, the high lead content can be hazardous for your teeth.

Final Thoughts

Celebrating Halloween in times of the pandemic is a great idea. But, do follow the coronavirus guidelines, consult your dentist, and practice the above preventive dental care advice for a safe and fun-filled Halloween.

You can trust Blue Turtle Dental services in Palo Alto, CA, for expert dental care. We are enthusiastic about helping you and your children have a happy & safe Halloween.

To schedule a dental appointment before Halloween, call our dentists in Palo Alto, CA, now.

Schedule Appointment with Palo Alto Dentists

Schedule Appointment with Redwood City Dentists

Why You Must Schedule Your Child’s Back-to-School Dental Checkup Even if They’re Attending Online School

Posted on September 13, 2020 - 9:40 PM by admin

For generations in American history, Back to School has been an important time to check children’s general dental health. Call our children’s dentists in Palo Alto to schedule a back-to-school dental checkup for your kids even if they are attending online school.

Back to school dental checkup offers a fresh chance for a healthy start. It’s time for your children to get school books, cool stationery, and new toothbrushes!

Starting the new school year with a renewed commitment to dental hygiene puts your children on a winning track throughout the academic year. The American Dental Association estimates that dental diseases cause children to miss over 51 million school hours each year! Dental checkups are especially essential to fight the most common chronic dental condition: cavities. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid untreated dental diseases that can cause pain, trouble eating, difficulty in speaking and school absenteeism.

The academic year of 2020 presents unique challenges for parents and children. Your child’s dental problems remain the same whether the classroom is in place or online, and when neglected, has a direct impact on his or her school life. However, parents may hesitate to schedule dental checkups to reduce chances of community coronavirus transmission. Bear in mind that back-to-school dental check-ups are even more critical amid the current coronavirus pandemic to avoid easily treatable conditions that might result in dental disease flare-ups and emergency visits later on.

It’s a great idea to schedule a dental appointment with your child’s pediatric dentist before they start school to ensure they’re maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Some schools in California require your child to get a dental examination before going back to school in the fall. Even if your child’s school doesn’t mandate an appointment, it’s still essential for their overall health to see regularly see their dentist and get their annual dental checkup.

Why are Back-to-School dental check-ups important?

Your child cannot afford to miss a dental examination before heading back to the classroom. Dental check-ups are an essential part of your child’s overall health, which could affect his or her academic performance.

Dental examinations are equally important as immunizations and booster shots as per the American Dental Association. Back to school is the right time to pay attention to your children’s dental care, among other aspects such as their eyesight, disease prevention, and sports equipment.

Early detection with dental problems can ensure that your child gets treated at the right time and stays healthy throughout the academic year. When you ignore your child’s ‘back-to-school’ dental check-up, dental problems that arise in the course of the year can be painful and affect your child’s life, including his or her classroom performance. For example, tooth cavities, a common dental problem among children, can cause severe pain, difficulties in eating and speaking, poor concentration, and school absenteeism.

Dr. Alex Yen, one of the best children’s dentists in Palo Alto, CA, says that parents must treat their child’s ‘back-to-school’ appointments as preventive dental services. Children with dental complications get affected physically, mentally, and socially. A healthy mouth leads to improved concentration and classroom performance. Treating minor dental problems and preventing cavities boosts your child’s morale and school performance.

What happens during back to school appointments

With a recommended two dentist check-ups for children, back-to-school time is an ideal time to have one scheduled for your child.

At Blue Turtle Dental, our pediatric dentists in Palo Alto, we have been busy with back-to-school dental appointments. We maintain the highest standards of sanitation, health, and safety as per the COVID-19 regulations. If you have not made a Back-to-School dental appointment, please make the time and do it for your child. This appointment is always important, but more so than ever in these times.

The ‘back-to-school’ dental exam will help ensure your child is brushing and flossing correctly. It will help us identify any potential issues before they become an emergency visit and put your child’s mouth in a lot of trouble in the future. We examine your child’s overall dental health, looking for decays, cavities, gum diseases, misalignment, and malocclusions. Based on your child’s dental condition, we suggest the right treatment. Your child’s dental check-up may include the following procedures:

Professional Tooth Cleaning – This is a must! No matter how well your child brushes and flosses, a professional tooth cleaning removes more cavities-causing bacteria than routine brushing can achieve. Professional tooth cleaning also removes most teeth stains for children.
Fluoride Treatment – This is another must. Fluoride is a mineral that prevents caries in their very elementary, microscopic diseases stage. At your child’s dental exam, we will apply topical fluoride to protect their teeth and they may be advised not to rinse, eat, or drink for 30 minutes after the application.
X-ray Procedures – Dental x-rays help us observe the development of your child’s teeth and to check on their tooth root health. X-rays also help detect decay, if any.
Mouthguards Checks – If your child plays sports and uses mouthguards, back-to-school dental checkups is a good time to get the mouthguard evaluated for wear and tear and fit.
Sealants – Sealants are another way to protect your child’s teeth from cavities. Dental sealants create a thin protective barrier to prevent growth of bacteria and food accumulation in the molars (back teeth), where most common tooth decay occurs. Once permanent molars start coming in, ask your dentist if sealants are recommended for your child.

It is essential to maintain dental hygiene post the dental check-ups. Ensure your child is brushing twice a day, flossing once in a day, and eating a healthy diet that limits sugar intake.

Final Thoughts on Back-to-School Dental Checkups with Children’s Dentists in Palo Alto

A back-to-school dental appointment is critical in your child’s health and academic performance. You can trust Blue Turtle Dental services in Palo Alto, CA, for expert dental care. We are enthusiastic about helping your children start their school year on a happy, winsome note.To schedule a back-to-school dental appointment, call our children’s dentists in Palo Alto, CA, now.

How to Safely Visit Your Dentist During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Posted on August 7, 2020 - 3:15 AM by admin

As the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly at the beginning of this year, most dental offices in the US remained closed, except for emergency care. As dental clinics reopen across the country, they’re prepared with a lot of new preventative protocols to ensure safety for patients and dentist, staff according to the recommendations from the American Dental Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Center for Disease Control.

However, there is anxiety and fear among people as they question the safety of office appointments and safety of dental visits during the coronavirus pandemic.

When should you visit our dental office?

Delaying dental care and checkups can turn a small cavity into a root canal or tooth extraction, and add to greater pain, treatment time, and higher costs. So, ignoring dental checkups and care can result in serious infections.

Non-Urgent Dental Treatment

The American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are now recommending dental clinics to weigh in the situation for non-urgent visits and surgeries. This is a revision from their earlier recommendation to pause all non-urgent dental treatments.

But what are non-urgent treatments? These are elective procedures which affect your overall health but they’re not serious enough to be resolved right away.

Some non-urgent dental treatments include:

Teeth exams
X-rays
Teeth cleaning
Teeth whitening
Fixing cosmetic problems
Checkup for braces

Blue Turtle Dental is open for non-emergency care. Please call our office at (650) 503-6777 to schedule an appointment or request an appointment on our website.

Emergency Dental Treatment

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), any condition that is life-threatening or if it causes severe pain or a high risk of infection is an emergency dental treatment and should be treated right away. It is only your dentist who can decide what’s urgent.

Some emergency dental treatments include:

Serious pain
Non-stop bleeding
Treatment for cavities
Tissue that needs a biopsy
Swollen areas in or around your mouth such as gums, face, or neck
Broken teeth, mainly if they cause pain or tissue damage
Signs of infection such as pain and swelling
Post-surgery care which only the dentist can do
A temporary crown that’s lost or broken
Dental work connected to cancer treatment
Dentures that don’t work correctly
Wires in your braces that hurt
Trauma that may affect your ability to breathe

Our dentists can help you determine if your dental case is an emergency, an urgency, or routine dental care. Call us now!

Is the Blue Turtle Dental office safe during COVID-19?

Despite the potential risks of community transmission when people are in close contact with each other, the good news is that both the World Health Organization and the CDC have reported no confirmed cases of COVID-19 traced to dental offices.

At Blue Turtle Dental, we work with the mindset that “everyone is infected.” This helps our team to take even more extra precautions than we usually take in normal situations. Protecting the health of all working at the office, and patients are paramount.

We do more than just sanitizing and checking the temperature as we follow the precautions recommended by the CDC, in sync with the American Dental Association. We also stay abreast of their periodical safety updations.

Some safety guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic that we practice at Blue Turtle Dental are:

A COVID-19 screening questionnaire will be emailed to you, which must be completed in full prior to your dental appointment.
We ask that all patients wait in the car upon arrival. We ask all patients to call our main number at 650-503-6777 or text message 650-503-5616, before coming into the office.
Everyone who enters the premises, including patients, staff, and doctors, will have their temperatures taken with a touchless thermometer on a daily basis upon entering the office.
All staff will be equipped with full PPE which includes full coverage gowns, level 3 masks, and face shields.
We will frequently disinfect common areas and high touch surfaces with EPA certified anti-viral products.
Air purifiers and EOS – External Oral Suction devices will be present in office and operatories.
We will be spacing out appointments to avoid crowding our offices.
Only patients will be allowed in the office (with exception for minors and elderly when one additional adult may be present.)
You will be asked to bring and wear a mask upon entering.
You will be asked to use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water upon entering.
When you come, we will screen you for symptoms of COVID-19 — such as cough and fever — and postpone if you have signs that could indicate you may have the virus.

Final Thoughts

At Blue Turtle Dental, we are taking all patient and staff safety steps as recommended by the American Dental Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the CDC.

Call our dentist in Palo Alto, CA, if you have questions about your dental care and whether to come in for an appointment or wait until later.

Schedule Appointment with Best Palo Alto Dentists

Schedule Appointment with Best Dentist in Redwood City

Contact Dentist in Palo Alto

What are the Advantages of Dental Implants?

Posted on February 15, 2016 - 8:00 PM by admin

Adult teeth are supposed to last a lifetime, but tooth loss remains a very common problem. Almost every patient is going to lose at least one adult tooth or have an adult tooth extracted at some point in their life. When this takes place, it is important to restore the patient’s smile as quickly as possible in order to prevent ongoing oral health problems.

The History of Smile Restorations

For many years, a patient’s only option to restore their smile was removable devices such as dentures. These devices will partially improve the function of one’s teeth, but they also came with some major disadvantages.

In addition to many patients finding them uncomfortable to wear, they will also not stimulate the bone under the gums. When a tooth is lost and the bone is no longer stimulated, it will become much weaker and increase the risk of a fracture taking place.

A Look at Dental Implants

Dental implants are an excellent alternative to dentures for restoring a smile. This process begins with a close examination of the patient’s remaining teeth, gums, and general oral health.

While most patients who have lost one or more teeth will make excellent candidates for this procedure, it is important that they are in relatively good health. There are certain medical conditions such as gum disease that will increase the risk of the implant being rejected.

On the day of the procedure, the titanium rods are anchored into their mouth. The patient’s mouth will heal and form a tight bond with these rods.

The dentist may then attach an abutment to the rod and place a false tooth over the abutment. The rod may remain implanted in the bone for the rest of the patient’s life.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

The primary benefit of this procedure is the fact that these devices look and feel just like real teeth. Once the swelling has gone down, most patients never even realize that they have an implant in their mouth.

Implants are incredibly durable and can be taken care of just like real teeth. Patients need to do nothing more than brush, floss and use mouthwash daily.

In addition to smiling and eating with confidence, patients with implants will also be able to avoid many of the serious health conditions that can take place after a tooth is lost. With the proper care, patients will be able to enjoy their beautiful new smile for the rest of their life.

Contact Blue Turtle Dental today to schedule your appointment and see if dental implants are the ideal procedure for you.

Contact Cosmetic Dentist in Redwood City

How Dental Sealants Can Help Protect Kids from Tooth Decay

Posted on November 16, 2015 - 7:40 PM by admin

Even with modern dental services, tooth decay affects just over 70 percent of American children under the age of 19.

In addition to being unsightly and potentially painful, untreated tooth decay can result in a number of serious oral health problems that could plague a child for years.

Studies continue to show that dental sealants are one of the most effective ways to preserve a child’s oral health and prevent tooth decay from developing.

The Importance of Baby Teeth

Many parents fail to schedule regular dental appointments for their child simply because they know that baby teeth are going to fall out at some point. While it is true that their baby teeth will eventually fall out, developing multiple cavities at a young age can lead to a lifetime of oral health problems.

Younger children with unhealthy baby teeth will have a higher risk of developing issues such as malocclusion (an improper positioning of adult teeth).

When to Start Scheduling Appointments

Parents can begin scheduling dental appointments for their child as soon as they feel comfortable with it. Most specialists suggest that children have their first appointment by the time they reach one year of age or when their first teeth begin to erupt.

In those first few years, the dentist will be able to keep an eye on your child’s oral health and suggest preventative treatments as they are needed. Most children require dental sealants around the time they turn the age of six or when their first set of molars come in.

A Look at Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are not only easy to place on a child’s teeth, but when they are combined with great oral hygiene habits and regular trips to the dentist, they have a success rate of nearly 100 percent.

These sealants are nothing more than thin plastic strips that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surface of one’s teeth. It is important to apply sealants to the chewing surface because they will keep food debris and bacteria out of the hard-to-reach areas of the teeth.

The entire process can often be carried out in as little as an hour and it requires no drilling or scraping of the teeth.

The dentist will begin by cleaning the teeth thoroughly before applying a special gel to the chewing surface of each tooth.

After the gel is dry, the teeth are cleaned once again and the sealant is “painted” on the teeth. For most children, each tooth can be sealed in less than a minute.

Does My Child Need Sealants?

The only way to know for sure if your child is a good candidate for sealants is to schedule an appointment with Blue Turtle Dental today.

Schedule Appointment with Pediatric Dentist in Redwood City CA

Schedule Appointment with Pediatric Dentist in Palo Alto

Schedule Appointment with Children's Dentist in Palo Alto

Join the Fight Against Sugar

Posted on May 15, 2015 - 6:51 PM by admin

Lately, the sugar industry has been under pressure from public health advocates, and deservedly so. Just this year, the WHO changed their guidelines on sugar intake, recommending that adults and children reduce their daily caloric intake of sugars to 10% or less of total calories. Now the ADA is weighing in as well. Dental Hygiene is very important to every one.

In an article released on May 12th, the ADA states its support of more research on the effects of sugar intake, and for more transparency in labeling added sugars, including a proposal from the Food and Drug Administration to add a new line under food ingredients that shows the amount of added sugars the food contains.

Scientifically supported policies

The ADA bases its position in large part on consistent and repeated findings that the incidence of dental caries is directly related to the amount of sugar consumed. Sugary products marketed directly to children pose an even greater threat to public health because it has been found that cavities occurring early in life– even in deciduous teeth– are likely to negatively impact the oral health of that individual as an adult.

Furthermore, the rapidly growing body of evidence linking systemic diseases with oral inflammation all indicate that reducing sugar consumption will not only limit cavities, but can have real impacts on the general health of our communities– possibly reducing the incidence of heart disease and dementia, for example.

But why, sugar– why?

Why is sugar so bad when it tastes so good? Scientists theorize that we developed a taste for sugar because it benefited our early ancestors’ nutrition; a lust for sweets ensured prehistoric people got the proper vitamins, perhaps. However, in the modern world, where candy bars and soda drinks are at our fingertips, a hunger for sugar is no longer an evolutionary advantage.

Forget obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and the host of other diseases caused by excess sugar consumption, and let’s focus on oral health for a minute. We all know that sugar causes cavities– but how exactly?

Sugar’s wicked game

The path from the candy bar you eat to the cavity you get filled is an indirect one. Sugar in itself isn’t drilling away at dental enamel, what it is doing is feeding the bacteria that will. Bacteria feast on sugars– in fact, some are even able to change their own metabolism to fit the most abundant type of sugar in their environment. When you eat sugar, you’re directly feeding bacteria in your mouth.

When bacteria consume sugar they form a metabolic byproduct that is extremely acidic. Not only this, but they’re eating while sitting comfortably on your teeth– or along the gum line where people frequently miss brushing. All that acid they produce goes right on top of your dental enamel and erodes it, leading to cavities.

Avoid the perfect storm

If a high sugar intake is coupled with poor dental hygiene, this creates the perfect storm for cavities, periodontitis, and gingivitis. With nothing to stop them from their frenzied feasting (like daily toothbrushing) and an endless food supply, bacterial reign in the oral cavity and create a lot of problems.

This is why health organizations like the ADA and WHO are pressing for more stringent guidelines to sugar additives and recommendations. They know that the fight against oral health problems is a multi-faceted one, and the want to attack it from every angle.

Palo Alto dental care that fights the good fight with you

While other organizations battle sugar regulations, our office is here to provide great preventative care that will keep you healthy and smiling. Daily dental hygiene and regular appointments with Dr. Scheel are the key ingredients to oral health!

Schedule your next appointment today.

Photo Credit: ND Strupler via Compfight cc

Contact for Dental Checkups and Cleaning in Palo Alto

Contact Dental Cleaning in Redwood City

Contact Preventive Dentistry in Palo Alto

Know the Facts on Impaction

Posted on March 30, 2015 - 6:43 PM by admin

Blue Turtle Dental has the best family dentist Palo Alto has for many reasons. One aspect of our clinic that patients really value is our commitment to being there to help when an oral health problem arises that is causing discomfort– and preventing those situations in the first place!

Wisdom teeth impaction is less common with the ready removal of up to 85% of wisdom teeth, but it can still take place, so it’s something important to be aware of.

The low-down on wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are third molars. They are considered vestigial structures because, while they probably arrived as an evolutionary response to a diet filled with tough, coarse, and fibrous foods– we no longer live in the stone-age. We have utensils and blenders and ovens, and those third molars are no longer helpful.

More than that, when they arrive between the ages of 17 and 25, wisdom teeth can cause crowding of the existing teeth because our jaw size has become smaller than it was in prehistoric times. Because of this, around 85% of wisdom teeth in the USA are extracted.

What is an impacted tooth?

A wisdom tooth becomes impacted when it cannot erupt because it is blocked by another tooth. This happens when the tooth is turned sideways, at an angle, or pretty much pointing anywhere but up. It the jaw is already too full, a wisdom tooth can become impacted that way as well.

A description of impaction

Sometimes a patient doesn’t even realize a wisdom tooth is impacted; it may be completely painless. Imaging by dental professionals will inform your dentist that the wisdom teeth are impacted, and they can be extracted with no other problems than mild discomfort following a dental procedure of that nature.

When an impacted tooth erupts, or tries to erupt, it can cause gum swelling and pain that you might notice in your jaw, teeth, gums, or even the ear on that side of your head! This can be extremely uncomfortable and calls for a dental visit ASAP.

Another complication can occur if an impacted tooth partially erupts and then becomes stuck. This awkward in-between stage can not only be uncomfortable, but it can lead to infection. The tooth is difficult to clean and can be a repository for the flotsam and jetsam of the mouth; if this lingers too long an infection called pericoronitis can occur. This must be treated immediately to prevent the spreading of the infection to other nearby areas of the body.

In addition, impacted teeth can also decay where they are, or lead to cysts and, rarely, a benign tumor of the jaw– all of which can cause bone destruction. In short, prompt attention to an impacted wisdom tooth is a must!

Symptoms

At Blue Turtle Dental, we monitor our patients’ eruption schedules closely during regular appointments. However, it can be helpful for anyone who has erupted or unerupted wisdom teeth to be aware of the symptoms caused by third molar infection or inflammation.

Be on the look-out for:

Pain or difficulty moving the jaw
Swelling in gums
Halitosis (bad breath)
An unpleasant taste
Pain with biting, chewing, or opening mouth

If you experience these or other painful oral health condition, please contact our office immediately!

Problems with wisdom teeth are rare, but it’s important to be informed. If you have any further questions about your wisdom teeth or how their eruption can affect your oral health, do not hesitate to ask at your next appointment!

Photo Credit: Ricky Romero via Compfight cc

General Dentistry in Palo Alto

Best Family Dentist in Palo Alto

Family Dentist in Redwood City

Diabetes Screening and Your Dentist

Posted on March 17, 2015 - 6:39 PM by admin

At your Palo Alto dental clinic, our dentists are well aware of the connection between oral and systemic health, and eager to collaborate with other health professionals to support both. That’s why the team at Blue Turtle Dental was excited to read about a new study confirming that diabetes can be tested for during dental exams.

What? Diabetes and dentistry?

If this sounds unusual, here’s some background. To begin with, introducing screening of diabetes to dental visits casts a wider net: many people visit their dentist regularly, but see their regular doctor only if they have a problem. Since current diabetes screening is primarily limited to a medical doctor’s clinic, this means patients miss out on valuable testing that could make a real difference in their health.

In addition, many people don’t know they are at risk for diabetes in the first place, and the disease can also go undiagnosed in patients who don’t know they are diabetic and aren’t seeing a doctor regularly. In fact, the study focused on patients 45 years of age or over, since this age group is at particular risk for developing type II diabetes– but might not be aware of it.

The earlier diabetes is found and diagnosed, the more helpful treatment will be.

Diabetes affects your oral health

Diabetes screening does more than create a “safety net” for patients who might miss a diagnosis for diabetes. By catching diabetes early, the screening will vastly improve the oral health of those patients. Some medical conditions place patients at a greater risk for oral health problems, and diabetes is one of them. Diabetes has been linked with problems in periodontal (gum) health, as well as the health of other body systems.

An early finding and diagnosis of diabetes alert your Palo Alto dental professionals to be on the lookout for periodontal changes so we can catch small problems– before they become big ones.

Testing in different places reveals the same results

The study, which is published in the American Journal of Public Health, examined the results of diabetic screening using gingival crevicular blood (GCB) and comparing it to the results gained from the traditional finger stick blood (FSB). The finger prick, of course, is the way that your doctor’s office typically screens its patients for diabetes– but the study found that GCB screening was just as effective.

Researchers note that in addition to screening for new diabetic patients, the oral screening can also be used to check blood sugar levels in known diabetic patients, thus helping these patients monitor their own management of the disease.

Great health through teamwork

The study is an exciting example of how your oral health professionals can team up with you, the patient, as well as other members of your health care team, to ensure optimal health— for your mouth and your whole body.

Make an appointment with your team at Blue Turtle Dental today!

Photo Credit: bodytel via Compfight cc

Best Oral Dentist in Redwood City

Best Oral Dentist in Palo Alto

Oral Surgeons in Palo Alto

Category Archives: Dentistry