Preventative Dentistry in Glendale, CA
The first step in excellent oral health is preventative care. It's easier to include routine dental care in your schedule now than run the risk of developing more costly and complicated problems later.
Preventative Care Is Crucial
At the dental practice of Lucio H. Kim, DDS, we're committed to helping you understand the benefits of healthy teeth and gums. Recent research has indicated a direct link between the health of your mouth and your overall health. Poor oral care and chronic gum disease are leading factors to severe health complications, including diabetes, strokes, heart disease, dementia, respiratory disease, and pregnancy complications.
Your First Visit
The first step is to schedule an appointment for your first visit. Before we start your dental exam, Glendale dentist, Dr. Kim, will talk to you about your dental habits and history. He'll begin by asking some basic questions to learn about you and your attitude toward your dental treatment.
- What are your expectations for your dental treatment?
- Do you have specific goals you'd like to accomplish, or are you mainly interested in keeping your oral health on track?
- What have been your past experiences with dental care?
- Do you feel nervous or apprehensive about dentistry?
Next, Dr. Kim will perform an examination, noting any dental work and potential problem areas, including signs of teeth grinding and TMJ. We will take photos and a series of x-rays to see what's going on inside your teeth and establish a baseline for future treatment.
Because your wellness matters to us, we provide regular oral cancer screenings.
It may or may not be possible to do a dental cleaning depending on your timeframe. However, we know you're busy, so we'll do our best to get your cleaning done during the first visit.
During your professional teeth cleaning, we look for signs of periodontal disease. If you have gum disease, you may need a more involved dental cleaning and treatment schedule.
Your Partner in Dental Care
No matter what condition your teeth are in now, we're ready to help get you on your way to a healthier, more beautiful smile. If you need to catch up with your dental care, we won't judge you or lecture you about the current state of your oral health. Our only concern is to help you move forward from this point to improve your overall health and wellness.
After your exam is complete, we'll review the results with you and work together to develop a treatment plan customized for your needs. We'll go over every detail, what a particular treatment will involve, and the fees. You will know exactly what to expect during every phase of treatment.
Book a Teeth Cleaning in Glendale, CA
We would love to help you achieve a healthier, more attractive smile. If you are interested in finding high-quality dental treatments with fantastic patient care, Dr. Kim is always available for any dental appointment. Please contact our Glendale dental office, and we'll be happy to arrange an appointment for your first visit.
Why Preventative Dentistry in Glendale Matters
Preventative dental care is important for things like avoiding cavities. But when you prioritize these appointments, you get benefits that do more, including:
Stopping Disease Before it Starts
Regular cleanings and exams let your dentist detect tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer in their earliest stages when treatment is simplest, cheapest, and most effective.
Making Use of Your Insurance
Most dental insurance plans cover preventative visits fully, which means you can likely get professional care without spending money out of your own pocket.
Invest in Your Overall Health
Your oral health influences your heart, brain, and immune system, so keeping your mouth healthy helps protect you from serious conditions like heart disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
At the dental offices of Dr. Lucio H Kim, we are doing everything in our power to be available for patients in the Glendale, CA area during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Kim is keeping the office open to treat emergency dental issues during this time. We are also providing virtual consults for anyone who has dental related questions in the Glendale area. Please reach out to our Glendale office if you are experiencing a toothache, a chipped or cracked tooth, or any other urgent issue.
Here is a video update from Dr. Kim describing emergency dental services and virtual consults:
Preventive cleaning and checkups every six months are essential for maintaining your dental health and also your general health. Why? Because emerging information has shown that there is a direct correlation between gum disease and other health concerns in the body that are not dentally related such as low birth weight in babies, diabetes, and even heart disease.
Your Dental Cleaning in 91207
During your cleaning, your hygienist spends time removing the plaque buildup that contributes to many concerns like gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities. Your hygienist can demonstrate proper brushing techniques and also recommend products that can help you to improve your oral health like an antibacterial mouth rinse.
Next, Dr. Kim will perform a thorough examination and screen for concerns like gum disease, tooth decay, cavities, and oral cancer. Detecting these issues early on will ensure that you can treat them with easier procedures. For example, a cavity caught early on can be treated with a dental filling instead of a more invasive procedure such as root canal therapy that is needed once decay has progressed into your nerve and caused an infection.
Call Your Glendale Dentist
Visiting your dentist in Glendale, CA consistently every six months will help you maintain excellent dental health and prevent more significant problems in the future.
In our Glendale, CA dental office, we commonly treat tooth and jaw pain.
Teeth grinding and clenching while asleep, commonly called bruxism, are among the top reasons people wake with jaw and tooth pain. Left untreated, bruxism can lead to enamel erosion, wear on teeth, cavities, breakage, and tooth loss, and is even associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) or (TMJ).
TMJ means the hinge-like joint that connects your jaw to your skull is not functioning properly. This can cause headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, locked jaw, and clicking sounds in the joint when speaking or chewing.
We offer successful treatments for teeth grinding in Glendale, CA.
Our top Glendale dentist creates custom nightguards, which have saved a lot of smiles. These comfortable nighttime appliances gently thrust your lower jaw forward to prevent grinding and clenching during sleep.
Our custom nightguards in Glendale, CA are known for ease of wear and provide a gentle remedy to help you get the sleep you need without the pain.
The first step is scheduling a consultation with our Glendale, CA dentist!
Get in Touch with Our 91207 Dental Office
If you are suffering the symptoms of bruxism and would like to be evaluated for teeth grinding and clenching in Glendale, CA, give us a call today.
The American Dental Association recommends that most adults schedule dental checkups every six months, though some patients, based on their oral health status, may need more frequent visits.
Personalized Recommendations
Regular dental visits are essential for maintaining excellent oral health and preventing cavities, gum disease, and infections. Your Glendale dentist will review your current oral health, medical conditions, and lifestyle habits and create a personalized care schedule to prevent these conditions.
If you have a history of gum disease, frequent cavities, or medical conditions like diabetes, we may recommend more frequent visits, usually every three to four months.
What to Expect at Your Dental Checkup
During your regular dental checkups, you’ll receive comprehensive care that includes:
- Professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup
- Thorough examination for cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer
- Digital x-rays as needed to detect underlying problems
- Personalized oral hygiene recommendations
- Discussion of any concerns or changes in your oral health
Are You Due for Your Next Dental Visit?
Remember, preventive care through regular dental visits is more cost-effective and comfortable than treating advanced dental problems. If you’re due for your next checkup or aren’t sure when to schedule it, call our Glendale dental office today so we can help you.
The answer to this question really comes down to preference. Many people find that they like an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush because it takes a lot of guesswork out of brushing.
High-end electric toothbrushes have features like a timer to ensure you're brushing for two minutes, alerts to move quadrants so you spend equal time brushing each area of your mouth, pressure sensors to alert you if you're brushing too hard or vigorously, which protects your gum tissues, and Bluetooth connectivity to your phone to provide feedback on your brushing routine.
The truth is, you can also achieve great results using a manual toothbrush as long as you're using proper brushing techniques.
Toothbrushing 101
If you're using a manual toothbrush, hold it at a 45-degree angle against your gums. Brush gently using circular motions, being careful not to irritate your gum tissues. Brush for 30 seconds in each quadrant, reaching the front, back, and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Whether you choose a manual or electric toothbrush, you must change the brush or brush head every three to four months.
Contact Our Glendale Dental Office
If you have any more questions about whether to choose an electric or manual toothbrush, please feel free to contact us at (818) 242-3739.
Meet Our Doctor:
Lucio H. Kim DDS
Dr. Kim obtained his Bachelors of Science degree at UC San Diego in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Kim attended dental school at the University of Southern California.
After obtaining his DDS at USC, Dr. Kim went on to complete a residency at the highly competitive UCLA Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) postgraduate program, where he focused on reconstructive, restorative, and implant dentistry.
He has also received advanced training for dental implants at the Misch International Implant Institute and at the Global ...
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