A Day at the Beach…
February 15, 2011
On Feb 4, 2011 Dr. Canzoneri and our team Deanna, Terry, Angela, Christina, Sandra, Valerie and Jacqueline spend the day together at the Hyatt, Huntington Beach.
Are You A Candidate For Implants?
October 25, 2010
Are you missing a permanent tooth? Do you have gaps in your smile? Do your dentures slip or click while talking and eating? You may be a candidate for dental implants.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that a dentist places into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth, bridge or denture, rather than anchoring it to a healthy neighboring tooth.
Dental implants take several steps but usually a patient will be able to continue their regular professional and social activities. Teeth which are supported by implants might as well be you own; they look natural, are comfortable and withstand the rigors of grinding and chewing.
Unfortunately, dental implants are not for everyone. Your present dental health will influence whether you are a good candidate for a dental implant. Some medical conditions possibly could interfere with normal healing, such as diabetes or heart problems. Other conditions which may prevent using implants are poor supporting bone in your jaw, clenching or grinding your teeth and smoking.
Toothbrush Handles…Does It Matter?
August 24, 2010
I have received a great deal of feedback regarding my last article about toothbrushes. Many readers have requested more information concerning toothbrush selection.
I believe one of the most overlooked parts of the toothbrush is the handle. Believe it or not a great deal of research goes into the design of a toothbrush handle.
Straight handle: This handle usually accompanies a brush with a flat edge. This design acts to decrease pain in the gums when brushing.
Bent handle: Typically the end of the brush is wavy. This allows you to reach around turns in the month. It is especially helpful reaching around the back of second molars.
Handles with ridges: These are very important handles. They allow people who have a hard time holding a toothbrush to get a little better grip. People with big or little hands, weak hand muscles or anyone with a reduced hand / muscle function can benefit from this handle.
Handles with cute characters on them: Children’s toothbrush handles usually have alligators or cartoon characters on them. This serves two purposes, its fun to brush with them and it gives a child’s small, inexperienced hands something to grip.
Most importantly remember that no matter which toothbrush you select it will only be helpful if you brush three times a day for a minimum of 2 minutes and don’t forget to floss.
How Select A Toothbrush
Although I have a strong opinion on toothbrushes, I have to admit that I bought a new fancy toothbrush the other day. It had “space age” plastic components to the bristles that were supposed to massage the gums. Did I mention it has blue, yellow and clear bristles! I used this rainbow colored toothbrush for two days before throwing it away! The average American spends nearly 1,000 hours brushing their teeth over a lifetime. Finding the right toothbrush is very important. I am a strong advocate of a soft bristle or feather. I know many of you feel that it does not clean your teeth. But research shows it is a very efficient bristle and unlike harder bristles, it does not irritate your gums. The handles of toothbrushes are either straight, bent or round. Although all these handles have different purposes, the best way to select a toothbrush handle is buy the one which fits best in your hand. In reality, most of the modern, soft bristle brushes work well. What is most important is knowing how to brush correctly and brushing for at least two to three minutes. Select a toothbrush head size that can easily fit into the mouth and can brush one to two teeth at a time.
Teeth Grinding in Toddlers
April 9, 2010
Being the father of four children I can tell you first hand that the noise of a child grinding their teeth is like the sound of dragging your nails on a chalk board!
Teeth grinding or bruxism is surprisingly common in children under five years of age. About 38 % of children grind their teeth, according to a 2005 study in the Journal of Dentistry for Children. Children can start grinding at around the age of 3 or 3 ½ years of age. Usually a toddler will stop grinding her teeth by the age of six. Although no one knows for sure what causes it, some possible culprits are stress, pain associated with teething, earache pain, improper alignment of the teeth and or jaw and allergies. In most cases teeth grinding in a toddler is not harmful and is not anything to be to concerned about. If a parent is concerned or a child complains of pain during the day contact a dentist. The dentist will check for potential problems such as cavities, fractured teeth, swollen gums and other possible dental concerns.
Although the noise of a toddler grinding their teeth is traumatizing to their parents ears, a vast majority stop grinding on their own within just a few years.
Deep Scaling or Regular Cleaning?
October 23, 2009
My hygienist, receptionists and I are asked this question everyday. There is some confusion between a prophy (regular cleaning) and periodontal scaling (deep cleaning) A prophylaxis is when stain, plaque and calculus is removed from the surface of the tooth. A deep cleaning or scaling is the process where plaque (bacteria and food mixture) and calculus (mineralized plaque deposits) are removed from both above and below the gumline. The root surface just under the gum is also cleaned of any plaque or calculus, resulting in a smooth, sleek surface.
In my dental office a patient is usually numb for a root planning procedure so that the appointment is completely comfortable. This may require the use of a topical anesthetic such as Oraquix or Cetacaine spray or a small injection at the gum.
Deep Scaling is one of the best treatments to fight gum disease. Sadly, gum disease often has no major symptoms but can do significant damage the supporting structures of the teeth which ultimately can cause bone and tooth loss!
Welcome to Dr Canzoneri’s Blog
August 20, 2009
Welcome to Kenneth J. Canzoneri’s Blog!
Consider this blog your news resource for information about oral health, dental procedures and technology, and what’s happening at your dentist’s office. We believe communication is key to building great doctor-patient relationships, and this dental blog is intended to keep us in touch with you. The best part is, you can simply bookmark this page in your browser, then visit whenever you like! Stay tuned for regular posts that will keep you informed.
If you need to schedule an appointment or are “interviewing” us as your potential new dental provider, call today! You may also want to review information about us here.