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562-860-6626

13017 Artesia Blvd, Suite D120, Cerritos, CA 90703

Dentist Cerritos

Jesmine Boghawala DDS

10929 South St #110B

Cerritos, CA 90703

 (562) 860-6626

How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?

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Coming in for a routine teeth cleaning session serves as the foundation for continued oral health. But one of the main reasons people put it off is because they think they do not have the time. In truth, teeth cleaning is quick, comfortable, and useful. But exactly how long does a dental cleaning take?

Why Dental Cleaning Is Worth the Time

Brushing and flossing are important. No one will deny that. However, they usually are not enough to keep all buildup off your teeth. Over time, bacteria will cause buildup that eats away at your teeth. Without addressing this, it can lead to cavities. Cavities can lead to a risk of eventual infection. Infection can lead to the risk of tooth loss.

As evidence, it is a slippery slope. Each of these conditions mentioned can require lengthier treatments. For example, each cavity treatment can take at least 30 minutes on its own. A root canal can take an hour. And tooth extraction can require several days of recovery.

By attending two routine cleanings per year, you help yourself avoid any of these issues. In many cases, routine cleanings can save patients time down the road.

How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?

When most people think of dental cleaning, they picture what we call routine cleaning. This service handles the basic maintenance most people need. It involves removing any buildup (plaque and tartar) on the teeth.

How Long Routine Cleaning Takes

Basic routine dental cleaning takes about 30 to 60 minutes. The duration tends to depend on how much cleaning your teeth need. If you have skipped a cleaning, your next one may prove longer. However, your dentist should never rush this process. If your cleaning ends in under half an hour, you may not have received the best service.

Patients who have missed several cleanings or have gum disease may need more cleaning. This is called root scaling and planing.

Breaking Down the Cleaning Step-by-Step

Buildup Removal: This step involves physically removing buildup from the teeth. Your hygienist will use a special tool that can scrape even stubborn buildup away. You may feel some tugging on your teeth. But you should feel little to no discomfort. We then may also use an ultrasonic cleaner for enhanced cleaning.
Polishing the Teeth: This involves placing a gritty toothpaste on a rotating toothbrush-like instrument. The grit in the toothpaste helps polish away discoloration and further removes buildup.
Final Flossing: Teeth cleaning would not be complete without a quick flossing. Your hygienist will carefully floss between every tooth, cleaning out any stubborn material.

Additional Elements

In many cases, dentists perform teeth cleaning at the same time as other checkup elements. So a typical visit may also involve a physical exam, X-rays, or a fluoride treatment. If you have any of these, your visit may take closer to 1 hour in total.

  • Physical Exam: Your dentist visually checks for cavities. This takes under 10 minutes.
  • X-rays: About once a year, having digital X-rays provides more visualization of your teeth. This takes under 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Fluoride Treatment: This quick treatment can help bolster your teeth with beneficial fluoride. It takes about 5 minutes.

How Long Scaling and Root Planing Takes

Another reason dental cleaning is worth the time is because without it you may need scaling and root planing (SRP). This in-depth cleaning removed buildup from under the gums. Think of it like a deep cleaning.

As such, it takes longer than routine cleaning. A typical SRP treatment can take between 1 and 2 hours in total. However, that does not factor in that it usually involves multiple visits. Most dentists do RSP in 2 to 4 visits. Each visit will mean more time out of your day.

How Long Do I Have to Wait After a Cleaning to Eat?

Another time factor to consider is that you may need to wait to eat after a cleaning. So if you have lunch or dinner plans right after, we recommend taking this into account. Fortunately, waiting about half an hour should prove sufficient. This only applies if you had a fluoride treatment. Otherwise, you can eat as soon as you step out of the office.

If you had numbing for an SRP treatment, you will want to wait for that to fade before eating. While numb, you could all too easily bite your tongue or cheek accidentally.

A Top Dentist for Pristinely Cleaned Teeth

Contact Innovative Smiles to work with a leading dentist for your next dental cleaning. Set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth with our team of dental experts.

Signs You Need a Tooth Pulled

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Getting your teeth pulled is a common dental procedure. More than 20 million teeth are pulled annually in the United States. The procedure involves removing one or more of your natural teeth. The procedure may be necessary for a variety of reasons, including damage, decay, infection, and even overcrowding. While you may feel intimidated by the procedure, advancements in dentistry have made the extraction smooth, pain-free, and highly safe. In many cases, it can help improve your oral health if extraction is necessary. Below you will find the common signs you need a tooth pulled.

Signs You Need a Tooth Pulled

If you experience any of the following, contact a dental professional right away. They can diagnose the underlying issue causing your symptoms and let you know if you need to get any teeth pulled.

Pain or Discomfort:

Pain or discomfort can be a sign that you need to get your tooth pulled. This is especially true if you experience pain when you are chewing or biting down on something. This is often a sign of damage, decay, and even an infection in severe cases. If you experience persistent tooth pain for more than a few days, it’s important to contact a dentist for dental care and services. A root canal may be necessary, but severe damage may require getting your tooth pulled.

Wisdom Teeth:

Overcrowding caused by your wisdom teeth coming in can result in the need for molar removal. This is one of the more common reasons for tooth removal as many people do not have enough space for the third set of molars. Some people experience a number of symptoms when their wisdom teeth come in but not everyone does. Common symptoms include pain, discomfort, swelling, bleeding gums, headaches, and bad breath. Contact your dentist right away if you think your wisdom teeth are coming in. If left untreated without any space to erupt, your teeth alignment can be thrown off. Additionally, impacted wisdom teeth increase your risk for infection.

Gum Disease:

If you currently have gum disease, or a history of gum disease, it may be time to get your tooth pulled. Gum disease can develop when too much plaque builds up on your teeth. The buildup is often caused by a poor oral care routine and skipping dental visits. If you have gum disease, or a history of gum disease, it can lead to serious oral health issues, including tooth loss. Tooth loss occurs when gum disease is left untreated as the tooth can become loose and wobbly. While your dentist prioritizes saving your natural tooth, you may need to get a tooth pulled if the damage from gum disease has progressed too far.

Jaw Pain or Stiffness:

Jaw pain or stiffness can be a sign that you need to get your tooth pulled. The symptom can be associated with a variety of dental issues. However, it is most commonly associated with impacted wisdom teeth. It can also be associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (“TMJ”) or gum disease. No matter what the case, persistent jaw pain and stiffness should be examined by a dental professional as removal may be necessary.

Swollen Gums:

Swollen gums can be a symptom of a variety of dental issues that may necessitate removal. Also, swollen gums are commonly associated with gum disease and a tooth abscess. Both can be extremely detrimental to your oral and overall health. The early stages of gum disease and decay can result in the preservation of all of your natural teeth. If left untreated, the results may be different as tooth removal may be necessary.

Why Do Kids Fear the Dentist? How to Help Them Overcome It

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It is completely normal for children to have some fear or anxiety about the dentist. While some anxiety is normal, you may wonder, why do kids fear the dentist? How to help them overcome it and help your child feel prepared and confident is important. Consider the following tips before your child’s next dentist appointment.

Why Do Kids Fear the Dentist? How to Help Them Overcome It

Anxiety about the dentist is pretty normal as many people experience it. Roughly 9% of the population dreads going to the dentist. So, it makes sense why children may not like going to the dentist. Whether it’s having things in their mouth, the sounds, and even the smells, the dentist can be overwhelming in the beginning. Consider the following tips to ensure your child overcomes their dental fear.

Begin Early:

It is recommended that children see the dentist when their first tooth erupts, or when they turn 1 (whichever comes first). This is helpful as you can get them used to the dentist before they can develop any fear or anxiety around the appointment. Familiarizing your child with the sounds, sights, and feelings that come with a dental visit can be highly beneficial for their long-term oral health.

Find A Pediatric Dentist:

Pediatric dentists are not only skilled in pediatric dentistry, but they know how to work with children’s unique complexities. Children can be energetic, scared, excited, and even cry during their appointment. A pediatric dentist in Cerritos is well aware of the ways in which children can respond during their dental appointment, and how to manage those big emotions accordingly.

Be Clear, But Brief:

Avoid providing too much information. Give them age appropriate information about their dental visit. Let them know what will happen (x-rays, cleaning, oral exam) and how long it will take. This can help them feel somewhat in control on the day of their appointment.

Read Dental Books:

Find a fun book about going to the dentist that is age appropriate. It is even better if you can find a book about their favorite character going to the dentist. Reading this well in advance before they go to the dentist can help build a strong sense of familiarity once it’s their turn to go to the general dentist in Cerritos.

Field Trip:

One way to get your child familiar with the dentist’s office is to go there. Talk with the receptionist and see if you can swing by before the appointment to familiarize your child with the office. Most pediatric dental offices have child-friendly waiting rooms that can get your child excited to get to their dentist appointment early!

Stay Calm and Relax:

If your child is worried about the dentist, stay calm. Avoid getting flustered or anxious yourself as it can rub off on your child. Additionally, utilize relaxation techniques to help your child calm down. Deep breathing and listening to soothing sounds on the way there can be really helpful.

Positive Reinforcement:

While some parents may use bribery, try and use positive reinforcement to encourage your child before and after their dental appointment. This can help build their confidence and self-esteem, in addition to helping them feel better about their next dental appointment. While bribes aren’t something you want to begin using, you can schedule something your child can look forward to after their appointment to help keep their spirits up.

Educate Them:

Helping your child feel comfortable at the dentist can take some effort. Let your child know the importance of their oral health and how the dentist can help keep them healthy. This can help them understand why they need to go to their appointment and stay consistent with their daily oral care routine.

Causes of a Dental Infection

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A dental infection is a serious health condition that can cause permanent damage to the surrounding tissue and bone. In severe cases, the infection can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Let’s look at the causes of a dental infection.

Causes of a Dental Infection

Unfortunately, dental health issues are not always given the priority or attention that they deserve. In order to ensure that you can identify and receive treatment for a possible dental infection, we will go over some of the most common causes of dental infection and associated symptoms.

Poor Oral Healthcare

The American Dental Association (ADA) states that it is in our best interest to follow a strict dental hygiene regimen every day. Their recommendations for dental care include:

  • Brushing at least twice per day for two minutes each time
  • Flossing once per day, preferably with dental floss
  • Rinsing once per day with mouthwash
  • Visiting your dentist for routine dental care in Cerritos every six months

While it is still possible for someone to develop tooth decay, gum disease, or a serious dental infection, the risks are significantly lowered by following these recommendations.

For even better protection, the ADA suggests brushing your teeth every time you eat, but this approach is not always practical.

High Sugar Diet

A diet that is high in refined sugar or simple carbohydrates could increase your risk of developing an oral infection. Both break down into sugars, which can be consumed by bacteria in your mouth.

When these bacteria consume sugars, they release an acid as a byproduct. These bacteria and associated acids can irritate your gums and wear away the enamel on your teeth. Both can open you up to infection. A regular daily hygiene routine can reduce this risk.

Dry Mouth

Your saliva is a natural defense against bacteria and infection. Unfortunately, any condition that causes dry mouth reduces the amount of saliva that you naturally produce. These changes open you up to an increased risk of infection.

Normally, your saliva would neutralize some of the threats to your oral health in between brushings. With lowered saliva levels, your teeth and gums may be vulnerable in between brushings.

Smoking

Smoking has a number of negative health effects, and your oral health isn’t left out. And smoking makes you more likely to develop bacterial plaque, which can directly increase the risk of tooth decay, gum infection, and broader oral infection.

In addition to increasing the risk of developing bacterial plaque, smoking also decreases the oxygenation of your blood supply, including the blood supply to your gums. As a result, your gums are less able to heal when they sustain damage.

Some Health Conditions

There are certain health conditions that make you more susceptible to oral infection. While the list is rather long, common conditions that increase the risk of damage to the teeth and gums include:

  • pregnancy
  • high blood pressure
  • diabetes
  • osteoporosis
  • lung disease
  • kidney disease
  • arthritis

If you have any of these health conditions, then it is important to follow a strict, daily oral hygiene schedule. You will also want to discuss your other health conditions with your dentist to find a regular check-up schedule that will best protect your long-term health.

Signs of Oral Infection

The early signs of oral infection can be subtle. Increased sensitivity and some bleeding of the gums are common indications that you have a developing infection. As the infection becomes more serious you may notice growing pain and visible irritation.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then you should consult with your dentist to check for infection before it becomes an abscess or affects the bone. The good news is that a simple root canal in Cerritos is all that it will normally take to address the problem as long as you catch it early enough.

Can Wisdom Teeth Cause a Sore Throat?

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Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars and typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. In some cases, wisdom teeth don’t present any problems. There’s enough space in the jaw, and they’re positioned properly to come in like any other teeth. However, it doesn’t work that way for everyone. For a lot of people there simply isn’t enough room in their mouth for the wisdom teeth to come in naturally. But can wisdom teeth cause a sore throat?

Can Wisdom Teeth Cause a Sore Throat?

When this happens, the wisdom teeth are considered “impacted” because they are partially or fully blocked from coming through the jawline. Any attempt your wisdom teeth make to emerge through the gum line has the potential to shift existing teeth and create new opportunities for easy bacterial growth. As a result, impacted wisdom teeth can be a major problem for your oral health, which can easily leave you with other symptoms including a sore throat.

The Effects of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth are especially vulnerable to infection because they tend to leave small openings in the gums. These pockets create an ideal environment for bacteria where they can hide from your saliva and daily oral hygiene routine. Due to the protection offered by your gums, these infections can become serious more quickly than you would expect. It is not abnormal for impacted wisdom teeth to form abscesses.

Once the infection is underway, it is easy for those same bacteria to spread, especially to other areas of your mouth, to your throat, and even further afield thanks to the blood vessels in your gums. That is why some people with infected wisdom teeth complain of sore throat as well as headaches and respiratory symptoms. Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy as dealing with a cold. Infected wisdom teeth will likely require emergency dental care to stop the infection and treat the damage.

Identifying Infected Wisdom Teeth

You’re not a doctor or a dentist, so you won’t know with certainty whether your symptoms are caused by infected wisdom teeth. However, a few symptoms will indicate that this is a job for your dentist. While your dentist may spend their average day dealing with general dental care in Cerritos, they’re also more than prepared for more complicated cases. In fact, they handle them more often than you probably realize.

The primary indicators that you’re looking for are:

  • Inflamed gums
  • Tender or bleeding gums
  • Jaw pain, sometimes masked as a headache
  • Difficulty opening the mouth
  • Severe halitosis
  • Unpleasant taste that won’t go away

Even if it turns out that you don’t have infected wisdom teeth, each of these symptoms suggests that you have a serious infection somewhere in your oral cavity.

Treating Infected Wisdom Teeth

The primary treatment for severely infected wisdom teeth is extraction. If the tooth isn’t impacted, then there may be an attempt to save it, but impaction and infection tend to go together when it comes to your third set of molars. Fortunately, wisdom teeth extraction doesn’t have to be painful. In fact, it’s usually a major relief for patients who have been suffering through their infection. With that said, you should still make sure you understand the process and post-operative care to ensure the best health outcomes.

When you have your wisdom teeth extraction in Cerritos you should arrange to have someone drive you home, especially if your dentist will be using heavier sedation to help calm you. The entire process usually takes less than an hour, and you’ll be free to go home. You’ll have some gauze and a soft, straw-free diet for a while, but you should generally feel pretty normal in a day or two.

 

562-860-6626

13017 Artesia Blvd, Suite D120
Cerritos, CA 90703


Office Hours
Monday: 9AM-6PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9AM-6PM
Thursday: 9AM-6PM
Friday: 9AM-6PM
Saturday: By Appointment
Sunday: Closed

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Jesmine Boghawala DDS
10929 South St #110B
Cerritos, CA 90703
Phone: 562.860.6626
Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri - 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Sat by Appt.

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