The cornerstone of maintaining a radiant and healthy smile lies in
the thoroughness of dental exams. These exams are not just a routine
check-up; they are a comprehensive assessment that plays a crucial role
in detecting, preventing, and treating dental issues before they
escalate into more significant health concerns. Focusing in detail on
the exam process can illuminate how this fundamental aspect of general
dental care is instrumental in safeguarding not only your oral health
but also enhancing your overall well-being.

The Process of a Dental Exam

• Medical History Review: Understanding your
  overall health, medications, and any allergies to tailor the dental care
  to your specific needs.

• Visual Inspection: Using advanced tools and
  lighting to examine all surfaces of your teeth, the gums, and the mouth
  for signs of decay, gum disease, or other oral health issues.

• X-rays: Employing low-radiation digital X-rays
  to view beneath the surface of your gums and between teeth, identifying
  hidden problems such as impacted teeth, bone decay, cysts, tumors, and
  more.

• Oral Cancer Screening: Examining your lips,
  tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer, a
  critical step given the increasing prevalence of the disease.

• Evaluation of Existing Dental Work: Checking
  fillings, crowns, bridges, and any other previous dental work to ensure
  they are in good condition and functioning properly.

• Gum Health Assessment: Measuring the depth of
  the spaces between your teeth and gums to detect any signs of gum
  disease, which can be an indicator of systemic health issues like
  diabetes and heart disease.

Following the detailed exam, a personalized treatment plan is crafted
to address any identified issues, incorporating treatments such as:

• Professional Cleanings: To remove plaque and
  tartar buildup.

• Dental Crowns: To restore damaged
  teeth.

• Cavity Fillings: To repair teeth affected by
  decay.

By focusing primarily on the comprehensive dental exam, patients can
gain a deeper understanding of their oral health status and the
proactive steps necessary to maintain or improve it. This detailed
approach ensures that every aspect of your oral health is evaluated,
forming the basis for any further treatments needed to enhance your
smile and confidence.

Embrace Comprehensive Dental
Care

We pride ourselves on offering detailed and comprehensive dental
exams as the foundation of our general dental care treatments. Our
dedication to thorough assessments ensures that we can provide
personalized, effective care tailored to your unique needs.

If you value a detailed approach to your dental health, contact us to
schedule your next dental exam. Let us be your partner in achieving and
maintaining optimal oral health, laying the groundwork for a brighter,
healthier future.

A dental crown or tooth cap is a long-term restoration that provides a permanent solution for both restorative and cosmetic dental problems. Dentists particularly recommend them for large cavities, either as the only restoration, or to complement large unstable dental fillings or root canal therapy.  

Crowns for Cavities 

Dental fillings are the most common restoration for cavities. But if the cavity is too large, it may result in a weak filling with no durability. In such a case, your dentist may recommend that you get a crown instead of fillings to repair the cavity. Crowns can also be used to replace previously placed fillings to strengthen the tooth. 

When you have severe decay that has infected the tooth pulp (section inside the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels), the condition is considered irreparable and you may end up losing the tooth. However, it is possible to save the tooth through root canal therapy, whereby the pulp is removed and replaced with dental filling material. The procedure requires a substantial amount of the natural tooth to be removed in order to thoroughly clean the pulp and completely remove the infection. 

While you retain the original tooth, its structure will have weakened considerably, affecting its normal function. As such, your dentist may recommend that you get a dental crown to encase the restored tooth to strengthen it. The crown also serves an aesthetic function as it covers up the filler material, giving your smile a natural appearance. 

Crowns for Cosmetic Dental Applications 

Cosmetic reasons 

Dental crowns are custom-made to restore the shape, size, and even shade of a damaged tooth if you use a tooth-colored crown. As such, your dentist may recommend crowns to enhance the appearance of imperfect teeth such as:

• Excessively or unevenly worn down – resulting in very short teeth 
• Badly shaped teeth 
• Severely stained teeth 
• Widely gapped teeth 

Other Applications of Dental Crowns 

Crowns can also be used to repair a chipped, broken, or fractured tooth that is experiencing sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks; to support dental bridgework for replacing missing teeth; or to replace a missing tooth with dental implants. 

There are different materials that can be used to fabricate dental crowns. Your dentist will help you choose the best material for your specific need. To learn more about Dental Crowns in Bakersfield please contact us today.

Getting affordable dental care is important to help you save costs on taking care of your own dental health and oral hygiene. When looking for a dentist, consider our practice; we provide exceptional dental care and high-quality services without compromising either. Our experienced team is proud to serve you and your family, which can help you achieve a healthy smile at an affordable price.

Range of treatments 

We provide a full range of dental care, including preventive appointments like routine teeth cleanings and hygiene, general family dental care, cosmetic dentistry to improve the look of your smile as well as restorative dentistry. This means that you can book your appointments at the same time to save on time and money that would be spent moving between different practices. That said, each treatment plan is individually tailored around every patient’s needs, so you receive the level of care that is best suited to your needs. 

State-of-the-art dental equipment 

Our investment in the newest dental equipment allows us to offer you innovative treatment options, and tailor a specialized plan just for your needs. We will not only identify looming dental problems early and introduce a simple solution, but also provide the complete treatment plan for major dental issues to restore your mouth’s function and appearance. For these reasons, our modern treatments are designed to be more comfortable and they focus on minimal intrusion yet maximum preservation for your natural teeth. This leads to faster healing, shorter recovery time, and long-lasting dental work.

Need an Affordable Dentist Near Me? Call Us Today

If you’re searching for an affordable dentist who will not only offer reliable, high-quality care but also manage to keep your smile bright and healthy, then call our office today. We offer affordable, reliable, and highly professional dental services. From dental exams to routine teeth cleanings, teeth whitening, and other dental procedures, we offer quality treatments at an affordable price.

Call our office today to discuss possible payment plans and financing options.

No matter how diligent your at-home oral care routine is, harmful bacteria can still hide in your mouth in places that are hard to reach with regular brushing and flossing. After some time, the accumulated plaque and tartar can pose serious risks to your oral health and even affect your overall health if the bacteria spreads from your mouth to various body tissues. As such, it should be removed by a dental professional using specialized oral cleaning tools at a recommended interval. 

Bacteria Growth in Your Mouth 

The warm and moist environment in your mouth is very hospitable for the growth of bacteria, which manifests as:

• Plaque – the biofilm formed by bacteria colonies living in your mouth. It is responsible for producing acid that can wear your teeth causing cavities and/or damage gums if not continuously removed by regular brushing
• Tartar or calculus – forms when plaque is not removed properly, causing it to calcify and mineralize into a hard substance that attracts more harmful bacteria. Calculus can only be removed during dental cleanings using specialized tools. 

Dental Cleanings Prevent Gum Disease 

Bacteria in your mouth can accumulate to a point where it becomes active and destructive, resulting in gum infection. The first stage of gum infection is known as gingivitis, and is characterized by gum inflammation, swelling, and reddening. Due to sensitive gums, you may also notice some blood on your toothbrush or when rinsing your mouth after brushing. Fortunately, gingivitis can be successfully treated with professional dental cleaning and an improved at-home oral care routine. 

If there are no interventions, gingivitis can advance to a more serious case of gum disease known as periodontitis or periodontal disease. It affects the foundation of your teeth – the bone tissue connecting your teeth to the jaw. If not treated promptly, periodontitis can cause severe bone loss that loosens your teeth with some even falling out. Though it’s irreversible, dental professionals can help you manage the symptoms and improve your oral health. 

Schedule Your Dental Cleaning Today 

Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to determine the best type of dental cleaning in Bakersfield to improve your oral health and reduce the risk of advanced gum disease and cavities. 

Finding a reliable dentist often requires you to do your own research to determine whether that dental team is the right fit for your family. Just as important is finding a good dental practice that you and your loved ones can access conveniently for routine checkups and dental emergencies.

So how do you narrow down your options and choose the right dentist? Here are 5 things to look for:

Ongoing training and education

You need a dentist who is well-updated on the newest dental technologies, and knows how to apply them properly. One way to check for this is by accessing the type of equipment available at the practice. For instance, digital imaging technology has come a long way, with the newest equipment reducing radiation exposure by 90 percent.

Location

Regular dental visits are key to optimal dental health. Finding a dentist who’s close to your home or workplace makes it easier and more convenient to schedule appointments, keep them, and arrive on time.

Office hours

In addition to choosing a dentist near you, the dental practice must also be open on the days and hours when you and your loved ones are available, without necessarily adjusting your daily schedule too much to make appointments.

Comfortable office

It is important that you choose a warm and friendly dental practice. Most family dentists make their offices child-friendly so your little ones are as comfortable as they can be when in the dentist’s chair. The office needs to be clean and modern, and the staff friendly and responsive to ensure a streamlined appointment process.

Open communication

Just as important is finding a dentist with whom you are comfortable with. One whom you’re not afraid to share your medical history with as this is very important for proper diagnosis and successful treatment. The dentist should listen to you and try to accommodate your concerns and needs when diagnosing problems and recommending interventions.

Final Note

Everyone’s dental needs vary, from routine checkups to dental repairs and restorations to cosmetic treatments to enhance your smile. So make sure to choose a dentist’s office that provides the highest quality of preventative, restorative, and aesthetic dental care, and can handle every dental need that you and your family may need, from simple procedures such as dental checkups, professional cleaning, and whitening to the more complex ones like root canal, implants, and veneers.

Proper oral hygiene involves more than regular brushing and flossing. At Columbus Family Dentistry in Bakersfield, we believe that the right combination of good at-home dental care and routine professional cleanings and checkups is essential to maintaining a beautiful smile and a healthy mouth.

As the best dentist in Bakersfield, Dr. Mike Sagarian and his team can help you and your family achieve and maintain the highest level of oral health possible to make you feel confident at all times. Our clients in Bakersfield benefit from our vast experience in providing professional, highly skilled, and personalized dental care.

Personalized Dental Care

Dr. Sagarian has the skills and experience to handle every dental need that you and your family may need, from simple procedures such as dental checkups, professional cleaning, and whitening to the more complex ones like root canal, implants, and veneers.

Everyone’s dental needs vary, from routine checkups to dental repairs and restorations to cosmetic treatments to enhance your smile. We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality of preventative, restorative, and aesthetic dental care.

Call now for an appointment

We want to be your general and cosmetic family dentist in Bakersfield and the surrounding area. In fact, a good number of our clients come to us following a recommendation by their family and friends or dental insurance company.

We realize that one of the reasons you need a dentist near you is the convenience factor. Most people want to be on the dentist’s chair for as little time as possible. You also want your dental visits to be as widely spaced as possible. That is why Dr. Sagarian takes each dental visit seriously, examining your mouth carefully to ensure that any potential problems are treated early before they become a nuisance. In addition, we provide you with useful tips and techniques to care for your teeth and mouth properly at-home.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call our office. Our friendly team is always ready to help.

Regular dental checkups are essential for maintaining dental hygiene. Dental hygiene is the practice of keeping the teeth and gums free of decay and debris through home care and professional cleanings. If plaque and other debris are left unattended, they can cause dental problems like gum disease and cavities. Proper and timely dental care can also help with the management of associated health concerns like heart disease and diabetes.

That said, dentists believe that dental visits should be scheduled based on your individual oral hygiene condition, lifestyle, and medical conditions. This means that people at low risk of gum disease or cavities should be okay with annual visits, whereas high-risk individuals may need to a checkup every 3 to 4 months. These high-risk individuals include:

• Pregnant women
• Diabetics
• Smokers
• People with existing gum disease
• People at high risk of cavities
• People with weak immune response to bacterial infections

Even with proper at-home care of your teeth and gums, you need to visit a dental hygienist regularly.  Many dental problems don’t exhibit any symptoms, including pain and physical changes until they reach more advanced stages. Routine exams can help reveal early signs of gum disease, cavities, and oral cancer and initiate treatments.

The exam may include:

• Review of your history to identify changes in your health – stress, pregnancy, arthritis, new medications, etc.
• Examination of the teeth using a metal probe and small angled mirror. The dentist will check for tooth enamel softening, mouth sores, and redness or swelling of gums.
• Dental X-rays help to detect any issues below the surface of your mouth
• Assessment of your jaw joints and general oral cavity

Final Note

The frequency of dental exams will change during your lifetime. If your dentist determines that your at-home dental care routine is working well, your time between visits may be increased. Conversely, if you have stress, illness, or taking medications, more frequent visits may help to improve your health faster. Visit your dentist today for a comprehensive examination and to improve your smile.