A family dentist in Northridge, CA, provides services for both adults and children. Such services include orthodontics, oral health exams, and cosmetic dentistry. As many people are afraid of going to the dentist, the dentist will offer different types of sedation dentistry to keep them relaxed during their visit. They will also use technologies like lasers and ultrasound to make different procedures less uncomfortable.What Is Ultrasonic Cleaning?
Ultrasonic cleaning is a variation of professional dental cleaning. During a conventional dental cleaning, the dentist will use pick-like instruments in a process called “scaling” to remove tartar or hardened plaque from the patient’s teeth. During an ultrasonic cleaning, the family dentist in Northridge, CA, will use instruments that emit ultrasound to remove the tartar. The ultrasound works by producing vibrations that cause the tartar to break apart so it can be easily removed. Ultrasonic cleaning takes less time than conventional cleaning, and it is also more comfortable for the patient.What Are Inlays and Onlays?
Inlays and onlays are different types of tooth restorations that the dentist uses if a patient’s tooth is too severely decayed or damaged to be repaired with a filling but not badly enough to need a crown. They are made from sturdy materials that can last decades. An inlay resembles a filling and fits between the top edges or cusp tips of the tooth, while an onlay fits over the cusp tips.The dentist will prepare the tooth much as they would for a filling. In some cases, the dentist will replace an old filling with an inlay or onlay. They will remove any decay and take an impression of the tooth to send to a dental lab. The dentist will use a temporary filling to protect the tooth until the dental lab has completed the restoration. Finally, the temporary filling will be removed and replaced with the inlay or onlay.
