Services
Top quality Dental Services for all families
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Crowns
Damaged teeth can be repaired in many ways. For teeth that are chipped, cracked or broken, a dental crown is usually the best course of action. They not only protect the tooth from further damage, they also restore the function of the tooth and look esthetically pleasing doing it. If one of your teeth is in need of repair, contact Fabulous Smiles Dental Care, the best dentist in Torrance.
Crowns are a type of dental restoration made out of a thin shell of material that goes over your tooth. They’re designed to restore the part of the tooth over the gum, which is also called the “crown”. They’re usually used for molars and premolars, the teeth at the back of the mouth. Your Carson dental specialist at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care will custom design your crown to fit perfectly in your mouth without interfering with adjacent teeth
There are many materials that can be used to make crowns, each with strengths and weaknesses. At Fabulous Smiles Dental Care, we use porcelain as it’s stain-resistant, chip-proof, long lasting, and has excellent cosmetic results. Porcelain looks very similar to natural tooth enamel, and will not be obvious sitting next to natural teeth either side.
The most common reasons to get a dental crown is to restore a damaged tooth. Typically this damage will be a chip, crack, or even a break in the tooth. Crowns can prevent damage getting worse (a chip splitting into a crack, or a crack turning into a break), or restore a tooth that’s broken to a functioning one.
Sometimes your dentist in Harbor City at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care will also suggest a crown under the following circumstances:
• The tooth has become worn down, usually due to grinding.
• To restore a tooth that has become permanently stained and can’t be whitened.
To replace a tooth that’s missing or extracted, by placing the crown on a dental implant.
• To provide an abutment for a dental bridge, so a tooth can be replaced by anchoring the bridge on a healthy tooth.
• After a root canal treatment. This both restores the look and function of the tooth after the procedure, as well as maintaining the sterile field and preventing reinfection.
There are three stages to getting a crown. The first, like any dental treatment, is a consultation. This is where your dentist will work out what the problem is that needs fixing, and the best way to treat it with a crown.
Next, the tooth must be prepared. A small part of the dental enamel is shaved away so that there’s enough space for the crown. An impression is then made of the teeth and sent to the dental lab. There, the restoration is made to specification.
Finally, the crown is fitted and cemented in place.
Fabulous Smile Dental Care offers emergency dentistry, so you can get a broken tooth looked at quickly.
Did you know? Fabulous Smile Dental Care also has a specialist orthodontist in Lomita, to cater to all your orthodontic needs. Get a full mouth rehabilitation with braces, crowns, and veneers all in the one place
Sealants
Dental sealants are a great way to protect teeth from decay. They’re especially useful for children, who often struggle to brush their back teeth properly. Fabulous Smiles Dental Care provides children’s dental in Carson, and are more than happy to help protect your child’s teeth from decay. Call our friendly team today to book an appointment, or use our online scheduler.
Dental sealants are a thin plastic coating that is painted onto the biting and chewing surface of the molars. They provide a protective barrier that prevents 80% of tooth decay for 2 years, and up to 50% of decay for up to 4 years.
A dental filling is used to treat a cavity that has already appeared on a tooth.
Dental sealants are designed to prevent cavities from forming in the first place.
Dental sealants are markedly cheaper and quicker to apply than sealants, and offers years of protection. It’s better to prevent problems than to treat them, as once cavities start to form they can multiply or worsen over time.
It’s a great idea for children to get dental sealants when their first permanent molars appear. Children can have particular difficulty cleaning these teeth as they aren’t used to brushing, so this will keep the teeth protected until they can take better care of themselves.
The first molars appear around 6, and the second molars appear around
12. The third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, appear around 18-21, and are usually not treated with sealants.
Unfortunately, yes. The team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care will do everything they can to ensure your child’s sealants are effective and long-lasting, but there’s only so much they can do. Your child still needs to brush their teeth, and avoid cavity forming foods such as candy and sugary drinks.
Sealants will protect against 50-80% of cavities — the rest is up to you!
Sealants are clear, or white, or slightly tinted. They can be matched closely to the shade of surrounding teeth. In any case, they’re not very noticeable when a child talks, smiles, or eat, if at all.
If you’d like to protect your child’s teeth from cavities, contact the Harbor City dental team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care to book an appointment
today.
Dentures
Dentures are the gold standard for replacing all of your teeth when necessary, and have been for many centuries.
The Harbor City dental team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care are experienced at creating esthetically pleasing dentures that are comfortable to wear and provide support and stability to patients without teeth. You can call us to book an appointment and discuss your options, or make a booking online to see one of our friendly team soon.
Dentures are fake teeth that can replace either part or all of a row of teeth.
They are one of the oldest known dental restorations known, and rudimentary versions have been in place since the Ancient Egyptians.
These fake teeth are set into an artificial gum and sit over your real gum.
There are many ways to keep dentures in place:
• Partial dentures are held in place with rings that sit over remaining healthy teeth. This helps to anchor the denture in place and stop it from
falling out.
- Whole dentures can either sit snugly over the gum, or have an artificial palate included that rests against the roof of the mouth. This creates extra surface area and suction, keeping the denture in place.
- It’s also possible to support dentures using dental implants, in a process known as All-on-Four.
Dentures are usually made with porcelain teeth set into an acrylic gum.
Other materials can be used for different results, durability, and esthetics.
For example, the teeth can be made of zirconium, or a metal covered with porcelain for both looks and durability.
Getting your dentures is a multi-step process. After all teeth are removed and the gums have healed, an impression of your gums will be made in order to make the denture as snug and comfortable as possible.
Bite moulds are taken to ensure your biting action is comfortable. You’ll also be asked about the shape and color of your teeth.
You will receive wax models of your denture to check the fit and look of your teeth before the final restoration is put in place.
Finally, the full denture is delivered and fit into place in your mouth. There will be several adjustments made over the next year or so as the gum settles into place, to ensure the denture doesn’t become loose and fall out.
If you’re looking for the best dentist in Torrance to provide you with beautiful, long-lasting dentures, look no further than Fabulous Smiles Dental Care. Our caring, expert team will provide you with custom dentures that will serve you for many years to come.
Bridges
Bridges can be used to replace one or more missing teeth through the creation of specially designed dental crowns. Fabulous Smiles Dental Care provides high quality bridges that look natural while restoring lost functionality to your mouth. If you’re missing a tooth and want it replaced, or are worried you’ll need to have a tooth extracted and want to know what your options are, contact your Torrance dental specialists at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care today.
A dental bridge is a prosthesis used to replace a missing tooth. They’re similar to a dental crown in that they replace the part of the tooth visible above the gum. The key difference is that a bridge is made up of several crowns fused together. The crowns at the end go over healthy teeth, while the crown(s) in the middle replace teeth that have been extracted or knocked out in the past.
Hence the name — the prosthetic “bridges” the gap between healthy teeth.
It’s important to replace missing teeth wherever possible.
- Having a tooth missing on one side can place strain on the teeth on the other side, as people often start to favor the side with more teeth for chewing.
- Teeth either side of a missing tooth can “tip” into the space left by a missing tooth, causing bite problems and leading to increased risk of infection.
- People with obviously missing teeth can often find it harder to get jobs or make relationships due to social stigmas.
- It’s more affordable than a dental implant for replacing a single tooth.
Dental bridges, like crowns, require at least two appointments to Fabulous Smiles Dental Care. During the first visit, the mouth is prepared. This involves shaving down some of the enamel on the teeth either side of the missing tooth, and making impressions. It’s necessary to shave those teeth down to allow the crowns to fit over them later.
The impressions are taken to a lab, where they’re used as the basis of your custom-made bridge. Once this bridge is completed, you’ll return to Fabulous Smiles Dental Care to have the prosthetic cemented in place. The crowns at the end, known as abutments, will go over the prepared teeth, while the crown in the middle fills the gap left by the missing tooth.
Ask our Carson family dental team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care today
about booking an appointment to see if you’re a good candidate for a dental bridge.
Fillings
Cavities are holes that develop in the enamel of teeth due to tooth decay. The best way to fix them is using dental fillings, which both prevent further decay and restore the look of your teeth. From young to old, the Carson family dentistry on offer at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care can look after the teeth of everyone in the family.
Call us today or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.
Tooth decay is one of the most common medical conditions in the world.
It’s caused by acid-producing bacteria that live in the mouth. As they produce acid, it can wear down the enamel, decaying it. Eventually this will form cavities in the teeth. These cavities can grow until the whole tooth is compromised or infected unless they’re treated.
Hence the name — the prosthetic “bridges” the gap between healthy teeth.
Fillings are usually made out of one of two materials: metal amalgam, or composite resin.
Dental amalgam is made out of a metal alloy that includes mercury. These fillings are dark metal in color and produce a noticeable, dark result.
Dental composite, or composite resin, is a resin made of ground glass and special plastics. It can be applied as a paste to the tooth and hardened in minutes with a curing light. The composite can also be colored to precisely match the surrounding tooth, making it very discrete.
The dental team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care offer dental composite resin fillings for effective, fast, esthetically pleasing results.
There is a common concern about the heavy metals present in amalgam fillings, and whether they can enter the bloodstream. Fortunately the evidence is inconclusive, and it does not look like it’s possible to get poisoning from amalgam fillings. That said, there are many reasons you might still consider replacing them:
- They’ve become loose over time
- They’ve cracked the surrounding tooth
- They cause pain when you bite
If you think your teeth might need a checkup, contact the team at Fabulous Smile Dental Care to get your cavities filled and your smile revitalized.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, are the last teeth to erupt through the gum, and frequently need to be extracted. Fabulous Smiles Dental Care, your Torrance dental specialists, are skilled at offering comfortable, stress-free wisdom teeth extractions. If you have impacted or poorly erupted wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are technically classified as the “third molars”, the large, flat
complications in the jaw. Getting them removed is ideal.
teeth at the back of the mouth. These are the last teeth to develop and erupt through the gum. Interestingly, a small percent of the population doesn’t even grow these teeth.
The most common reasons wisdom teeth need to be removed is they are partially or wholly impacted. Partial impaction means they are butting up against an adjacent tooth, while whole impaction means the tooth may actually be sideways under the gum.
These issues are typically the result of insufficient space in the jaw to accommodate the extra teeth. Many people actually grow their wisdom teeth out wit no complications and never need them removed.
The best way to spot partially impacted or misaligned wisdom teeth is with x-ray. The team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care can use digital x-rays to spot problematic wisdom teeth before they start causing pain and discomfort.
There are other ways to spot problem wisdom teeth without an x-ray:
• Food gets stuck between them and adjacent teeth
• The wisdom teeth tace at odd angles to the rest or the teeth
• The teeth are crowding nearby teetr
• The tooth is barely crowning above the gum after some time
These teeth will start to cause pain and discomfort over time. They can
What are wisdom teeth?
also lead to an increased risk of abscesses, infections, and other
Wisdom teeth are technically classified as the “third molars”, the large, flat
complications in the jaw. Getting them removed is ideal.
X-rays are the best way to spot fully impacted teeth, as they’re completely hidden below the gum. The following may be signs there’s an impacted tooth out of view, but x-ray is the only way to know for sure:
Why do wisdom teeth get removed?
The most common reasons wisdom teeth need to be removed is they are
partially or wholly impacted. Partial impaction means they are butting up
against an da acent tooth, whle whole modeton means the tooth may
actually be sidewavs under the aum.
These issues are typically the result of insufficient space in the jaw to accommodate the extra teeth. Many people actually grow their wisdom teeth out with no complications, and never need them removed.
How can I tell if my wisdom teeth are misaligned?
The best way to spot partially impacted or misaligned wisdom teeth is with x-ray. The team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care can use digital x-rays to spot problematic wisdom teeth before they start causing pain and
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There are other ways to spot problem wisdom teeth without an x-ray:
• Food gets stuck between them and adjacent teeth
• The wisdom teeth tace at odd angles to the rest or the teeth
• The teeth are crowding nearby teetr
• The tooth is barely crowning above the gum after some time
- Reddening and swelling of the gums
- Gums that are tender or bleeding
- Pain in the jaw or gums, especially when you bite and chew
- Chronic bad breath, or a chronic bad taste in the mouth
- Difficulty opening your mouth, or pain when opening your mouth
Wisdom teeth extractions are often simple operations that can be done in a dental clinic. Under local anesthetic, the dentist dislodges the tooth before extracting it fully. Fully impacted teeth require a more significant operation that goes through the gum, but this is still typically done under local.
Afterwards, swelling, redness, and discomfort can be expected, but easily managed. Pain should be kept in check with over-the-counter medication, and you should notice the swelling subside completely in a week.
I you’re having wisdom teeth problems, contact your Torrance family dentistry team at Fabulous Smile Dental Care today.
Veneers
Veneers are a fast, affordable way dentists can address a wide range of cosmetic and restorative concerns patients may have. From stained teeth that just won’t whiten, to fixing chipped front teeth, your dentist in Lomita at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care can restore your mouth quickly and effectively. For porcelain veneers that make you look and feel your best, contact our Carson dental team today.
Veneers can be thought of as fake nails for your teeth. They’re thin layers of porcelain which can be used for many concerns.
- Teeth whitening. Sometimes teeth don’t respond to traditional teeth whitening, and veneers are the last best bet at achieving that pearly white smile.
- Gaps between teeth. Veneers can be used to help close gaps between teeth by reshaping how teeth look.
- Misshapen teeth. Pointed, rounded, or “tombstone” teeth can be cosmetically adjusted using veneers.
- Chipped teeth. A chipped front tooth is the perfect candidate for veneers.
The experienced dental team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care will provide you with esthetically pleasing, long-lasting, durable veneers that last for years to come.
At Fabulous Smiles Dental Care, we use porcelain to make our veneers.
Porcelain is stain and chip resistant, long-lasting, and looks remarkably close to natural tooth enamel.
It takes two trips to Fabulous Smiles Dental Care to get your veneers. First you’ll need to have your teeth prepared. To do this, a fine layer of tooth enamel is shaved down. This allows room for the veneer to be placed without interfering with other teeth. Once all teeth are prepared, impressions are made and sent to the lab.
Your custom-made veneers will be designed to fit snugly over your teeth and look right at home. Once these are completed, you’ll return to your dentist in Torrance for the veneers to be set in place with dental cement.
Veneers provide excellent benefits to patients.
- Porcelain is stain resistant. If you whiten your teeth before getting veneers, you’ll maintain that whiter smile for longer
- Low impact on healthy tooth tissue
- Reinforce weak or damaged teeth
Interested in veneers? Contact the Carson family dentistry team at Fabulous Smmiles Dental Care over the phone or online to book an appointment. You can even get an emergency appointment to restore a chipped tooth ASAP.
Extractions
Having a tooth extracted can be necessary to preserve the health of your mouth, or prepare your mouth for a new restoration. The team at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care take great pride in providing stress-free, comfortable extractions with minimal down-time. Our Carson dental team can even help you out in an emergency. Book an appointment online, or call now.
There are a few common reasons why your teeth may need to be extracted.
- The tooth has been damaged by trauma, such as in an accident or playing sport. If the damage is too great to repair, it can be necessary to remove the tooth completely.
- If the tooth is severely decayed or infected. While root canals are usually used as a last line of defence against extraction, sometimes the tooth is simply too far gone to save.
- Advanced periodontitis. This is when an infection has started to decay bone around a tooth, making it loose and susceptible to falling out.
- To make space in the jaw when teeth are crowded. Removing one or two teeth allows our orthodontist in Carson to fix crowding and provide ample space for all the teeth to sit.
- Preparation for a dental implant.
- Impacted or poorly erupted wisdom tooth that needs extraction.
Tooth extractions have a reputation as painful or unpleasant processes, but this is far from reality. Modern tooth extractions are performed under local anesthetic, require little downtime, and aren’t painful. There will be some swelling and discomfort after the extraction, but this is easily managed and resolves itself quickly.
At Fabulous Smiles Dental Care, we make it our mission to provide comfortable extractions handled with care and expertise.
There are essentially two types of extraction, simple and complex.
A simple extraction is very straightforward. Your dentist administers local anesthesia before gently dislodging the tooth. The tooth can then be easily extracted from the jaw, and the site cleaned up. It’s a short, simple process that can be done in the dental chair.
Complex extractions are usually when the tooth (often a wisdom tooth) is only partially above the gum line, or wholly underneath it. In these cases, your Carson family dentistry team will need to open the gum, remove a small bit of jaw, and extract the tooth that way. It can take a bit longer, require a little more recovery time, and can sometimes require general anesthetic.
After a tooth extraction, you’ll be given instructions by your dentist for best after-care practice. You’ll be able to return to work almost immediately, although it can be longer for complex extractions.
Taking care of the tooth socket is the most important part of after-care. You may need to take a saltwater rinse to aid in cleaning and healing, and you may need to eat soft foods for several days.
Need a tooth extracted? Unsure but want to find out? Contact Fabulous
Smiles Dental Care today to book an appointment.
Emergency Dentist
Some dental concerns require immediate attention, such as chipped or broken teeth, teeth being knocked out, or any injury to the mouth. If you or your family require emergency dental care, contact Fabulous Smiles Dental Care and book an emergency appointment now.
As stated above, broken and missing teeth are the most common dental emergencies. What people don’t realise is that there are actually many situations which are classified as dental emergencies, and warrant an urgent trip to the dentist:
Severe toothache
- Bleeding from the gums, cheeks, tongue
- Trauma to the mouth
- Sudden swelling in the soft tissues of the mouth such as tongue, gums or cheek
- Deep cuts or tears in your lips or inside of your cheek
As stated above, broken and missing teeth are the most common dental emergencies. What people don’t realise is that there are actually many situations which are classified as dental emergencies, and warrant an urgent trip to the dentist:
Severe toothache
- Bleeding from the gums, cheeks, tongue
- Trauma to the mouth
- Sudden swelling in the soft tissues of the mouth such as tongue, gums or cheek
- Deep cuts or tears in your lips or inside of your cheek
Lesser damage to a tooth such as a chip may not be considered an emergency, but should still be seen promptly. We offer children’s dental in Carson at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care, so we can also help to treat children who suffer dental emergencies at school or home.
- Pick up the tooth by the crown, never by the root.
- Rinse it off as best you can.
- Either, put the tooth in the mouth on the way to the dentist. You can try to put it back int the socket, place some gauze on it, and bite down gently to keep it in place. Or you can just place it between the gum and cheek.
- Or, store the tooth in milk. Milk will keep the tooth hydrated and free of bacteria.
- Call the dentist, or get someone else to call for you.
- Try to get to your Torrance emergency dentist at Fabulous Smile Dental
Care within half an hour for best results.
If you follow these steps and work quickly, you have a good chance of saving the tooth and getting it re-implanted into the jaw successfully.
Suffering a dental emergency? Don’t hesitate and contact us at Fabulous Smile Dental Care today.
Root Canal
A root canal can save a severely infected tooth from causing you more pain, or needing to be extracted. At Fat Fabulous Smiles Dental Care, your Lomita dental specialists, we perform root canals that are comfortable, effective and long lasting.
A root canal procedure is when a dentist removes the inner pulp from a tooth following an infection. When this tissue becomes infected, it puts pressure on the nerve, causing severe pain. Removing the pulp rids the patient of the infection, frees them from pain, and keeps their teeth usable for longer.
The name comes from the structure inside the tooth where the pulp is located. Below the enamel and dentin of the tooth is an interconnected
series of canals within the tooth roots. These canals house the blood and
nervous supply to the tooth.
Root canal treatment takes one or two appointments. Your caring dentist in Torrance, CA will drill a small hole into the crown of the tooth, so that the pulp can be accessed using fine instruments.
Over the course of one or two sessions, all of the pulp will be removed from the root canals. Afterwards, the tooth is filled with a gum-like substance to preserve the structural integrity of the tooth, and prevent reinfection.
Finally, a crown is placed over the tooth to restore the biting surface and close the hole used to access the pulp.
The actual root canal procedure is not painful. Local anesthetic is used to numb the site so the dentist can work without hurting the patient. There is some swelling and tenderness following the procedure, but this eases quickly and is typically managed with over the counter pain medication.
Most of the pain associated with root canals is actually the pain of the infection itself. It’s the purpose of the procedure to relieve this pain, not cause it!
The biggest sign you need a root canal is pain. This could be a constant pain, or only become apparent when biting or chewing. There are other indicators as well, including:
- Reddening and swelling of the gums around a tooth
- Persistent bad breath
- Lumps in the gum around the tooth
- Darkening or staining of the affected tooth
Unfortunately, it’s also possible there are no obvious symptoms. Your Carson family dentist at Fabulous Smiles Dental Care will thoroughly examine your teeth during a routine check and clean and be able to assess if there’s anything you should know about.
Whether you suspect you need a root canal, or just want peace of mind, contact Fabulous Smiles Dental Care today and schedule an appointment.