General And Cosmetic Family Dentist in Santa Maria, CA

One of our biggest goals, here at Modern Smile Dentistry, is to be proactive about preventative dentistry. One technique in dentistry is dental sealants. This method has been shown throughout the years as a great way to help prevent or dramatically reduce the risk of dental caries (cavities) in teeth with grooves. For the most part, this includes all the chewing teeth in the back of your mouth (premolars and molars).

How dental sealants work is by retro filling the deep grooves of the teeth with either a glass ionomer or resin base (white filling material) to prevent food and other contaminates to get buried within those grooves, which could lead to an influx of bacterial growth, further leading to dental decay. By having dental sealants, these grooves would then be blocked, preventing the accumulation of buildup within those grooves.

The procedure of dental sealants is very simple and anesthetics are not necessary. The procedure is painless and quick, allowing for maximum comfort for the patient. While dental sealants are a wonderful option and highly recommended for most, not all teeth are candidates. In regards to being a candidate or if you have any questions about the procedure of sealants, please do not hesitate to ask Dr. Nima Mashhoon. 

Dental x-rays are one of the most important diagnostic tools we currently have in dentistry. This technology allows your dental professional, Dr. Nima Mashhoon, to access and diagnose properly the treatments that are needed and also depict the treatments that are not. The importance of dental x-rays is that this technology allows the provider to see what the naked eye is unable to detect. Further, while dental x-rays are important to assess the health of the crown region of the teeth, they are also very important in accessing the health of the roots and bone, which would not be able to be seen clinically.   

While concerns with x-rays have been documented, we here at Modern Smile Dentistry do everything we can to minimize your exposure by not only using the newest technology when it comes to radiology but also following the ALARA rule, to use the minimal number of radiographs clinically needed to allow for proper diagnosis. We understand the importance of keeping everyone safe, whether it’s our team members or our patient and we will always make that our goal. For any reason you have questions or concerns about x-rays, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Nima Mashhoon as he will be more than happy to answer your radiographic concerns.

Fluoride treatement is incredibly successful in preventing cavities and preventing tooth decay. Fluoride has been one of the most researched elements on the periodic table when it comes to human use and safety. This element has shown overwhelming evidence in the aid in the prevention of dental caries (cavities) and helps strengthen teeth. The use of daily fluoride has been depicted as statistically significant benefits in the prevention of dental caries and teeth loss. Today, some common places where we are exposed to fluoride are in our toothpaste and mouthwash. Moreover, based on your city and regulation policies, fluoride may also be incorporated into your city water to be ingested.

The two forms of the application when it comes to fluoride are topical and systemic. The most common exposure is through the use of toothpaste and mouthwash that is infused with fluoride. These methods allow the element to be absorbed via contact exposure. The other method is systemic. Fluoride is commonly ingested in two ways. One way would be through the ingestion of water that has been fluorinated and the other way would be the process of consuming fluoride tablets. While the former is commonly performed, the latter will have to be followed up and prescribed by your doctor. If you have any questions regarding fluoride, please visit; ADA, CDA, CDC or consult Dr. Nima Mashhoon.

One of the most important parts of oral health is the upkeep and maintenance of your oral cavity with the proper at home dental care. While it is important to perform regular checkups with your dentist, twice a year is recommended, but it is even more important to maintain a healthy mouth at home, daily. Plaque and biofilm are a normal occurrence in our oral cavity; however, the overgrowth and uncontrolled form of plaque and biofilm are what can lead to irreversible consequences which would need to be addressed by either; fillings, root canals, crowns, or even extractions. The importance of home dental care is to keep the plaque and biofilm under control to prevent permanent damage to your teeth.

The three most important daily practices that can be performed at home are; flossing, brushing, and mouthwash. Flossing is the most overlooked yet important part of proper oral health care. This method not only allows the removal of build-up between teeth but also cleans under the gums to help prevent gum disease. Brushing is important to help remove the plaque and biofilm off the surfaces of the teeth. Lastly, mouthwash is crucial in not only helping control the bacterial growth and colonies within the mouth but also includes fluoride to help prevent dental caries (cavities). The key to a healthy oral cavity is prevention and by following these methods, you can keep your amazing smile happy and healthy for years to come.

One of the most important and beautiful features of a person is their smile. Whether you have small teeth, large teeth, rounder or sharper-looking teeth, one technique to enhance one’s smile is to brighten and whiten their teeth. Today there are many options when it comes to whitening your teeth. Two of the most common and successful are take-home kits and in-office teeth whitening.

Take-home kits to start at your dental visit. Once a patient has accomplished a healthy oral cavity, impressions will be captured to fabricate custom whitening trays for that individual. These custom trays will be utilized with prescription strength whitening gels to be worn at home at the patient’s convenience. It is expected to achieve desirable results roughly 2 weeks after the start of the treatment. Alternatively, if one is seeking faster results, in-office bleaching would be the ideal option. Here, the patient would be treated in the office to achieve similar results as the take-home kit in a matter of hours. For the in-office treatment, the patient is recommended to allow roughly two hours for treatment. For both take-home and in-office treatments, pre and post-shades will be recorded to achieve the desired goals of the patient. Continued treatment may be warranted if a brighter smile is desired.

If you would like to enhance your smile and be a better you, do not hesitate to ask Dr. Nima Mashhoon about what is the best option for you.

Dentures have been a long-standing solution to missing teeth. Today, they are still one of the options when considering a restorative choice. There are three forms of dentures. The most commonly heard of dentures are the fully arch dentures. Sometimes referred to as; full plate, full denture, or complete dentures. These are the dentures that are used to replace all of the teeth either on the upper or lower arch. One way to improve the fit and feel of these dentures are the incorporation of dental implants as a form or anchor to help retain them to allow for better function and form.

Another form of denture used historically is termed partial dentures. These dentures are used to replace some to a few teeth per arch, upper or lower. This design will use the existing teeth in your mouth as anchors and support to allow for the replacement of the missing teeth. These dentures can either be fabricated by resin or a combination of resin and metals.

The final form of dentures is the immediate or sometimes referred to as “flipper”. These dentures are used as a form of immediate replacement of teeth/tooth until healing takes place or the site is prepared for restorative options. These dentures are usually delivered on the same day as extractions and are considered a temporary form of restorative dentistry.

If you have any questions about receiving or your current dentures, please do not hesitate to ask Dr. Nima Mashhoon as to which treatment is best for you.

Dental inlays are a wonderful option when it comes to restoring a tooth/teeth. This method is the replacement of dental decay with a porcelain or zirconia material to restore the tooth back to form and function. The process would occur in two steps. The first step would be the removal of the decay from the tooth. After it has been confirmed that the decay has been removed, the tooth will then have an impression captured, which will be sent to the dental laboratory for fabrication of the dental inlay. This roughly takes 2 weeks. For the next two weeks, the tooth that was prepared for the dental inlay will be retro-filled with temporary material as a place holder. Once the inlay arrives from the laboratory, the temporary material will then be removed and the tooth cleaned. The new inlay will be tried in to make sure fit and esthetics are ideal.  Once this has been confirmed, the restoration will be cemented into the tooth to provide proper form and function back to the tooth.

While dental inlays are a two-step process, they are a wonderful option for restoring a tooth. If you have any questions or wondering if dental inlays are right for you, please do not hesitate to ask Dr. Nima Mashhoon about dental inlays.

Dental onlays are a wonderful option when it comes to restoring a tooth/teeth. This method is the replacement of dental decay and or fractured cusp with a porcelain or zirconia material to restore the tooth back to form and function. The process would occur in two steps. The first step would be the removal of the decay from the tooth. After it has been confirmed that the decay has been removed, the tooth will then have an impression captured, which will be sent to the dental laboratory for fabrication of the dental onlay. This roughly takes 2 weeks. For the next two weeks, the tooth that was prepared for the dental onlay will be restored with a temporary material as a place holder. Once the onlay arrives from the laboratory, the temporary material will then be removed and the tooth cleaned. The new onlay will be tried in to make sure fit and esthetics are ideal.  Once this has been confirmed, the restoration will be cemented onto the tooth to provide proper form and function back to the tooth.

While dental onlays are a two-step process, they are a wonderful option for restoring a tooth. If you have any questions or wondering if dental onlays are right for you, please do not hesitate to ask Dr. Nima Mashhoon about dental onlays.

Extractions, while unfortunate, are at times a necessity when it comes to dental treatment. In the case a tooth or teeth may need to be removed for one or multiple factors, the placement of a dental bone grafting is not only advantageous for the patient but also allows for growth and retention of bone at the site of the missing tooth, teeth. The theory behind this form of treatment is after removing a tooth or multiple teeth and by placing sterile bone this will allow the site to heal at a proper volume of bone to prevent bone loss and collapsing of the surrounding soft tissue and possibly teeth. Moreover, preserving the bone by placing a bone graft, this will allow the site to heal properly, allowing the placement of the dental implant(s).  The placement and incorporation of the bone graft will provide a strong and sturdy canvas for further restorative options in the future.

The procedure of bone graft would be that after the removal of the non-restorable tooth/teeth, the site would then be cleaned and prepared for the sterile bone graft to be placed. This method is a very simple and comfortable procedure. After the placement of the bone graft, the site will need a few months to not only heal but also allow the body to incorporate the bone into the voided site, providing a strong and sturdy region for future restorative options. Dental bone grafts are highly recommended after every extraction.

Wisdom teeth extractions is one of the most common and routine extractions today. While not all wisdom teeth are warranted to be removed, some factors that will warrant their removal are as follows.

One reason would be the lack of proper space in the oral cavity for proper eruption. Being that at times a person can have a smaller mouth with larger teeth, the lack of space can be problematic for proper eruption.

Another reason that would warrant the removal of wisdom teeth would be the angulation of the wisdom teeth. While historically, teeth tend to erupt in a vertical manner, there are times that wisdom teeth tend to erupt in a tilted or completely horizontal manner. These are termed slightly impacted or fully impacted, respectively. The issue by not removing these misaligned wisdom teeth is the damage they can instill on their neighboring teeth. While some of these damages can be alleviated with large fillings and or crowns, some can lead to the loss of the third (wisdom teeth) and second molars.

Another common reason which would lead to the recommendation of wisdom teeth removal is the presence of an infection of cyst(s) around the wisdom teeth. These pathologies could lead to more serious issues, which is why the removal of the teeth would be encouraged.

If you have questions or have felt discomfort in your wisdom teeth (third molar) region, please do not hesitate to inquire about your options from Dr. Nima Mashhoon.

Life can be stressful at times and these stressors amongst many other factors can lead to such factors as grinding and clenching our teeth. This behavior has been shown to also have a genetic and diet factors associated with it as well. With that said, the process of grinding and clenching teeth can cause irreversible damage to teeth. These factors can lead to such consequences as clipped teeth, fractured teeth, shortening of teeth which would result in needing such treatment as fillings, root canals, crowns, or even extractions.

One of the main reasons that grinding and clenching go unnoticed for many is the fact that this behavior usually takes place when one is sleeping. During this time, the individual is unaware they are performing these acts. Moreover, at times one can be performing these throughout the day without the realization of doing it. Some common treads are excessive wear of teeth and or facial discomforts upon waking up.

There are many forms of treatment when it comes to grinding and clenching. Some of the most common ones are wearing a lab fabricated night guard daily and/or the use of Botox. Please ask Dr. Nima Mashhoon what would be the best option(s) for you.

The idea of going to the dentist can be a normal routine visit for some but for others, sadly, it has become a phobia. While some phobias and discomforts are a lifelong problem, with proper care and trust between yourself and your dental provider, Dr. Nima Mashhoon, these factors can become lessened and even manageable. However, for others who are unable to manage these feelings, one option is sedation dentistry. While not every patient will be a candidate for sedative dentistry, this is a wonderful option to allow proper dental treatment for patients with high anxiety and fear of the dentist.

Another wonderful reason sedative dentistry could be right for you would be the utilization of sedative dentistry for long procedures. This will allow the patient to be at the peak state of comfort with limited memory of the dental procedure. This is very useful in such procedures as root canal therapy and wisdom teeth extractions. Being that these procedures can be longer in duration, sedative dentistry would be a wonderful option to allow comfort and ease for the patient. If you have any questions or would like to discuss to see if you are a good candidate for sedation dentistry, please do not hesitate to ask Dr. Nima Mashhoon.

Sleep apnea can be simply described as a condition where a person has long durations of not breathing during sleep. This can be a major problem due to the lack of oxygen. Moreover, sleep apnea can have other related consequences. One of which can be the lack of deep sleep (REM). This can lead to an individual waking up fatigued with low energy. Furthermore, another condition that can be associated with sleep apnea is grinding and clenching of the teeth. This behavior can lead to the need for fillings, root canals, crowns, and or extractions. While sleep apnea goes unnoticed by many individuals, it is an important disorder that needs to be treated.

If you believe you suffer from sleep apnea or someone has mentioned that you may have sleep apnea, the first step is to speak with your primary care physician as a sleep study will be needed to properly diagnose the individual. While the CPAP machine is the gold standard when it comes to sleep apnea, there are dental devices that can aid in sleep apnea. These devices will be worn throughout the night to open the airway of the individual to allow for proper sleep. If you think you have sleep apnea or the use of CPAP has not been successful, ask Dr. Nima Mashhoon about your alternative options.

Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction also termed, or TMJ dysfunction, can be a discomforting and sometimes painful disorder. There are many factors that can lead to TMJ dysfunction but some of the most common ones are; trauma(s), grinding and clenching of teeth, arthritis of the TMJ, stress, and improper bite. These factors can all play a part in TMJ dysfunction. One common symptom of TMJ dysfunction is the limited ability to open without pain and discomfort. The limited range of motion can affect your quality of life by limiting the motion of the jaw, leading to difficulties eating and speaking. Another common symptom is the popping and clicking of the TMJ region upon eating, speaking, or yawning. While some of these factors are asymptomatic in nature, others may be associated with discomfort and pain.

There are many ways to help treat TMJ disorder. While at times something so simple as a night guard or physical therapy can aid in the disorder, other times surgery may be warranted. Treatments for TMJ are case by case. If you feel as though you suffer from TMJ dysfunction, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Nima Mashhoon so he can aid in your healing process and allow you to achieve a higher quality of life.

The most important goal we strive for here at Modern Smile Dentistry is for the well-being and safety of all our team members and patients alike, and therefore, we do have COVID-19 safety measures in place. While COVID-19 numbers have lessened throughout the years, per the guideline of the ADA, CDA, and CDC, we still require all patients and team members to follow proper and strict guidelines by wearing their masks at all times while inside the premises and by also wearing proper PPE (personal protective equipment) to not only protect themselves but also their surroundings. Due to these guidelines that have been instilled and are currently still enforced, we require all patients and personnel who enter our premises to present with a face mask. If you present without a mask, one will be provided complimentary.

Moreover, another guideline that has been instilled has been the screening of all patients and team members before entering the premises. A questionnaire will be asked to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, it is required to acquire the patient’s and team members’ temperatures upon entrance onto the premises to ensure one does not present with a fever.

While we apologize for the delay and inconvenience this may serve to some, we assure you that these parameters are being followed for the sole reason of not only protecting us but most importantly, protecting you and your family from the contraction and spread of COVID-19.

Dental emergencies, sadly, are a normal part of life, with some of these emergencies being dental-related. While unexpected, the most important thing when it comes to an emergency will be to seek professional help as soon as possible. Here at Modern Smile Dentistry, we are well suited to handle most dental emergencies on the same day to aid in your healing and comfort. While the majority of dental emergencies are outpatient procedures and can be handled on the same day, others may be warranted to need alternative visits if deemed necessary. A limited exam with minimal radiographs will be required to access the dental emergency at hand. While dental emergencies can be categorized in many ways, some of the most common dental emergencies are as follows but are not limited to Fractured tooth/teeth, dental pain, swelling, abscess/infection, loss of a tooth/teeth, and trauma.

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing these dental emergencies, please do not hesitate to call or come in to seek aid. We are here to serve the community with all your dental needs. With that said, for any reason you feel as though your emergency is a life-threatening emergency, please do not hesitate to call 911 or visit your local hospital.