What are the symptoms of a tooth infection?

If a cavity is left untreated for too long, the tooth can become infected or abscessed. This is one of the reasons why visiting a dentist is imperative to your oral health. Although many infected teeth do show symptoms, there may be some cases when you may not feel anything at all. It is recommended that you visit a dentist every 6 months or more often if medically necessary. Your dentist will let you know how often you should visit.

Infected teeth will often show the following symptoms: 

• Throbbing & persistent toothache 
• Sensitivity to hot & cold foods 
• Fever 
• Swelling of the face and/or gums 
• Pain or pressure when chewing 

If you have any of the symptoms above, it is recommended that you see a dentist as soon as possible. This will increase your chances of being able to save the tooth and eliminate the need for extraction. However, if you have fever or swelling that does not go down or if you have any type of trouble breathing or swallowing, we recommend that you visit the emergency room immediately. This could mean that the infection has spread to other areas of your head or neck.

Depending on the severity of the infection, our dentist may prescribe you antibiotics or decide to have the tooth extracted. If the tooth can be saved it might require a root canal (endodontics) or gum treatment (periodontics). If you have any questions regarding tooth infections or show any symptoms, please contact us today for an appointment!

Am I a candidate for dental veneers?

The first thing many people will notice about you during an initial meeting is your smile. When an individual feels as though his or her smile is not up to par, it can create self-consciousness and insecurities regarding their overall appearance. If you are looking for a way to enhance your smile, porcelain veneers may be right for you! However, we encourage you to visit our dentist in Los Angeles to discuss the possibilities of getting veneers as well as any other cosmetic procedures that can be used to create your new, beautiful smile.

Porcelain veneers can be used to improve:

• Stained teeth 
• Tooth discoloration 
• Gaps between teeth 
• Misshaped or misaligned teeth 

Porcelain veneers are customized to fit your smile for an all-natural look. Our dentist will use his cosmetic experience to make sure that the proper shape and color is applied when placing the porcelain veneers. If you would like to get veneers, it is important to have good oral health, free of tooth decay and gum disease for successful placement. If you have any type of decay or have gum disease, please address this with our Los Angeles dentist first.

Call us today for an appointment and be on your way to getting the smile you deserve!

No More Missing Teeth! Dental Implants Will Make a Big Difference.

Dr. Kawata, a dentist in West Los Angeles, understands the negative effects that missing teeth have on a person’s confidence and self-esteem. He knows the importance of being able to eat, talk or smile without inconvenience or embarrassment.

Everyday actions that many of us take for granted are difficult for patients with missing teeth, and they may begin to avoid these situations whenever possible. Over time living with missing teeth will not only impact your eating habits and limit your social life but will also change your facial appearance. Teeth will shift to move into the gaps left by missing teeth, causing larger issues of jaw alignment, impaired speech and improper digestion.

If you suffer from one or more missing teeth, you are not alone. Many people loose teeth through accidents or periodontal disease. However, you no longer need to suffer long-term. If you are in generally good oral health, our dentist in West Los Angeles has the solution: Dental Implants.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer many benefits, such as:

• Facilitating the chewing of food and proper digestion
• Clear speech
• Younger facial appearance
• Increased confidence and self esteem

Dental implants are comfortable, reliable, and durable for life.

Placement of Dental Implants

According to Dr. Kawata, our dentist in West Los Angeles, dental implants traditionally are completed in two phases, although in recent years technology has improved the method so that patients have their implants sooner and with less discomfort and inconvenience at the dentist office. The traditional treatment plan is as follows:

 

Phase 1

This process generally is performed at a specialists office with local anesthesia or light sedation to allow complete comfort to the patient. The cosmetic dentist uses precise and gentle surgical techniques to place the implants into the jawbone. The entire phase takes three to six months to allow the Osseo integration to take place. This step ensures a solid foundation for replacement teeth. During this time, temporary bridges or dentures may be used to minimize any appearance or chewing inconvenience.

 

Phase 2

This phase involves creating and placing the new tooth (or teeth) into the anchored implant(s) in your jaw. The restoring of the implant with a crown, bridge, or denture is done at our dental office in West Los Angeles. You can now enjoy your dental implants; they look and feel like your natural teeth.
Why wait any longer? Simply schedule an appointment with Dr. Kawata, our dentist located in West Los Angeles, and you will see the difference dental implants can make on your appearance and quality of life!

Welcome to Kawata Dental Inc

Our Dental Office in West Los Angeles

Company Overview

Kawata Dental has been providing dental care to the West Los Angeles area for over 45 years! We have built our practice on the foundation of trust. A majority of our patients as well as our staff have been with us for numerous years. We are compassionate and truly care about your experience as a patient and about your overall health. You can feel secure coming to our office that you will be treated with respect and care. We use digital x-rays and intraoral cameras so that you can be educated about your current dental status and about your options for treatment. You can trust that your best interest is our best interest.

Infection Control

Our practice adheres to the highest standards of infection control in accordance with CDC and OSHA guidelines. We use barrier techniques and many disposable items to eliminate cross contamination and all equipment and instruments are disinfected and sterilized prior to treating each patient. Our sterilization equipment is regularly monitored using a independent testing facility to insure 100% effectiveness, and our team goes through annual training on the latest infection control protocols.

Special Equipment

We strive to stay on the leading edge of dental techniques and technology. In order to do this, we take a great deal of continuing education. We also utilize state of the art equipment in our office. This includes: Low radiation digital radiographs Newest dental chairs designed to maximize comfort Intraoral Cameras used to show patients images of their teeth and treatment and to send to insurance companies to help get claims approved. Large computer monitors in each room for patient education and entertainment Digital Radiographs vs. Film

Digital x-rays are the new standard in dental imaging. Compared to traditional film, digital imaging:

Avoids environmental pollutants encountered with film processing Requires much less radiation Requires NO time to process Allows for instantly communicating images without distortion

Visit: http://kawatadentalinc.com/