Also known as fixed prosthetic devices, crowns and bridges are cemented to existing teeth. Some patients get these procedures in conjunction with dental implants. Porcelain and ceramic crowns are designed to cover up a damaged tooth so that the tooth becomes stronger. If you have missing teeth, you may be a good candidate for a bridge that will fill the space where your teeth are missing and anchor your teeth to correct any misalignment. Our dentists can make a recommendation on whether you need crowns, bridges, or a combination of both during your consultation.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
If our dentists finds a large cavity in a tooth that needs to be filled, we may recommend tooth-colored fillings as part of your treatment plan. This is a restorative procedure that helps to rebuild your teeth by creating a strong bond of resin materials in the damaged dentin and enamel of the teeth, effectively sealing off the vulnerable inside from further decay. The result is a very natural-looking tooth that also functions just like your regular teeth. Continue reading
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Notice
Dear Patient:
We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
- We have added air purifiers with HEPA & UV-C filtering to all rooms.
- Upon arriving at the clinic, we will ask you to remain in your car until called so that we may check you in. If you cannot wait in the car, there is a doorbell outside the clinic main entrance.
- You will be asked to wear a face mask to enter the building.
- When entering the clinic, we will take your temperature with a no-touch infrared thermometer and ask standard health screening questions. View Patient Screening Form here.
- You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
- We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you as we have added extra cleaning and sanitizing.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call or text our office at 425-453-9999 or visit our homepage.
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.
Sincerely,
Dr. Monica Yu & Bellevue Overlake Dental team
Root Canals
When a tooth has become decayed and is irreversibly damaged, it must be treated with a root canal as soon as possible. Even though many people are fearful about visiting the dentist for a root canal, it is actually a very simple procedure and can be performed in just one or two appointments.
Most of our patients are surprised to find that they do not even experience any pain! It is much more painful to live with a rotting tooth that is causing ongoing pain, than to undergo a root canal procedure and be pain-free for the long-term.
How a Root Canal is Performed
To perform this procedure, Dr. Yu will need to numb your gums and then inject local anesthetic into the area. This will help to completely numb the gums, as well as the tongue, the teeth, and any skin around the area. When you are completely numb and relaxed, he may need to separate the decayed teeth from the other teeth using a small sheet of rubber on a metal frame.
He can then drill down to remove the pulp from the tooth and fill the area with temporary filling materials, and a final root canal filling. After the root canal is performed, a permanent filling or crown can be placed.
Benefits of a Root Canal Procedure
The root canal procedure treats or prevents an infection of the pulp inside the tooth. Some of the key benefits of this procedure include:
- Reduces the risk of an infection relocating to other parts of the body.
- Prevents a more severe infection from occurring or spreading.
- Reduces the risk of damaging the bone surrounding the tooth or infected teeth.
- Serves as an alternative to an extraction when a tooth is not severely decayed or infected.
Schedule your appointment for a root canal with Bellevue dentist Dr. Yu today! Call us at 425-453-9999.
The Benefits of Healthy Teeth To Overall Health
Healthy Teeth Equals Healthy Body
Having healthy teeth is a reason for a great smile. But more than that, it tells you that your body is healthy as well. A healthy mouth and a healthy body go together. Hence, if there’s a reason that something is wrong in the body, it may very well be linked to poor oral health.
Gum Disease
Periodontitis can affect the whole body, though it clinically manifest only in the mouth. There are several serious diseases which are caused by gum diseases, such as, stroke, diabetes, heart attack, osteoporosis, respiratory diseases, digestive disorders, and low preterm birth. Untreated gum diseases can also affect your immune system. With this variant of disorders, untreated periodontal disease can reduce life-expectancy.
There have been studies linking chronic gum disease with heart issues. Cardiovascular diseases that include heart diseases, strokes and blood vessel blockages are some of the common issues associated with poor oral health. Remember that healthy teeth lower the risk of heart diseases. Your dentist will stress the need for regular dental checkups due to the link between oral health and cardiovascular health.
If you have diabetes, you’re already at increased risk of developing gum disease. But chronic gum disease may, in fact, make diabetes more difficult to control. Infection may cause insulin resistance, which disrupts blood sugar control.
If you have a healthy immune system, the presence of oral bacteria in your bloodstream causes no problem, as your immune system quickly dispenses with them, preventing infection. However, if your immune system is weakened, maybe due to a disease or cancer treatment, oral bacteria in your bloodstream may cause the development of an infection in another part of your body.
Severe gum disease may increase the risk of preterm delivery and giving birth to a low birth weight baby. Oral bacteria tend to release toxins, which reach the placenta through the mother’s bloodstream and interfere with the growth and development of the fetus. At the same time, the oral infection causes the mother to produce labor-triggering substances too quickly, potentially triggering premature labor and birth.
With proper oral hygiene, a balanced and healthy diet, and regular dental visits are some key measures that can reduce the risk of gum damage resulting to infection in the body.
Watching Your Oral Health in Bellevue
Your Bellevue dentist says that good oral health is a mirror to your overall health. When you think you should have a checkup, visit Overlake Dental.
