Dental Bridge vs. Implants

A cartoon woman with thought bubbles helping her decide between a dental bridge and a dental implant.

If you are missing teeth, you are probably looking for the best way to restore your smile. You may have heard of dental bridges and dental implants, but which one is better for you?

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges use natural teeth as a support system to create a “bridge” of artificial teeth to cover a gap. This may be a good option if the gap has two healthy, natural teeth on each side.

Pros & Cons of Dental Bridges

Getting a dental bridge is faster and usually more affordable than a dental implant. There’s no need for surgery and the healing time is quicker. However, dental bridges don’t replace a dental root in the same way dental implants do. This could mean that there is a possibility of bone loss in the jaw.

What Are Dental Implants?

The dental implant process starts when Dr. Tin inserts a titanium post into your jaw where the missing tooth used to be. The post will fuse to your jaw bone and serve as a replacement for a dental root. Once it’s healed, a dental crown is put on top of the post to give you a complete smile.

Dental Implants Pros & Cons

Dental implants are a popular choice since they look and function like natural teeth. The implant itself will last a lifetime and the crown will last 15 years or more with proper care. You also don’t need to care for your dental implant differently from the rest of your natural teeth. Dental implants may cost more, especially if you are replacing multiple teeth. The recovery process also takes longer since it can take weeks to heal after the surgery to insert the titanium post.

What Is Best for You?

Every person will have a different answer on which dental restoration is best for them. Dr. Tin is experienced with dental restorations and may recommend another solution if you are missing multiple teeth. Our team will listen to your needs and consider your budget. You can trust Villa Vista Dental to provide honest and appropriate options. If you would like a consultation, please give us a call. We would be happy to provide you with a dental exam and discuss your choices.

We can help you choose between a dental bridge and dental implant!

Preparing to Welcome New Patients

Smiling man in the dental chair.

Are you thinking about setting up a visit with us here at Villa Vista Dental? We are always happy to welcome new patients. To learn a little bit about how we get ready for your visit, and more of what to expect at our office, keep on reading.

How Does Our Team Prepare When We Have a New Patient on Our Schedule?

It’s always exciting to get a new patient! While most dental check-ups are fairly routine, first visits are somewhat unique, since we have never met you or looked at your teeth. Dr. Tin and the rest of the staff are very thorough, so they’ll review any background information that you supplied in advance. That way, they’re primed on some of your history by the time you get in the chair.

How Should I Prepare for My First Visit?

The patient has a little bit of work to do when starting at a new dental practice, too. After making your appointment, access our new patient forms on our website and complete them in advance. Additionally, don’t forget to forward or bring with you any dental or health records that you think our dental team may need. And last, but not least, you’ll want your insurance card, if you have one.

What to Expect When You Arrive at Our Office

We pride ourselves on offering a relaxing, welcoming, and safe setting. You can make yourself comfortable and enjoy a range of amenities, including wifi and television. We also ensure that all our patients feel completely safe throughout their visit by adhering to a number of COVID-19 safety precautions. You can read more about the steps we’re taking on our website.

Welcome to Villa Vista Dental

We’re glad we can look forward to meeting you as a new patient. We know you’ll be pleased with the range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic procedures we offer here at our Elk Grove, CA practice.

We love welcoming new patients!

Benefits of Saving Your Natural Tooth Over Extracting It

Graphic showing how a root canal is used to eliminate infection and save the natural tooth.

Long ago, before modern dentistry, simply removing a tooth that caused problems was very common. Thankfully, dentistry has advanced so now we know how to keep teeth strong and healthy. When teeth do suffer from problems like an infection, we try to save the natural tooth instead of extracting it. Why? What are the benefits of saving a natural tooth?

Natural Teeth: There’s Nothing Better

When you have a tooth removed, you can get a replacement, but no matter how good the replacement is, it’s not the same. When a tooth is extracted, it affects the natural structure of your mouth and removes the root. Replacements like dentures and bridges help restore your smile and chewing function, but they don’t replace the root. As a result, your jawbone doesn’t receive stimulation from chewing. Over time, you lose bone density, which leads to other tooth problems and changes in your facial appearance.

What About Dental Implants?

Dental implants replace roots with a biocompatible titanium post, which helps with jaw stimulation. They still aren’t better than a healthy natural tooth, however. The process of getting dental implants also takes a while and they can be costly. If you’ve already lost a tooth, implants are great, but if you still have your natural tooth, we will do what we can to preserve it.

How We Save Teeth

Whenever possible, Dr. Tin will save your natural teeth. A root canal is one of the most common and effective ways to do that. Root canals have a bad reputation, but they are a much better alternative to extraction and they have a high success rate. Thanks to modern dentistry, root canals are not scary anymore. After treatment, you might experience some inflammation or mild discomfort, but it’s nothing compared to what you likely felt before the root canal.

Protecting Your Teeth at Villa Vista Dental

Here at our Elk Grove office, we want to protect your smile and oral health. Saving a natural tooth instead of extracting it is one of the ways we do that. You can keep your teeth strong and healthy with good oral hygiene habits at home and checkups every six months. You may never need a tooth-saving treatment like a root canal, but if you do, we’re here to make the experience as smooth and comfortable as possible. Please contact us today with any questions!

We work hard to protect your smile and oral health!

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

3 cartoon electric toothbrushes on a stage competing for "best toothbrush". — Image by Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Proper brushing is vital to your oral health. When you brush at least twice a day, you remove the sticky plaque and bacteria that cause tooth decay. Is it better to use an electric toothbrush or a regular manual one? Villa Vista Dental in Elk Grove, CA provides a look at some key features and how the toothbrushes compare to each other.

Ease of Use

Electric toothbrushes do more of the work for you. Thanks to a battery-powered motor, the toothbrush head moves quickly. All you need to do is guide the brush around your teeth. Electric brushes are especially useful for people who have limited mobility, like someone with arthritis. With a manual brush, you’re responsible for moving the brush head over each tooth.

Cleaning Power

Research shows that, in general, electric toothbrushes remove more plaque. Most electric brushes also offer a variety of cleaning modes like a deep clean mode, sensitive mode, gum care mode, and so on. A timer on the brush ensures you clean as long as recommended by dentists. This doesn’t mean that manual brushes are ineffective. Proper brushing technique and brushing for two minutes with a manual toothbrush gets your teeth clean. It just takes more attention.

Price

Electric toothbrushes are always more expensive than manual brushes. Some are significantly pricier. You also have to keep buying replacement heads, which can cost more than a manual toothbrush. A possible benefit is that if your oral health significantly improves with an electric toothbrush, you save money on other dental costs like cavity fillings. If your oral health is already great with a manual toothbrush, an electric one may not be worth the cost.

Final Call?

So, what’s the verdict on electric vs. manual toothbrushes? When it comes to ease of use and cleaning power, electric toothbrushes win. On price, manual toothbrushes are better. Manual toothbrushes can also clean just as well as electric brushes if used properly. Whatever you choose to brush with at home, getting regular cleanings and exams at Villa Vista Dental in Elk Grove is important, too. If you have any questions or want to book an appointment with Dr. Tin, please contact us today!

Need help deciding if an electric toothbrush is worth the expense?

Same Day Crowns vs. Regular Crowns

Smiling brunette woman looking sideways from the dental chair

Nowadays, the evolution of dental technology means that many restorative treatments are quicker and more comfortable than ever before. For example, our CEREC Omnicam system means that Dr. Tin can create and place dental crowns during the same visit. Don’t believe it? Read on to learn about same day crowns vs. regular crowns!

When Do We Use Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are a versatile restorative treatment for a variety of dental issues resulting from damage to your natural tooth. Crowns fit snugly over your natural tooth like a protective shield. Not only do they protect your tooth from further damage, but they also restore the look and function of your natural tooth. If cavities, cracks, or other issues have damaged your natural tooth, we commonly recommend a crown.

What Are the Benefits of Same Day Crowns?

Traditionally, regular dental crowns required multiple visits to the dentist’s office. During the first visit, our team would take an impression of your natural tooth, then send the results away to the lab. In the meantime, we fitted patients with a temporary crown while waiting on the customized crown from the lab. Now, our CEREC system eliminates the need for sending impressions to a lab off site! That means no waiting around with an uncomfortable temporary crown — your treatment is complete during the same day!

How Do Same-Day Crowns Work?

First, we use digital imaging software to construct a 3D model of your damaged tooth. Not only are digital images more accurate, they’re more comfortable than the messy impressions of the past. Once we construct a model for your dental crown, we send the specifications to our onsite milling unit for fabrication. After about 15 minutes, your crown will be ready. Then, we’ll place and polish your new crown. Once we check the crown for fit and comfort, you’ll be on your way!

Same Day Crowns in Elk Grove, CA

With our same-day dental crowns, Villa Vista Dental can offer quicker treatment than ever before. To ask our team any questions or schedule your next appointment, call our office today!

Getting a crown takes only one visit in Elk Grove, CA!

Coffee Alternatives to Keep Your Teeth White

A coffee pot on a counter with window in the background and a steaming mug of yerba coffee alternative in the foreground — Image by Erica Ramirez from Pixabay

As dental professionals, we have a love/hate relationship with coffee. Yes, a cup of coffee can give you the energy you need to jump start your day. On the other hand, coffee is notorious for staining teeth. To help protect your pearly whites and your productivity, our Villa Vista Dental team has come up with some coffee alternatives to keep your teeth white.

Searching for a Coffee Alternative? There’s a Long List to Choose From!

White tea, yerba mate, and rooibos are great coffee alternatives that won’t stain your teeth. White tea comes from the same plant as green tea, but is minimally processed to preserve its health benefits. As an added bonus, research shows that white tea may also prevent cavities and gum disease!

Yerba mate is a naturally caffeinated coffee alternative from South America. It is full of antioxidants and pleasant to sip on without worrying about staining your teeth. Rooibos is another great alternative to coffee. Steep a nice cup of rooibos and enjoy the nutty flavor with peace of mind that your teeth are protected.

Even if you don’t care for tea, there are countless other coffee alternatives that can put a pep in your step during the morning. Former coffee drinkers swear by golden milk, lemon water, kombucha, and even apple cider vinegar as excellent substitutes for morning coffee.

But If You Must Drink Coffee…

If you truly can’t do without your morning coffee, there are some things you can do to mitigate its staining power. After you drink your coffee, follow it with some water to rinse your mouth. Some research shows that using a straw can also help minimize stains. No matter what, keep up with your regular at-home hygiene routine. Brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes each time and flossing each day will help protect your pearly whites and your smile.

Preventive Care in Elk Grove, CA

Let Villa Vista Dental help you keep your smile in great shape with regular preventive care visits and professional cleanings. And if your teeth are already a little stained and need whitening, we can help with that too! To ask our team any questions about caring for your oral health or to schedule your next appointment, call our office today!

Schedule an appointment for preventive care at Villa Vista Dental in Elk Grove, CA.

4 Benefits of Teeth Whitening

Brunette woman in a white t-shirt smiles against a blue wall after teeth whitening in Elk Grove, CA

Your teeth serve many purposes. They allow you to chew and enjoy a variety of foods; speak, be understood, and have meaningful conversations; and smile confidently to help you and others feel happy. While the health of your teeth is a necessity, it’s also important to feel good about the way your smile looks.

Teeth whitening at Villa Vista Dental is a simple cosmetic dental procedure that can boost your confidence and even encourage you to take better care of your teeth. Read on to learn about a few of the benefits of teeth whitening!

Confidence Boost

Do you hide your teeth because they’re not as white as they once were? You might not smile as brightly as you want because you’re not content with your smile. At Villa Vista Dental, you can choose to incrementally whiten your smile or enhance your smile in one day. Our ZOOM!® One-Visit Whitening can dramatically brighten your smile by up to 8 shades in just one hour! Or, gradually whiten your smile with our custom take-home whitening trays for a more subtle transformation.

Simple Way to Improve Your Appearance

Teeth whitening is a safe, affordable, and noninvasive way to improve your appearance.

Look Younger

Many associate youthfulness with a white smile. Tobacco products, coffee, wine, and other foods and beverages that stain your teeth take a toll on your smile and can make you look older. Professional teeth whitening removes these stains to create a more youthful-looking smile!

Encouragement for Better Oral Hygiene

Sometimes people give up on taking care of their teeth if they are unhappy with their appearance. When you take proactive steps to improve your smile, you’ll want to take better care of your teeth to maintain that white smile. Plus, Dr. Tin performs an examination to ensure you don’t have any oral health issues that could interfere with the procedure. If you have any problems, we can address these oral health issues before your teeth whitening.

Teeth whitening can improve your appearance and boost your confidence at the same time. Additionally, if you take steps to improve your smile, you’ll receive results that act as an encouragement to take better care of your oral health.

Schedule an appointment for teeth whitening at Villa Vista Dental in Elk Grove, CA.

3 Advantages to Same-Day Crowns

Drawing of CEREC same day crown milling machine & computer

If you have a damaged or severely decayed tooth, dental crowns are a great way to preserve your natural tooth. The sooner you can repair it, the more likely you are to avoid more serious dental issues, lose the tooth, or have to deal with prolonged tooth pain and discomfort. That’s where CEREC® same-day crowns come in! Same-day crowns offer a wide array of benefits over traditional multi-visit crowns. After only one visit to our Elk Grove, CA office, we’ll have you back to enjoying a healthy, pain-free smile!

CEREC Advantages

No Temporary Crowns

With same-day crowns, we complete the entire crown process in a single visit. This means you don’t have to wear an ill-fitting, uncomfortable temporary crown while we have an off-site lab make your permanent one. You’ll leave our office with your final crown!

Quick, High-Tech Process

First, we prepare the tooth by removing a thin layer of enamel to make room for the crown. Then, we take a precise, digital impression of the tooth and design your custom crown using our advanced smile preview software. Once the design is complete, we’ll use our on-site milling unit to create your custom crown with high-quality ceramic.

Customized Fit

By crafting your crown on-site, we can easily adjust the fit and assess your bite to make sure your crown feels great! We take digital bite impressions and analyze the contours of your tooth to ensure your crown fits seamlessly over your tooth. We do everything we can so that when you leave our office, your same-day crown is just right.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you need a dental crown, Villa Vista Dental is here to help! Dr. Tin has undergone advanced training to provide CEREC crowns to the community. Contact us to book your crown consultation to see if same-day crowns are right for you!

CEREC same-day crowns are hassle-free!

Custom-Made Dentures to Fit My Smile

Smiling sweet faced older woman with dentures

Dentures are a wonderful solution to missing teeth. And, thanks in part to rapid advancements in dental technology, they’re a solution that offers natural, comfortable results. Today’s dentures allow you to keep on speaking, eating, and smiling as usual.

Custom-Made Dentures

Dentures are a custom solution to missing teeth. That’s why they wear so well, and so many of our patients love them. So, what are dentures? Simply put, they are a removable form of tooth replacement. Different situations call for different restorative techniques. While some patients’ needs may be addressed by an implant, bridge, or set of veneers, some patients will find that dentures fit their needs.

The Process of Getting Dentures

Here’s a quick look into the denture creation and fitting process. Once it’s been decided that dentures are the solution for you, Dr. Ricky Tin will take measurements and impressions. This data will inform the creation of your custom-made dentures. Once a model has been made based on your measurements and mold, you’ll get a chance to try it on for size. If it’s a fit, it’ll be used to make the final product. Once your final dentures are ready, you’ll come in to try them on and if needed, adjustments can be made. Our Elk Grove team will give you some instructions and pointers on how to wear them, and you’ll be all set with a brand new smile.

Dentures at Villa Vista Dental

At our office, we’re pleased to be able to offer a few different denture options to suit our patients’ varied needs. Visit our website to learn more about the following options we offer in our office:

Full conventional dentures
Overdentures
Partial dentures

Ready for Dentures? Give us a Call

If you think dentures might be a great fit for your dental needs, we’re here to help you get started on your journey to a new smile! Give our Elk Grove, CA office a ring as soon as restrictions are lifted and we’ll set you up with an initial consultation.

Dentures Can Get You Smiling Again!

Dental Emergencies Only During COVID-19

Graphic stating that operations are paused during COVID-19

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, our Elk Grove, CA dental office is open only for emergencies. The safety and health of our patients, our employees, and our community are our top priorities. We will let you know when we are once again able to provide our patients with the quality care and the safe environment that is a hallmark of our practice.

Villa Vista Dental adheres to the strict safety standards recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We have always been extremely mindful of our patients’ health and safety and will be even more vigilant in the future. Rest assured when we do welcome you back that our office and equipment will be thoroughly disinfected.

Protect Yourself & Your Loved Ones

We encourage all of our patients to protect themselves and their families by following the recommendations from the CDC. For example:

Practice social distancing. Stay home as much as possible.
When it is necessary to go out, keep at least six feet away from others.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you have just washed your hands.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then dispose of it.
Disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
Do not share dishes or utensils.
Get adequate rest and eat a healthy diet.
Take extra precautions if you are sick to reduce the spread of the disease.
Even if you feel healthy, be mindful of the health of others. Some people are asymptomatic when they have the disease and can unknowingly spread it to others.

Keep Brushing & Flossing!

We recognize that many of you are experiencing unprecedented upheavals and challenges in your daily lives and routines. Please take good care of your mental health as well as your physical health and your oral health. We encourage everyone to take some time for positive, uplifting activities to help relieve stress.

Emergency Dentist in Elk Grove, CA

Villa Vista Dental thanks you for your loyal patronage and regrets the inconvenience our temporary closure will cause to those with scheduled appointments and plans for smile improvements. Our team looks forward to welcoming you again to our office as soon as this crisis has passed. We are here for you if you experience a dental emergency, call us at (916) 691-6800. We’ll get you in as soon as possible!

Call us today if you have a dental emergency!