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!

Can Dental Veneers Be Replaced?

Three older ladies with linked arms, smiling and shopping together

Veneers are an amazing long-term cosmetic treatment that can transform your smile into something you’ll want to show off daily! Veneers are permanent, but as with anything they are subject to wear and tear over time. In this post, we’ll explore veneer replacement and some other key facts about veneers!

Are Veneers Permanent?

Porcelain veneers are considered a permanent procedure. This means that they are an irreversible procedure. That is because the process involves removing a layer of the enamel from the surface of the teeth. This is done because the tooth needs to be shaped in order for the veneer to be bonded to the surface. With great oral care, veneers can be expected to last for 15 years. They are a popular cosmetic procedure for adults of all ages.

Replacing Veneers

Yes, porcelain veneers can be replaced! Some signs that you may need to replace a veneer include a chip or crack; decay to the natural tooth underneath; effects of gum disease; or a bad fit. The replacement process won’t differ greatly from the initial veneer application process. Dr. Tin will remove the veneer as well as the residual bonding agent from the tooth. Then, new impressions will be taken to ensure your brand new, custom-fit veneer. Once the new veneer is available, Dr.Tin will once again bond the veneer to the tooth, and you’ll have that stunning smile back!

Porcelain Veneers in Elk Grove, California

Think you might be a good candidate for porcelain veneers? The road to a perfect smile starts with a consultation here at Villa Vista Dental. Get started by calling our office today. Or, you can go online and request your visit using our convenient form. While you’re at it, check out the array of other cosmetic services we offer!

Call us today to learn more about porcelain veneers!

Dental Implants vs. Dentures

Smiling older black couple with the man standing behind the woman and enfolding her in his arms

Dental implants and dentures are part of a subcategory of dentistry called “restoration.” This type of dentistry fixes gaps in your smile caused by missing or damaged teeth, restoring it so you can eat, talk and smile with confidence again. Villa Vista Dental in Elk Grove, CA, offers both dental implants and dentures. We want you to understand the differences before deciding which choice is best for you. As always, we’ll be here to help you make the best decision for your particular situation.

Dental Implants

If you want something that is as close to your natural teeth as possible, then implants are the way to go. A titanium screw is surgically inserted into your healthy jawbone below the gumline where your tooth root used to be. As it heals, the jawbone grows around the screw. Once the healing is complete, the implant is topped with a restoration that matches the rest of your teeth. It functions just like a real tooth. You brush and floss it just as you would a natural tooth. Eating and speaking are no different with a dental implant than with a regular tooth. It is possible to have multiple dental implants, but this procedure is not usually the best choice if you have many teeth that need replacing.

Partial Dentures

This is an affordable option if you are missing a string of teeth. Rather than have an implant inserted for each tooth, you can opt for a partial denture that is held in place on the sides by either implants or functional teeth. This is a hybrid between implants and dentures. Your restoration will be custom-made to match your teeth and look as realistic as possible.

Full Dentures

If all, many, or most of your teeth need to be replaced then this is a choice to consider. Great advances have been made in denture technology in recent years. George Washington probably would have smiled a lot more if he had access to the comfortable and realistic dentures that are made today. No more nightmare dentures held together with metal springs! Full dentures are kept in place with denture adhesive or mini dental implants. Dentures are easy to clean and maintain.

Smile Restorations at Villa Vista Dentistry

As you can see, there are more tooth replacement options available than ever before. Sometimes that makes it harder to make a decision! Help is here in Elk Grove, California. Our team can assess your individual case and make recommendations based on your budget, your oral health, and your smile expectations. Contact us today for a consultation.

Call us today to learn more about dental implants!

What Is the Dental Implant Procedure?

Artistic rendering of a dental implant with the titanium post in the jawbone on the left and the post topped with a dental crown on the right — LEFT: The titanium implant post fuses with the jawbone RIGHT: The implant is topped with a dental crown

If you need to improve or restore your smile, then dental implants may be a good choice. But what is the dental implant procedure? In this blog, we’ll explain what dental implants are, the benefits, and how they are placed.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an oral procedure that can improve your smile if you have a missing tooth or missing teeth. Specifically, dental implants are metal posts that support replacement teeth. The post is made from titanium, a strong, corrosion-resistant metal. The post is capped with a dental crown and the end result is a natural-looking smile. Implants can last for a very long time. Watch the videos under our Dental Implant FAQ for more information.

What Is the Dental Implant Procedure?

The dental implant procedure requires multiple trips to our office. First, you’ll make an appointment so that we can determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. We do this by determining if your jawbone is strong enough to support an implant. If you are a good candidate, then you can schedule an appointment to place the dental implants. Dr. Ricky Tin will drill a hole into your jawbone so that the implant can be surgically placed. This might sound intimidating but Dr. Tin is experienced with the procedure and stays up-to-date with the latest dental technologies. His gentle care will make the procedure as painless as possible.

After this part of the dental implant procedure, your jaw will begin to heal and the bone will start to grow around and fuse with the implant. This creates a strong base for replacement teeth. Once the implant and bone have fused completely, we’ll place the replacement tooth on top of the implant. The crown will be specially made to match your natural teeth. Several implants can be done at the same time if necessary to complete your smile.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Dental implants are great because they are permanent fixtures that won’t move around in your mouth when you’re talking or eating. They are also very long-lasting if you care for them correctly by brushing and flossing every day. Using fluoride toothpaste and eating a diet low in carbs and sugars can also help keep your implants in good shape. Dental implants look and feel more natural than other tooth replacement options. Another benefit is that they act like a tooth root, therefore they help maintain good jaw strength and density.

Dental Implants at Villa Vista Dental

If you think you may be a good candidate for dental implants, then give our team in Elk Grove a call to schedule a consultation. We can also discuss other options available to you to restore your smile such as veneers and dental crowns. We offer a number of payment options which gives you another thing to smile about.

Call us today to learn more about dental implants!