If you live in the San Diego area and are planning to take a vacation or business trip soon, I recommend you coordinate your dental care with your travel schedule. It’s always a good idea to have a checkup with your San Diego cosmetic dentist prior to leaving on long vacations, especially if your trip is taking you to developing areas without good dental care options. This quick checkup will help you be sure that your mouth is ready to travel.

More importantly, if you have any dental procedures scheduled before you leave, discuss it with your San Diego dentist. A large number of sedation dentistry procedures are actually surgical procedures. This means that your body will need more time to heal than you may realize.

Also, if you’re leaving the San Diego area by plane, you should be aware that changes in the cabin pressure of the airplane may cause tooth pain or discomfort for patients who have just had oral surgery. In addition, make sure you are aware of any necessary follow-up appointments with your San Diego sedation dentist  before you schedule a vacation.

I’m Dr. Allan Thomas and I want San Diego residents to be informed about their dental care. My cosmetic dental practice offers:

• dental implants
• porcelain veneers
• dental crowns
• Invisalign invisible braces
• fresh breath treatment

If you are looking for general dental care or quality cosmetic dentistry in San Diego or the surrounding areas, please call us today and let our trust-building staff take care of you.

Dr. Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray DDS
8555 Fletcher Parkway #102
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 337-7700
http://www.smilesandiego.com/

Hello La Mesa friends of Jeff Gray DDS! When you think about getting into shape, your teeth are probably not the first body parts that come to mind. But your La Mesa cosmetic dentist may be able to improve your smile with bonding and enamel shaping, and you won’t even have to join a local gym!

I’m Dr. Jeff Gray, an experienced La Mesa cosmetic and general dentist, and today on my dental blog I want to explain a little more about these relatively conservative cosmetic dentistry procedures that can improve your smile without major remodeling.

Dental bonding is a great way to improve the appearance of teeth that are cracked, stained, broken, chipped, or have large spaces between them. When teeth are bonded, your La Mesa dentist applies tooth-colored materials, and “bonds” them to the tooth surface.

Usually used in conjunction with bonding, enamel shaping is the process of modifying teeth by contouring or removing enamel. Something my patients love about enamel shaping is that it’s quick, painless, and the often dramatic results are immediate.

If you are looking for quality, affordable La Mesa dental care, give us a call at (619) 337-7700. Our friendly and professional dental team would be happy to answer any questions you have about any of our cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers and tooth whitening. We would love to explain the latest advances in Invisalign, dental implants, and porcelain veneers and let you see our gallery of before and after photos of smile makeovers.

If it has been a while since you have treated your teeth to a deep cleaning, call today to book an appointment with the most gentle yet thorough dental hygienists in La Mesa!

Dr. Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray DDS
8555 Fletcher Pkwy, Ste 102
La Mesa, California 91942
(619) 337-7700
http://www.SmileSanDiego.com/ourdoctor.html

Did you remember that brushing and flossing fights bad breath and removes stains?

If you have persistent stains that brushing can’t remove, try teeth whitening at Jeff Gray DDS for a dazzling stain free smile.

The American Dental Association recommends two minutes as a minimum time for brushing. Most folks think they brush that long but would be surprised if they actually set a timer. Most of us only brush for about a minute, if that.

I am Dr. Jeff Gray of Jeff Gray DDS. In my office, we practice preventative dentistry by working with our patients to establish essential oral hygiene habits.

If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in La Mesa, I invite you to come meet my friendly and professional team.

Our address is 8555 Fletcher Pkwy, Ste 102, La Mesa, California. We offer cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant and sedation dentistry.

And here’s a quick cold-fighting tip for my La Mesa clients; get a new toothbrush when you catch a cold. A toothbrush teeming with germs can re-infect you!

Give us a call at (619) 337-7700.

Many La Mesa cosmetic dentistry patients have discovered the benefits of anxiety-free dentistry (sometimes called sedation dentistry). There are three main types of sedation options available in the La Mesa area.

Inhalation

Nitrous Oxide, sometimes called ‘laughing gas‘ has been used in La Mesa cosmetic dental offices for over a century, because, in many ways, it is an ideal sedative. It begins to work quickly, but then wears off as soon as the dental sedation patient stops inhaling it. Breathing nitrous oxide can produce warm tingling sensations and a feeling of euphoria.

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral sedatives take longer to work than nitrous, but produce a calmer state for many nervous La Mesa dental patients. Triazolam and diazepam are common oral sedatives used in sedation dentistry. These sedative medications are routinely prescribed by La Mesa physicians for anxiety, insomnia, and muscle spasms.

Oral sedation is a good sedation choice for anxious patients who require a lengthy dental procedure. After the dental visit, it takes a while for the medication to wear off. A La Mesa conscious sedation patient should not plan to drive home after undergoing oral sedation.

IV Sedation

Like nitrous, intra-venous sedation starts working immediately as the sedative enters the bloodstream. IV sedation usually produces the deepest state of relaxation. IV patients can dream away the entire procedure and wake up calm and relaxed.

To schedule a sedation consultation, call Jeff Gray DDS at (619) 337-7700. We have the answer for your dental anxiety.

Here at Jeff Gray DDS, we want your teeth to last a lifetime! Tooth enamel is one of the hardest parts of the body, but it is non-renewable so it is important not to not neglect or abuse our teeth. Daily teeth and gum care is the best way to protect tooth enamel.

Even though every San Diego drug store carries hard bristle brushes, we recommend brushing with a soft brush after every meal to gently brush away acid. Scrub too hard, and you can erode enamel. It is ideal to brush immediately after eating, but brushing within 60 minutes of a meal has benefits. The quicker you remove food from your teeth, the better it is for your enamel.

Flossing regularly is also important to keep gums healthy. Whether the food is on tooth surfaces, or hidden in between, it is not doing your enamel any good.

Cosmetic dentist Dr. Jeff Gray recommends a checkup and thorough cleaning every six months. Our skilled hygienists remove tartar, a substance that attracts plaque to the surface of the teeth and can weaken the teeth’s structures. Regular checkups prevent problems and save you money on expensive restorations down the road.

Remember: don’t use your teeth for opening packages! Keep scissors and bottle openers handy. At Jeff Gray DDS, we see damaged dental work and damaged or missing teeth as a result of patients using their teeth as tools. Biting down on something too hard, like ice or hard candy can also damage enamel.

Attention San Diego area athletes: be sure to use a mouthguard for team, contact, and recreational sports.

Teeth grinding is also a common dental threat. Be careful not to grind teeth, this can not only wear away enamel but also pave ways for cavities to get in. If you grind your teeth while you are sleeping, make an appointment to be fitted for a night guard. Your enamel will thank you.

Lastly, remember: drink water. Coffee, sports drinks, soda, wine, and tea all contain a lot of acid or sugar, and in some cases both. Cut back, or at least use a straw. These drinks cause a lot of tooth decay for non-water drinkers in the San Diego.

We hope you find these Jeff Gray DDS tips helpful. If you already have damage to your teeth or enamel, we have a variety of procedures that can give you a brand new smile, including dental implants, porcelain veneers and clear braces. For more information on dental care, or to schedule an appointment, contact our San Diego cosmetic dentistry office today at (619) 337-7700!

Dr. Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray DDS
(619) 337-7700
http://www.SmileSanDiego.com

Attention La Mesa dental patients: brushing twice daily may help lower your risk of heart disease. Area scientists, dentists, and cardiologists have known for many years that there is a link between inflammation in the mouth (gum disease) and heart problems, However, a recent study analyzed oral health habits and heart disease risk. Science Daily reported on the study which was published in the British Medical Journal.

I quote from the Science Daily article:

“The authors, led by Professor Richard Watt from University College London, analyzed data from over 11,000 adults who took part in a Scottish Health Survey. The research team analyzed data about lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, physical activity, and oral health routines.”

“Once the data was adjusted for established cardio risk factors, the researchers found that participants who reported less frequent toothbrushing had a 70 percent extra risk of heart disease compared to individuals who brushed their teeth twice a day.”

I am cosmetic dentist Dr. Jeff Gray DDS of Jeff Gray DDS. The Scottish survey is one of many that confirms the link between oral health and overall health. Simply put: you aren’t healthy unless your gums and teeth are healthy.

It doesn’t matter if you are a lean La Mesa distance runner with a pulse of fifteen beats a minute and a blood pressure of 100 over 60. It doesn’t matter if you are an area vegan who has eaten a nutritionally balanced, low-fat diet for the past five years. If you have inflamed gums and tooth decay, you are at risk for problems in other areas of the body.

The phone number for Jeff Gray DDS is (619) 337-7700. If you have concerns about your oral health, I invite you to schedule an examination today.

Perhaps your teeth and gums are healthy but you wish your smile was more attractive. We can help you there also with a smile redesign. Porcelain veneers, crowns, inlays/onlays, and clear braces are all available to solve any cosmetic problems you wish to correct.

If you have not visited a dentist in La Mesa yet due to dental anxiety, now is the time. We offer sedation dentistry as an option for patients who have put off seeing a dentist out of fear. My friendly and professional team and I will help keep your smile beautiful for life.

Or call us at (619) 337-7700 to learn more.

Hello La Mesa visitors, welcome to Jeff Gray DDS. Let’s talk about a tooth replacement option common in La Mesa: dental bridges.

While dental bridges have restored smiles for thousands of La Mesa area cosmetic dentistry patients, they are not problem free. Many people with dental bridges find it impossible to keep the small areas around the bridge clean. This is not surprising because it is hard to get toothbrush bristles or dental floss under the bridge.

Of course bacteria has no trouble moving in and taking over without the La Mesa dental patient even knowing it. When the decay reaches the roots of the surrounding teeth, it is not only painful, the person is at risk of losing those teeth also.

That is one reason why a dental implant is superior to a dental bridge. Most La Mesa people with missing teeth are great candidates for dental implants.

A dental implant looks just like the beautiful tooth restoration on a high-quality dental bridge, but the important part is what you don’t see.

A dental implant is screwed directly into the jaw bone. It is not attached to teeth like the dental bridges traditionally used in La Mesa. In a way, a dental implant is a more conservative tooth replacement because it leaves the adjacent teeth intact. The bone and gum tissue mesh permanently with the titanium post that serves as the replacement tooth root.

Dental implants do not have the same decay risk as the teeth that anchor dental bridges. Of course patients with dental implants need to brush and floss, but cleaning a dental implant is usually no more difficult than cleaning a normal tooth.

Dental implants have a far better track record in La Mesa than dental bridges. With proper care, a dental implant can last a lifetime for smile-smart folks.

If you currently have a dental bridge, you might consider permanently replacing it with a dental implant before the adjacent teeth are threatened with decay.

At Jeff Gray DDS, dental implants can replace one or more teeth and can also serve as anchors for full or partial dentures. No more embarrassing slipping!

If you are interested in learning more about dental implants or would like to schedule an implant dentistry consultation, I invite you to call Jeff Gray DDS at (619) 337-7700. A beautiful new smile can be yours with dental implants.

Jeff Gray DDS
http://www.SmileSanDiego.com
(619) 337-7700
Ask us about La Mesa dental financing options.

Hello La Mesa! Do you want brighter, whiter teeth? Most La Mesa folks notice their teeth dulling as the years go by, but some foods, drinks, and even mouthwashes can stain teeth at any age.

OTC tooth whitening products like kits, strips, or toothpastes may slightly lighten stains, but for a truly brilliant smile Dr. Jeff Gray can help!

If you have dental veneers, bonding, or bridges, teeth whitening bleach will not lighten the stains and your whitened natural teeth will make your dental work look even duller in comparison. At Jeff Gray DDS, we can recommend new cosmetic dentistry work, including veneers or bondings, if these have aged and discolored.

Remember, anything that can stain a white tee shirt can stain teeth.

Fortunately, brushing after meals can keep stains at bay, however with acidic foods or drinks, just rinse your mouth with water. Brushing right away can erode enamel, causing thinner teeth as we age.

La Mesa in-office Zoom teeth whitening takes about an hour and bleaches teeth to a whiter-than-ever brilliance. Professional take-home whitening kits are also available at Jeff Gray DDS and can produce the best results over time.

For more information on getting a younger and brighter smile, contact our friendly and professional for a smile brightening consultation today!

Dr. Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray DDS
(619) 337-7700
http://www.SmileSanDiego.com

Ask us about financing options.

Hello San Diego dental blog visitors, welcome to the Jeff Gray DDS blog. I am Dr. Jeff Gray and I specialize in cosmetic and sedation dentistry.

A close San Diego friend of mine recently expressed fears about her upcoming root canal. She was anxious about the pain she might experience and worried about getting work off for the multiple office visits to complete the procedure. I assured her that painful root canal procedures are a thing of the past with modern San Diego dentistry.

With the latest technology and anesthetics, a root canal (endodontic treatment) is no more painful than receiving tooth colored fillings. Most root canals can be completed in one or two short office visits.

My friend’s anxiety was diminished when she knew what to expect. If you have been neglecting your teeth because of fears or concerns about a particular procedure and have not been to your San Diego cosmetic dentist recently, I encourage you to schedule an exam, cleaning, and consultation today. We are accepting new San Diego dentistry patients at Jeff Gray DDS.

My staff and I at Jeff Gray DDS offer Invisalign braces, fast teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and all general and preventative dental procedures.

If you are interested in a stress-free visit to the dentist, call us today to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray DDS
8555 Fletcher Pkwy, Ste 102
La Mesa, California 91942
(619) 337-7700
http://www.SmileSanDiego.com/ourdoctor.html

Wishing for a whiter smile in La Mesa but not sure how to get it? New to tooth whitening lingo? At Jeff Gray DDS, we educate clients on the variety of affordable teeth whitening treatments; from whitening trays to teeth bleaching to Zoom whitening. We do smile whitening every day in La Mesa.

Almost every toothpaste claims to whiten teeth, but as we age our teeth gradually turn yellow or gray, despite all the whitening toothpastes we use regularly. Tooth enamel, while one of the hardest substances in the body, is porous. Over time, the food and drinks that comes in contact with our teeth cause staining and discoloration. You probably have already discovered that a toothbrush cannot clean these microscopic pores.

Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are the two main smile whitening ingredients. They can penetrate the outer layer of your teeth to remove the build-up, and help restore whitening to teeth. Call Jeff Gray DDS at (619) 337-7700 to schedule an appointment and we will explain the difference between these tooth bleaching ingredients and how they may affect your La Mesa smile whitening results.

La Mesa at-home teeth whitening products are probably not a good choice if you have dental crowns or veneers. You could end up with extremely uneven results or possible damage to your existing cosmetic dentistry.

We know the best La Mesa teeth bleaching options and can recommend the perfect white smile solution for you.

At Jeff Gray DDS, we hope to see you soon. Give us a call at (619) 337-7700.