Blog Articles

Millions of Americans suffer from dental anxiety, a severe and persistent condition that can prevent you from getting crucial oral health treatment. Fortunately, sedation dentistry offers a solution. Here’s how it works.

Dental veneers correct an array of smile flaws, including flaws that make your smile look worn and older. Best of all, they do it in just a couple of office visits. Here’s how dental veneers can make your smile look dazzling.

Playing sports offers lots of benefits for your health, but it can lead to injuries, too, including injuries that affect your teeth. If you or your child has a sports-related tooth injury, here’s how to prevent further problems.

Root canal therapy is designed to restore teeth badly damaged by decay and trauma, helping avoid tooth loss or extraction. Do you need a root canal? These five signs can help you decide.

Professional cleanings are vital in maintaining your beautiful, healthy smile. But caring for your teeth between those cleanings is just as important. Here’s what you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Knowing what to expect following oral surgery can help you feel more relaxed while you heal. That includes knowing how your gums will feel — and what unusual signs to watch out for.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is more common than most people realize, increasing the risks of serious oral health problems. Learning common symptoms of TMJ can help you seek treatment as early as possible. Here are five signs to know about.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a popular treatment for sleep apnea, but it’s not always as effective as it could be. Here, learn some simple tips that can maximize the benefits of your therapy so you can enjoy better health.

The underlying issue behind a recurrent toothache won’t disappear on its own. Whether it’s a cavity, gum disease, or tooth damage, neglecting the problem leads to major and costly issues down the road.

Dentures have been the traditional solution to full-arch tooth restoration, though they only replace crowns. Dental implants add replacement roots, and a hybrid system called All-on-4® provides an ideal solution for many.

Tooth stains and discoloration occur for a variety of reasons. Some of these are avoidable, such as poor oral hygiene or tobacco use. Other stains from age, genetics, or disease can't be prevented. Food and drink are also a factor.

Dental X-rays can detect various oral health problems before they become more serious and difficult to treat. Usually part of your twice-a-year dental checkups, X-rays aren’t a part of every visit to the dentist.

When you’re already brushing and flossing as recommended but you wonder if you could do more for oral hygiene and fresh breath, it’s time to consider tongue scraping. Your tongue is a surprising haven for bacteria and plaque.

More durable and longer lasting than traditional restorations, dental implants act as an artificial root for a crown, bridge, or denture. Learn more about the typical lifespan of dental implants and how to make yours last as long as possible.

Though your alarm tells you that you’ve clocked a solid eight hours of sleep, some mornings feel like you had no rest. Sometimes, though, this daytime exhaustion is chronic. You might have obstructive sleep apnea.

Dental emergencies never seem to happen at convenient moments. When a tooth suffers a break, chip, or crack, it’s often possible to save it with prompt attention. Follow these tips if you must wait to see your dentist.

There’s something about each new year that promises a time of change, a fresh start, and even a whole new you. You can choose from various cosmetic dental treatments to reinvent yourself with a radiant smile.

Sometimes, a smile makeover requires several procedures to brighten teeth, fix damage, remove unevenness, and more. When these issues are mild, dental veneers could be the single treatment you need for the smile you want.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing in your sleep. While your brain wakes enough to restart breathing, your sleep cycle gets disrupted, and several aspects of your general health can be affected. 

It’s okay to be nervous about going to the dentist. Many people are. However, it’s unnecessary, since procedures are painless with contemporary anesthetics and sedation dentistry helps even the most anxious patients relax. 

The concierge care concept is an exciting and affordable way to arrange access to health services like primary physician care. Dental memberships build on the idea to offer regular treatments at predictable prices.

Going to the dentist likely tops very few lists of favorite things to do. For some people, though, it’s more than simple dislike. Anxiety and even phobia can be strong enough to keep some people from visiting the dentist at all. 

Can you imagine your breath stopping while you sleep? More than one-quarter of American adults experience this. While your brain wakes you enough to restart your breath, sleep apnea is a potentially serious health issue.

Popping and clicking from your jaw isn’t a problem if it’s only occasional and has no other symptoms like pain or locking. If your jaw popping becomes more frequent, it’s time to speak with your dentist about your condition.

In a perfect world, there would never be emergencies. However, the unforeseen has a habit of popping up when least expected. Do you know what to do when faced with a dental emergency? Here’s how to recognize when they happen.

When you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist may recommend a dental bridge to fill the spaces. Sometimes, it’s about rescuing your smile, but bridges always help to preserve the functions of eating and speaking.

An alternative for patients without insurance, dental membership plans offer fixed costs for a menu of annual services and often include discounts on non-included treatments. It’s an affordable and predictable way to secure regular dental care.

It’s normal, yet needless, to be worried about a pending root canal treatment. Chances are you’ve had fillings before, and it’s largely a similar experience. Understanding the methods and benefits of a root canal can ease your mind.

Are your teeth becoming yellowed or dingy? Even the best dental home care regimen can’t eliminate the long-term formation of plaque and tartar. These bacterial by-products of eating require regular dental office cleanings to supplement your efforts.

A dental issue likely isn’t your first suspect when you have unexplained headaches. However, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the hinge mechanism of your jaw, can sometimes produce headaches as a symptom of dysfunction.

Gaps between teeth are common and sometimes they even add charm to a smile, but they can sometimes lead to oral health issues, particularly if the gap widens over time. You may have bad habits contributing to the problem.

Dental anxiety is a common problem and even the bravest hearts tremble at the mention of a root canal. The fact is that a root canal is as painless as most dental procedures using contemporary anesthesia. Root canal fears are unfounded.

Dental anxiety is common, affecting over one-third of the population. Fear of the dentist can cause people to avoid regular dental care, which in turn, leads to more frequent and severe oral hygiene issues that require more intense treatment.

Those who are new to dental veneers may think of them only as the Hollywood caps that whiten a movie star’s smile. While whitening is certainly one of your cosmetic options, it’s just the beginning of the improvements veneers can bring.

There’s no question that the best system for eating and talking is that provided by your natural teeth. While dentures and bridges can compensate for tooth loss to some degree, dental implants are the only option that replaces the entire tooth.

Whether due to migraines or grinding your teeth, waking with a headache is never a good way to start the day. It may surprise you that Botox from your dentist’s office is the treatment solution you need.

You’ve decided to go with Invisalign® clear aligners to get a straighter, more aesthetic smile. Here’s the next steps and what to expect during the course of your treatment plan.

You deserve a healthy smile today, tomorrow, and for many years to come. But getting that smile requires some effort. You may have to brush twice a day and floss daily at home.

If you or someone you love suffers from sleep apnea, you know how terrifying it can be when you stop breathing while you’re asleep.

It can be disheartening when you learn that your teeth need to be extracted, either due to decay or gum disease.

"TMJ" stands for temporomandibular joints, which are located on each side of your jaw. These joints help you chew your food, speak properly, yawn, and flash your beautiful smile.

Do you find yourself waking up in the morning with a headache? Have you noticed that your jaw is sore, or perhaps your teeth are worn down? The culprit could be teeth grinding, also known as bruxism.

Advances in modern dental technology have made it easier for dentists to resolve the problem of missing teeth. For many people, dentures provide just the solution they need.

At Volterra Dental, it’s our mission to promote a preventive approach to oral care. Instead of waiting for dental issues to appear, we choose to stay proactive against all kinds of dental challenges.

Whether you are attending an interview or a date, it’s natural that you would want to flash your smile. Unfortunately, your dull, yellowed teeth might be holding you back.

Tooth loss can be a traumatic experience. It disrupts the function, appearance, and balance of your smile. Whether a single tooth or multiple teeth are lost, dysfunction occurs.

An estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. If you are among the sleep apnea sufferers, you may be searching for solutions to fix your condition. Turn to the experts at Volterra Dental in Los Alamitos, California.

If you have bruxism — a condition where you grind your teeth at night while you sleep — a nightguard offers a viable solution. Bruxism can cause wear and tear on your teeth, jaw pain, and poor sleep.

Who does not want a Hollywood smile? Regardless of age or race, most people want a picture-perfect smile. Unfortunately, having a radiant, sparkling smile is not something everybody is born with.

A smile can create a long-lasting first impression. Whether it’s a job interview, date, or business deal closure, a smile can be the difference between failure and success.

Oral surgery is more common than you can imagine and is performed for various reasons, including smile restoration, placing dental implants, and tooth extraction.

Even if you faithfully brush your teeth and floss once a day, it is still vital that you have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year.

Patients in Los Alamitos, Californian’s who are unhappy with the alignment of their smile may hear about teeth straightening services and treatments such as Invisalign.

Do you find yourself waking up frequently throughout the night? Does your bed partner tell you that you snore? Do you feel groggy and tired all day?

Walking down the oral health care aisle at your local grocery store or pharmacy, you have probably noticed a variety of toothpaste, strips, and trays that promise to whiten your teeth.

If you have lost confidence in your smile due to the extraction or loss of permanent adult teeth, you are not alone. Dr. Richard Blackburn and the entire team at Volterra Dental in Los Alamitos, California, are here to assist with tooth replacement options

One of the standard preventive tools for achieving and maintaining dental health is teeth cleaning. While brushing and flossing at home can effectively reduce a patient’s risk of problems such as cavities and periodontal disease...

Clenching and grinding your teeth while you sleep – called bruxism – is an incredibly common condition that affects millions of Americans at any given time. But even though it is common, it does not mean that it should be ignored.

A great smile exudes happiness and confidence. If you find yourself hiding your teeth because you are embarrassed about their appearance, you may not be sending others the right message in work, social, and home settings.

Your smile is likely the first thing people notice about you. You use it to greet friends, calm your children, and ease tension during uncomfortable situations.

Sometimes improving your day is as simple as putting a smile on your face. Of course, if you don’t like the way your teeth look, you may be too self-conscious to open your lips for a full-on smile.

You’ve already invested in teeth whitening using an at-home method or professionally in the dental office. How do you keep your teeth looking that bright?

A missing tooth goes well beyond an appearance issue. It can cause serious complications for your dental and whole-body health. If you’ve cracked or had a missing tooth, it’s important to seek care right away.

At Volterra Dental in Los Alamitos, California, we offer our patients the tools they need for beautiful, healthy teeth. An increasingly popular option among our extensive suite of services and products is Invisalign® aligners. 

When your baby teeth are replaced by their adult counterparts, those teeth are designed to last a lifetime — if you take proper care of them.

Pain of any sort can hijack your life, but the pain that comes with a toothache is often in a league of its own. If the pain isn’t enough to prompt you to seek help right away, perhaps a quick look at what could be causing your toothache will.

Many people equate wisdom teeth with a painful extraction procedure resulting in a swollen face, anesthesia, and stitches.

Almost 70% of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 are missing at least one tooth due to trauma, decay, or gum disease. And these numbers tend to grow with age.

Those who are blessed with straight, white teeth only need to flash a grin to give a great first impression, and, as we know, first impressions are important.

Do you often wake up with a headache or an ache in your jaw? Those are symptoms of a disorder called bruxism.

A smile is one of the most powerful tools of communication, setting the tone long before a word is uttered. It’s how you greet the world, and how the world greets you back, and a lot can be said in this brief exchange of smiles.

Whether you are having a tooth extracted due to damage, have recently lost a tooth, or have been missing a tooth for years, replacing your tooth should be a top priority.

A dental emergency is defined as an issue that requires immediate care. These can range from pain, swelling, and abscesses to fractured, lost, or chipped teeth due to trauma.

According to the CDC, between 2011 and 2014, nearly 19% of children between ages 5 and 19 had untreated tooth cavities. Contrasted with a hundred years ago, when dental health was in its infancy, those figures actually sound OK.

Oral surgeries can include anything from simple tooth extraction to a more involved corrective jaw surgery to alleviate TMJ symptoms.

About one in every three adults in the United States snores on a regular basis, and as many as half of all adults snore occasionally.

Use a whitening toothpaste Whitening toothpaste helps you maintain those pearly whites after you’ve had your teeth professionally whitened.

Bruxism, or grinding your teeth, is a common condition that affects up to 31% of the population. And when it happens at night, it can lead to complications throughout the next day and beyond.

Treatment options for a straighter smile have come a long way over the years. No longer do you have wear a mouth full of metal for several years to get a movie star smile.

It’s a regular part of your life: getting dental cleanings every six months. If you’re keeping up the routine, you may wonder if it’s overkill, since you likely have few dental problems.