Blog Archive

Here’s How to Enjoy Holiday Treats Without Hurting Your Oral Health Dec 2nd, 2024

The holiday season is here, and with it comes great food and drink you might not see the rest of the year. After all, the average person attends five holiday gatherings each year. While all of this sounds (and tastes) great, it comes with a problem: All the additional sugar...

Chronic Dental Woes? It Might Be Time to Consider a Full Mouth Reconstruction Oct 31st, 2024

Are you looking for that perfect smile? Some of us are blessed with perfect teeth and don’t need any help (besides regular cleanings!), but many of us have issues to address before feeling confident smiling for the camera. If you fall into the latter category, it might be time to...

Just Started Invisalign® Treatment? Here Are 3 Things You Need to Know. Oct 16th, 2024

If you’ve just started Invisalign treatment, congratulations on taking a big step toward a better smile.  At American Dental Clinic in San Diego, California, we’ve had a front-row seat to watch Invisalign explode in popularity — 18 million people and counting have used this innovative alternative to traditional braces. In...

Have a Cavity? Here’s Why We Recommend White Fillings Over Silver Ones. Sep 10th, 2024

Here’s a fact that probably won’t surprise you: Nearly 90% of American adults ages 20-64 have at least one cavity in their teeth. Here’s another fact: Those cavities need to be filled to prevent the tooth decay that causes cavities from getting worse and leading to significant oral health issues,...

Suffering from Vertigo and Dizziness? TMJ May Be the Cause Aug 4th, 2024

If you suffer from unexplained dizziness, lightheadedness, and a spinning feeling, you might need to see … your dentist? Surprisingly, your dentist might hold the key to solving your issue: vertigo, a sensation of motion or spinning often described as dizziness, is a common symptom of TMJ disorder, which affects...

Why Do Teeth Lose Their Whiteness as You Age? Jul 23rd, 2024

As the years go by, you may notice your teeth aren’t as white and sparkling as they used to be. That may not seem fair, given that you’ve faithfully brushed, flossed, and scheduled regular dental cleanings over the years. Unfortunately, though, experiencing the yellowing and darkening of teeth is just...

4 Warning Signs You Need a Root Canal to Save Your Tooth Jun 19th, 2024

Every year in the United States, 15 million root canals are performed. Root canals are recommended when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected and inflamed. Your dentist cleans out the infected pulp before filling and sealing the tooth. The procedure relieves your pain and saves your natural tooth. Thanks...

5 Dental Concerns that Crowns Resolve May 1st, 2024

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that can restore both the function and appearance of a damaged or misshapen tooth. Crowns cover many tooth flaws and are affixed atop dental implants. With so many uses, it’s no surprise that over 2 million crowns are placed annually on patients in...

Pregnancy and Your Oral Health: What Every Mother-to-Be Should Know Apr 9th, 2024

Preparing for a baby is an exciting time in life, but it can also feel busy, scary, and overwhelming.  That makes it easy to overlook important details — like dental care. Prenatal care often focuses on doctor visits and birthing classes. However, dental issues can also become increasingly common during...

How Can I Keep My Teeth Straight After My Invisalign Treatment? Mar 1st, 2024

Whether you’ve been wearing your Invisalign® clear aligners for six months or two years, you couldn’t be more excited that you’ve reached the end of your treatment plan. You’ve worked hard to attain straighter teeth, a perfectly aligned bite, and a beautiful smile, and you want to keep it that...

Why Do I Have White Spots on My Teeth? Feb 8th, 2024

Enamel is the outermost layer of your teeth. Composed primarily of minerals, it protects the dentin and pulp inside and shields the more sensitive parts of your teeth from the environment. Enamel is durable, but damage can happen — and discoloration in the form of white spots is a common...

How (and Why) to Floss Better Jan 12th, 2024

According to the CDC, about 25% of people in the United States are living with oral hygiene issues, most of which are preventable with proper and regular oral health care. The main pillars of oral health care are brushing your teeth, flossing, and visiting your dentist for regular cleanings. Here...

Get Your Best Smile for Those Holiday Photos with Professional Teeth Whitening Dec 13th, 2023

The holidays are a time of office parties, family gatherings, and social events — which means plenty of photos to commemorate the events. If your smile looks dingy, dull, or discolored, having your photo snapped probably doesn’t bring you much holiday joy. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening can help your smile...

Why Dental Implants Are So Sturdy Nov 1st, 2023

In the realm of dental solutions, dental implants have emerged as a gold standard for tooth replacement. Their unparalleled sturdiness and natural feel have made them a preferred choice for many seeking to restore their smiles.  At American Dental Clinic, highly skilled cosmetic dentist Emmanuel Aguilar, DMD and the rest...

What To Do When a Crown Falls Out Oct 4th, 2023

Dental crowns are versatile, and dentists use them in a variety of situations to lend strength to a damaged tooth, or to function as a natural tooth along with a dental implant. However, versatile isn’t the same as infallible.  Dr. Emmanuel Aguilar and his staff at American Dental Clinic in San Diego have patients...

What to Expect During and After Full Mouth Reconstruction Sep 1st, 2023

Some of us are blessed with a perfect smile. However, these are few and far between. Even celebrities with perfect bone structure, skin, and hair often need cosmetic dentistry to turn on the brilliance of their smiles. Even if your teeth looked and functioned optimally when you were younger, dental...

What Is a Sinus Bone Augmentation? Aug 1st, 2023

Dental implants can offer life-changing results when you have missing teeth. That’s because they’re the closest thing to the ones you were born with, thanks to their innovative design. Unlike dentures, crowns, and bridges that sit on top of the gums and teeth, dental implants have a post anchored in the...

Gingivitis 101: Can I Reverse Early Gum Disease? Jul 2nd, 2023

Home oral care is one of life's routines but one of the most neglected. Almost half of all US adults exhibit signs of early gum disease, also known as gingivitis. It’s a small wonder that gingivitis is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.  Emmanuel Aguilar, DMD, and the team at American...

Top 5 Questions Patients Have About Dental Implants Jun 1st, 2023

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fewer than 50% of adults living in the United States have a complete set of permanent teeth, not including wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, the chance of tooth loss only increases as you get older. Because of the nature of these statistics, it means...

The Best and Worst Foods for Your Oral Health May 1st, 2023

What you eat has an impact on every aspect of your health, including your oral health. At American Dental Clinic, Dr. Emmanuel Aguilar and his staff recommend that you keep an eye on your diet and ensure you’re eating foods that are both good for you and not damaging to your teeth....

The Importance of Wearing Your Retainer Apr 1st, 2023

If you’ve spent months wearing braces or dutifully working through your series of clear aligners, you’ve probably been looking forward to the day you were free to enjoy a lovely straight smile. But there’s one more step in your orthodontic journey, and that’s wearing your retainer.  At the American Dental...

Essential Tips to Help You Recover From a Tooth Extraction Mar 6th, 2023

Learning you need to get a tooth removed probably didn’t feel like great news, but it’s nothing to worry about. Tooth extractions are the most common surgical procedure across the country.  Plus, if you need to get a tooth out, we’re here at American Dental Clinic in San Diego, California....

Are You a Candidate for Inlays? Feb 2nd, 2023

When you have a cavity, you probably assume you’ll need a filling. However, that’s only one way to treat damage or decay in a permanent tooth. Dr. Emmanuel Aguilar and his staff at American Dental Clinic offer cutting-edge restorative treatments designed to repair damaged, broken, or missing teeth. If you have...

Start the New Year Right With a Professional Cleaning Jan 1st, 2023

You know that matchless feeling after you leave your dentist’s office with teeth that have been polished by a pro? You might not want to eat or drink for as long as possible so you can make that fresh, just-got-out-of-my-dental-cleaning feeling last as long as possible.  The components of good...

5 Ways Laser Dentistry Can Help Improve Your Dental Experience Dec 1st, 2022

Dentists have been using lasers for quite a while, and the FDA has steadily approved the technology for increasing uses and procedures. At American Dental Clinic, Dr. Emmanuel Aguilar and his staff are happy to provide you with the many benefits laser dentistry offers.  The laser difference Lasers may bring...

What is an Impacted Tooth? Nov 1st, 2022

Located at the back of the mouth, wisdom teeth are the last teeth to appear. As a result, in people who have jaws that can’t accommodate more teeth, wisdom teeth can become impacted. Because it doesn’t have enough room, an impacted tooth usually either fails to erupt or erupts in...

How Veneers Can Brighten Your Smile and Boost Your Confidence Oct 1st, 2022

Have you ever wished you could switch teeth with another person? Maybe you’ve got a single tooth you hate that’s stained or chipped. Maybe you have a gap in your smile that bothers you. Or maybe you feel like something is off with all of your teeth; they could be...

All-on-4® vs. Single Crown Implants: Which Is Right for Me? Sep 1st, 2022

If you’re missing teeth, you’re at risk for oral health complications. Thankfully, advancements in dental technology provide options that make it easy to replace missing teeth. At American Dental Clinic in San Diego, California, Emmanuel Aguilar, DMD, and our professional dental team offer single crown dental implants and All-on-4® implants....

Understanding the Different Types of Bites Aug 1st, 2022

Having perfectly aligned teeth isn’t just about looking good – although that doesn’t hurt. The way your top and bottom teeth meet, referred to as your bite, is important for your overall oral health. There are multiple types of “bad bites,” also known as malocclusions, and we’re discussing those bites....

Will I Need a Bone Graft for a Dental Implant? Jul 1st, 2022

Experts estimate that about half of all dental implant procedures in the United States require a bone graft. This means that if you’re considering an implant to replace a missing tooth or teeth, there’s a one in two chance you’ll need to have a bone graft first.  At American Dental Clinic, Dr. Emmanuel Aguilar performs dental...

Here’s How You Can Make Your Teeth Whitening Last Longer Jun 1st, 2022

Professional teeth whitening is an easy and effective way to whiten and brighten your smile. Emmanuel Aguilar, DMD, and the team at American Dental Clinic in San Diego, California, offer in-office teeth whitening services, as well as take-home whitening trays, to boost the appearance of your smile. We specialize in whitening your teeth...

When Is Root Planing Necessary? May 1st, 2022

Nearly half of Americans suffer from some degree of gum disease, the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. Also called periodontal diseases, gum disease can range from relatively mild disease, called gingivitis, to periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease when tooth loss is most likely. Gum disease can...

Do You Have Dental Phobia? Laser Dentistry Can Help Ease Your Worries Apr 1st, 2022

Dental phobia is more common than you might realize, affecting roughly 13%-24% of individuals worldwide. Your anxiety about visiting the dentist may be in relation to the possibility of pain or uncomfortable sensations, an unfamiliar setting, sitting in the chair for a long time, or the very small possibility of...

The Many Benefits of All-on-4® Mar 3rd, 2022

Traditional dentures are bulky. They often look and feel unnatural.  Fortunately, there’s a better alternative to replacing one or more teeth: All-on-4® dental implants.  All-on-4, 5, 6 dental implants are dentures secured by implants. If you’re interested in a more convenient and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional dentures, read on....

Can Anything Be Done for Receding Gums? Feb 1st, 2022

When your gums are healthy and young, they fit snugly around the bottoms of your teeth, holding them in place. Over time, or with disease or trauma, your gums may start to recede. If they recede too much, you’re at risk for tooth loss. One of the major problems with...

Let this Be The Year to Get Your Teeth Straightened Jan 4th, 2022

Maybe you’ve always wished to have straighter teeth but think that you’re too old for braces. Or perhaps you wore braces when you were younger but didn’t wear a retainer, so you’ve discovered that you need your teeth to be straightened again. The truth is that there are a lot...

How Can I Get Rid of the Discoloration of My Teeth? Dec 1st, 2021

Are you hiding your natural beauty because you don’t like the color of your teeth? Teeth that are discolored or stained can make it harder for you to feel confident showing off your beautiful smile. Teeth can lose their white appearance for many reasons, but fortunately, solutions are available to...

How to Care for Your Dental Implant Nov 4th, 2021

Millions of people have dental implants. Are all of them caring for their new smiles the way they should? Unfortunately, the answer is no. But we’re here to change that.  Our team of experts at the American Dental Clinic, led by Dr. Emmanuel Aguilar, takes a closer look at what...

Got a Gummy Smile? Read About Our Crown Lengthening Procedure Oct 4th, 2021

Like the people who flash them, smiles come in all shapes and sizes from that “just stepped off the runway Hollywood smile” to the mesmerizing “confident, nothing can stop me smile” to everything in between. Sometimes a smile is defined by the physical characteristics of your teeth and gums. An...

Invisalign: The Hassle-Free Path to Straight Teeth Sep 5th, 2021

A couple of decades ago getting straight teeth involved lots of awkward materials like metal braces, uncomfortable wires, rubber bands, and let’s not forget that embarrassing headgear. As if the appearance and discomfort were not enough of an inconvenience, the treatment process often took years that involved frequent visits to...

Learn All the Ways Veneers Can Enhance Your Smile Aug 5th, 2021

Whether you live in the hills of Hollywood or in a charming rural town like Oak Glen the desire to have a beautiful, dazzling smile is something everyone wants, but few of us come by naturally. When most of us mere mortals look in the mirror we can always find...

Who Needs a Full Mouth Reconstruction? Jul 6th, 2021

Time and money have a way of interfering with the best-laid plans. If you are among the over 30% of Americans who haven’t visited the dentist in the last 12 months you can probably relate. Unfortunately for many people, missed appointments can all too quickly turn into undetected cavities, gum...

3 Reasons We Think You Should Try Laser Dentistry Jun 15th, 2021

Healthy teeth and gums and a dazzling smile are attributes we all aspire to have. After all, a great smile makes a great impression. Now getting that perfect smile and maintaining good oral health is a whole other thing altogether and a whole lot harder. Despite our best efforts at...

The Benefits of All-on-4 Implants May 23rd, 2021

In an ideal world, we’d all have perfectly white, straight, and healthy teeth throughout our lifetime. Unfortunately despite practicing our best oral hygiene routines and scheduling dental visits for periodontal cleanings, tooth decay; gum disease and injuries may result in missing teeth or extractions. Missing teeth are a real problem...

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Bi-Annual Dental Cleanings Apr 22nd, 2021

Time is at a premium for everyone. On most days scheduling the necessities like work and home responsibilities tend to max out even the most ambitious person. When you’re sick or injured it’s a no-brainer you should book an appointment as soon as you can get one. Unfortunately, the last...

What’s the Difference Between a Crown and a Bridge? Mar 14th, 2021

In a perfect world, we’d all have stunningly beautiful, bright smiles for a lifetime. No cavities. No missing teeth. No imperfections. But despite our best efforts with at-home oral care like brushing and flossing, as well as regular checkups and hygiene cleanings, we may need a filling or even an...

Does It Hurt To Get a Crown? Feb 17th, 2021

We’ve all been there. Despite our best efforts to keep our smile bright and healthy something happens. Maybe it’s a large worn-out filling or even an injury that cracks, weakens, or damages your tooth. Fortunately, your dentist has lots of restoration and cosmetic treatment options to not only fix the...

Should You Go to the Dentist During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Dec 31st, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has shattered preconceived notions of what is normal. As California struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus and enacts safety measures, it can be difficult to know what is safe and what you should avoid. This is true across the health care and dental scene as...