Q: For San Diego residents: When is the least expensive tooth replacement method really the most expensive?

A: When it ends up costing far more in the long run.

Many San Diego dentistry clients who lose a tooth do not understand the importance of replacing it with a dental implant. They wrongly believe that one missing tooth is not a significant problem. In fact, some people in Mission Hills or San Diego who have an abscessed tooth extracted are so glad the pain is gone that they forget that the extraction is not the solution. When a tooth is lost, the risk of losing the adjacent teeth increases dramatically.

Dr. David Scharf, a Board Certified Periodontist and Dental Implant Surgeon and a Clinical Assistant Professor at New York University College of Dentistry says:

“Many times consumers will choose to replace a missing tooth with a removable partial denture because it is the least expensive option. In the long run however, removable partial dentures may be more costly due the loss of adjacent teeth and the need for future replacements. Many people opt to replace teeth with dental implants because they do not compromise the survival of the adjacent teeth.”

Dr. Scharf notes…

“With the price of gasoline and food soaring people try to cut back wherever they can. Unfortunately choosing the least expensive options for tooth replacement can have some very costly ramifications down the road.”

If you are missing a tooth, you may still be able to save the adjacent teeth if receive an implant soon. An implant bonds chemically with the jaw bone and helps maintain its stability.

To schedule a dental implant consultation, call Marcos Ortega DDS at 619-717-8459. In addition to cosmetic dentistry, we provide comprehensive general dentistry for families in the San Diego, California area.

You can probably imagine why I look at smiles everywhere I go in the San Diego area. Whether I am working with a Mission Hills or Mission Valley dental patient, having dinner at a Hillcrest restaurant, or attending a Bankers Hill sporting event, I notice whether the people around me smile. Whenever I encounter someone with obvious tooth problems, I want to tell them about the procedures that can completely transform their frown into a healthy and beautiful smile.

Are you one of those people who don’t want to show their teeth? I would love to talk to you about a smile makeover. Whatever your excuse is for not seeking dental treatment, I can discuss all of your concerns with you during a free consultation.

Perhaps you are afraid of dental work. Have you ever considered oral conscious sedation? With sedation dentistry, even extensive treatment is virtually pain free. Sedation will calm your mind as well as the nerves in your mouth.

Perhaps the cost of San Diego cosmetic dentistry is holding you back. My very comfortable and friendly staff will be happy to talk to you about financing plans. It is important to remember that if your teeth are decayed, postponing treatment will cost more money in the long run. Filling a cavity is far more affordable dentistry than a root canal procedure or, in the case of an extracted tooth, a dental implant.

You can contact my office at 619-717-8459 or online at http://www.MySanDiegoSmiles.com. My San Diego family dental website contains information about all the general, restorative and aesthetic services we provide.

I can transform your smile into one that you will want to show all the time!

Dr. Marcos Ortega

A beautiful smile is an important component of your overall appearance. Unattractive teeth draw the eye away from other pleasing features such as thick shiny hair, gorgeous eyes or a peaches and cream complexion.

Fortunately, there are several cosmetic dental procedures to restore or repair one or more teeth. At Marcos Ortega DDS in San Diego, we can complete most of them in one short visit. Think about it; you could achieve a stunning smile in less than an afternoon!

Veneers, Bonding and Cosmetic Implant Dentistry
Dental bonding is an affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure available in San Diego at Marcos Ortega DDS. We use dental bonding in a variety of applications. In addition to repairing damage, dental bonding can close gaps between teeth.

Porcelain veneers are another minimally invasive cosmetic fix. Like cosmetic dental bonding, veneers correct chips, cracks and improve tooth shape.

What if your problem is not an unattractive tooth but a missing tooth? Don’t despair, a beautiful smile is still possible in San Diego with dental implants.

For more information about veneers, bonding, implants and other cosmetic denistry procedures, call Marcos Ortega DDS at 619-717-8459. We are conveniently located at 306 Walnut Ave., Suite 25 in San Diego. We provide advanced dentistry for patients in Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Mission Valley and the surrounding areas. We look forward to showing you cosmetic dentistry ‘before after’ pictures.

Tooth replacement has been a highly requested procedure at my San Diego dental practice. Patients from the Mission Hills, Mission Valley and Bankers Hill area have expressed concern about tooth replacement for many years. Most of my questions have to do with the strength of the tooth replacement, and durability.

Dental implants are also popular concern for my San Diego tooth replacement patients. A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jaw bone to replace the root of the missing tooth. The post integrates with the bone to provide a stable foundation for the replacement tooth.

After it has bonded with the bone (it usually takes three to six months), a smaller post is attached. This post extends above the gum line. The artificial tooth (crown) is then attached. The entire process takes several months, but consistently yields terrific results for San Diego tooth restoration patients. My California cosmetic dentistry patients appreciate the fact that I stay up to date on the latest advancements in tooth replacement procedures.

Both smile restoration options preserve or restore facial contour and allow you to talk and eat normally. Tooth replacements prevent adjoining teeth from gradually shifting and can help correct bite problems, too. Tooth implants and dental bridges can replace one or more missing teeth. Many San Diego area dental patients have been treated successfully with these tooth restoration alternatives.

Call Marcos Ortega DDS to schedule an evaluation for California tooth restoration. You can schedule your tooth restoration by calling us at 619-295-4545.

Marcos Ortega DDS, is a family dentistry practice in San Diego California.

You find your family dentist at 306 Walnut Ave., Suite 25, in San Diego California. We serve the 92103 zip code with family dentistry.

Our specialties include cosmetic and sedation dentistry. We often perform a porcelain veneers and dental crowns, and Invisalign invisible braces.

Family dentistry requires a very comfortable and friendly staff. Our commitment is to provide the most comfortable care for your family. Our staff is very comfortable and friendly, and ready to greet your family with a friendly smile and home town care.

We look forward to meeting you and your family.

The problems with dentures include slipping, gum irritation, trouble eating and talking, bone loss, and inability to taste food due to a covered palate. Clearly, dentures do not feel and function like natural teeth.

Good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups can help you avoid the need for dentures later in your life, but other factors can make dental replacements an inevitability.

The good news? Modern dental implant technology is making dentures a thing of the past.

At Marcos Ortega DDS we have information and expertise that can help bring hope to San Diego denture wearers through dental implant technology. There are a variety of effective denture/implant tooth configurations.

Call Marcos Ortega DDS at 619-295-4545 to book an implant overdenture consultation with Dr. Ortega. We can help you understand your options and can recommend options.

If you currently wear traditional dentures and are not happy with them, implant anchored dentures may dramatically change your life. Your chewing ability will be similar to that of natural teeth and you will be able to eat hard foods again. How about a thick T-bone at your favorite San Diego steakhouse? In addition to being able to enjoy your meal, you will avoid the embarrassment of having your dentures rattle around in your mouth in public.

Before you pay for another denture reline, ask your San Diego dentist about the possibility of dental implants. While tooth implants are a significant investment, the dental implant cost is very reasonable when you consider they can last a lifetime.

Attention San Diego denture wearers: there is life after dentures with tooth implants!

Come see us at Marcos Ortega DDS at 306 Walnut Ave., Suite 25 in San Diego, 92103 for more information about dental implants.

Tooth ache pain for anyone in San Diego can be unbearable. At the very least, toothache pain can cause you to avoid eating certain foods, certain temperatures, and even talking. Severe toothache pain can be downright debilitating, forcing patients to go to extreme measures to alleviate the pain.

Around San Diego, the most common causes of a tooth ache include tooth infection, decay, injury, and loss of a tooth. Tooth pain can also occur after a tooth has been extracted, or after an oral surgery involving anything from a tooth or your jawbone.

I can help you better understand the source of your tooth ache pain, and in most cases can provide a nearly immediate remedy. In severe cases, we are equipped to council you on a variety of resolutions.

Of course, the best way to avoid tooth ache pain is to visit your San Diego dentist often, and to care properly for your teeth including the regular regimen of brushing and flossing.

If you are experiencing tooth ache pain, and just can’t stand it any more, please give me a call; I am standing by to help.

-Dr. Marcos Ortega, DDS

619-295-4545

Cosmetic dentistry

If you live in the San Diego area and have questions about cosmetic dentistry, please give me a call. My name is Dr. Marcos Ortega, I am an San Diego Dentist and I can help you with your cosmetic dentistry questions.

I will be happy to review your dental history, answer your questions about cosmetic dentistry in San Diego, and help you determine if cosmetic dentistry can provide the results you want.

Along with an understanding of cosmetic dentistry, Marcos Ortega DDS can help you with a host of San Diego dental services related to cosmetic dentistry. We specialize in porcelain veneers and dental crowns, and perform Invisalign invisible braces, too. We can also help you with dental implants, dental crowns, and teeth whitening in addition to answering your questions about cosmetic dentistry.

I look forward to answering any questions you have about cosmetic dentistry. Our San Diego office is located at 306 Walnut Ave., Suite 25 in San Diego, California. Give us a call at (619) 295-4545 or stop by and meet our very comfortable and friendly staff.

Cost
In the long run, It is less expensive to do it all at once. At Marcos Ortega DDS in San Diego, we are able to complete several procedures in one visit. We know that complete smile transformations are a significant investment for most San Diego residents. We would be happy to discuss affordable dentistry financing options. Call us at 619-295-4545 to schedule a no-pressure consultation.

Time
With the latest materials and cosmetic dental techniques, healing times are shorter than ever before. However, some procedures such as bone grafting, soft tissue grafting, root canals, and dental implants often require a short healing period.

It is easier physically and psychologically to have the fewest possible visits to your San Diego dentist. You should also consider how your dental visits and necessary healing periods will impact your employment and family life. You will have less down time if you receive several procedures at once.

Aesthetic Results
While we routinely achieve great outcomes when doing a smile makeover in steps, porcelain restorations are best fabricated in the same “batch” for the most precise color matching.

Sedation Dentistry
When you come in for a smile analysis, we can discuss oral sedation dentistry. Many cosmetic dental patients benefit from this safe and effective solution for pain and anxiety management. Conscious sedation is especially helpful for procedures such as multiple wisdom teeth extractions and dental implant placement.

Dr. Marcos Ortega
Marcos Ortega DDS
306 Walnut Ave., Suite 25
San Diego, California
619-295-4545
http://www.MySanDiegoSmiles.com

Some San Diego dental problems are more extensive and require a combination of procedures. Crown restoration combined with soft tissue grafts can restore a severely decayed tooth with the root exposed. A bone graft and dental implant can restore a missing tooth in an area where the jaw bone has receded. Orthodontia followed by tooth bleaching totally transforms a smile by straightening and whitening.

What is the difference between tooth bleaching and whitening? Whitening is the term for procedures which remove surface stains to restore the degree of natural lightness. Bleaching goes even further by lightening teeth beyond their natural shade. That’s right: you don’t have to resign yourself to yellow teeth even if they have been that way your whole life! The natural shade of your teeth, by the way, like your skin and hair color, is determined by genetics.

Some San Diego smiles have been gleaming for years by regular whitening. You can maintain the whiteness of your teeth just as you maintain your fitness level. (Of course it is a lot easier to make a quick visit to your San Diego dentist once a year for whitening touch-ups than sweating in a gym several times a week!)

We live in an age where severe dental problems can be permanently corrected. You don’t have to participate in a TV makeover show in Hollywood to access these premium cosmetic dental procedures. They are available right here in San Diego. Dr. Marcos Ortega has the same advanced training and extensive experience as the dentists who keep the smiles of famous actors and musicians camera-ready.

Schedule a consultation at Marcos Ortega DDS to discover the perfect combination of procedures to achieve your ultimate smile. Our phone number is 619-295-4545.