Your family dentist is your go-to provider for a wide range of oral health needs. Family dentistry encompasses everything from routine teeth cleanings to dental emergencies like a chipped tooth. Additionally, family dentists provide both children’s dentistry and adult dental services, so they can see everyone who’s part of your household.

Our comfortable and welcoming dental office in Whittier is the perfect place for your whole family. The caring staff and gentle dentists love working with patients of all ages, and will go above and beyond to make sure that each member of your family is relaxed at every point during their visit. Our dentists have a great deal of experience working with younger and anxious patients, so you can trust us to provide outstanding dental care for your entire family.

Even with the best care, dental emergencies occasionally happen. Whether an injury that results in a chipped tooth or an undetected root canal that causes sharp pain, these are issues that can’t be ignored. They’re painful to deal with, and delaying treatment could result in the difference between saving and losing a tooth. 

For all dental emergencies, it’s important to visit Dentists of Whittier as soon as possible, our highly accredited staff has the quality experience to handle any dental emergency. We reserve time in our daily schedule for emergency patients and when contacting our office be sure to provide as much detail as you can about your condition. If the accident takes place outside of dental office hours we recommend you visit a nearby emergency room immediately.

Regular dental checkups are an essential component of any oral care regimen and standard at family dentistry practices. These appointments give dentists an opportunity to look at and clean your teeth. Your dentist will also check for other serious potential problems, like oral cancer. 

At Dentists of Whittier, we know how important it is for your overall health to establish good dental health care habits early on in life. Our caring dentist will take extra time to teach little ones the proper ways to brush and floss their teeth, and will emphasize the importance of biannual cleanings and checkups as kids get older.

Keeping basic dental or oral hygiene is important for maintaining healthy teeth, gums and tongue. Oral problems, including bad breath, dry mouth, canker or cold sores,  and tooth decay are all treatable with proper diagnosis and dental care.

A dental cleaning is a routine part of the standard dental checkup. Using specialized tools, a hygienist and your dentist will clean areas where dental floss and toothbrushes can’t reach. No matter how well you brush at home, almost everyone has at least a little plaque to remove. Which is why it’s important to come in for a dental cleaning atleast every 3 months to 6 months. Some dental cleanings may be referred as a deep cleaning depending on the extent the teeth need to be properly cleaned. 

A dental extraction is the removal of the tooth from the tooth socket. Extractions are performed for a variety of reasons, but most commonly to remove teeth which have become unrepairable through tooth decay,  periodontal disease, or dental trauma, specifically when they are related to a toothache.

Sometimes a tooth is too badly damaged to rescue and a tooth extraction is necessary. This simply involves pulling the tooth out, and a bridge or implant might eventually be installed in the vacant space. Tooth extractions sometimes are also done when people have overcrowded mouths. 

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars in the back of your mouth that will come in around the age of 17 to 25. They aren’t necessary for proper oral function, and they sometimes cause issues when they come in. Your dentist may say it’s vital to remove your wisdom teeth due to the impact on your jawbone or gums (which can be painful), cavities, gum disease, and/or they may be pressing against your teeth at the wrong angle.

To prevent potential issues, many people undergo a routine wisdom tooth extraction in which these four teeth are removed before they come in. You may be referred to a oral surgeon. The surgery will take 45 mins or less and you may receive anesthesia. It should only take a few days to heal. 

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is decaying or becomes infected. Root canal treatments remove bacteria from the infected tooth, prevent reinfection of the tooth and restore the natural tooth.  

When decay enters deep into a tooth, a root canal procedure may be necessary. This entails removing the decayed portion of the tooth’s interior root (nerve and pulp) and then, placing a crown and dental sealant on top of the tooth to protect it. The end result is a fully functional tooth. Without treatment, the tissue around the tooth can begin to form a infection and abscesses may form. 

For people who avoid dental chairs, sedation is available for most dental procedures, including everything from regular cleanings to full extractions. An anesthetic is regularly given for more substantial procedures, but you’re also welcome to ask for this service even when undergoing something routine. 

There are several types of dental sedation like the following: Laughing Gas, IV Sedation, General Anesthesia, and Enteral Sedation. The most common form of sedation is nitrous oxide or most commonly known as “Laughing Gas.”

A toothache or tooth pain is caused when the nerve in the tooth is irritated, but tooth pain may be caused by many different issues, and dentists have a corresponding number of ways to provide relief. If you have a toothache it’s important you see your dentist right away. Risk factors for toothache may include dental decay, gum disease, injury, cracked tooth, etc. Sometimes, a fluoride coating and sensitive toothpaste are all that’s needed. Other times, your dentist may recommend a dental sealant or more substantial procedure. 

You can prevent dental problems by achieving basic oral hygiene home care with flossing and brushing. Having xylitol and fluoride containing rinses and toothpaste, while maintaining your regularly scheduled dental cleaning appointments are vital to your dental health.

Dental trauma is seen as injury to the teeth, gums, lips, and/or tongue. Fights, sports, car accidents and even everyday activities like chewing can result in dental trauma. If you have a missing, chipped or cracked tooth, your dentist will know how to repair or replace the tooth so that your smile looks good and functionality returns to normal.

If your dental trauma occurs outside of office hours, each dental office has a dedicated line for you to call after hours for emergencies. We also recommend you seek emergency care immediately at a neaby hospital or emergency room.

A chipped tooth is one of the most common dental emergencies, and it’s both noticeable and potentially painful. If your tooth becomes broken, chipped, or fractured, it’s important you see your dentist right away to prevent your tooth from further damaging, becoming infected and/or losing your tooth. Should you chip a tooth, your dentist will know how to reconstruct the tooth so that it looks natural and doesn’t hurt.

Dental care is as important in the early years as it is during adulthood, and robust family dentistry includes a full array of children’s dentistry services. Taking children to the dentist as they grow up sets a solid foundation for healthy lifelong dental care.

Dental sealants act as a protective barrier that covers the chewing surface of a tooth. Most often put on the back molars, these may be appropriate if a tooth’s enamel is worn away or there has been more extensive decay.

Fluoride serves as a protective barrier that covers each tooth, and it plays a vital role in preserving enamel and preventing cavities. While most tap water and toothpaste contain some fluoride, a fluoride treatment from a dentist offers much more extensive protection.

Scaling and root planing is a two-fold procedure that removes plaque and tartar that’s located deep down on the tooth. Scaling involves scraping off plaque along the tooth’s root, including below the gumline. In planing, the gums are then realigned so that they’ll attach again to the teeth.