- Dental ExaminationIn recent years, bacterial inflammation associated with gum disease has been linked to chronic health problems, such as stroke, coronary artery disease and premature, low birth-weight babies. Yet there are a number of things you can do to help protect your teeth and your overall health. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year allows us to thoroughly clean your teeth, and dental exams give us the ability to evaluate any potential problems (i.e. cavities, gingivitis, etc.) before they become more serious. We are also able to recognize whether a patient is getting proper nutrition, maintaining a proper oral hygiene regimen and whether there are any growth or development problems.
- X-rays
- Teeth CleaningTwice a year, you should schedule a routine dental cleaning. During this visit, one of our dental hygienists will remove plaque from your teeth, especially from places where your brush can't reach, such as underneath the gum line and between teeth. We will then clean your teeth and apply fluoride to help protect your teeth once you leave the office.
- Fluoride Treatment
- Space MaintainersPrimary (baby) teeth play a crucial role in dental development. Without them, a child cannot chew food properly and has difficulty speaking clearly. Primary teeth are vital to development of the jaws and for guiding the permanent teeth into place when they replace the baby teeth around age 6. Since primary teeth guide the permanent teeth into place, infants with missing primary teeth or infants who prematurely lose primary teeth may require a space maintainer, a device used to hold the natural space open. Without a maintainer, the teeth can tilt toward the empty space and cause permanent teeth to come in crooked. The way your child cares for his/her primary teeth plays a critical role in how he/she treats the permanent teeth. Children and adults are equally susceptible to plaque and gum problems—hence, the need for regular care and dental check-ups.
- FillingsGold fillings: Gold fillings are very durable, able to last approximately 10 to 15 years. The main drawback to gold fillings is the cost of the restoration, since gold is a precious metal.
- VeneersWe have many different procedures that can help these problems. Porcelain veneers are designed to look like your natural teeth and are individually attached to the fronts of your existing teeth. Veneers can be positioned to close gaps. Bonding utilizes a composite material made of plastic to fill in areas of your teeth and correct chipping and shape problems. Both porcelain veneers and bonding are color-matched to the rest of your teeth.
- CrownsRecover the tooth, making sure to hold it by the crown (top) and not the root end. Rinse, but do not clean or handle the tooth more than necessary. Reinsert the tooth in the socket and hold it in place using a clean piece of gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or water. Because time is essential, see a dentist immediately.
- BridgesFixed bridges are the most popular, and consist of a filler tooth attached to two crowns in order to hold the bridge in place. "Maryland" bridges, commonly used to replace missing front teeth, use tooth-colored metal bands bonded to surrounding teeth. And cantilever bridges use two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth.
- Dental Bonding
- Root Canal TreatmentDr. Ellie Shadmehr has been a practicing endodontist since 2011. She earned her DDS and Master's Degree/Endodontic Certificate from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2011. She then earned an Advanced Endodontic Certificate from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Upon completion she moved to California in 2018 and joined the Division of Endodontics at UCSF as a faculty member.
- Periodontal SurgeryIn certain cases, periodontal surgery may be recommended to treat gum disease when non-surgical treatment is ineffective. We may recommend procedures such as pocket reduction, soft tissue grafts or bone regeneration to treat gum disease. If a tooth has been lost due to gum disease, dental implants are always an option for permanent tooth replacement.
- Dentures
- Dental ImplantsThe Root Implant—by far, the most popular—is the most effective because it mirrors the size and shape of a patient's natural tooth. This implant is often as strong as the patient's original tooth. The implant or artificial root is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia, then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone. Once the healing process is completed, and the jawbone is attached to the implant, the patient returns to the dental office where the implant is fitted with the new tooth. This process generally takes anywhere from three to eight months.
- Oral SurgeryOur oral surgical team members have completed extensive training in all aspects of oral surgery. They have also completed training in anesthesia to ensure our patients utmost comfort and safety throughout their treatment. Some of the oral surgery procedures we provide include...
- Jaw SurgeryDr. Lam has the training and expertise to treat a board range of orthodontic conditions. His special interests include cosmetic orthodontics, Invisalign®, night-time splints/retainers, orthodontics in conjunction with orthognathic surgery and pre-restoration orthodontics. He enjoys using the most innovative products in orthodontics, such as self-ligating braces and temporary anchorage implants.
- Maxillofacial SurgeryDr. Johnston is currently stationed at Travis Air Force Base where he is an attending surgeon for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program. He is actively involved in education as an Assistant Professor in the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and contributing author to numerous journals and textbooks. He is near completion of the board certification process of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and holds certifications in BLS, ACLS, PALS, and ATLS. Dr. Johnston earnestly strives to provide evidenced-based care that is ethical and compassionate.
- Tooth ExtractionsDr. Johnston received his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from Brigham Young University and Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from the University of Colorado at the Anschutz Medical Campus. He then pursued surgical training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Medical Center. While in residency, he focused on the surgical and non-surgical management of facial trauma, head and neck cancer, benign pathology of the face and jaws, dentofacial deformities, obstructive sleep apnea, and temporomandibular joint disease. He also received training in general anesthesia, intravenous sedation, dental extractions, bone grafting, and dental implant placement. Following residency, he completed one year of fellowship training in Craniomaxillofacial Trauma and Reconstruction at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.
- Bone Grafting
- OrthodonticsOriginally from Vancouver, Canada, Dr. Lam and his family have lived in San Francisco for several years. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia in Canada. Dr. Lam obtained his Doctorate in Dental Medicine from Harvard University, and certificate in orthodontics from Boston University.
- Invisalign OrthodonticsAfter your specific treatment plan has been chosen, the digital impressions allow us to create customized bracket trays that we use to place your brackets onto your teeth, all at one time, with increased efficiency and overall effectiveness. If you choose to use Invisalign, we will use these 3-D impressions to fabricate your custom aligners.
- BracesOnce we remove your braces, we will move into the retention stage of your treatment. Maintaining the results you achieved during the treatment phase is key to the success of the entire orthodontic process. Your retention phase will last for a minimum of 24 months. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you've put in so far.
- Teeth WhiteningEveryone wants a bright, white smile. Teeth whitening services are growing in popularity, and it's one of the most requested services offered by our practice. Everyone sees the growing consumer market focused on whiter teeth. The reality is that over-the-counter solutions typically don't work!
- Cosmetic DentistryDr. Facchino attended San Jose State University for his undergraduate degree. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of the Pacific. He loves spending time with his family, running and traveling.
- General DentistryUpon completion of his Doctorate in Dental Medicine, Dr. Han began his General Practice Residency at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. This residency provided extensive training in hospital dentistry and management of medically compromised, disabled and elderly patients. Dr. Han gained extensive training in all phases of general dentistry, including outpatient dental treatment with intravenous sedation and inpatient care in the operating room under general anesthesia at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.