A visit to our office every six months gives you an opportunity to talk to your dentist and ask any questions that you may have about your oral health.

A general exam includes:

• Inspecting teeth and gums for signs of gingivitis or periodontal diseases

• Oral cancer screening

• A thorough cleaning from one of our gentle hygienists, removing tartar and plaque and then polishing the teeth

• Inspection for cavities and tooth decay

Allow about 45 minutes for your dental exam. To schedule a dental exam from our experienced dentists in the Financial District, please call our office. Regular exams are available by appointment only.

Dental sealants are used to fill small cracks or grooves in the teeth in which tooth decay can develop. Our San Francisco dentists often recommend sealants for children to protect newly erupted permanent teeth. However, sealants are also an effective treatment for adults.

Fluoride is used as a preventative for tooth decay and cavities. It helps to prevent plaque from hardening on the tooth's surface and causing gum health problems. Fluoride is recommended for patients in all age groups.

Both treatments are painless and only take a short time to administer. Dental sealants usually last three to five years, while fluoride may need to be reapplied every six months, depending on your oral health.

A dental bridge is used to bridge the gap between missing teeth. A bridge may be made from gold, porcelain, alloys, or a combination of materials. It is used to hold artificial teeth in place.

Bridges look natural, relieve the strees on your bite, and help to maintain the shape of your face. Because the bridge is attached to other teeth, gums, and bone, it's important to maintain good oral health for the procedure to be successful long-term.

Crowns are typically used on patients with broken or damaged teeth. They are sometimes referred to as a “cap.” A crown is cemented over the damaged tooth and rests above the gum line. We use the latest, highest-performing materials in our practice and our dental crowns are made of durable and aesthetically-pleasing porcelain. The color of the porcelain crown is matched to the same color as the patient’s natural tooth and is very strong.

In some cases, we may recommend a partial crown if you have insufficient tooth structure left to support a full crown.

In keeping with our commitment to applying modern dental treatments and technology, San Francisco Dental Partners uses digital X-rays and iTero scanner tools for the crown-making process.

With iTero, there are no messy impressions to deal with. Your permanent crown will be placed one week after the first appointment. Your crown will be individually sculpted and placed into your mouth, creating a perfect fit that does not disrupt your natural bite or jaw movements.

If broken teeth that have worn down naturally over the years are causing pain when you chew or interfering with your smile, ask our dentist in the Financial District about being fitted with a crown.

Dentures are a natural-looking replacement for teeth that have been removed due to disease or damage. Modern dental technology has vastly improved the fit, feel, and function of dentures. All of our Financial District dental treatments are dedicated to helping you restore and improve your natural teeth, but when teeth do need to be replaced, dentures are often the best choice.

One of two types of dentures may be recommended. Full dentures are best suited for patients who have had all of their natural teeth removed. Partial dentures are an option when only some of the permanent teeth have been removed. Partials are attached to a metal frame and are secured to existing teeth in order to fill in empty spaces.

Both partial and full dentures need proper care. You will also need to continue to care for your oral hygiene even if all of your natural teeth have been removed. Your San Francisco dentist will advise you on the best cleaning methods that you should use to keep your dentures feeling and looking fresh.

At San Francisco Dental Partners, our dentists do everything we can to help our patients avoid extractions, but sometimes, it is necessary to remove a tooth. Whether it is a misshapen or long-rooted baby tooth that won’t come out when it should, a permanent tooth that is too damaged to save, or an impacted wisdom tooth, we promise to extract the tooth as gently and with as little discomfort as possible.

The roots of every tooth are encased inside a “tooth socket,” while a ligament securely holds the tooth in the socket. In order to remove a tooth, your dentist must first enlarge the socket and separate the ligament from the tooth while still holding it in place. The procedure is complex, but it is typically over quickly. To increase your comfort, we offer the option of sedation or laughing gas.

After a tooth has been removed, the surrounding teeth will begin to shift. This can cause problems with chewing and jaw function. In order to avoid these complications, some type of tooth replacement will generally be recommended.

Did you know that wearing a dental night guard can help you avoid tooth extractions? If left untreated, bruxism can cause broken or cracked teeth and even tooth loss.

Mouth guards and night guards are custom-fitted non-invasive devices that can help to protect your teeth and smile. While they are worn in the same way, they serve very different purposes.

Both devices are made using iTero Scanner technology. With iTero scanning, we are able to produce clear images of the teeth and mouth without the need for old-fashioned, messy impressions.

A custom sports mouth guard protects teeth and gums from injury. The American Dental Association recommends that mouth guards be worn by anyone that participates in a full-contact sport.

Night guards can help to prevent a condition known as bruxism, or teeth grinding, during sleep. Many patients don’t even realize they have bruxism until they experience symptoms like headache, jaw pain, or damaged teeth. A night guard can effectively protect the teeth from unintentional grinding.