JiaYLeeDDS

Dr. Jia Y. Lee encourages patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, and the staff here likes to see patients set themselves up for a lifetime of good oral health.  Regular flossing is essential to maintaining oral health and you should floss once a day, either before or after brushing. Remember these tips to help you floss effectively: ·         A strand of dental floss about 18 inches long allows you to wrap the ends of the floss around a finger on each hand. This gives you excellent control over the portion of floss you are using. ·         The proper technique to flossing is sliding the floss between the teeth and rubbing the floss back and forth up until you reach your gums. ·         Pushing at your gums too hard with floss can damage your gum line and isn’t necessary to floss properly. Think of a small swooping motion as you rub the floss up to one gum, then down and back up towards the other. ·         As you move on to the next tooth, adjust the floss to expose ...

If you have a kid at home that’s growing into a big kid, losing the first baby tooth is on the horizon.  It’s an exciting sign of growing up, but many kids still feel anxious or uncomfortable dealing with the unfamiliar sensation of a loose tooth.  Dr. Jia Y. Lee wants kids and parents to be prepared and understand why this pain occurs so your child can still have a positive tooth loss experience! Before a baby tooth is lost, it begins to break free of its nerve endings.  This is the natural process that makes the tooth feel loose and wobbly at the gums, and the area will become swollen and red.  It can be painful, and for kids a great way to soothe tooth pain is applying a cold compress to the outside of the mouth in the affected area.  Children may complain that they find it hard to bite or chew with loose or missing teeth.  It’s still important to keep eating healthy while they grow new teeth so encourage soup, pureed fruits, and cooked vegetables.  A few tales of the tooth fairy ca...

Everyone has a set of wisdom teeth but this set of ‘final molars’ often stays impacted.  Some patients experience these teeth beginning to erupt, usually between the ages of 17 and 24.  Even when that happens, there is not enough space in the mouth for these wisdom teeth to grow, which is why Dr. Jia Y. Lee typically recommends extraction.  Keeping wisdom teeth too long can cause oral discomfort, headaches, damage the surrounding teeth and put a patient at risk for infection. If you experience swollen or tender gums around the wisdom teeth, jaw pain, or facial swelling, give us a call. Dr. Jia Y. Lee can determine if you need your wisdom teeth removed, and discuss sedation options and procedure with you.  The procedure will include stitches and some down time, but following instructions, a patient’s recovery shouldn’t take more than a week. To learn more about wisdom teeth extraction and all the services provided at the practice, visit MyRanchoCucamongaDentist.com for more information...

It is recommended by the Academy of General Dentistry you have a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months.  Dr. Jia Y. Lee encourages patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, but it is still important to come into the office for regular professional cleanings.  However much you brush and floss, some harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that cause gum disease and can only be removed by a dental professional. It’s important to see a professional regularly to locate and monitor areas in the mouth that may need special attention, and a dentist can tell you if you may be missing a spot or skipping an important step in your regular oral care routine.  During a teeth cleaning, a hygienist thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. After the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned, the hygienist flosses between every one of your teeth and may apply fluoride if recommended by the dentist. To learn ...

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, comes in a variety of stages that Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS would like you to avoid at all costs. The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis, and if you spit a little bit of blood in the sink when you brush and floss, this simply means that you aren’t brushing enough, or you aren’t doing it right. Gingivitis is reversible, and you may notice less blood by flossing at least twice a day for one week straight. However, when you reach periodontitis, treatment becomes a little more complex. Gingivitis is reversible and is a mild form of periodontal disease that results in gum inflammation and gum sensitivity. When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis which will require a deep cleaning of the gums to treat. Periodontitis can lead to tooth decay and eventual tooth loss if not properly addressed, but remember that you can avoid periodontal disease at all costs by visiting us twice a year for professional cleanings. If you hav...

Most of us know that there are a right way and a wrong way to do things. What you may not know is that this rule applies to oral hygiene practices as well as everyday life choices. Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS is almost certain that his patients know the wrong way to brush their teeth, but he is here to provide you with the right technique. Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums. Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes. Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria. If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dentistry or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit  www.myranchocucamongadentist.com  for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS in Rancho Cucamonga, CA,...

Our dental office wants you and your family to be aware of oral cancer and we encourage you to ask about a screening with every checkup.  Of course, heavy smoking and drinking increase the risk of oral cancer but oral cancer can still occur if someone never smokes. Recently, the human papilloma virus (HPV) was found to be responsible for most oral cancers that originated in the back of the mouth. To screen for oral cancer, our doctors perform a visual exam and uses an ultraviolet light device to detect any cancerous irregularities in tissue.  This exam can be done in a short length of time and in addition to any dental appointment.  Regular screenings are the best way to protect you and your family, but always contact us if you notice any inexplicable pain, swelling, or numbness in your throat or jaw. To learn more about oral cancer and all the services provided at the practice, visit Myranchocucamongadentist.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DD...