JiaYLeeDDS

We take professional pride in patients at Dr. Jia Lee’s dental office knowing how to prevent cavities. There are a wide variety of home dental products on store shelves, so it’s understandable that people might be confused about which to use. Today, we want to explain some of the differences between electric and manual toothbrushes. Manual toothbrushes need to be used for at least two minutes per brushing session to get the full effect. They can be used to make dozens of strokes per minute. An electric toothbrush makes tens of thousands of strokes per minute, providing an obvious advantage to people who have difficulty moving their hands or struggle with manual brushing for other reasons. However, studies have not shown any difference in tooth decay rates between people who used electric toothbrushes and people who use manual toothbrushes properly. Recently, some electric toothbrushes have been made with apps and Bluetooth technology meant to provide assistance to people who have diffi...

Replacing missing teeth is important to your overall health and also to the health of your other teeth. When natural teeth are missing, you lose chewing ability, and un-replaced teeth can cause other teeth to be lost, tipped, or crowded. Fortunately, Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS offers dental implants to patients whose teeth have gone missing due to decay, trauma, or another dental disease. Allow us to explain the many benefits of dental implants. A dental implant is a prosthetic replacement for a missing tooth. There are three common parts to an implant – the implant device itself (which is inserted directly into the bone); the abutment – the piece that connects the implant device to the third part – the overlying crown or denture. Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your natural teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. Dental implants are made of titanium and other materials that are compatib...

At the dental practice of Dr. Jia Y. Lee, we see many patients who are unhappy with their smiles for various reasons.  The overall look of your smile includes the gums, and even when a patient has healthy teeth and gums they may be dissatisfied with the overall appearance of their smile due to excess gum tissue or a lack of tissue.  Gum contouring is a way to give any patient their best smile. A lack of or excess of gum tissue can cause a smile to have the look of elongated teeth or a gummy smile.  To create a balanced look between gum and tooth, a gum contouring procedure can include removing gum tissue, placing gum grafts, or both.  Excess tissue is removed using a laser or scalpel tool.  Soft tissue grafts are harvested from a healthy location in the patient’s mouth, and placed where gum tissue is lacking or has receded.  The result is an even ratio of tooth to gums throughout the whole mouth.  Don’t let your gums keep you from your best smile! To learn more about gum contouring and...

The temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones in your skull, in front of each ear.  A general term for any problem or issue with this joint is temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.  Dr. Jia Y. Lee can help his patients prevent and recover from negative effects of TMD. Patients that grind or clench their teeth often end up with a sore jaw.  Other patients experience injuries with facial trauma that cause jaw pain, or result in the patient feeling their jaw gets stuck or ‘locks’ in either an open or closed position.  A custom night guard keeps the jaw in a neutral position during sleep, and this helps many patients find relief from TMD symptoms.  For any pain, your dentist may recommend an over-the-counter painkiller or warm and cold compresses.  To prevent further discomfort, you may be assigned stretches for your jaw.  Whatever your symptoms, you don’t have to suffer with discomfort in your jaw.  To learn more about TMD and the servic...

Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS encourages you to stick your tongue out in the mirror. If it looks pink, this means that it’s clean, your oral care routine is up to par, your breath is fresh, and your gums are healthy. If your tongue is white, this layer of biofilm is bacteria and food particles that trapped themselves under a thin layer of mucus. This layer can be removed with a toothbrush and a small dab of toothpaste, but for a more thorough cleaning, invest in a tongue scraper.   A tongue scraper is a tool that is usually made up of soft, flexible plastic, and gently peels the thin mucus-based layer of debris from the tongue. When we sleep, our digestive system remains awake, removing toxins from our body by depositing them onto the surface of our tongue. If we don’t scrape away these toxins, they get reabsorbed by the body and can lead to respiratory difficulties, digestive problems, and a compromised immune system. If you have questions or concerns regarding oral care or dental health, pleas...

If you’ve ever heard the phrase you are what you eat, Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS wants patients to know that this couldn’t be truer when it comes to dental health. Not only is tooth decay a result of poor oral care habits, it’s a result of a poor diet. This is because added sugars in the food and beverages we consume produce acids that attack tooth enamel. When these culprits aren’t adequately removed, a person may develop bad breath, periodontal disease, and cavities. Think of your mouth as you would the rest of your body. You want to feed your teeth and gums the proper nutrients to thrive. To prevent dental diseases, and protect your immune system in the process, choose food and beverage options that are low in sugar and added preservatives. Think before you eat, and when you feel like snacking, reach for whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean sources of protein. Your mouth and quite possibly your waist will thank you. If you have questions or concerns regarding oral care or dental heal...

Teeth may need to be extracted for a variety of reasons, from dental disease to trauma, to wisdom teeth. Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS would like you to know that before he considers tooth extraction, every effort will be made to try to repair and restore the tooth in question. To determine whether or not one requires extraction, Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS will need to assess the patient during a consultation. Surgical extraction may be necessary for these purposes. Severe tooth damage/trauma – some teeth have such extensive decay and damage (broken or cracked) that repair is not possible. Orthodontic treatment – people getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place. Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected. Extra teeth – extra teeth may block other teeth from erupting, therefore, will require extraction. If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth extraction, please give us a call. To learn more about th...