What our patients are saying!

"This is the first time I have had a crown with a dentist that was extremely precise in the work. I was very grateful for the compassion and patience that I was given regarding having a problem with TMJ, I actually did not have any reactions from the work as in the past, thank you to the Smile Island team."

Teens and Their Teeth

Smile Island offers teens a comfortable and trusting dental home where they can be assured that the doctors and staff understand their unique needs.  The doctors are trained to look at facial growth, tooth placement and relationships with the jaw, the need for braces, nutritional counseling, hygiene aids, preventive procedures and behavior modifications.  We also offer entertainment options for teens that include digital satellite television with hundreds of channels to choose from, personal headphones in every room, WiFi for internet access and a video game room for relaxation.

As teens enter into early adulthood they are faced with new risk factors for development of tooth decay.  The prevention of cavities in these young adults is very important to the doctors and staff at Smile Island.  We hope to motivate teens to think more about their overall health by teaching the importance of good dental hygiene and better diet choices.   Following are some of the many behaviors that pose risk for adolescents today and tips on how to decrease their chances of tooth decay.

Soda and Sports Drinks

Teens must spend more time at their desks studying and they tend to sip on sugar laden drinks while they are concentrating.  This leads to constant bathing of the tooth structure in sugar and acids for hours at a time.  Sugars and acids can erode and permanently damage tooth enamel.  Some drinks that have healthy sounding names like “Vitamin” still have about 10 teaspoons of sugar for every 12 ounces.  Sports minded adolescents also have an increase in tooth decay from continual sipping of sweetened sports “nourishment” drinks during practices and games.  Water is always the best drink for your teeth and body.  Some commercial waters even have electrolytes without the sugar for better bodily recovery after exhaustive activities. 
If teens must drink soda and other sugar filled beverages they should sip them through a straw.  It can help decrease the amount of sugary liquid that comes in contact with the tooth.  After drinking these harmful beverages, immediately rinse your mouth out with water.  Remember that the more frequent you expose your teeth to the acids and sugars the more likely you are to damage the teeth.

Coffee Houses

More and more teens are frequenting popular coffee houses for socialization, studying or just the caffeine itself.  Caffeine is an addictive substance and not a good idea for our children.  But another problem with these drinks and teeth is that a lot of kids get coffee or tea with large amounts of added sugar.  Try to avoid these caffeinated sugar drinks all together for a healthier body and mind. 

Diet

With more chances to make food choices without parental supervision, a lot of teens will opt out of vegetable dishes and move towards quick and easy to eat sweet snack foods.  They might be trying to grab a bite between activities or not want to take time to cook something nutritious.  However, this kind of behavior will promote more tooth decay and decrease overall health.  Teaching children how to take the time to make nutritious choices will help them for a lifetime.  Choose water, fruit, raw vegetables, beef jerky, nuts, and other natural foods as snacks instead of chips, candy and soda.

Poor Oral Hygiene

The value of good daily brushing and flossing seems difficult for children and teens to embrace.  We are now finding that poor oral health is related to systemic problems in the body such as heart disease and diabetes.  Dentists and Hygienists know that adolescents need to be better informed about the risks involved with poor oral health.  Here at Smile Island we are constantly trying to relay the message of good health to all of our patients.  Turn on some music while brushing your teeth and time yourself for the length of one whole song.  Make sure to do this for a minimum of two times a day and never skip night time brushing.  Leaving food and plaque on your teeth at night is asking for a nightmare to happen.

Hormonal Changes

During puberty hormonal changes can cause an increase in blood flow to the gums.  This will lead to redness and swelling and eventually gum disease if not properly taken care of.  There also may be some tenderness and bleeding at the irritated areas between teeth.  It is essential for teens to keep up with daily flossing around the teeth and use proper brushing techniques to prevent unsightly teeth, gums and bad breath.   Doctors at Smile Island can prescribe a dental regimen that will help reduce the effects of hormonal imbalance on the teeth and gums.

Tooth Grinding and TMJ

Jaw clenching or tooth grinding can lead to jaw joint (temporomandibular) soreness and pain.  Muscles of the joint become fatigued from being over-worked or parts of the joint can become damaged or degenerated over time.  Symptoms include:  an uneven or uncomfortable bite, headaches, a locking joint, discomfort while chewing, earaches, or tenderness around the jaw.  X-rays, CT scan or MRI can determine what part of the joint is damaged.  Treatments may include medications, bite guards, stress management, corrective dental treatment, or surgery.  Muscle relaxation, meditation, yoga, stretching or massage, eating soft foods and other home remedies may help prevent the need for medical interventions. 

Mouth Breathing

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood.  Kids with asthma and allergies tend to breathe out of their mouth and decrease the saliva content.  Saliva protects the tooth enamel by washing away the sugars, acids and other food particles.  Kids who play lot of sports also mouth breath and tend to get swollen and irritated gums.  Sleeping with your mouth open is also a time when there is decreased saliva flow and more risk for decay.  Always rinse your mouth out with water after heavy mouth breathing to help reduce the effects of a dry mouth.

Braces

Many teens have braces or a retainer on their teeth.  These appliances make tooth brushing and flossing more of a chore than normal.  Adolescents with orthodontic appliances tend to get more cavities because they do not follow through with proper oral health maintenance.  Even without braces teens tend to place oral care low on their list of daily priorities.  Everyone at Smile Island knows the importance of giving extensive and motivational oral hygiene instruction to kids with braces at each appointment.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth usually start coming in during the ages of 16-21.  We will take a panoramic x-ray about this age to see if the wisdom teeth are growing straight or impacted (growing sideways.)  Considering the removal of these teeth; our dentists will check to see if there is enough room in the jaw, look for a cyst formation around the tooth, and determine if there could be damage to the adjacent tooth or jaw bone.  Most of the time wisdom teeth are removed by the oral surgeon while you are asleep.

Tooth Whitening

Bleaching of the teeth has become a favorite cosmetically enhancing activity of teens.  We do NOT recommend tooth whitening until all permanent teeth are in and straightened by orthodontic appliances.  Starting too early can lead to permanent teeth with uneven coloration depending on the timing of application and how much product was used.  Please consult with a dentist before buying over the counter whitening products.  Whitening is not for everyone and could produce unwanted results. Also be cautious of making your teeth “too” white, they will end up with an undesirable chalky appearance.

Cosmetic Dentistry

With all of the social pressures on this age group there is wonder and talk about cosmetic procedures that make your teeth look “perfect.”  There are ways to fill in large gaps between teeth or increase the size of a misshapen tooth along with many other possibilities in the hands of your dentist.  But these procedures can be costly and need to be well thought out and planned in advance.  Consultation with our doctors is the best way to start finding out your options. 

Mouth Guards

Contact sports can be dangerous for the mouth and could lead to fractured or displacement of the teeth.  Wearing a custom fit mouth guard can help prevent tooth damage and future related expenses.  We are able to make custom mouth guards at Smile Island and would be happy to show you the materials and colors available.  Always clean your mouth guard after wearing it and store it in a ventilated container.

Sealants

Placement of a thin coating of white filling material in the grooves of the back teeth can help prevent sticky substances from adhering to the tooth.  This will help teens to decrease their chances of decay.  Sealant is easily “painted” on the chewing surfaces and leaves a smoother area where food cannot stick.  It does not flow between the teeth or on the inside or outside surfaces so brushing and flossing are still essential.  Our dentists may suggest sealants for teens but a thorough examination with x-rays is needed.

Sugarless Gum and Xylitol

Studies have shown that chewing sugar free gum after or between meals can help reduce the incidence of tooth decay.  There are now gums that contain the natural sweetener called xylitol.  It is a low calorie sugar substitute that can prevent cavity causing germs from destroying the tooth.  It can be found in over-the-counter gum and toothpaste.  It is also available in granular form and mints.  Smile Island can order products made with xylitol that specifically benefit teen patients.

Eating Disorders

Bulimia and Anorexia can be very serious health problems.  They can also cause erosion of the teeth and an increase in tooth decay.  Anyone with an eating disorder should see a doctor immediately and consult with their dentist on how to prevent further damage to the teeth and gums.

Smoking

Smoking has been found to be the major factor contributing to the most common forms of oral disease.  The toxins from cigarette smoke go everywhere that blood flows, including your gums.  There is evidence that shows cigarette smoking causes periodontal (gum) disease. We also know that smoking causes cancer of the mouth and throat.  Please talk to children and teens about not even starting this habit; it is too addictive and damaging to our bodies to take that risk. 

Mouth Jewelry

We do not recommend oral piercings or other mouth jewelry.  It can be very dangerous.  The side effects include infection, swollen tongue that can close off your airway, nerve damage, pain, uncontrolled bleeding, fractured teeth, injury to gum tissue and choking on a loose stud or barbell.  We have personally seen cracked teeth that have needed crowns and root canals, permanent nerve damage to the tongue and severe loss of gum tissue around a tooth that eventually became so sensitive it needed a root canal.

What our patients are saying!

"Thank you for taking such good care of my boys. They look forward to going in for their check ups and we always leave feeling well cared for. Everyone took time to explain to me and the boys what was happening with their teeth and things we can do to be proactive about their dental health. We love Smile Island!"

Early Childhood Tooth Decay

What causes tooth decay?

Several specific types of bacteria that live on the teeth cause decay. When sugar is consumed, the bacteria use the sugar and then manufacture acids that dissolve the teeth and cause an infection in the tooth. This infection is called decay.

What is infant tooth decay?

Now known as Early Childhood Caries (ECC), infant tooth decay results when babies fall asleep with breast milk or milk, formula and juice from a bottle on their teeth. Babies are not able to clear the pooling liquid from their mouths.
Because the sugar in formula, milk or juice stays in contact with the teeth for a long time during the night or at naptime, the teeth can decay quickly.

Here are some tips to avoid Early Childhood Caries:

• Brush your baby’s teeth at least twice a day.

• Put your child to bed with a bottle of plain water, not milk or juice.

• Stop nursing when your child is asleep and wipe the teeth with a clean washcloth.

• Try not to let your child walk around using a bottle or sippee cup of milk or juice as a pacifier.

• Start to teach your child to drink from a cup at about six months of age. Plan to stop using a bottle by twelve to fourteen months at the latest.

• Don't dip your child's pacifier in honey or sugar.

• Read, sing or rock your child to sleep as an alternative to continuous feeding.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride helps make teeth strong and prevents tooth decay. If the water where you live does not have enough fluoride, your doctor may prescribe fluoride supplements (fluoride drops or pills). You would give these drops or pills every day, starting when your child is about six months old. Only give as much as the directions say to use because too much fluoride can cause spots on your child’s teeth. Also, be sure to call your local water authority and ask if your water is fluoridated. If it is, tell your dentist or pediatrician so that your child is not being over fluoridated. Children should take these drops or pills until they are twelve to sixteen years old (or until you move to an area with fluoride in the water).

What our patients are saying!

"Dr. Tse and his staff are amongst the BEST as they are professional, always accommodating and concerned about my dental health. I can't say enough about him and his practice. Keep up the good work!"

Teeth Whitening

Having a beautiful smile may be even easier than you think. Many people achieve the look they've been dreaming of with our simple teeth "bleaching" procedure. Smile Island Dental Group can help make your smile new again with our teeth whitening treatments for Rocklin California residents.

It's safe, quick, and inexpensive. Just let us know at any appointment if you would like to begin teeth whitening . You can lighten only your upper teeth or both the upper and lower, depending on how much of each shows when you talk and smile.
In only a day or two your custom bleach splints will be ready for you. We provide you with a special bleaching agent that you put into the clear, nearly invisible splints. With only a few hours of wear per day, our special bleaching agent bubbles stains right out of your enamel in a very short time without altering tooth structure or existing dental work in any way. When your teeth reach the brightness you want, only occasional treatment is needed to maintain your new smile. We'll want to take "after" photos at your next appointment.
Dental bleaching can be used to correct many tooth discolorations. These discolorations may have been caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Using the latest in bleaching technology, we can offer a safe method for creating a beautiful, "brilliant" smile. In cases of extreme tooth discoloration, crowns, or veneers may be the only choice. However, because of the low cost of bleaching treatments, bleaching is nearly always worth a try.

Key Benefits of Teeth Whitening

• Teeth whitening corrects brown, yellow, and mottled tooth staining
• Teeth whitening works on people of all ages.
• Teeth whitening is a near permanent solution for a "dull" smile, restoring brightness, and bringing a smile alive.

How Is Teeth Whitening Done?

An impression is taken to make a specialized "mouthguard" or "stent" to hold the bleach against the teeth. The material is used each night for about three to four hours for a week or two, after which significant whitening will occur. In some cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in appearance, bleaching technology offers improvements in yellowing, aging, or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, crowns, or veneers may be more appropriate.

Considerations

Over-the-counter bleaching agents are available at drug stores and pharmacies; however, since these products can harm the gums and teeth, it’s better to use products that our practice recommends.

What our patients are saying!

"I am so glad I found you guys, my daughter is Developmentally delayed and her appt was the best Dental appt she has ever had and she is almost 12. It was a very positive experience for her and I can guarantee she won't mind comming back next time."