General and Preventive Dentistry in Orange County, California
Dental Exams and X-rays
You may have cavities, gum disease, or other dental problems and be unaware of them. Left untreated, these problems will certainly grow into bigger issues requiring more expensive treatment to correct.
You can keep your teeth and gums healthy by getting regular
dental exams. Emerging cavities can be detected early and fixed before they become larger problems. Gum disease can be found when it first starts and is easily handled.
Did you know old fillings don’t last forever? Your old fillings can crack or begin to leak, leading to tooth decay. With regular checkups we can see when a filling needs to be replaced before a larger cavity forms.
Additionally, not all tooth and gum problems are easily visible. You need X-rays to find hidden problems that may be developing inside a tooth or under the gum line. Finding and fixing these problems early helps you keep a strong, healthy set of teeth for life.
Cavity Fillings
Cavities are just another word for tooth decay. Left untreated, these can lead to painful toothaches and even loss of teeth. You can avoid these problems by getting your teeth checked regularly and having any cavities filled.
We use the latest advances in composite resin materials for cavity fillings. These materials can be color matched to your teeth, so your smile retains its natural look.
Composite resin fillings bond to your tooth better than the old style metal amalgam fillings, letting us remove less tooth material to fix a cavity.
Mercury Filling Removal: Also if you have old mercury fillings, we can help you by removing those properly and replacing them with more natural tooth colored fillings.
Let us help you achieve your signature smile.
Meet Dr. Lori Bagai, DDS
Dr. Bagai graduated with honors receiving a degree in dental surgery from the University of Calcutta, India in 1990. She has been very blessed to have been influenced by Mother Teresa since childhood in Calcutta and has helped out in many ways in all her causes including dentistry.
She has received honors and awards in branches of oral pathology, microbiology, oral diagnosis and dental radiology. After moving to Southern California, she was a dedicated volunteer dentist at M.E.N.D., a non-profit organization created to provide services that meet the basic human needs of individuals who reside in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.
She has also opened her beautiful state of the art dental office to indigenous people of Orange County, one Saturday a month, to provide them with free dentistry. She works closely with Western Service Workers Association in this cause.
Dental Bonding
Do you have chipped, cracked, or broken teeth? It may not seem important now, but ignoring them can lead to bigger dental problems. By the time they start hurting, infection could have begun. In some cases, it may be too late to save the tooth.
At Smart Smile Dental, we use
dental bonding to repair cracked or chipped teeth and restore the beauty of your smile.
Dental bonding is the application of a resin material to your tooth which is hardened and then shaped. Your smile is restored and looks natural because the resin matches the color of your teeth.
Dental bonding can usually be done in one office visit, unless you have several teeth that need to be repaired.
Contact Smart Smile Dental immediately if you break a tooth or it becomes chipped or cracked.
Common Questions
How often should I visit the dentist for checkups?
A normal person who doesn't have too many dental issues should see a dentist every six months. If you do have dental issues or gum disease, you should see a dentist more often, like every three months or so.
What are the benefits of fluoride treatment?
Fluoride treatment is really good for your teeth because it prevents you from getting cavities and consider it as vitamin for your teeth. That's about the only thing we can do as adults other than diet and cleanliness to make our teeth stronger.
How can I protect my teeth from decay?
To protect your teeth from decay, it is really important to eat and drink right, go to the dentist regularly, and talk to your dentist about your personalized program for preventing decay.
Why do I need dental x-rays and are they safe?
Dental X-rays are very safe. In our office, we have very, very little radiation in taking x-rays. It's less than what a child needs for their X-rays to be done because we have great quality sensors and machines and they are very safe. Our staff, dental staff, get radiated a whole lot more than a patient gets radiated in one set of X-rays and it's safe.
What causes gum disease and how can I prevent it?
Gum disease is usually caused by a lack of dental care and you should see a dentist immediately and get your personalized dental care program set up so that you can prevent any further gum disease from happening.
What Our Patients Are Saying
★★★★★
"I want to give my biggest thanks to Smile Smart! A special thanks to Thu for helping me out when I recently came in. Fully recommend everyone to come here! Great experience!"
Andrew R.
★★★★★
"Dr Bagai and her staff are fantastic. I've been going to her for years and am very pleased with the service and results. They are a very friendly group on top of it all! I highly recommend going to her."
Sean B.
★★★★★
"They were wonderful, comprehensive and gentle. All my questions were answered and it was a great cleaning. Will be coming back from my follow up fillings."
Josh S.
Extractions
Your natural teeth can last you a lifetime with proper care. However, when trauma or decay occurs, you need to see a top dentist right away and fix your teeth so you keep them healthy as long as possible.
While we do everything possible to save your teeth in these situations, sometimes it becomes necessary to remove a tooth. Common reasons why tooth
extractions are necessary include:
- Wisdom teeth become impacted and push on other teeth
- A tooth becomes too decayed to fill the cavity or cap with a crown
- A tooth is broken too badly for a crown to be used
- An extra tooth blocks another tooth from coming in properly
- Baby teeth have not fallen out so that adult teeth can come in properly
Root Canals
A root canal treatment can sound scary. But when a tooth becomes infected due to an injury or a deep untreated cavity, a root canal may be necessary to save the tooth and preserve your health. The infected tooth material must be removed to prevent the infection from spreading—potentially even becoming life threatening.
The purpose in doing a root canal is to save the tooth, rather than extract it.
The procedure involves removing the infected tooth material, called pulp, then cleaning and sterilizing the area. Once this is done, a sterile material is used to fill the hole and seal it against future infection.
The shape of the tooth is then restored using a filling or a crown.
If you suffer from tooth pain when you chew or experience sensitivity to hot and cold foods even after the heat or cold is gone, you may need a root canal.
Gum Disease Care
Are your gums red and swollen, or do they bleed when you brush your teeth? This is not how your teeth are supposed to be, and maybe be signs that you have gum disease. While in its mild stages, gum disease simply causes bad breath, if left to progress to far it can even lead to losing your teeth.
Gum disease is caused by your gums becoming irritated and inflamed. Bacteria grows on a sticky substance called plaque which forms on your teeth about 4 to 12 hours after brushing. The bacteria produce acid which eats at your tooth enamel and can cause irritation to your gums. Left untreated, the plaque can spread to below the gum line and become a serious threat to your teeth.
Regular dental care let us catch gum disease in the early stage so it can be treated right away, ensuring your teeth remain firmly fixed, as they should be.
Pinhole Gum Surgery
Have your gums begun to recede, exposing the roots of your teeth? This condition should be remedied immediately to avoid tooth loss.
When your gums recede due to gum disease, aging, or brushing too abrasively, the roots of your teeth become exposed and you may experience tooth decay and other problems in these exposed areas.
Smart Smile Dental performs pinhole gum surgery, the latest technology in gum restoration, to fix your receding gums. Pinhole gum surgery is a minimally invasive technique with the following benefits over older gum grafting techniques:
- No sutures, so less discomfort
- You recover faster from pinhole gum surgery than from grafting
- No donor tissue required
- No cutting with scalpels
If you have receding gums, protect your teeth from decay. Schedule an appointment to find out how pinhole gum surgery can benefit you. Or you can call us at (714) 744-1242 .
How does oral health affect heart health?
That's a very good question on oral health affecting heart health. Research has shown that the germs from the mouth settle down on the heart muscles and heart valves and can cause heart disease or even a heart attack, and it is not good for you. So we recommend that you keep your mouth in great shape so that, you know, your heart doesn't get affected. Of course, we want our heart to be healthy and we want to live a good, healthy, strong life. So we want to make sure that none of the germs from our mouth go into our heart.
Can oral health impact diabetes management?
Yes, definitely. Oral health can impact diabetes management. Diabetes and oral health are very strongly connected with each other. Studies have shown to cause diabetic periodontitis or gum disease, which increases your germ level in the body, and the germ level makes it harder to control our health and disease process. It is more effortful to keep our body healthy, and so all oral health starts with the mouth.
Why is dental care important during pregnancy?
Dental care is important during pregnancy because there are a lot of hormonal changes in the body, and the hormones cause pregnancy gingivitis or inflammation of the gums, which can affect the rest of the body, cause dental disease in the mother, but it can also affect the general health of the mother, which in turn affects the health of the baby in utero.
Is there a link between oral health and cancer risk?
Yes, definitely. Oral health and germs or hepatitis germs in the mouth, HPV, can cause cancer of the body, so it's really important to get your oral screenings done and cancer screenings done to prevent, you know, people from getting cancer.
How can poor oral health affect the immune system?
Well, oral health and germs generally reduce the immunity of the body, and it has been seen that the higher number of germs or gum disease or periodontal disease or tooth disease that you have, generally people are more prone to colds and other diseases like hypertension and blood pressure or diabetes. So it's really important to keep your dental health in check and gum health in check so that you are generally speaking more healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How often should I visit my dentist for a checkup?
Generally, it is recommended that you visit your dentist at least every six months to have a routine cleaning and checkup. Your specific needs will vary depending on your oral hygiene. Dr. Bagai can provide personalized advice during your visit.
What can I expect at my first Smart Smile visit?
You will receive a thorough dental examination including X-rays, if needed, and a cleaning. Dr. Bagai is going to discuss with you your dental history and any concerns that you may have. He will then develop a treatment plan tailored for your specific needs.
What are signs that I may need a dental filling?
A. Common signs of a need for a filling would be tooth sensitivity, discomfort when eating or drinking and visible holes or dark patches on your teeth. We recommend that you schedule an appointment as soon as possible if you notice any of these symptoms.
How can I improve oral hygiene at my home?
Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing every day, and using antibacterial mouthwash are all part of maintaining good oral health. A balanced diet, and avoiding sugary foods can also help to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
What should I do if there is a dental emergency
Schedule Emergency VisitIf you have a dental emergency, such as a severe toothache or a cracked tooth, call our office right away. Our emergency dental services are available to deal with urgent problems.
Patient Reviews
Make an Appointment
Call us now at (714) 744-1242
or send us a message using the form below
and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
