Every king deserves a crown, and in the realm of smiles, you reign supreme. But here's a twist: your crown isn't just for your head; it's for your pearly whites too! So, what exactly is a dental crown? Allow us to enlighten you. Beyond mere shiny caps, dental crowns are versatile tools expertly wielded by dentists to restore and safeguard teeth, ensuring your smile retains its royal brilliance. Think of them like a custom-made suit for your tooth, offering many benefits. But before we get to the good stuff, let's cover the basics. The 7 Benefits of Dental Crowns That You Should Know!&nbsp;
<h2>Crowns 101: What You Need to Know</h2>
Dental crowns are hollow shells, typically made of porcelain or metal alloys, cemented onto a prepared tooth.&nbsp; The process usually takes two appointments.&nbsp; During the first, your dentist will remove any decay or damage from the tooth, reshape it for a good fit, and take an impression to create your custom crown. In the meantime, you'll wear a temporary crown.&nbsp; On your second visit, the permanent crown will be checked for fit and color and cemented onto your tooth.
<h2>Types of Dental Crowns</h2>
There's a crown fit for every royal smile (or, you know, regular smile). Dental crowns come in a variety of materials, each with their pros and cons:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Porcelain Crowns: </h3>
Renowned for their natural, tooth-colored appearance, porcelain crowns are a popular choice for front teeth.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Metal Crowns: </h3>
Incredibly strong and durable, metal crowns are ideal for back teeth that endure a lot of chewing pressure.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns: </h3>
Offering a balance of aesthetics and strength, these crowns have a porcelain outer layer for a natural look and a metal inner layer for durability.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Dental Crown Cost</h2>
The cost of a dental crown can vary depending on the material used, your location, and your dentist's fees. Generally, porcelain crowns are more expensive than metal crowns, but they offer a more natural look. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to discuss the cost associated with your specific situation.
<h2>How Much Tooth Do I Need for a Crown?</h2>
The amount of tooth structure needed for a crown depends on the severity of the damage.&nbsp; In some cases, minimal reshaping is required, while other situations might necessitate removing more tooth structure.&nbsp; A dentist will be able to assess your specific situation and determine if a crown is the right course of action.
<h2>Benefits of Dental Crowns for Your Oral Health:</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Dental Crowns Protect Damaged Teeth: </h3>
&nbsp;Cracked, chipped, or weakened teeth are susceptible to further damage and infection. Crowns act as a shield, restoring strength and preventing future problems.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Dental Crowns Restore Functionality:</h3>
&nbsp; A damaged tooth can make chewing difficult and painful. Crowns restore the tooth's original shape and size, allowing you to eat your favorite foods comfortably.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Root Canal Rescue:</h3>
After a root canal, the tooth becomes brittle. A crown provides much-needed reinforcement, preventing the tooth from fracturing.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Dental Bridge Support: </h3>
Dental bridges rely on surrounding teeth for support.&nbsp; Crowns are often placed on these surrounding teeth to create a stable foundation for the bridge.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Cover Up a Dental Implant:</h3>
Dental implants require a crown to restore the visible portion of the tooth.&nbsp; Crowns are custom-made to match your surrounding teeth, creating a seamless look.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Dental Crowns Restore the Look of Damaged Teeth: </h3>
&nbsp;Chips, cracks, and discoloration can take a toll on your smile. Crowns can be made to match the color and shape of your natural teeth, giving you back a confident smile.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">
<h3>Crowns Look Good!: </h3>
&nbsp;Let's face it, dental crowns can dramatically improve the appearance of your smile. With advancements in dental technology, crowns are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth, giving you a beautiful, natural-looking smile.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Dental Crowns: An Investment in Your Smile</h2>
Dental crowns are a good long-term investment in your oral health and smile. With proper oral hygiene, crowns can last for 30 years or more. If you have questions about dental crowns or want to discuss if they're right for you,<a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/services/dental-crown-hawaii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> schedule an appointment</a> with the friendly and professional team at Kokua Smiles. We'll help you restore the health and beauty of your smile!&nbsp;
Click here to book your <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appointment today</a>
&nbsp;

The 7 Benefits of Dental Crowns That You Should Know

As we age, maintaining good oral health becomes increasingly crucial. Yet, for many seniors, accessing quality dental care can be challenging. From tooth loss, tooth decay, gum disease to deteriorating bone health, seniors are at heightened risk for a myriad of oral health issues. Without proper care, these conditions can significantly impact one's overall health and well-being and also lead to severe health challenges. That's why regular dental check-ups are essential for seniors. So is it safe for seniors to go to the dentist? Absolutely! It is completely safe for senior citizens to go to the dentist. By visiting the dentist every six months, seniors can help prevent dental problems, detect serious health issues like oral cancer early on, and maintain good oral hygiene.
At Kokua Smiles, we understand the importance of prioritizing dental hygiene for our senior community members. That's why we're thrilled to introduce our Senior Smiles program&mdash;a comprehensive initiative designed to ensure safe, accessible, and anxiety-free dental care for senior citizens.
<h2>Introducing the Senior Smiles Program at Kokua Smiles</h2>
We recognize that accessing dental care can be difficult for seniors. Getting Dental care for seniors on Medicare or facing mobility issues can be particularly challenging. That's where the Senior Smiles program comes in. With a range of exclusive benefits like commute services to and from our clinics, our goal is to make dental care more accessible and convenient for seniors in our community.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Priority appointments:</li>
</ul>
At Kokua Smiles, seniors receive priority appointments, ensuring their dental needs are promptly addressed without unnecessary delay.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Free ride to and from the clinic:</li>
</ul>
We understand transportation can be a concern for the elderly. That's why we offer complimentary rides to and from our clinic, making dental care accessible and hassle-free for all our beloved members. You book an appointment, and we will book a ride to pick you up, bring you to our clinic, and drop you back home.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Special discounts on Dental procedures:</li>
</ul>
Our Senior Smiles program provides special discounts on various dental procedures, including Dental Implants and Dentures, ensuring seniors receive top-notch care at affordable rates.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Free consultations:</li>
</ul>
We offer complimentary consultations to discuss your dental concerns and explore treatment options with our experienced team. We carefully diagnose your dental concerns and provide personalized solutions tailored to your needs.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Flexible financing options:</li>
</ul>
We offer flexible financing options tailored to seniors' needs, ensuring they can access quality dental care without financial stress.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Convenient appointments:</li>
</ul>
Our Senior Smiles program allows seniors to enjoy convenient appointment scheduling, making it easier to fit dental visits into their busy schedules. We&rsquo;re open on weekends and even late evenings to accommodate all your dental needs.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Anxiety-free Dental care:</li>
</ul>
Our compassionate team provides anxiety-free dental care, creating a comfortable and reassuring environment for seniors during their visits.
<h2>Why join our Senior Smiles Program?</h2>
For seniors facing oral health problems, such as those with no teeth or in need of dental implants, or any other oral health challenges, our program provides tailored solutions to meet their specific needs. Our team is experienced in addressing the oral health needs of older adults and can provide personalized care to ensure optimal outcomes.
Priority appointments ensure that seniors can receive timely care when they need it most. Additionally, our complimentary ride service eliminates transportation barriers, ensuring that seniors can easily access our clinic without hassle. We understand that financial concerns may also deter seniors from seeking dental care, which is why we offer special discounts on dental procedures and flexible financing options through our program.
Our Senior Smiles program prioritizes the comfort and well-being of our senior patients. Free consultations allow seniors to discuss their dental concerns and treatment options with our experienced team, while anxiety-free dental care ensures a stress-free experience during their visits.
<h2>Dental care for seniors Near Me</h2>
Maintaining good oral health is not only essential for a beautiful smile but also for overall health and well-being. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to a range of health conditions, including heart disease and other systemic issues. By prioritizing routine dental care, seniors can reduce their risk of developing these health problems and enjoy a higher quality of life.
At Kokua Smiles, we are committed to prioritizing oral hygiene for elderly with no teeth and empowering seniors to take control of their oral health. Through our Senior Smiles program, we aim to provide seniors with the tools and resources they need to maintain healthy smiles for years to come. Whether it's preventing tooth decay, managing gum disease, or addressing other oral health concerns, our team is here to support seniors every step of the way.
In conclusion, the Senior Smiles program at Kokua Smiles is dedicated to ensuring safe, accessible, and anxiety-free dental care for elderly. With exclusive benefits and personalized services, we're here to help seniors achieve and maintain optimal oral health. Because when seniors smile, we all smile.

Is it safe for seniors to go to the dentist?

Dental radiographs, commonly known as dental x-rays, are one of the dentists most powerful preventive and diagnostic tools. They allow us to see potential threats to you dental health (like cavities) and plan treatment more accurately.There are several different types of dental x-rays, and it&rsquo;s a good idea to know what each one is for so you&rsquo;ll understand why we take so many!
Dental x-rays have been in use for a long time. A German scientist named Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered x-rays in 1895. He called them x-rays because he didn&rsquo;t know what they were, hence the &ldquo;x&rdquo;, and the name stuck. The first dental x-ray was taken just 14 days after the discovery was announced. In the last 122 years, dental x-rays have been continuously improved to be safer, gentler, &amp; more accurate.
<h3 style="font-size: 22px;">Bitewing X-Rays</h3>
These are the type of x-rays patients are the most familiar with. They are called bitewing because the patient bites down on a wing-shaped sensor or film while the x-ray machine takes the image. These x-rays show just a few teeth at a time and are used primarily for detecting potential tooth decay between teeth that isn&rsquo;t visible to the naked eye. Most patients get bitewing x-rays about once a year, but patients who are prone to tooth decay may get them more often. Bitewing x-rays can also be used to monitor wisdom teeth and help plan wisdom teeth removal.
<h3 style="font-size: 22px;">Panoramic X-Rays</h3>
Panoramic x-rays show your entire mouth in a single image, both top and bottom jaws (or arches, in dentist-speak). They show the entire tooth, crown and root, plus the jawbone. Instead of being done in the dental chair, panoramic x-rays use a special machine that the patient stands in. The x-ray scanner itself then rotates from one side of your head to the other, creating a continuous image. There are usually braces for your head and face that help keep you very still while the scanner revolves around you. Panoramic x-rays are used in orthodontic treatment planning, such as braces, and when planning extractions, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/services/wisdom-teeth-removal-hawaii">wisdom teeth&nbsp;removal.</a>
<h3 style="font-size: 22px;">Periapical X-Rays</h3>
Periapical x-rays take a close look at just a few teeth at a time. Unlike bitewing x-rays, periapical x-rays look at the entire tooth, from crown to root. For this reason, they are often used in diagnosing dental abscesses, which can be caused by infections or decay on the tooth root and are therefore not visible from the outside.
<h3 style="font-size: 22px;">Cone Beam CT</h3>
It&rsquo;s easiest to think of cone beam CT (computed tomography) as a 3-D version of a panoramic x-ray. Just like the panoramic, the patient stands or sits still while the sensor rotates around. This scan information is then sent to a computer where special software helps generate a 3-D model of your teeth and jaws. Cone beam scans are not a typical part of prevention or treatment and, and therefore aren&rsquo;t done on all patients. They are often used to plan the sizing, placement and configuration of dental implants.

Taking The X-factor Out Of Dental X-Rays

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern dentistry, patients are increasingly seeking convenient and efficient solutions for their dental needs. One such advancement that has gained prominence is the concept of same-day dental bridges, providing a swift and effective way to restore your smile in just one day. A lot of patients ask us: Can a dental bridge be done in one day? Here&rsquo;s the answer:&nbsp;
<h2>The Quest for Same Day Bridges After Extraction</h2>
Traditionally, the process of getting a dental bridge involved multiple appointments, waiting periods, and temporary solutions. However, the emergence of same-day bridges has revolutionized this approach, offering a rapid and comprehensive solution, especially after tooth extractions.
<h2>The Immediate Advantage: Same Day Bridges After Extraction</h2>
The prospect of receiving a dental bridge on the same day as an extraction is an exciting development for patients. It eliminates the need for multiple visits, reduces the time spent with a temporary bridge, and minimizes the discomfort associated with tooth loss.
<h2>How Fast Can a Dental Bridge Be Made?</h2>
With advancements in dental technology and in-house facilities, dental offices equipped for same-day procedures can now craft dental bridges within hours. The immediate creation of a bridge allows patients to leave the dental office with a fully restored smile on the same day.
<h2>Understanding the Types of Dental Bridges</h2>
Various types of dental bridges cater to different needs. Traditional bridges, cantilever bridges, and implant-supported bridges are common options. Same-day bridges typically involve the use of advanced materials and technology to create a bridge that fits seamlessly into the gap left by the missing tooth.
<h2>The Role of Temporary Bridges in the Process</h2>
After a tooth extraction, it's crucial to minimize the time spent without a bridge. Temporary bridges serve as placeholders until the final bridge is ready. The prompt placement of a temporary bridge helps maintain oral health, prevents adjacent teeth from shifting, and ensures a smoother transition to the final restoration.
<h2>Dental Bridge Cost Considerations</h2>
While the convenience of same-day bridges is undeniable, patients often wonder about the associated costs. The expense varies depending on factors like materials used, the type of bridge, and the complexity of the procedure. Consulting with your dentist will provide a clear understanding of the financial aspects involved.
<h2>The Duration of the Bridge in the Mouth Procedure</h2>
The same-day bridge procedure is designed to be efficient and time-saving. The dentist prepares the abutment teeth, takes impressions, and crafts the bridge, all in a single day. This streamlined process significantly reduces the duration of having a temporary bridge, ensuring a more comfortable experience for the patient.
<h2>Behind the Scenes: How Long Does It Take a Lab to Make a Bridge?</h2>
Traditional bridge procedures involve sending impressions to a dental lab, a process that can take weeks. In contrast, same-day bridges are crafted on-site, utilizing cutting-edge technology to design and manufacture the bridge promptly.
<h2>Can Bridges Be Done in One Day? Yes, with the Right Expertise</h2>
Choosing a dental office equipped for same-day procedures is key to the success of this swift dental solution. The process demands expertise, precision, and access to advanced technology, ensuring that patients receive high-quality, customized bridges in a single day.
The availability of same-day dental bridges represents a significant leap forward in dental care. This innovative approach not only saves time and minimizes discomfort but also emphasizes the importance of promptly addressing tooth loss to maintain overall oral health. <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/services/dental-bridges-hawaii">Explore the possibilities of same-day bridges</a> with your dentist and take a step toward a radiant and restored smile.

Can a dental bridge be done in one day

There have been unanswered calls, deleted voicemails, ignored texts, and friendly reminders that never make it out of the envelope... we both know it's been a while since you visited the dentist.If all our efforts to reconnect with you haven&rsquo;t convinced you, maybe the following 5 reasons to see the dentist will&nbsp;get you to take care of your teeth properly again!
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Oral Pain</h2>
If you are experiencing a toothache or pain in your&nbsp;gums or another part of your mouth, you should see us as soon as possible. We know this sounds obvious, but a surprising number of people put off going to the dentist when they&rsquo;re in pain, either because they think it might get better on it&rsquo;s own, or they&rsquo;re afraid of what the treatment will cost. We can tell you from experience putting off getting treatment for a&nbsp;toothache&nbsp;will make it more expensive, not less! Plus, we don&rsquo;t want any of our patients to be in pain for any length of time. The sooner you see us the sooner we can make the pain go away. If you&rsquo;re experiencing oral pain, especially if accompanied by swelling or redness, please call right away.
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Sensitive Teeth</h2>
While tooth sensitivity can be a result of relatively harmless things such as over-brushing or sensitivity to chemicals in tooth whitening toothpaste, it can also be a sign of a serious oral health problem. Tooth sensitivity to heat or cold can be a sign of a cracked tooth, a filling that&rsquo;s gone bad, a cavity, tooth erosion, or even gum disease. If you&rsquo;ve suddenly developed tooth sensitivity, please come in to see us. Not only will we be able to diagnose potential problems, we can offer treatments or advice that may reduce or eliminate the sensitivity.
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Bleeding Gums</h2>
Bleeding gums can be a sign of serious oral health problems, particularly <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/services/gum-disease-hawaii">gingivitis &amp; gum disease</a> (periodontal disease), which can lead to lots of pain, expense, &amp;&nbsp;tooth extraction. Still, we know that many people see a bit of blood when they brush or floss their teeth &amp; don&rsquo;t think much of it. But consider this:&nbsp;you wash your hands all the time as a way to prevent disease. If your hands started bleeding every time you washed them, wouldn&rsquo;t you contact your doctor? Same goes for your mouth: if it bleeds when you brush or floss, call us right away!
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Health Changes</h2>
It&rsquo;s easy to forget that your oral health affects your overall health &amp; that the opposite is also true. If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you should let us know, as this condition puts you at higher risk for gum disease &amp; poor oral hygiene has also been shown to exacerbate diabetes symptoms. Patients who are starting treatment for cancer should also contact us, as many cancer treatments can have serious side effects on your oral health. If you&rsquo;ve recently been put on a medication that causes dry mouth, you may be more prone to tooth decay or other problems, so please let us know which medications you&rsquo;re on &amp; which side effects you&rsquo;re experiencing. Women who who have become pregnant should also tell us right away, as pregnancy can create changes in your oral health, particularly your gums. These are just a few examples. If you&rsquo;ve experienced a serious change in your health, please let us know so we can keep an eye on its effect on your smile.
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">It&rsquo;s&nbsp;Been a While</h2>
Your teeth don&rsquo;t hurt, your gums don&rsquo;t bleed, you brush &amp; floss regularly, you don&rsquo;t have that much plaque or tartar build up, your teeth are not too yellow, you think your breath smells fine, so why should you visit the dentist? The truth is, many potential dental problems start with no noticeable symptoms at all.&nbsp;Visiting us regularly for a teeth cleaning &amp; dental exam is the best way to detect unseen problems. For example, we do periodic x-rays of your teeth during your visit because it helps us spot cavities that may be starting between your teeth or under fillings that would otherwise not be visible to the naked eye &amp; aren&rsquo;t yet causing your pay. When you visit us we can detect&nbsp;signs of a problem that you may not know to look for, such as signs of tooth grinding or even oral cancer. Plus, why would you want to miss out on that wonderful smooth &amp; fresh smile that you can only get after a cleaning at the dentist?

5 Reasons To Visit The Dentist

We know it can be difficult to get in the habit of flossing regularly. After all, your mouth can feel pretty fresh after just brushing, enough to fool you into thinking it&rsquo;s totally clean and safe from tooth decay or gum disease.&nbsp;But flossing regularly is the only way to make sure you actually clean your teeth completely. Here are a few misconceptions we want to dispel to help motivate your flossing habits!
<h2 style="color: #000000;">1. It&rsquo;s Only About Removing Food</h2>
We know there are some people out there who only whip out the floss after eating popcorn or corn on the cob. Of course floss is great for removing the remnants of rogue kernels, but it&rsquo;s not just large obvious bits of food you have to worry about. Floss also helps remove plaque that accumulates between your teeth, creating the risk for cavities even if you don&rsquo;t have food stuck there. If you floss regularly, you already know how surprising it is the amount of stuff you can clean out from between your teeth even if you didn&rsquo;t sink them into anything particularly messy that day.
<h2 style="color: #000000;">2. There&rsquo;s No Point in Starting Now</h2>
There are plenty of adults who have yet to make a solid habit of flossing. In many cases, these adults still have all their teeth and haven&rsquo;t had any problems with interproximal caries (tooth decay that happens between your teeth). But just because someone has gotten this far without feeling the need to floss doesn&rsquo;t mean they shouldn&rsquo;t start! For one thing, the early signs of dental disease such as&nbsp;<a style="color: royalblue;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230529052612/https://kokuasmiles.com/">gum disease</a>&nbsp;(periodontitis) don&rsquo;t have obvious symptoms. Bleeding gums is one of the first signs you may be developing gum disease, but even if you teeth don&rsquo;t bleed when you brush that doesn&rsquo;t mean you&rsquo;re not at risk. Start flossing now and you still may have all your own teeth for the rest of your life!
<h2 style="color: #000000;">3. A Little Bleeding Is Normal</h2>
This is a choice of words problem: Many people hear that your gums bleeding when you floss is common, and misunderstand that fact to mean that it&rsquo;s normal. Yes, many people see blood when they floss, but no, it&rsquo;s not normal. No matter what, that spot of red is telling you something about your oral health, specifically the health of your gums. If this is a problem you encounter every time you floss, talk to us about it so we can assess the issue and have a plan for preserving your health.

3 Common Misconceptions About Flossing

As dentists we know we sometimes speak a slightly different, more clinical, language than our patients. We try not to be mysterious, but sometimes what's common knowledge to us could be confusing to our patients.&nbsp;One common thing that patients want to know is the meaning of the different letters you see after our names: either DDS or DMD. So what&rsquo;s the difference? Is one better than the other?
The answer is actually very simple: there is no difference! DDS (which stands for Doctor of&nbsp;Dental Surgery) &amp; DMD (which stands for Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) are exactly the same degree. Whether a dentist holds a DMD or a DDS degree, they have received all of the same training. The only difference is that some universities choose to call their dental degree DDS &amp; some choose DMD.
So, for example, if Dr. John Smith received his DMD from the University of Pennsylvania &amp; Dr. Jane Doe earned here DDS from UCLA, both doctors received the same level of clinical training.
You will sometimes see even more letters after some dentists&rsquo; names, such as FICOI or MAGD. These don&rsquo;t represent university degrees, but actually indicate a level of additional training that a dentist has received beyond dental school. If you&rsquo;re curious about what these letters stand for, ask your <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/blog">dentist</a>! He or she spent lots of time &amp; energy earning the designation &amp; will be happy to share how their extra expertise helps him or her keep your smile healthy.
Bonus info: You will sometimes see the words BDS after some overseas dentists&rsquo; names.&nbsp;Dentists&nbsp;in places like Europe or India who hold BDS degrees are fully trained &amp; qualified dentists in their countries. However, due to differences in certification requirements, foreign dentists with BDS degrees will need to also earn their DDS or DMD degrees in order to practice dentistry in the United States or Canada.

What's the Difference Between DDS and DMD

If were honest with ourselves, we know that visiting the dentist is not high on your list of favorite activities. As much as we love dentistry caring for smiles, we know the general public doesn&rsquo;t quite share our passion.&nbsp;That&rsquo;s why we do everything we can to make sure we provide dental care in a way that respects your busy schedule.
We find that the majority of our patients work jobs that are roughly 9am to 5pm every weekday. That&rsquo;s why we offer teeth cleaning appointments in the morning that allow you to get in &amp; out with plenty of time to get to work before 9am. We also offer teeth cleaning appointments in the late afternoon &amp; evening, so you can stop by on your way home from work without having to leave early.
We also realize that most of young patients are in school from 8am to about 3pm, sometimes later if they participate in sports or other extracurricular activities. That&rsquo;s what we offer early morning &amp; evening teeth cleaning appointments for children as well. We don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s necessary for parents to pull their children out of class just for a teeth cleaning. We also offer children&rsquo;s teeth cleaning appointments during midday during the summer when kids are free from school.
We work hard to ensure you leave every cleaning appointment with your next appointment already scheduled. This is so you can have it in your calendar as early as possible so you won&rsquo;t forget. However, we know that it&rsquo;s hard to know what you&rsquo;ll be doing 3, 6, or 12 months from now (depending on how often we recommend you get your teeth cleaned). That&rsquo;s why we always want to schedule your next appointment so you won&rsquo;t have to miss work. If your next scheduled appointment is at a time that conflicts with your work schedule, please let us know so we can re-schedule it for you.
The last thing we want is for you to have to cancel your&nbsp;appointment&nbsp;at the last minute. Your&nbsp;dental&nbsp;health is far too important for that! Seeing your <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/blog">dentist</a> regularly for cleanings doesn&rsquo;t just mean you have an extra clean smile, it also gives us an opportunity to check for other health problems like gingivitis, gum disease &amp; even oral cancer. We do everything we can to make dental care an easy &amp; care-free part of your life. If we can do something better to ensure we respect your busy schedule, please let us know!

We Respect Your Busy Schedule

<h2>What Is TMJ</h2>
The temporomandibular joints are the joints on either side of your head that connect your jaw to your skull and allow you to open and close your mouth, chew, and speak. Because it can move in many different directions, these joints are some of the most complex in your body. Any problems with these joints are also referred to as TMJ disorder, or just TMJ.
<h2>Symptoms of TMJ</h2>
Symptoms of TMJ can include:
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: disc; color: #000000; font-family: Lora, Lora; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Jaw clicking, popping, or&nbsp;locking</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Headaches or earaches</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Pain when mouth is opened widely</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Tenderness of jaw muscles</li>
</ul>
The cause of your TMJ can determine which or how many of these symptoms you have. At most dental checkups, your dentist or dental hygienist will check for tenderness in your jaw muscles to see if TMJ might be present.
<h2>Causes of TMJ</h2>
TMJ does not always have an obvious cause, but there are a few common possibilities for the origins of a TMJ problem:
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: disc; color: #000000; font-family: Lora, Lora; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Injury or dislocation</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Teeth clenching (often from stress)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Arthritis</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Poor tooth or jaw alignment</li>
</ul>
<h2>How Can a Dentist Help?</h2>
While many probably think of dentist as just teeth doctors, we can&rsquo;t treat you properly without looking at your mouth as part of a system. That system definitely includes your temporomandibular joint. A dentist can help in diagnosing your TMJ disorder, &amp; may also refer you to a physician or a specialist dentist for further diagnosis.
Because TMJ can be caused by tooth &amp; jaw alignment problems, there are dental treatments that may help. Your&nbsp;dentist&nbsp;may refer you to an orthodontist for treatments like braces, which can help realign the teeth &amp; the jaws so that your mouth can close in the proper position. Treatment form an&nbsp;orthodontist&nbsp;can alleviate TMJ symptoms in many cases.
If your TMJ comes from teeth grinding or clenching, your dentist may recommend that you wear a custom dental appliance. Often called a bite plate or a splint, this appliance will keep your upper teeth from grinding against your lower teeth. In addition to alleviating TMJ symptoms, this bite guard will prevent wear on your teeth from grinding that can lead to other problems.
Other treatments for TMJ include using hot &amp; cold packs, taking anti-inflammatory &amp;/or muscle relaxing medications, or learning relaxation techniques to reduce tension in your jaw muscles. In certain rare cases, TMJ may require jaw surgery to correct.
If you are concerned that you may have symptoms that indicate TMJ, please speak with your <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/blog">dentist</a> about it. We want to get you relief from pain &amp; discomfort as quickly as we can!

What Is TMJ and How Can a Dentist Help?

Test your knowledge of dentistry and your <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/blog/healthy-foods-that-can-be-bad-for-your-teeth">dental health</a>! Take the quiz and see the answer key at the bottom to see how well you did.
<ol style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Lora, Lora; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">When should you floss?
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: disc;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">a. Before you brush your teeth.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">b. After you brush your teeth.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">c. Before or after&mdash;as long as you floss at least once a day!</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">Which beverages are acidic &amp; can cause&nbsp;tooth decay?
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: disc;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">a. Wine</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">b. Water with lemon</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">c. Diet soda</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">d. Coffee</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">e. All of the above</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">When should children first see the dentist?
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: disc;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">a. Within 6 months of their first tooth coming in.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">b. Once they have at least two teeth.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">c. Once all of their teeth have come in.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">d. Once they&rsquo;re old enough to talk to the dentist.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">What does fluoride do?
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: disc;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">a. It helps keep plaque from sticking to teeth.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">b. It helps rebuild dental enamel &amp; reverse early tooth decay.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">c. It kills bacteria in your mouth that can cause tooth decay.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">d. All of the above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">In addition to poor dental&nbsp;hygiene, which of these are risk factors for gum disease?
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: disc;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">a. Genetic susceptibility.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">b. Diabetes.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">c. Smoking.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">d. Medications that cause dry mouth.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">e. All of the above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">True or False: A hard bristle toothbrush is better at cleaning teeth than a soft bristle toothbrush.
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: disc;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">a. True.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2 !important; margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; list-style-position: inside;">b. False.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="key" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #000000; font-family: Lora, Lora; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Answers: 1:c, 2:e, 3:a, 4:d; 5:e, 6:b-False.</div>

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Dental Health?

Summertime is a great time. The days are longer, we spend more time outside, the kids are out of school, and many of us take trips with family and friends.With all the changes in your routine during the summer, it might be easy to let dental care become less of a priority. Here are a few tips from your dental team to keep you smiling all summer long.
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Don&rsquo;t Chew on Ice!</h2>
Tempting as it may be, as your&nbsp;dentist&nbsp;we must beg you not to chew on ice during the hot summer months! Just because your teeth are capable of chewing ice does not mean they should. Ice is hard enough to damage your tooth enamel, which is the hard outer layer of your teeth that protects the softer materials below. Place ice cubes in your drink to cool it instead.
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Drink Water Instead of Juices &amp; Soft Drinks</h2>
Ads for soft drinks love to tempt us during the summer with ads about how wonderfully refreshing their products are, but when it comes to hydration &amp; cooling off, nothing beats good old-fashioned water. Plus, drinking water won&rsquo;t put you at risk for tooth decay like juices &amp; soft drinks (including diet!). Plus, water can even help prevent&nbsp;tooth decay&nbsp;by washing away sugars &amp; food particles that may be lingering in your mouth from your last meal or snack. So, please remember, soda pop &amp; juices should be treats &amp; you should drink water to stay cool &amp; hydrated during the summer.
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Forgot a Toothbrush While Traveling?</h2>
When you&rsquo;re excited for a vacation it&rsquo;s easy to overlook something when you&rsquo;re packing your bags. If that something happens to be a toothbrush or floss, you probably won&rsquo;t have to go very far for help. Though it isn&rsquo;t common knowledge, most hotel front desks or concierge services have extra dental care products like toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss available for guests for free. All you have to do is ask. This is especially helpful if your vacation spot is far from a convenience store or drug store. By they way, they also tend to have razors &amp; hair combs if you forgot those, too!
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 27px 0px 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Lora, Lora; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Dental Checkups &amp; Cleanings for Kids &amp; Students</h2>
Even though most of us grown-ups are still just as busy during the summer, the children in our lives usually have a lot more time on their hands. We suggest you put some of this time to good use by scheduling your child&rsquo;s semi-annual teeth cleaning &amp; checkup during their summer vacation. The benefit of summer appointments is that you won&rsquo;t have to pull your child out of class, they won&rsquo;t have to miss extracurricular activities &amp; their appointment won&rsquo;t cut into homework time.
Summer is also a great time for college students to visit the dentist. Unless they&rsquo;re relying on an on-campus dental clinic, most college students should keep coming to their family dentist, even after they&rsquo;ve moved away for school. Students who are back home visiting family should plan a trip to the dentist during their visit. Scheduling an appointment during the summer also means that their next 6-month appointment will fall during winter break, when they&rsquo;re likely to be visiting home again.
Regular appointments for children &amp; students are very important, because they&rsquo;re particularly prone to picking up bad habits that could lead to tooth decay.
Schedule your appointment early! Great <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/blog">summer appointments</a> always fill up.

Keeping Up With Dental Health In The Summer

The best way to choose a toothpaste is to ask for a recommendation from your dentist&mdash;they will know your needs the best&mdash;but here are some tips for choosing a toothpaste yourself!
<h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 18px 0px 0px; font-size: 19px; color: #000000; font-family: Lora, Lora; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">What Is Toothpaste?</h1>
Toothpastes are gels, pastes or powders that help remove plaque from teeth. They are made of made of small abrasive particles (like silicates &amp;&nbsp;salts), fluoride, humectants (used to keep the paste moist), thickeners (like natural gums, cellulose or seaweed), detergents (for foaming action) &amp;&nbsp;flavoring agents. Different toothpastes do different things&mdash;like whitening, preventing gum disease &amp;&nbsp;protecting sensitive teeth&mdash;but all ADA complying toothpastes contain fluoride.
<h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.8 !important; margin: 18px 0px 0px; font-size: 19px; color: #000000; font-family: Lora, Lora; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">What Is Fluoride?&nbsp;</h1>
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps keep teeth clean &amp;&nbsp;tooth enamel strong by making it more resistant to acids that decay your teeth. Fluoride can be found in tea, wine, raisins, potatoes, lamb &amp;&nbsp;carrots! Some communities also put a safe amount in their tap water. Before water fluoridation, children had about three times as many cavities!
The fluoride you get from food, water &amp;&nbsp;toothpastes is applied topically to your teeth &amp;&nbsp;becomes part of your saliva, which means your teeth get constantly bathed in fluoride throughout the day. It&rsquo;s a great way to prevent tooth decay &amp;&nbsp;strengthen your enamel.
In addition to fluoride in toothpaste &amp; in drinking water, you&nbsp;dentist&nbsp;may suggest an in-office topical fluoride treatment. This treatment is usually recommended for children, but can also be performed on adults.
<h2>Types of Toothpastes</h2>
Different toothpastes contain different things to affect the teeth in specific ways. Some toothpastes contain ingredients to reduce tooth sensitivity, to help reduce gingivitis, to remove tartar (a build up of hardened plaque) or to whiten teeth by removing surface stains. You can even find fruit-flavored toothpastes to encourage your children to develop good brushing habits!
Make sure to always use toothpaste with fluoride in it to help prevent&nbsp;tooth decay, but you can find toothpastes with additional ingredients to do all of the above! <a href="https://www.kokuasmiles.com/services/group/hawaii-family-dentist">Ask your dentist</a> which toothpaste is best for your smile.

Insights

What's the Difference Between DDS and DMD

We Respect Your Busy Schedule

What Is TMJ and How Can a Dentist Help?

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Dental Health?

Keeping Up With Dental Health In The Summer

How To Choose A Toothpaste

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