~ Carlston Dental Group ~
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We specialize In these Three Main Categories Of Tooth Conserving Dentistry!
(Dental Implants, Receding Gums & Root Canal)
(Dental Implants, Receding Gums & Root Canal)
Carlston Dental Group, Inc. is located in the beautiful foothills of West Los Angeles!
A lovely lush garden runs the entire length of the building, providing a relaxing atmosphere for our patients.
Dr. Carlston writes, performs and records musical compositions and plays his music in the garden area…further adding to the relaxing ambience.
The Facility is equipped with the latest in high-tech equipment, such as digital x-rays presented in front of our patients on a chair mounted monitor; and recently we incorporated the amazing ITero laser scanning device which allows us to take virtual impressions without the uncomfortable impression materials of the past.
These digital impressions are sent through the cloud to the laboratory where the crown, inlay, onlay, partial denture or orthodontic appliances are fabricated. This ITero machine saves time; and is much more comfortable for our patients.
The regulations for sterilization and cleanliness are strictly adhered to in all dental practices that we preform! We treat all ages; and are respected as being gentle and patient health care professionals.
A lovely lush garden runs the entire length of the building, providing a relaxing atmosphere for our patients.
Dr. Carlston writes, performs and records musical compositions and plays his music in the garden area…further adding to the relaxing ambience.
The Facility is equipped with the latest in high-tech equipment, such as digital x-rays presented in front of our patients on a chair mounted monitor; and recently we incorporated the amazing ITero laser scanning device which allows us to take virtual impressions without the uncomfortable impression materials of the past.
These digital impressions are sent through the cloud to the laboratory where the crown, inlay, onlay, partial denture or orthodontic appliances are fabricated. This ITero machine saves time; and is much more comfortable for our patients.
The regulations for sterilization and cleanliness are strictly adhered to in all dental practices that we preform! We treat all ages; and are respected as being gentle and patient health care professionals.
West Los Angeles Dental Implants
The combination of an implant, abutment, and crown replaces what used to be the natural root and natural tooth, and is able to function and feel in pretty much exactly the same way as a natural individual tooth.
Today the successful placement and long term viability is at 96%. This is amazing compared to thirty years and beyond ago.
The vast majority of people respond positively to implants made of titanium, which have the longest track record and are therefore very predictable.
The tried and true method for placing and restoring implants is still the best. Each phase of the process is performed in a manner that is very comfortable for the patient.
We extract the unsalvageable tooth and fill the socket with calcium particles that serve as a matrix upon which new bone can grow. As the new bone forms around the calcium particles, the body dissolves the calcium particles away and excretes them out of the body. This results in a good foundation into which we can place the implant.
It takes about four months for the bone to become dense enough to receive the implant. Once the implant is placed, it takes about another four months for the bone to grow tight around the implant so that we can place a crown on the implant and you are ready to go with a great long term solution.
There are cases where the root of the tooth is shaped so similar to the implant that we can place the implant the same day we extract the tooth. This saves about four months of treatment time.
Here at Carlston Dental Group, Inc., we always acquire a CT scan before we place an implant. The CT scan allows us to better judge the bone density and plan the placement of the implant for greater long term success.
We use products from highly respected manufacturers who stand behind their products, and we stand behind our services and the products that we provide.
We have highly trained and qualified team members who can place implants in the cosmetic zone with results second to none. Where necessary, we can even graft bone to a site so that the implant can be placed in the ideal position for the most cosmetic end result.
An implant is the ideal way to replace a missing tooth, and it has to be done with the proper technique and proper materials since you will be living with it for years to come.
We do not compromise on quality, and we still offer reasonable pricing so that patients are able to afford the best solution for their situation.
To fully replace a tooth, you will need at least an implant, an abutment, and a crown. The cost for the implant itself is $1,500 for each tooth, and later on the cost for the abutment and the crown is $1,500 for each tooth. So from start to finish, your total cost will be $3,000 per tooth.
If the tooth is not missing yet when you present to our office, it will have to be extracted first. At the same time as we remove the tooth, a bone augmentation will also be performed. This fills the void of the missing tooth with calcium particles, upon which your own bone can regrow and become a suitable site for the implant placement. The total cost of the extraction and bone augmentation is $1,000, which is in addition to the costs mentioned above.
For patients with PPO insurance, we are in-network with most companies, and sometimes your insurance plan will cover implants (but not always). Once you contact us we will get a breakdown of your dental benefits and we will be able to let you know ahead of time if and how much of the procedure will be covered by insurance.
Today the successful placement and long term viability is at 96%. This is amazing compared to thirty years and beyond ago.
The vast majority of people respond positively to implants made of titanium, which have the longest track record and are therefore very predictable.
The tried and true method for placing and restoring implants is still the best. Each phase of the process is performed in a manner that is very comfortable for the patient.
We extract the unsalvageable tooth and fill the socket with calcium particles that serve as a matrix upon which new bone can grow. As the new bone forms around the calcium particles, the body dissolves the calcium particles away and excretes them out of the body. This results in a good foundation into which we can place the implant.
It takes about four months for the bone to become dense enough to receive the implant. Once the implant is placed, it takes about another four months for the bone to grow tight around the implant so that we can place a crown on the implant and you are ready to go with a great long term solution.
There are cases where the root of the tooth is shaped so similar to the implant that we can place the implant the same day we extract the tooth. This saves about four months of treatment time.
Here at Carlston Dental Group, Inc., we always acquire a CT scan before we place an implant. The CT scan allows us to better judge the bone density and plan the placement of the implant for greater long term success.
We use products from highly respected manufacturers who stand behind their products, and we stand behind our services and the products that we provide.
We have highly trained and qualified team members who can place implants in the cosmetic zone with results second to none. Where necessary, we can even graft bone to a site so that the implant can be placed in the ideal position for the most cosmetic end result.
An implant is the ideal way to replace a missing tooth, and it has to be done with the proper technique and proper materials since you will be living with it for years to come.
We do not compromise on quality, and we still offer reasonable pricing so that patients are able to afford the best solution for their situation.
To fully replace a tooth, you will need at least an implant, an abutment, and a crown. The cost for the implant itself is $1,500 for each tooth, and later on the cost for the abutment and the crown is $1,500 for each tooth. So from start to finish, your total cost will be $3,000 per tooth.
If the tooth is not missing yet when you present to our office, it will have to be extracted first. At the same time as we remove the tooth, a bone augmentation will also be performed. This fills the void of the missing tooth with calcium particles, upon which your own bone can regrow and become a suitable site for the implant placement. The total cost of the extraction and bone augmentation is $1,000, which is in addition to the costs mentioned above.
For patients with PPO insurance, we are in-network with most companies, and sometimes your insurance plan will cover implants (but not always). Once you contact us we will get a breakdown of your dental benefits and we will be able to let you know ahead of time if and how much of the procedure will be covered by insurance.
Receding Gums West Los Angeles
There are several methods for treating receding gums. The severity of the case at the time of treatment plays a major role in the methods used.
We currently provide a relatively new approach to covering the roots of teeth where recession has occurred. This newer technique is called Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST).
This PST technique has less pain and trauma involved, usually we don’t even need sutures, post-operative pain is greatly reduced, the cosmetic result and stability of the re-positioned tissue is more reliable, and the healing time is faster with less pain!
Why do gum tissues tend to recede? There are those who reach their 60’s and 70’s without showing much recession; while others begin showing recession in their twenties! Believe it or not, stress is a big contributor to gingival recession.
Stress often leads to clenching and grinding. This causes the teeth to flex and bend more than they are biologically meant to, resulting in tiny pieces of tooth structure breaking away around the gum-line. This chipping away leads to concave blemishes on the neck of the tooth right at the gum-line, which interferes with the biological attachment of the gums to the tooth, which in turn causes to gums to recede away from the damaged area on the tooth.
Vigorous brushing and flossing also cause gum recession. Our Hygienists will teach you the proper brushing and flossing techniques. We suspect that there may well be a stress component to the reasons behind patients brushing and flossing with too much aggression.
Poor nutrition and hormone deficiencies are also implicated in many gum recession cases. It’s important that we all eat as healthy as we can as often as we can. Sugar plays a huge negative role in the health of our teeth and gums! Most people understand that sugar turns to acid on our teeth and begins to dissolve the minerals from our tooth structure within 20 minutes of sugar coming into contact with the teeth. Decay is simply acid de-mineralizing tooth structure…. it’s that simple. But how does sugar affect our gum tissue?
The following is a gross oversimplification of a complex biological process: When sugar is ingested into our bodies, it enters the blood stream and causes scratches in the lining of our blood vessels. These scratches must be repaired; so cholesterol rushes to the scratch and covers the injured vessel lining. With excessive sugar consumption, the cholesterol builds up as a substance called plaque. Over time this plaque builds up to the point where it obstructs normal blood flow. This leads to high blood pressure and diminished blood flow to the capillaries which are the tiny vessels that deliver nutrition to each individual cell in the body. The gum tissue is one of the first places where diminished blood flow becomes evident. The gums become easily inflamed because there is not enough nutrition and oxygen being delivered. That’s why many Diabetic patients tend to loose teeth, and toes and feet. Sugar is HUGELY implicated in the body’s breakdown. Yes this is an oversimplification; but you get the picture!!
Simply put, we loosen the attachment of the gums with special instruments which access the gum attachment through small pinholes. We don’t separate the part of the gum that fills the space between the teeth; but we loosen the papilla between the teeth in such a manner that allows us to slide the entire gum tissue down over the exposed root of the tooth where recession has occurred.
We don’t need large incisions and we don’t need to remove tissue from the palate since we slide collagen fibers through the pinholes, and with special instruments, place the collagenous membrane between the gum and bone at the point where we want the tissue to re-attach to the root surface. Special preparation treatments have already been performed on the exposed root surface which increase the likelihood that the gum tissue will stay in place and reattach at this more desirable position. The collagen fibers hold the tissue in its new position, and allow the gums to re-establish connection to the root surface. When the tissue is completely healed the resulting gum tissue is stronger and less prone to recede again.
The total cost will depend on the severity and the extent of your condition, and will be determined once we have seen you in person.
Typically $1,500 per quadrant is what you can expect when you are a good candidate for the procedure:
This means that for someone who needs the Pinhole Surgical Technique for their entire mouth, the total cost would be $6,000 (usually done in separate appointments, for example treat the upper arch first, then about 6 months later treat the lower arch).
If you only need the Pinhole Surgical Technique for half of your mouth ( entire upper arch for example ), the total cost would be $3,000 (usually done in just one visit).
And if you only need the Pinhole Surgical Technique for one quadrant only (upper left quadrant for example), the total cost would be $1,500
For patients with PPO dental insurance, the Pinhole Surgical Technique is usually covered under your plan, and typically it will pay out your yearly maximum towards it. We will obtain a breakdown of benefits, and a pre-authorization, so that you know ahead of time what your total patient responsibility will be for the procedure.
We currently provide a relatively new approach to covering the roots of teeth where recession has occurred. This newer technique is called Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST).
This PST technique has less pain and trauma involved, usually we don’t even need sutures, post-operative pain is greatly reduced, the cosmetic result and stability of the re-positioned tissue is more reliable, and the healing time is faster with less pain!
Why do gum tissues tend to recede? There are those who reach their 60’s and 70’s without showing much recession; while others begin showing recession in their twenties! Believe it or not, stress is a big contributor to gingival recession.
Stress often leads to clenching and grinding. This causes the teeth to flex and bend more than they are biologically meant to, resulting in tiny pieces of tooth structure breaking away around the gum-line. This chipping away leads to concave blemishes on the neck of the tooth right at the gum-line, which interferes with the biological attachment of the gums to the tooth, which in turn causes to gums to recede away from the damaged area on the tooth.
Vigorous brushing and flossing also cause gum recession. Our Hygienists will teach you the proper brushing and flossing techniques. We suspect that there may well be a stress component to the reasons behind patients brushing and flossing with too much aggression.
Poor nutrition and hormone deficiencies are also implicated in many gum recession cases. It’s important that we all eat as healthy as we can as often as we can. Sugar plays a huge negative role in the health of our teeth and gums! Most people understand that sugar turns to acid on our teeth and begins to dissolve the minerals from our tooth structure within 20 minutes of sugar coming into contact with the teeth. Decay is simply acid de-mineralizing tooth structure…. it’s that simple. But how does sugar affect our gum tissue?
The following is a gross oversimplification of a complex biological process: When sugar is ingested into our bodies, it enters the blood stream and causes scratches in the lining of our blood vessels. These scratches must be repaired; so cholesterol rushes to the scratch and covers the injured vessel lining. With excessive sugar consumption, the cholesterol builds up as a substance called plaque. Over time this plaque builds up to the point where it obstructs normal blood flow. This leads to high blood pressure and diminished blood flow to the capillaries which are the tiny vessels that deliver nutrition to each individual cell in the body. The gum tissue is one of the first places where diminished blood flow becomes evident. The gums become easily inflamed because there is not enough nutrition and oxygen being delivered. That’s why many Diabetic patients tend to loose teeth, and toes and feet. Sugar is HUGELY implicated in the body’s breakdown. Yes this is an oversimplification; but you get the picture!!
Simply put, we loosen the attachment of the gums with special instruments which access the gum attachment through small pinholes. We don’t separate the part of the gum that fills the space between the teeth; but we loosen the papilla between the teeth in such a manner that allows us to slide the entire gum tissue down over the exposed root of the tooth where recession has occurred.
We don’t need large incisions and we don’t need to remove tissue from the palate since we slide collagen fibers through the pinholes, and with special instruments, place the collagenous membrane between the gum and bone at the point where we want the tissue to re-attach to the root surface. Special preparation treatments have already been performed on the exposed root surface which increase the likelihood that the gum tissue will stay in place and reattach at this more desirable position. The collagen fibers hold the tissue in its new position, and allow the gums to re-establish connection to the root surface. When the tissue is completely healed the resulting gum tissue is stronger and less prone to recede again.
The total cost will depend on the severity and the extent of your condition, and will be determined once we have seen you in person.
Typically $1,500 per quadrant is what you can expect when you are a good candidate for the procedure:
This means that for someone who needs the Pinhole Surgical Technique for their entire mouth, the total cost would be $6,000 (usually done in separate appointments, for example treat the upper arch first, then about 6 months later treat the lower arch).
If you only need the Pinhole Surgical Technique for half of your mouth ( entire upper arch for example ), the total cost would be $3,000 (usually done in just one visit).
And if you only need the Pinhole Surgical Technique for one quadrant only (upper left quadrant for example), the total cost would be $1,500
For patients with PPO dental insurance, the Pinhole Surgical Technique is usually covered under your plan, and typically it will pay out your yearly maximum towards it. We will obtain a breakdown of benefits, and a pre-authorization, so that you know ahead of time what your total patient responsibility will be for the procedure.
West Los Angeles Root Canal
It is my opinion that the most important factor in preserving teeth that are in need of root canal therapy, is the diligent removal of the infected, necrotic nerve tissue with as little reduction of the actual tooth mass as possible.
By that I mean the dentist should not over instrument the canal space by removing sound tooth structure within the tooth canal space. This is important because when the tooth loses the nerve and blood vessels inside, it also loses the flow of nutrients and interstitial fluid that keep a vital tooth flexible and vital.
As time goes by, the root canaled tooth becomes more and more rigid and brittle. Often this results in a fracture during chewing pressure; and results in the loss of the tooth. So, leaving as much tooth structure within the tooth during the root canal process is vital to retaining as much strength as possible for that time when the tooth becomes brittle and less able to withstand chewing pressure.
Performing minimally invasive, tooth structure preserving techniques are in my opinion the factor that sets dentists apart from one another where root canal treatments are concerned.
The technology to perform predictable root canal therapy has been used in dentistry for only about 100 years.
It seems like almost yearly someone comes up with a new approach to this problem of saving teeth by removing infected nerve tissue within the tooth and filling the resulting “nerve space” within the root of the tooth with an acceptable material that will keep bacteria from re-infecting the tooth.
Once a root canal has been performed, the patient is pain free, and the tooth can be kept functioning and pain-free for a number of years, thus avoiding an extraction even though the tooth was severely infected.
The teeth appear solid when we touch them, and of course they are; however when we look at tooth structure under an electron microscope, we see the structure consists of hollow tubules.
These microscopic tubules allow interstitial fluid to flow via arterial pressure within the tooth nerve and blood vessel canal out through these tubules into the space between the tooth and the bone.
This fluid keeps the tooth structure vital and flexible, creating a shock-absorber effect against fracture. While these tubules cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can accommodate several bacteria side by side working their way into the tooth toward the nerve of the tooth.
Bacterial invasion of the tubules is facilitated by acid which clings to the tooth within a matrix of dental plaque. Plaque is formed when we consume sugar in its various forms. The sugar is food for the bacteria that live in our mouths. Many of these bacteria are friendly and needed by our bodies to properly digest the food we eat; however, there are harmful bacteria that produce acid as a byproduct after they eat the sugars.
This acid slowly dissolves the minerals out of the enamel protective covering of the tooth. This creates softness in the enamel called decay. The bacteria are able to migrate into the tubules ahead of the enamel actually becoming soft; so when the dentist removes the soft decay, it is possible that some bacterial will remain within the tubules and become sealed within the tooth structure under the filling the dentist places to fill the hole caused by the decay.
The most harmful bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they don’t like oxygen. They actually benefit by being buried deep within the tooth structure under dental fillings. They continue migrating towards the nerve through the dentinal tubules and can eventually cause nerve inflammation and death. Many teeth that end up needing root-canal therapy have had crowns placed years before the nerve actually dies.
When you are a good candidate for a root canal at our office, the typical cost is $1,100 for a molar (3 canals), $1,000 for a pre-molar (2 canals), and $900 for an anterior tooth (1 canal).
Depending on the reason why the nerve is infected, you might also need an extensive restoration on the tooth such as an onlay or a crown. This would also be done in our office once the root canal is completed, and the cost for the restoration would be quoted to you at your initial exam (typically around $1,000 if the tooth does need a crown or an onlay).
For patients who have PPO insurance, we are typically in-network with your company, and in most cases root canals are covered at 80%, and buildups and crowns are covered at 50%.
By that I mean the dentist should not over instrument the canal space by removing sound tooth structure within the tooth canal space. This is important because when the tooth loses the nerve and blood vessels inside, it also loses the flow of nutrients and interstitial fluid that keep a vital tooth flexible and vital.
As time goes by, the root canaled tooth becomes more and more rigid and brittle. Often this results in a fracture during chewing pressure; and results in the loss of the tooth. So, leaving as much tooth structure within the tooth during the root canal process is vital to retaining as much strength as possible for that time when the tooth becomes brittle and less able to withstand chewing pressure.
Performing minimally invasive, tooth structure preserving techniques are in my opinion the factor that sets dentists apart from one another where root canal treatments are concerned.
The technology to perform predictable root canal therapy has been used in dentistry for only about 100 years.
It seems like almost yearly someone comes up with a new approach to this problem of saving teeth by removing infected nerve tissue within the tooth and filling the resulting “nerve space” within the root of the tooth with an acceptable material that will keep bacteria from re-infecting the tooth.
Once a root canal has been performed, the patient is pain free, and the tooth can be kept functioning and pain-free for a number of years, thus avoiding an extraction even though the tooth was severely infected.
The teeth appear solid when we touch them, and of course they are; however when we look at tooth structure under an electron microscope, we see the structure consists of hollow tubules.
These microscopic tubules allow interstitial fluid to flow via arterial pressure within the tooth nerve and blood vessel canal out through these tubules into the space between the tooth and the bone.
This fluid keeps the tooth structure vital and flexible, creating a shock-absorber effect against fracture. While these tubules cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can accommodate several bacteria side by side working their way into the tooth toward the nerve of the tooth.
Bacterial invasion of the tubules is facilitated by acid which clings to the tooth within a matrix of dental plaque. Plaque is formed when we consume sugar in its various forms. The sugar is food for the bacteria that live in our mouths. Many of these bacteria are friendly and needed by our bodies to properly digest the food we eat; however, there are harmful bacteria that produce acid as a byproduct after they eat the sugars.
This acid slowly dissolves the minerals out of the enamel protective covering of the tooth. This creates softness in the enamel called decay. The bacteria are able to migrate into the tubules ahead of the enamel actually becoming soft; so when the dentist removes the soft decay, it is possible that some bacterial will remain within the tubules and become sealed within the tooth structure under the filling the dentist places to fill the hole caused by the decay.
The most harmful bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they don’t like oxygen. They actually benefit by being buried deep within the tooth structure under dental fillings. They continue migrating towards the nerve through the dentinal tubules and can eventually cause nerve inflammation and death. Many teeth that end up needing root-canal therapy have had crowns placed years before the nerve actually dies.
When you are a good candidate for a root canal at our office, the typical cost is $1,100 for a molar (3 canals), $1,000 for a pre-molar (2 canals), and $900 for an anterior tooth (1 canal).
Depending on the reason why the nerve is infected, you might also need an extensive restoration on the tooth such as an onlay or a crown. This would also be done in our office once the root canal is completed, and the cost for the restoration would be quoted to you at your initial exam (typically around $1,000 if the tooth does need a crown or an onlay).
For patients who have PPO insurance, we are typically in-network with your company, and in most cases root canals are covered at 80%, and buildups and crowns are covered at 50%.
You are already doing the right thing if you are reading our website : you understand that when you need implants, a root canal, or gum treatment, it is important to have the procedure done with a dentist you feel very comfortable with, and at a fair price.
We believe there is no better place in Los Angeles to take care of your dental needs : take the time to read our reviews, familiarize yourself with our pricing, and give us a call today to make an appointment.
We will make it easy for you to get on the schedule as soon as possible.
Then, once your specific case has been reviewed and discussed with you, we will make it easy to find the financing option that works best for you, so that your treatment can be scheduled as soon as possible.
You are doing a good job researching a solution for your condition, now let’s get it taken care of!
We believe there is no better place in Los Angeles to take care of your dental needs : take the time to read our reviews, familiarize yourself with our pricing, and give us a call today to make an appointment.
We will make it easy for you to get on the schedule as soon as possible.
Then, once your specific case has been reviewed and discussed with you, we will make it easy to find the financing option that works best for you, so that your treatment can be scheduled as soon as possible.
You are doing a good job researching a solution for your condition, now let’s get it taken care of!
