Teeth alignment isn’t just a cosmetic concern; crooked or crowded teeth can make it hard to floss, increasing your risk of interproximal cavities, or cavities between your teeth. Orthodontic treatment can help reduce your risk of these cavities, improve your bite, and make it easier to floss. Still, many adults...
Most people have heard about dental implants. You may have read they are the “gold standard” for replacing teeth, how they are the best and most natural option. You may even know they can be used for replacing a single tooth, an entire top or bottom arch, or even a...
Your teeth go through a lot during your life, and in the process, they may become chipped from biting issues or trauma, or they may shift in your mouth so they’re sitting crooked. Teeth can also become stained from food, drink, tobacco, or medications. These cosmetic issues can put a...
You may not be happy with your smile if it’s “gummy.” Technically called an excessive gingival display, a gummy smile might be making you feel self-conscious about your appearance. While there’s no set definition of what’s “too much” of your gums showing, the consensus is that your smile shouldn’t reveal...
Nearly a third of Americans don’t bother to have an annual dental checkup, leaving them exposed to an array of oral health problems ranging from decay to infection to cancer. In fact, about a quarter of American adults have at least one cavity that’s not treated. Having an annual exam is important for lots of...
Even if you practice good oral care, your teeth might get discolored over time. Cosmetic and family dentist Dr. Nataly Vilderman, DDS, offers in-office teeth whitening as a way to brighten not only your smile but your overall face appearance to help address this common problem. Dr. Vilderman and her staff...
Gum disease affects nearly half of people aged 30 and over, and 70% of people 65 and over have gum disease. Even mild gum disease threatens your oral and overall health if left untreated. General and cosmetic dentist Nataly Vilderman, DDS, in San Francisco, California, offers comprehensive dental care for your entire family, and our team wants...
If you want to protect your teeth and have a brilliant smile, you should regularly see your dentist for dental cleanings. These visits let your dentist examine your teeth to spot problems that give you pain and to troubleshoot issues that could bother you in the future. So, we agree...
Nobody anticipates losing a tooth. When you lose a tooth or multiple teeth in an accident or because they need to be extracted, you're not only dealing with the pain of missing teeth, but also the dilemma of how to replace them. When one or more teeth need to be...
Gingivitis, or gum disease in its early stages, can be detected by a small spot of blood on your toothbrush or floss. If your gums have been bleeding for a while, you may already have periodontitis, a significant gum infection. Contact Nataly Vilderman, DDS, located in San Francisco, California, if you...
You're not alone if you're unhappy with dental flaws that keep you from having a sparkling smile. Many Americans are concerned about the appearance of their smiles, which is often the first thing people notice when they meet you. Veneers are a simple, yet powerful solution that can help you achieve the...
Living with missing or damaged teeth can make it difficult to move your mouth normally when you speak or chew. Despite the inconveniences, the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 has three or more missing or decayed teeth. A dental crown can resolve your functional and cosmetic dental...
Whether you’ve lost one tooth or several, living with gaps along your gumline can affect your daily life. Missing one or more teeth can make it difficult to chew or talk. It can also make you feel self-conscious when you open your mouth to smile or speak. Given that you...
Any healthcare professional can tell you to brush your teeth daily, but dental professionals recommend twice-daily brushing and flossing. Good daily oral health habits revolve around both a consistent brushing schedule as well as good lifestyle choices. Combined with regular dental check-ups, the problems that you may have with plaque...
As more and more adults have come to recognize that a well-aligned bite is a healthy bite, they’ve created a new population for orthodontic work. However, most adults — and a growing number of teens — want a more discreet approach than a mouth full of metal brackets and wires...
If you’re 65 years old or older, you’re more likely than not to have periodontal disease. Even for younger people, 30 years or older, the statistic is surprising: about half have periodontal disease, according to the CDC. In other words, it’s incredibly common. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore...
Did you know the most common desire for improving your smile is to have whiter teeth? At Nataly Vilderman, DDS in San Francisco, California, our professional dental team has the expertise to whiten your teeth and keep them that way. Causes of teeth discoloration Several factors can cause your teeth...
Veneers, which are thin shells that cover the visible portions of the front teeth, can hide a host of dental flaws, such as discoloration, chips, and odd shapes. If you get veneers, there are some simple things you can do to help them stay looking great for years. In this...
If you’d like your pearly whites to stay healthy as long as possible, it’s time to improve how you floss. After you eat, debris between your teeth forms a film of bacteria called plaque, which you can’t get rid of with a toothbrush. Crucial as flossing may be, research shows...
Straight and even teeth are a wonderful asset. Not only is your smile much more becoming, but you have a self-confident way about you when your teeth are near perfect. Aside from aesthetics, having straight teeth also provides health benefits you probably never knew about. Most of us aren’t born...
When you are missing one or more teeth, you may wonder about the replacement options available. While dentures may conjure up images of older people, the fact is, people of all ages choose dentures to replace missing teeth. If you are experiencing problems with chewing, speaking, and the appearance of...
If you have bad breath that won't go away no matter how much you brush, use mouthwash, or take breath mints, you might have periodontal disease. Chronic or persistent bad breath is one of the indicators dentists look for in diagnosing gum disease, in addition to a persistent bad taste...
Have you always dreamed of having nicely aligned teeth? Do you feel uncomfortable with how your smile looks, but you don’t want to deal with traditional braces? We can help! Nataly Vilderman, DDS, offers Invisalign®, which is a system for straightening teeth that is nearly invisible and far more convenient...
Dentists have replaced teeth for many decades. Dentures and dental bridges have been around a long time, and they continue to be viable options for replacing missing teeth. Whether you need a single tooth replacement, an entire bridge, or just a few new teeth, these solutions continue to be popular...
Most people who choose porcelain veneers simply want to cover cosmetic issues with their smile. However, these aesthetically pleasing fronts for your teeth can be part of a multi-faceted treatment designed to strengthen your smile as well as improve your appearance. At Nataly Vilderman DDS in San Francisco, California, our...
Common beverages, smoking, plaque buildup, and genetic factors can discolor your teeth. Professional teeth whitening can help make up for these issues, creating a brighter, whiter smile you can feel confident about. Whiter teeth can also create a more youthful appearance since stained teeth become more common later in life....
Be honest – when was the last time you flossed? Was it yesterday or even today? If so, you’re among elite company. According to the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, only about 30% of adults floss on a daily basis. Where do the other 70% fall? They’re cut...
More and more people choose Invisalign® over traditional metal braces each year. It’s the quicker and easier route to straight, healthy teeth and a smile you love. Dr. Nataly Vilderman at Nataly Vilderman DDS in San Francisco, California, offers these tips for new Invisalign wearers. 4 tips for taking care...
Reddish stains on your toothbrush are a likely indicator of sensitive gums. When your gums become sensitive and bleed from regular brushing, it could be a form of gum disease called gingivitis. This is an inflammation of your gums that can lead to other, worse oral problems, like periodontal disease,...
Receding gums may not seem like a major health problem. But actually, gum recession is one of the first signs of gum disease, the leading cause of tooth loss among American adults. Don’t think you have gum disease? You might be surprised — gum disease often causes no symptoms or...
In the midst of dealing with new clothes, new shoes, and new backpacks, freshening up your kid’s smile might get overlooked. Make sure you protect their pearly whites as they go back to school, even if they’ll only be flashing their grins in a Zoom classroom. Nataly Vilderman, DDS, offers...
Are your stained teeth leaving you shy and timid in social situations? Do you find that you’re constantly covering up your teeth out of embarrassment? Did your new summer tan just make your teeth staining even more obvious? If so, then it might be time to consider teeth whitening. At...
A sobering statistic: Only 64% of US adults aged 18-64 have visited the dentist within the past year. While brushing twice a day and flossing once a day prevent plaque from building up on your teeth, they still can’t stop all of it from condensing and hardening into a thick...
Toothpaste! In 2019, over 300 million of us used it, but do we actually know what kind is best for us? This question becomes even more pressing when you’re standing in the toothpaste aisle wondering, “Which one of these do I even need?” At the office of Nataly Vilderman, DDS,...
Every year, more than 15 million RCTs are performed to help save teeth that otherwise would have to be extracted. If you think you might need an RCT but aren’t sure, a quick exam can confirm the need for an RCT. Nataly Vilderman, DDS, serves dental patients in the Park...
Dentists can help you maintain your teeth, but it's up to you to care for them on a daily basis. This involves brushing, flossing, rinsing, and keeping an eye out for diseases like gingivitis. While we've all heard of gingivitis at some point, what exactly is it, and how can...
Nearly half of the adult population in the United States suffer from periodontal disease. Not only does this disease lead to tender gums and bleeding, it can also lead to gum recession. 4% to 12% of adults suffer from gum recession, but the progress is so slow that many do...
Tooth loss is more than just a cosmetic issue. The longer you go without teeth, the more your jawbone and the surrounding areas are affected. Dental implants replace your lost teeth, fixing the issue and preventing any further shrinking and degradation of your jawbone. Nataly Vilderman, DDS Cosmetic & Family...
Patients of all ages can benefit from the widespread applications of cosmetic dentistry. Whether it’s chips, cracks, or gaps, there’s practically nothing a skilled cosmetic dentist can’t address. Their specialty is to take a flawed smile and transform it into a smile you’re proud to show off to the world. ...
You’re not supposed to lose your teeth. Under ideal circumstances, you keep them for a lifetime. Unfortunately, life’s not ideal, and people lose teeth. In fact, a lot of people lose teeth: 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. And some people lose more than one; 40 million...
We all know the drill: If your teeth are crooked, you have to get them straightened with braces or Invisalign®. This isn’t cheap, and it isn’t quick, so you may wonder if it’s really necessary to have straight teeth? Sure, you have a better smile if your teeth line up...
Perhaps when you think of veneers, you think of flashing a bright, beautiful, Hollywood smile — certainly one of the many reasons to consider veneers. Without a doubt, they have an aesthetic quality that can transform your teeth from dull to dazzling. Many people get veneers on their teeth to...
Do you want to improve your smile with a whitening treatment? You aren’t alone. Professional teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic treatment for tooth discoloration. It’s quick, easy, and you see the results right away. But teeth whitening treatments only last for so long. Many outside factors, like what you...
Now that you’re wearing Invisalign® trays to create a lovely smile, be sure to take good care of the aligners. Dr. Vilderman, a leading provider of the Invisalign system, can show you how to maintain aligners so they remain clear and odor-free. What is Invisalign? Invisalign is a flexible, plastic...
Your regular dental checkups are your first defense against an array of oral health problems that can be painful and affect your whole future health picture. It’s tempting to put your dental exam off as you review your endless to-do list, but please don’t. For the little time and effort...
For a long time, dentures and bridges were the only means available to replace missing teeth. Bridges typically replaced single teeth, while dentures were used to replace many teeth or a full set of teeth. In the 1960s, the first patients received dental implants — teeth replacements permanently fixed into...
Periodontal, or gum, disease can wreak havoc on your dental health, leading to tooth and bone loss, but the health effects can reach beyond your mouth. A recent study just showed that periodontal disease may affect the human brain and could possibly be linked to Alzheimer’s disease. At our San...
Nearly 80% of adults have periodontal disease, and many don’t know they have it. Periodontal disease is a broad term that describes two common oral conditions: gingivitis and periodontitis. These conditions damage the tissue and bone around your teeth, leading to decay and other complications. Gingivitis, a gum infection, is...
Invisalign is a popular system that uses clear plastic aligners to gradually straighten your teeth. Whether you’re considering orthodontic treatment later in life or you’re still in your teens, Invisalign is a convenient and effective method for achieving a straighter smile. More than 6 million men, women, and teenagers have...
Everyone wants a bright, confident smile. But sometimes damaged or missing teeth can make your smile look less than perfect. Whether you’ve lost a tooth due to injury, decay, or something else, your smile might be a source of embarrassment instead of confidence. Missing teeth can also impact your oral...
If you want whiter teeth, you’re not alone. Whiter teeth can make you feel better about yourself and make you less afraid to smile for your friends or in front of the camera. Social experts say if you want to be the most attractive version of yourself, you should smile...
Bad breath happens to everyone at some point, but it doesn’t have to ruin your holidays. While bad breath can have many different causes, it’s possible to avoid most of them with proper oral care and maintenance. Before you attend any gatherings, review these tips from Nataly Vilderman, DDS, so...
Even though most of us well understand the benefits of seeing a dentist, there are still many people who worry about sitting in a dental chair. For some, it’s more than just a general anxiety. It’s estimated that 9-20% of people around the country avoid going to the dentist because...
If you find yourself increasingly reaching for the salt or dunking your food into the nearest condiment, you may be experiencing an age-related dulling of your sense of taste. Just as you find yourself needing reading glasses or turning up the volume on the television, your sense of taste isn’t...
Fluoride treatments are a significant weapon in the arsenal of preventing tooth decay in children. We all remember the family dentist doing the fluoride treatment on our bi-annual visits as kids, and usually doing them as a matter of course. The fluoride in gel, foam, or in a rinse solution,...
With good dental care, you may be able to keep your natural teeth your entire life. But, if you’re missing a tooth, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that more than 170 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, while 40 million are missing all of them. Wouldn’t it be...
Ignoring your oral health can cause bacteria and plaque to build up on your teeth and gums. When left untreated, plaque hardens into tartar and gingivitis develops. Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontal or gum disease. Symptoms of periodontal disease include: Chronic bad breath Red, bleeding, or tender gums...
Smiling in Summer Photos and Other Reasons to Whiten Your TeethA smile that lights up a room, a winning smile, a blinding smile — however you describe it, a smile full of bright, white teeth is a powerful thing. And professional teeth whitening is an easy way to get that...
As an adult, you may feel self-conscious about sporting the metal braces people associate with awkward teen and preteen years. There’s nothing wrong with metal braces; they’re a great way to straighten misaligned teeth, and are sometimes the best choice for complex orthodontic issues. But if given the option, many...
You may think your dentist’s main priority is keeping your teeth white and cavity free, and that’s a big part of the job. However, overall oral health is the real goal. And because your gums help provide the environment your teeth need to remain healthy, it’s only natural for your...
Having one or more missing teeth is far from rare. In fact, according to American College of Prosthodontists, 120 million people in the United States are missing at least one tooth, and those numbers are predicted to climb in the next two decades. Fortunately, as more and more people have...
At any given time, approximately four million people in the United States are on the road to straighter teeth with braces or aligners. While the draw of beautifully-aligned teeth and a winning smile certainly drive many people to orthodontics, there’s a lot more to straight teeth than meets the eye.When...
Oral hygiene is about more than preserving a sparkling smile -- it has a direct effect on your health. The mouth harbors an enormous amount of bacteria, and when you fail to brush and floss, that bacteria multiplies and affects your whole body. A number of health conditions may be...