Tooth extractions: When does one need to have their teeth pulled out?

With his extensive experience as a dental surgeon, Kami Hoss has helped countless of people with their dental problems over the years. On top of that, he educates and informs everyone on everything related to dentistry through his series of blogs.

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For today’s topic, Kami Hoss answers the question, “When does a person need to have his teeth extracted?”

The fact that humans only grow two sets of teeth in the lifetime means that the second set must be maintained thoroughly. Even if modern medicine has afforded people painless tooth extractions, dentists only perform the procedure as a last resort.

The most common reason people need tooth extractions is because the tooth in question has become damaged to the point that it can no longer be repaired. Sometimes, this happens through decay, and sometimes, through infection. Normally, extraction is straightforward, unless infection has spread throughout the surrounding tissue.

Another common reason for extraction is the existence of wisdom teeth, especially in cases wherein the jaw of the person is too short. Though the procedure is normally harmless, when there is a lack of space for wisdom teeth, the other teeth become impacted or worse, infected.

There are also circumstances wherein some teeth that emerge are simply too large (or, conversely, the jaws may be too short). This affects the alignment of the teeth. Kami Hoss notes that there are also instances in which people have more teeth than normal.

Kami Hoss, MS, DDS is the CEO and co-founder of The Super Dentists. He is also the CEO of Acceledontics and Howard Healthcare Academy. He holds a master’s degree in craniofacial biology and a doctorate in dental surgery. Visit this blog for more dental care tips.

When to consider dental braces

So you’ve got a couple of crooked teeth and a little overcrowding on the side of your mouth. Do you need to wear dental braces, especially if you’re no longer in your early teenage years and braces can affect the way you eat or your profession? Here are some general tips and advice from celebrated dentist and author Dr. Kami Hoss.

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Image source: Pixabay.com

Dental braces are wire-based appliances used for correcting crowded as well as misaligned teeth or jaws. They’re usually recommended to improve orofacial appearance and address problems such as crowded teeth, overbites, underbites, and disorders of the jaw joints. For example, there’s too much space between teeth, or a jaw misalignment leads to an uneven bite.

While you can wear braces at any age, orthodontic issues are usually treated at an early age, or from ages 10 to 14 while the head and mouth are still growing, and teeth are more prone to straightening. Age shouldn’t deter you from getting dental braces, though, as you can use them to correct relevant problems and improve your smile.

As an adult, however, you may need to wear braces longer than a younger individual would, reminds Dr. Kami Hoss. This is because your facial bones are no longer growing, so there may be some issues that cannot be corrected through dental braces alone. Rest assured, however, that wearing braces is typically a very safe procedure with minimal short-term risks, such as tooth decay with failure to remove food deposits and plaque growth.

Kami Hoss, MS, DDS is the CEO of The Super Dentists, the largest pediatric dentistry and orthodontic practice in San Diego. He is also the chief executive officer ofAcceledontics and Howard Healthcare Academy. He is a sought-after author, consultant, inventor, and speaker in the fields of dentistry and business. Read more on this site.

Curiosity: The mother of invention and innovation

While many people believe that necessity is the mother of invention, others beg to disagree. Kami Hoss, MS, DDS, innovator and leader of The Super Dentists in San Diego, has over the years shown just how curiosity has led to creativity, and ultimately to creation.

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Image source: Pixabay.com  

The fact of the matter is a great number of things have been invented because of necessity, but without curiosity, the greatest minds in history would remain stumped. Sure, inventions often address problems that need to be solved, but how to solve them remains the avenue for the inquisitive.

Take for instance the greatest inventor of all time, Leonardo da Vinci. His inventions were born from his own curiosity and yearning to learn more about the physical world. In fact, even way before da Vinci’s time, people were curious as to how to make their lives more convenient. From the invention of fire and weapons to the wheel and civilization itself, most of these started with people being curious and wanting to learn more.

Curiosity is also a source of inspiration, explains Kami Hoss, MS, DDS. When a person is faced with the unknown, he develops the need to explore it. When it comes to inventors, many of them started off with the question, “What if…?” -- and many of them changed the world.

Kami Hoss, MS, DDS, is a man of many skills and expertise. He holds a master ’s in craniofacial biology and a doctorate in dental surgery. Dr. Hoss also served as an associate professor at the University of Southern California’s Orthodontics Department. If you want to read more about oral health and hygiene, visit this blog.

The medical and hygienic benefits of flossing

A lot of people think that brushing their teeth is enough to keep their teeth and gums healthy. While this is a good start, people should really go further when it comes to oral hygiene. Flossing isn’t a particularly popular regimen when it comes to cleaning the teeth and gums partly because people have difficulties in flossing properly which is why they don’t even bother. But according to Dr. Kami Hoss, flossing can bring forth many medical and hygienic benefits. Here are just some of those benefits.

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Prevents the accumulation of plaque: Tartar can accumulate between the teeth without you knowing. Not every bathroom has a magnifying mirror nor does everyone check the crevices between their teeth carefully. Daily flossing allows you to remove plaque and prevent tartar from ever forming in our gum line.

Prevents foul breath: Bad breath is often caused when food particles remain in the teeth or gums. Bacteria in the food particles break down and produces an unpleasant smell. This usually occurs when you aren’t thorough with oral hygiene before you go to sleep. Flossing allows you to remove food particles in hard to reach areas, preventing bad breath from occurring.

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Lowers risks of gum disease: When plaque is left unattended for extended periods, it’s possible for you to get gum disease. According to Dr. Kami Hoss, gum disease occurs when the gums get inflamed or get an infection. An example of gum disease is periodontal disease in which the plaque slowly eats away at the soft gum tissues. In later stages, extreme decay can even cause root canal problems.

Kami Hoss MS, DDS, is the CEO of The Super Dentists, the largest pediatric dentistry and orthodontic practice in San Diego. He is also the chief executive officer of Acceledontics and Howard Healthcare Academy. To know more about Dr. Hoss, visit this website.

Some tips and advice for nervous dental patients

It’s quite natural to have dental anxiety, especially among those afraid of injection or sharp tools or generally have low pain tolerance. The great news is the there is a variety of ways one can make the visit to the dentist both bearable and pleasant, says Dr. Kami Hoss of The Super Dentists.

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Many experts will tell you that removing one’s fear of dentists actually begins with finding the right dentist. Remember that there’s nothing to be ashamed of if you are fearful of dentists, and that you need to look for one who truly empathizes with your plight. Many people develop a phobia for dentists because of a traumatic memory of a dental visit, but there’s no reason why you cannot look for one who lets you feel that you have complete control of the procedure, allowing you to act naturally afraid or apprehensive without feeling ashamed.

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Behavioral scientists also recommend avoiding coffee or any caffeine-laced drink at least six hours before your dental appointment. This does a lot in making you less anxious about the visit. During the actual procedure, concentrate on breathing slowly and regularly, pausing between inhaling and exhaling. Be conscious of not holding your breath, as this will just decrease your oxygen levels and make you panic more.

Finally, one of the best ways to alleviate anxiety is to agree with your dentist on a specific signal or gesture that alerts him or her of when you want the procedure to pause. This adds to the feeling that you are in control while you’re in the dental chair, explains Dr. Kami Hoss.

Dr. Kami Hoss is a sought-after author, consultant, inventor, and speaker in the fields of dentistry and business. He has also written articles published in numerous professional and community journals and publications. Visit this blog for related posts on dental care.

The do’s and don’ts of smart flossing

A critical part of optimal oral care is dental flossing, which eliminates plaque that can build up in between teeth and cause tooth decay or gum disease. It helps clean the dark, tight spaces in between teeth, places that are normally out of your toothbrush’s reach. Here are some tips from dentist and author Dr. Kami Hoss when it comes to smart flossing.

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Do it gently and at least once a day According to the American Dental Association, you should floss your teeth once every day, a habit you can get into before you go to bed every night. Beware harsh and excessive flossing, as it won’t deliver further benefit and can even damage and irritate sensitive gum tissue.


Bleeding gums? Don’t give up on the floss What you should realize is that the bleeding isn’t really caused by flossing, but instead by gum inflammation or disease. If you find your gums bleeding often, it’s about time to check with your dentist and ask about the overall well-being of your gums and teeth.

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Explore different floss props You can choose from waxed or unwaxed string, tape, holders, braided floss, threaders, and power flossers, to name a few. Dr. Kami Hoss says that as long as you’re gentle while you floss, you can experiment with what works for you best. Ask your dentist, too, for sound advice!


Apply the right technique Use some 18 inches of floss, and hold a short amount of it between your thumb and fingers. Insert the floss between your teeth. Gently move it in a slow back-and-forth motion as well as up and down. Avoid applying too much pressure and re-using string that’s been previously used and could already be harboring germs.


Kami Hoss, MS, DDS is the CEO and co-founder of The Super Dentists. He is also the CEO of Acceledontics, and Howard Healthcare Academy. He holds a master’s degree in craniofacial biology and a doctorate in dental surgery. Read more about his practice on this site.

Dental tips to guarantee a bride’s gleaming wedding-day smile

One’s wedding day is definitely one of the most important life events, and it’s equally important that one look as radiant as possible on this day as all eyes will be on them. The bride, in particular, should stand out, and not for the wrong reasons such as stained, yellowed, or crooked teeth. After all, it’s an occasion for flashing her smile for the many event-immortalizing cameras.

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The good news is that gaining that gleaming smile for our special day is but a few steps away, says Dr. Kami Hoss of the Super Dentists. It begins with a routine dental checkup a couple of weeks prior to the wedding. Consider this as mandatory; you need not be actually experiencing any tooth pain to schedule this important visit to the dentist. Your dentist should be able to ensure that you won’t have any dental discomfort in the days leading to the wedding, as he or she will check for any tooth distress or decay.

Aside from conducting a thorough cleaning of your teeth, a dentist from a good dental practice like the Super Dentists can offer key services like teeth straightening to correct unsightly misaligned and crooked teeth. It is recommended to visit such an orthodontic clinic months before the wedding to ensure that your teeth are straight and perfectly aligned come your wedding day.

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Many people settle for over-the-counter products to whiten their teeth, but nothing beats professional treatment. If you want a truly beaming and sparkling smile, don’t rely on home remedies. Let the dentist do the work. Dr. Kami Hoss adds that the important thing to remember here is that the process may require several visits, so don’t wait until the wedding date is near before discussing teeth whitening with a dentist.

Dr. Kami Hoss holds a master’s in craniofacial biology and a doctorate in dental surgery. He is the CEO of The Super Dentists, the largest pediatric dentistry and orthodontic practice in San Diego, California. For similar posts on dental health, go to this blog. c

Seven tips in teaching dental hygiene to kids

For many children, practicing dental hygiene is fun. However, for some, it can be daunting or boring. Helping kids have a healthy smile through brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups is a job for parents and teachers.

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Parents and kids should brush and floss together. This encourages children to follow what their parents do. A parent must show their kid the proper technique to brush and floss so that the latter can mimic the best method in keeping teeth healthy.

Give the child a special brush to keep their interest in brushing. Pick ones that have the child’s favorite cartoon character as the design. Keep track of time in order to teach the child to brush their teeth for a good couple of minutes. Use a sand timer and ask the kid to flip it to begin, and brush until all the sand is at the bottom.

Partner the special toothbrush with a special toothpaste to instill love and pleasure for the activity. While a kid may like the minty flavor of regular toothpaste, reward them for their obedience with a fruity-flavored toothpaste.

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Show content that display good oral health to encourage the child to do the same. Make brushing and flossing twice a day an opportunity to follow a reward system. When a child agrees to visit the dentist for a check-up, be sure to surprise him or her with a fun family activity afterwards. This lets them know that they are appreciated for their obedience, and that taking good care of their teeth reaps rewards.




Kami Hoss MS, DDS, is the CEO of The Super Dentists, the largest pediatric dentistry and orthodontic practice in San Diego. For more updates from Dr. Kami Hoss, subscribe to this blog.