Blog

When it comes to dental procedures, tooth extraction can evoke more anxiety and fear for many. At San Diego Healthy Smiles, serving the communities of Chula Vista and Lakeside, we understand the apprehension associated with tooth extractions and have implemented a patient-centric approach to minimize pain and discomfort during these procedures. A Caring and Compassionate […]

If you experience an unexpected dental emergency during our office hours Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., you should call us for an immediate appointment. If something happens outside those times, you should go to an urgent care clinic or emergency room at a hospital for immediate care and follow up with an appointment at San Diego […]

Everyone is unique, starting with their genetics, affected by their lifelong diet and exercise habits, and everything else from the environment to their medical care. This includes, of course, their mouth and their oral health. Very few people grow up fully appreciating just how challenging it is to keep their gums and teeth clean and […]

A third of Americans do not even have a full examination by a dentist even once a year, while the American Dental Association points out that this is important twice a year, because small cavities or slightly bleeding gums can lead to the loss of a tooth or the need for gum surgery very quickly. […]

We often come across patients who wonder whether it is necessary to remove their wisdom teeth if they aren’t causing any pain or discomfort. Serving the communities of Chula Vista and Lakeside, our team recognizes these concerns, while it may be tempting to ignore asymptomatic wisdom teeth, there are compelling reasons why their removal remains […]

If you are wearing dentures, but dissatisfied with how they feel, how you can chew with them, how well you can speak, and concerned about having to adjust them regularly, you may wonder if you can switch to dental implants. These are screws that are inserted into the jaw to replace tooth roots and are […]

Ana Cluff, DDS, a reputable dental practice serving the communities of Chula Vista and Lakeside, California, understands the importance of timely detection and treatment of oral health issues. One common concern patients may encounter is an impacted tooth. In this article, we will explore the signs and indicators that may suggest the presence of an […]

Now that so many are making up lost time after the pandemic to travel, if you have a history of bad breath you may be anxious about being so close to others. Dr. Cluff has some good advice about how to prevent and treat it, as needed. Brushing and Cleaning Techniques The first is to […]

Many dental emergencies can’t be anticipated, such as being in a sports or car accident that knocks out or breaks a tooth. But sports injuries can be prevented by always wearing a customized mouthguard created by Dr. Cluff (OTC ones are not sufficient protection), even if it is “just playing non-contact games with friends.” If […]

When we were young, we knew our dentist filled cavities when we didn’t brush and floss adequately. Beyond avoiding that pain (and maybe braces when we were teenagers), few of us knew anything about dentistry until we were adults. Healthy Gums Prevent Costly Dental Work That’s when we slowly began to realize that keeping our […]