oral health

Thanks for the question. Your first visit typically includes an x-ray that allows us to view the structure of the jaw, the position of any teeth that have not yet erupted, malformed roots, and tooth decay.

The initial visit also involves getting your medical history. When you share your medical history with us, be sure to provide complete, up-to-date information on your health. Please let us know if you have experienced recent hospitalization or surgery, or if you have recently been ill. Also tell us the names, doses, and frequency of any medications you are taking — whether prescription or over-the-counter products — and the name of your physician. Please also let us know about any changes in your health or medications. This information will us select the most safe and effective method of treatment path for you.

We not only offer the most cutting edge treatments, but we also put enormous emphasis on providing the very best customer service available to ensure that you not only get an effective and excellent outcome from your treatment, but also enjoy your time in our office. You will always be informed of several treatment options and provided with flexible payment options. We are all family-oriented individuals, and we understand that you want the best for your family’s health.

Have any more questions about your first visit? Please give us a call!

Advantages of fluoride varnish versus traditional fluoride gels, foams, etc.

Fluoride varnish acts in two ways:
1. It quickly adheres to teeth promoting tooth remineralization, and
2. it is also slowly released to the tooth surface over time, providing on-going fluoride protection, enhancing its effectiveness versus the rest of the topical fluoride treatments.

Quick and easy to apply. Applying the varnish takes less than two minutes, making it ideal for patients who are anxious or who have special needs.

It is safer to use. The amount of fluoride swallowed is small or negligible, which makes it acceptable for use in very young children.

Tastes better, compared to fluoride gels, making it more acceptable by infants. Fluoride varnish is available in various flavors.

Does not require the use of trays that may trigger gag reflex.

Does not require the use of sophisticated dental equipment and instruments.

You water the garden three times a week, you change your car’s oil every three months, and you replace the batteries in your smoke detectors once a year. Your teeth need to see your dentist on a regular schedule, too.

While daily oral hygiene habits are essential to good oral health, professional dental cleanings at our office ensure your teeth are treated to a deeper level of cleaning. We recommend for most of our patients to have a checkup at least every six months. In addition to a thorough cleaning and polishing of your teeth, these regular visits help us detect and prevent the onset of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. During your visit, Dr. Bialecki and our team will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. We’ll also check old fillings and restorations, as these can wear away over time from constant chewing, grinding, or clenching.

If you are predisposed to oral diseases, you may need to visit our office more often than every six months. Factors at play in these diseases include age, pregnancy, tobacco use, medical conditions (such as diabetes, dry mouth, or HIV infection), along with how well you take care of your teeth on a daily basis.

Make sure your teeth get the professional attention they deserve – If you’re overdue for your next cleaning, check with Dr. Bialecki's office to schedule an appointment!

Visiting Dr. Bialecki's office regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Bialecki and our team would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

Dr. Bialecki and team are trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next appointment at our Lake Arrowhead office. Take care of your teeth!

Spring is upon us, and for Dr. Bialecki and our team, that only means one thing: it’s once again time to remind our dear patients to protect their faces and pearly whites. After all, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year. Here are five tips from Dr. Bialecki to save face while having fun this spring. We hope you remember them when you’re out on the ball field:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our Lake Arrowhead office. Stay safe!

If you have missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them. Without all your teeth, chewing and eating can destabilize your bite and cause you discomfort. Dental implants are a great option for replacing missing or badly diseased teeth. A dental implant offers comfort, support, stability, and is as close to a natural tooth that a restoration can be.

There are many benefits to dental implants:

• Dental implants restore your ability to chew food properly.
• They fill out a face that may otherwise look sunken in because of missing teeth.
• They don’t need to be removed for overnight cleaning and soaking.
• No adhesives are needed.
• You’ll feel more confident to show off your smile to the world.
• Each implant is created to fit in perfectly with the look of the rest of your teeth.

Dental implants would be an appropriate treatment for you if you’re in good health, have healthy gums, and have enough bone structure to support an implant. A simple visit to Dr. Bialecki's office will reveal if a dental implant is the best option to restore your smile to its absolute best.

Dr. Bialecki and team understand not everyone is always thrilled to see the dentist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about our office that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly staff or Dr. Bialecki himself?

Let us know by posting here, on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Cavities occur as a result of the destruction of tooth structure, called tooth decay. Tooth decay can affect both the enamel (the outer coating of the tooth) and the dentin (the inner layer of the tooth). While it is very important to brush and floss every day to remove food particles and plaque, regular cleanings and checkups with at Dr. Bialecki’s office is the best way to prevent help avoid cavities.

Dr. Bialecki can discover cavities during your regular dental checkup. The tooth surface feels soft when probed with a dental instrument. X-rays can also show cavities before they become visible to the eye. In advanced stages of tooth decay, you might experience a toothache, especially after consuming sweet, hot, or cold foods or drinks. Other signs of tooth decay are visible pits or holes in the teeth.

Don’t wait for a toothache!

Remember, the longer you wait to treat a cavity, the more extensive your treatment will be. A small cavity can be treated with a filling, while a large cavity that weakens the structure of your tooth may require a crown. If the decay is so bad that it causes the nerve or pulp of the tooth to die, a root canal or tooth removal may be your only options. If you think you may have a cavity, contact Dr. Bialecki’s office and schedule an appointment. We’ll make sure you leave with a healthy, pain-free smile!

Thanks for the question. Simply put, yes! Visiting the dentist on a regular basis is essential to keeping your smile in tip-top shape. At the office of Dr. Bialecki, we offer a number of preventive services to ensure the health of your mouth and the beauty of your teeth. We’d like to think that your smile is just as important to us as it is to you!

Another good reason to visit Dr. Bialecki every six months is to check for “hidden” problems you may not even realize you have. Tiny cavities can form in the hard-to-reach areas of your teeth and may only be found through a professional exam. If left untreated, these cavities can get worse, needing more extensive treatment, and costing you even more time and money. During your routine exam, one of our hygienists will also check to make sure your fillings or other dental restorations are in good shape.

It’s important to prevent problems before they start. If it has been more than six months six your last visit, please contact our Lake Arrowhead dental office to schedule your routine checkup! See you soon!

You may remember our post from last week, when Dr. Bialecki and team discussed February being "National Dental Health Month." But did you know February is also American Heart Month?

It’s a great time to take notice of the health of your heart. Cardiovascular disease remains American's number one killer, claiming more lives than the rest of major causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Visiting our Lake Arrowhead office regularly can help prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. And a healthy mouth begins with a visit to the office of Dr. Bialecki. If you have any questions about heart health, or about your ongoing dental treatment at our office, please give us a call.

It’s a great time of the year to renew those resolutions about continuing to practice great dental hygiene. Today, Dr. Bialecki and team thought we’d discuss the importance of preventative oral care. While most people are familiar with traditional heart-saving practices such as eating healthy and exercising regularly, lesser-known are the benefits that great oral hygiene provides to one’s cardiovascular health.

Here are a few tips to help you continue those New Year’s resolutions:

*Remember that poor oral hygiene is linked to serious common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia and osteoporosis.

*Brush and floss every day to remove the plaque that can lead to cavities. Flossing daily removes food debris that your toothbrush cannot reach.

*Replace your toothbrush on a regular basis. You should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or after a cold or illness to prevent re-infection. Remember to use a soft toothbrush so you won’t wear off the enamel of your teeth.

*If heart disease runs in the family, a diagnosis of gum disease increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, but an improved oral care regimen and healthy diet can lower the risk.

*Visit our office regularly. The American Dental Association recommends you visit Dr. Bialecki’s Lake Arrowhead office every six months for regular checkups and cleanings. Fluoride treatments twice a year will help prevent tooth decay.

Each February, our team focus on the preventive oral care of our patients. Have you visited our office during the past six months? If not, it’s time to give us a call and schedule an appointment!

We know not everyone is always thrilled to visit their dentist for a checkup. But we want you to know we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each of your visits. So, today we’d like to know: What is it about our dental office that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our friendly staff? Is it something about Dr. Bialecki himself?

Let us know by posting below or on our Facebook page!

With winter sports under way for a lot of our patients, Dr. Hugh Bialecki and team thought it would be a good time to remind all you athletes to take care of their mouth while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) this winter.

More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24. Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet, 70 percent say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during games and practices.

Many people think a mouth guard is effective just to protect your teeth. But research has shown mouth guards can also reduce lower jaw impact that causes concussions and other dental injuries. If you participate in basketball, boxing, hockey, football, gymnastics, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, rugby, track and field, skateboarding, skiing and snowboarding, skydiving, soccer, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting or wrestling, it is recommended by the American Dental Association that you wear a mouthguard.

We hope this helps you remember to always wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in winter sports! We encourage you to visit our mouthguard page on our website for more information. Or, you may give us a call or ask Dr. Bialecki and our staff on Facebook!

Happy Holidays! Even if you brush and floss daily, it is still important to see us at Dr. Bialecki's office every 6 months, or as recommended. Why?

• Dr. Bialecki can detect and treat tooth and gum problems that you may have never felt or noticed.
• Even thorough daily oral care may not be enough to prevent cavities and oral decay.
• Frequent visits can allow Dr. Bialecki to treat a problem early to prevent future complications.

If you are overdue for an appointment at our Lake Arrowhead dental office, please give us a call today!

-- Dr. Bialecki & Team

There’s no reason to put up with gaps in your teeth or with teeth that are stained, discolored, badly shaped, chipped, or crooked, says Dr. Hugh Bialecki. Today, a veneer placed on top of your teeth can correct nature’s mistake or the results of an injury and help you have a beautiful smile. Veneers are a highly popular solution among dental patients because of their life-like tooth appearance!

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain) designed to cover the front side of your teeth. To prepare for veneers, Dr. Bialecki and our team will create a unique model of your teeth. This model is sent to the dental technician to create your veneers. Before placing your new veneer, Dr. Bialecki will reshape a small amount of your tooth to make room for the veneer. When placed, you’ll be pleased to see that veneers look like your natural teeth and even resist staining.

For more information on veneers, or if you have any questions about your treatment with Dr. Bialecki, please feel free to give us a call at our convenient Lake Arrowhead office.

At Dr. Bialecki’s office, we truly believe in the benefits of a natural, healthy smile. Dr. Hugh Bialecki and our team listen to the needs and expectations of every individual patient to help each one achieve the smile he or she has always wanted.

And speaking of smiling, in a poll conducted by Glamour Magazine earlier this year, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?”

Well, 44 percent of folks out there chose teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of one’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Now is a great time to take the first step toward a lifetime of healthy smiles. Contact our Lake Arrowhead dental office to schedule a complimentary consultation today! We proudly serve Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Running Springs, the San Bernardino mountain communities and Southern California.

At Dr. Bialecki’s office our team knows the way you care for your teeth at home doesn’t just affect your oral health – it can impact your overall health as well. In recent years, researchers have found clear links between the mouth and other parts of the body, and the evidence is especially impactful for people with diabetes.

November marks Diabetes Awareness Month, and a great time to learn about how keeping your mouth healthy is vital to your overall health, too. If you are one of the nearly 26 million Americans currently living with diabetes, there is some good news: you can protect your gums and teeth from the effects of diabetes by visiting our Lake Arrowhead dental office for regular check-ups and cleanings. Most people should have at least two dental appointments per year, but those folks living with diabetes may require additional visits to make sure their dental health remains in top shape. Many insurance plans provide expanded benefits for diabetic patients. Dr. Bialecki and our team can tell you how often you need to come in for your dental visits.

For more information on how we can help, please give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

For parents of Dr. Hugh Bialecki's patients worried about their kids going overboard on candies this weekend, sugar and other sweets, Halloween is a dreaded annual event (no pun intended).

Dr. Bialecki and team came across an amazingly informative article in the LA Times Health section on Monday. The National Confectioners Assn. estimates that 93% of children younger than 13 went door-to-door this Halloween, asking for treats, according to the article.

In the article, Dr. Elizabeth Prout Parks says that candy should be considered a treat, not a substitute for food with actual nutritional value. “As parents, we want to make sure kids still have their regular snacks so they’re not getting hungry and going for that candy,” she says.

If you indulge in Halloween candy, please make sure you brush and floss between teeth, as well as at the gum line. Make sure to visit Dr. Bialecki and our team for your recommended hygiene visit. We encourage you to read the rest of the article!

Did you know that Halloween costs the average American family more than $65 dollars a year? After costumes, most of the money goes toward candy – the average family spends $21 on candy. According to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American consumes almost 26 pounds of candy each year, a large percentage of it around Halloween. Have you thought about how this affects your mouth?

Sugars in candy come from sucrose, glucose and fructose sweeteners, all of which coat the mouth and act as a food source for bad bacteria. These bacteria sit on our teeth and metabolize, or break down, the sugar, which then produces acid. As the bacteria feeds the acid eats away the enamel. The tooth then starts to decay and eventually becomes a cavity. This process begins within 20 minutes of eating a piece of candy.

Sticky candies such as jellybeans, caramel, lollipops and Starbursts are among the worst for your teeth and for your health. The best candies are sugar free candies; Dr. Bialecki suggests those containing Xylitol. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener that looks and tastes like sugar, but temporarily inhibits the major organisms that cause tooth decay. You can find candies made from xylitol at Dr. John’s sugar free candies, www.drjohns.com. For tasty local treats you can check out the sugar free candies at Arturo’s in Blue Jay or the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in The Village. Options include sugar free chocolate clusters and
Cherry Cordials.

We wish you a decay-free Halloween!

At the office of Dr. Bialecki, we know nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of WebMD.

Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to visit Dr. Bialecki is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting Dr. Bialecki's office at least twice a year or as recommended, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your natural teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you’re wearing braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick up that candy bar, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Just as there are so many different types of toothbrushes to choose from, each brush also has a different type of bristle! There are generally three different types of bristles; hard, medium, and soft. We always recommend that our patients, especially children and seniors, use a soft bristled toothbrush.

Using a hard and medium bristled brush can actually harm your teeth and gums by stripping the enamel from the teeth and irritating the gums so that they become red and sore, and can even cause gum recession. If you do use a hard or medium bristled brush as a personal preference, we recommend using an electric toothbrush.

Soft bristles are much gentler on your teeth and gums, and while patients of all ages are recommended to use soft bristled brushes, they are particularly great for children, seniors, patients recovering from a dental procedure, and patients wearing braces.

Soft bristles, and even extra-soft bristles are every bit as effective when it comes to cleaning your teeth; in fact, if you currently use a hard or medium bristled brush, try a soft bristled brush next time you buy a toothbrush and we bet you won’t even notice a difference!

Hope this helps!

- Dr. Bialecki and team

Did you know that October is National Dental Health Month? For our staff at Dr. Hugh Bialecki’s office that means only one thing: Reminding you that your teeth are an important part of your body, and keeping them clean helps keep your mouth and your body healthy. By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting our convenient Lake Arrowhead office on a regular basis, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile throughout your entire life.

We encourage you to check out the official National Dental Hygiene Month website as well, which provides pointers on keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Lastly, has it been six months since your last visit with Dr. Bialecki? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to give us a call to set up an appointment!

Keep smiling!

At the office of Hugh Bialecki we know one thing no patient likes hearing when visiting our office is “root canal.” But what, exactly, is a root canal, and when might you need one? A root canal is a treatment Dr. Bialecki uses to repair and save a tooth that is infected or badly decayed to the point where the nerve is involved. In the past, if a patient had a tooth with a diseased nerve, dentists in most cases would recommend an extraction. Today, however, with a procedure called root canal therapy, available at our office, you may save that tooth—and your beautiful smile—after all!

Here are some symptoms that indicate a decayed or infected tooth, courtesy of WebMD:

• Severe toothache pain upon chewing, biting or application of pressure
• One tooth consistently more sensitive to hot or cold than other teeth
• Pain that hurts without any stimulus, keeps you awake or wakes you up at night
• A tooth that feels loose
• Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
• Pain that persists weeks following a filling or replacement of a filling
• Chronic pain and/or pressure that may extend to the ear, eye or neck

If any of these symptoms apply to you, we recommend you schedule an appointment with Dr. Bialecki.

The best way to avoid a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene at home, and that includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing to reduce plaque and bacteria. For more tips on how to avoid root canal therapy or for general questions about your dental treatment, we invite you to ask Dr. Bialecki during your next visit at our convenient Lake Arrowhead dental office! We also invite you to ask us on Facebook!

At the office of Dr. Hugh Bialecki, we know that gingivitis, which is the early stage of periodontal disease, can be difficult to recognize if you’re not a trained dentist. Many people don’t recognize the warning signs – bleeding and swollen gums – as a precursor to periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. This month, a national campaign is under way to raise awareness about gum health and periodontal disease, and we wanted to help do our part to spread the word!

Dr. Bialecki and our team will tell you early recognition and taking action are the most important steps to health gums, and ultimately a health body, too! Studies are published every year linking oral health, including the gums, to the health of other areas of the body, such as your heart. One of the most important steps to improving the care of your gums is recognizing the warning signs for gum disease.

Our staff knows these can include:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent halitosis, or bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position

If you happen to notice any of these signs, please schedule an appointment at our convenient Lake Arrowhead dental office by calling us as soon as possible. Dr. Bialecki can take proactive steps to prevent gingivitis and gum disease, while showing you how to improve gum care in your daily oral hygiene habits.

Happy Monday! Dr. Bialecki and our team would like to give those patients with flex spend, health savings, or insurance benefits a friendly end of the year reminder that it’s high time to schedule your dental visit so that you may optimize your benefits.

Please call our Lake Arrowhead office at your convenience to make an appointment. If you have used all your insurance benefits or do not have dental insurance at this time, we will create a plan to help you achieve your dental needs. Space is limited and Dr. Bialecki tends to get busy around holiday season with patients, so don’t wait to give us a call! We want you to have the best dental care and the healthiest teeth while getting the most out of your insurance benefits.

See you soon!

Does the sound of a drill make you flinch or cringe? Do you worry about your twice-yearly dental checkup? Trust Dr. Bialecki and our team when we say you’re not alone! In fact, the Journal of the American Dental Association has estimated that 30 to 40 million people have a fear of visiting the dentist.

To eliminate some of that fear, we’ve put together six steps to help you or your child overcome your dental anxiety before visiting Dr. Bialecki’s office.

1. What are you most afraid of? Is it the sound of the drill? Do you have needle phobia? Have you been traumatized by previous dental visits? Write down your fears, one by one.

2. Don’t wait. The more frequently you visit our office, the less work needs to be done at any one visit. Simply having your teeth cleaned professionally by Dr. Bialecki twice a year prevents many, if not most, problems.

3. Bring a distraction to your appointment. Bringing along an iPod is a great idea. Just plug in those earphones, close your eyes, and get lost in the music. Listening to music can also be a pain killer.

4. Relax. Inhale slowly, and count of five. Hold your breath for 10 seconds, then exhale slowly to the count of eight. Repeat. Concentrate on making out every word of the lyrics. It's easier if you're not totally focused on the work going on inside your mouth.

5. Ask. Before any procedure, ask Dr. Bialecki or one of our assistants why we’re using the tools we’re using. Ask us what we're doing, what the tool is used for, and how it will benefit you during the appointment. Also, please ask about anti-anxiety medications that we may prescribe to help you relax during your appointment

6. We are here to help you. Remember, we are health care professionals who want to improve your oral health, and will never judge you or the state of your mouth. Dr. Bialecki and team will do all we can to ensure a trauma-free and pain-free experience!

We hope this helps! For more on dental anxieties, we encourage you to visit this helpful article or ask us during your next visit to our convenient Lake Arrowhead office! Or, ask us on Facebook!

With summer in full force, Dr. Hugh Bialecki and our team thought today would be a great time to remind all our young athletes to take care of their mouth while participating in sports – especially contact sports – this summer.
Common dental injuries in sports during the summer include:

• Knocked out tooth/teeth
• Chipped tooth/teeth
• Displaced teeth

One of the best, and most convenient, ways to prevent injury to your teeth and mouth while playing sports is to wear a mouthguard. There are several types of mouthguards to choose from, and we can help you choose the best one for your particular needs.

Only by using a mouth guard can people avoid serious sports injuries. The next time you’re in for a visit at our Lake Arrowhead office, we encourage you to ask us for a mouth guard!