Where is the Best Dentist Near Me?
December 29, 2016
If you are looking for a great dentist in Salinas, look no further. Blanco Circle Dental Care is the preferred dentist for residents in Monterey County. For the past 5 years, our dental office has been selected as the best dental office in Monterey County due to Dr. Gary Klugman’s commitment to his patients and exceptional dental care. In addition to providing comprehensive dental services at his state-of-the-art dental office, he holds a strong commitment to giving back to the community. With his patients the heart and core of his practice, you will experience the difference when choosing Blanco Circle Dental Care.
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Ask your Salinas, CA dentist if it’s a cavity in your mouth
June 6, 2016
Your molar has become sensitive to heat, cold and sugary foods. What’s happening? Contact Dr. Gary Klugman, Salinas, CA dentist. This highly-skilled family dentist is a Distinguished Mentor for the Center for Restorative Excellence in Seattle. Simply put, he knows if you have dental decay requiring treatment. (more…)
Salinas Dentist Offers the Latest Dental Technology
April 1, 2016
When you think of technology, you probably picture the latest iPhone, tablet or laptop. But computers and hand-held devices don’t have a monopoly on technology. The advantages of this “brave new world” extend elsewhere, too. Take dentistry, for example. Technology makes a visit to your Salinas dentist at Blanco Circle Dental Care more comfortable, more accurate and faster. Let’s take a look at just some of the technology you’ll find at our office.
Does insurance cover all at my Salinas, CA dentist?
November 1, 2015
Dental care is necessary care. Don’t skimp on it, but know what dental insurance covers at your Salinas, CA dentist’s office.
Medical expenses keep increasing. The cost of dental services are no different. Your Salinas, CA dentists, Dr. Gary Klugman and Dr. Christina Blanco, want all their patients to get the preventive and restorative care they need. Learn the particulars of dental insurance and what benefits it affords you and your family. (more…)
Properly Brushing Your Teeth Can Keep Your Oral Health in Fantastic Shape
September 26, 2015
Surprisingly, there are many patients that don’t believe there’s a right and wrong way to brush teeth. How silly of some patients. There is, indeed, a correct and incorrect way to brush your pearly whites. If you’re straight-up either not brushing your teeth or going through the motions, you’re not doing your oral health any favors. When you’re not brushing correctly or not at all, you’re allowing tooth decay and other harmful bacteria to invade your teeth and cause all sorts of problems. Brushing and flossing can help you fight off these dental issues, all it takes is time and dedication. We want you to know that properly brushing your teeth can help put your oral health in the best shape possible.
At our office in Salinas, CA, we want you to know how important it is to properly care for your teeth, and that includes brushing and flossing correctly. We always encourage our patients to come in for an office visit twice a year, but practicing good dental hygiene at home is just as important. If you haven’t been brushing your teeth correctly, it’s never too late to learn how to properly brush! Dr. Klugman and Dr. Bianco are the dentists Salinas, CA residents can trust to get their teeth looking and feeling beautiful.
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The Truth about Oral Piercings and Your Oral Health
August 14, 2015
For some people, oral piercings are a means of self-expression and individuality. The truth of the matter is, however, that piercings have been practiced by most civilizations throughout history. Preserved bodies, such as those of Egyptian pharaohs, have piercings. Mayans practiced the art of tongue piercing, and as a mark of puberty, Eskimo young men pierced their lower lips. So the trend is hardly new. What is new, though, is what we know about the connection between oral piercing and oral health. Committed to your complete oral health, Dr. Gary Klugman and Dr. Christina Bianco at Blanco Circle Dental Care in Salinas, CA, offer the facts about oral piercing and the health of mouth.
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General and Family Dentistry from Blanco Circle Dental Care in Salinas, CA
February 22, 2015
Beautiful and healthy smiles don’t just happen. Like anything worth having they take work. And in this case, the work is completed by a partnership: you and your dentist. With general and family dentistry from Blanco Circle Dental Care in Salinas CA, you can rely on Dr. Gary Klugman and Dr. Christina Bianco to be your trusted partners in achieving beautiful and healthy smiles for you and your entire family.
Dental Checkups: the Foundation of General and Family Dentistry
In keeping with the recommendation of the American Dental Association, Drs. Klugman and Bianco would like to see you and each member of your family every six months for checkups. With these regularly scheduled visits, we can better track your oral health and spot any developments before they become painful or expensive problems.
At these checkups, we will clean your teeth and remove plaque buildup; we’ll check the health of your gums and other soft tissue; and we’ll carefully examine your teeth for decay. If we do find a cavity—or any other concerning issue, such as gum disease, signs of TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) or teeth clenching and grinding—then we will want to treat with the most up-to-date procedure. Thus, we offer tooth-colored fillings for cavities, TMJ therapy to relieve your pain and nightguards to protect your teeth from nighttime teeth grinding.
Your Role in General and Family Dentistry
Dr. Klugman and Dr. Bianco want you to take a proactive role in your dental care. Therefore, we encourage you to contact our office immediately if you or a family member is experiencing discomfort or any visible concern. Beyond that, our dental hygienists will show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth, so that you can maintain your oral health in between your regularly scheduled checkups.
Schedule an Appointment Today
For the best in general and family dentistry in Salinas, CA, call the office of Blanco Circle Dental Care today. We conveniently serve patients in Hollister, Monterey, Seaside, Prunedale, Marina, Greenfield, Gilroy and King City and beyond.
Relieve Tooth Pain and Sensitivity with Root Canal Therapy from Blanco Circle Dental Care
December 22, 2014
As dental procedures go, root canals have a bad reputation. That’s because most patients don’t realize the profound benefits of root canal therapy. Root canal therapy cannot only immediately relieve toothache pain and discomfort, but can also save your natural teeth from extraction. Make an appointment with the experienced family and restorative dentists of Blanco Circle for the root canal therapy you need today. Dr. Klugman and Dr. Bianco can compassionately perform your root canal therapy procedure. Blanco Circle Dental Care proudly serves families throughout Salinas, CA, Hollister, Monterey, Seaside, Prunedale, Marina, Greenfield, Gilroy, King City, and the surrounding areas.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
During a root canal therapy procedure the dentist will remove infected pulp from the center of your damaged tooth to prevent the spread of infection to your surrounding healthy teeth. The pulp chambers or “canals” are then disinfected, shaped, filled, and sealed for protection. A successful root canal therapy procedure should eliminate any tooth pain and discomfort and save the tooth from developing an abscess or needing eventual extraction.
When Do You Need Root Canal Therapy?
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may need root canal therapy:
- Any level of localized tooth pain or discomfort ranging from just slight to extreme, with throbbing.
- Tooth pain that lessens or intensifies as you change position.
- Pain in response to chewing, biting, or pressing on the tooth.
- Completely spontaneous tooth pain.
- Pain triggered by hot or cold beverages.
- Pain that lingers for only a few minutes, before finally fading.
- Pain that last for hours on end.
- Pain that keeps you from having a peaceful night’s sleep.
Root Canal Therapy Appointments in Salinas, CA
Tooth infections can only worsen over time. Don’t wait until it’s too late to get your infected teeth treated. Make an appointment with Dr. Klugman and Dr. Bianco for the root canal therapy that can save your natural teeth. Blanco Circle Dental Care proudly restores smiles daily throughout Salinas, CA, Hollister, Monterey, Seaside, Prunedale, Marina, Greenfield, Gilroy, King City, and nearby areas.
Dental Concerns at Every Age
November 22, 2014
Taking care of your teeth is important at every age. However, as our bodies change and we learn how to take care of our teeth, we can develop different oral health concerns. That’s why it’s so convenient to choose a dentist that specializes in family dentistry. No matter your age, the team at Blanco Circle Dental Care can address the needs of every member of your family, from baby’s first visit to helping you navigate whitening options, to fitting the grandparents for dentures. You can set up an appointment with Dr. Klugman and Dr. Bianco today at their Salinas, CA dentist office.
Children’s Dental Concerns
Children have a unique set of concerns as they grow and develop. After the teething stage, children will begin to lose their baby teeth. The most common concern at this point will be preventing tooth decay. The tooth enamel of a child is only about half as thick as an adult’s, which makes their teeth particularly susceptible to tooth decay. Once decay begins, it does more damage more quickly. If left undetected, it can rapidly form a cavity. It’s also important to keep your child’s plaque under control because if left untreated, it can make your children’s gums swollen so that they bleed when touched. This is the first stage of gingivitis (gum disease). Though these concerns are fairly common in children, improved brushing and regular cleaning by a dentist should combat these problems.
Teen Dental Concerns
As your child grows into a teenager, irregular tooth growth can become a major issue. The formation of over and under bites, crooked and misaligned teeth is a common problem among adolescents who may now require braces to correct these issues. Another common problem at this age is wisdom tooth extraction, or the removal of the third molar. Wisdom teeth come in sometime between the ages of 17 and 21. This process can be very painful if the teeth become impacted. Other dental problems may commonly arise at this age due to behavioral factors such as poor nutrition, eating disorders, smoking, oral piercings and illicit drug use. It’s extremely important to educate your teen on the added consequences of poor dental health when engaging in these behaviors.
Adult Dental Concerns
In addition to tooth decay, adult dental concerns may be aesthetic, or may be related to the development of certain dental conditions. Teeth grinding, or bruxism, occurs unconsciously while you sleep. It can cause serious damage to your teeth and jaw. Teeth grinding can be caused by stress or by sleep disorders. Teeth grinding can be treated by the dentist with a fitted mouthguard to protect your teeth while you sleep. A related disorder of the temporomandibular joints, or TMJ, is a common ailment for many adults. The TMJ is among the more complex joints in the body. Any misalignment of the teeth or jaw that prevents the TMJ from working properly may result in a painful disorder, also referred to as TMJ disorders or sometimes TMD. The cause of TMJ disorder is often unclear, but possible causes can include arthritis, dislocation, injury, or problems related to alignment or teeth grinding from stress. Symptoms of TMD include pain in or around the ear, tenderness of the jaw, clicking or popping noises when opening or closing the mouth and severe headaches.
Senior Dental Concerns
As we age keeping our teeth healthy can become more and more of a challenge. Seniors can have a particularly difficult time maintaining their oral health because of the side effects of their medical conditions or prescription drugs. Some medications and certain health conditions can lead to dry mouth. Dry mouth is a leading cause of tooth decay for seniors. It is not a normal part of aging, but it is a side-effect of more than 500 medications, including those for allergies or asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pain, anxiety or depression, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The dentist can help seniors relieve the symptoms of dry mouth and treat the condition. Oral cancer can also become a concern at this time. The average age of most people diagnosed with these cancers is 62. Since early detection is a vital part of ensuring that treatment is effective, it’s especially important for seniors to see the dentist regularly.
Addressing Family Dental Concerns in Salinas, CA
There are important steps to take to maintain oral health at every age. However, no matter how old you are, it’s vitally important to visit the dentist regularly. Dr. Klugman and Dr. Bianco at Blanco Circle Dental Care understand the unique needs of their patients. Contact them today to schedule appointments for the whole family. Blanco Circle Dental Care proudly serves families throughout Salinas, CA, Hollister, Monterey, Seaside, Prunedale, Marina, Greenfield, Gilroy, and King City.
Study Shows Connection between Cavities and Oral Cancer
November 8, 2014
It’s widely recognized that having cavities is bad for your oral health. Recent studies, however, are shedding some interesting light on the correlation between dental decay and oral cancer. Your local Salinas, CA experts, Dr. Klugman and Dr. Bianco, can assist you in developing a healthy smile through preventative and restorative dental treatments.
Cavities and Oral Cancer Detection
A September 2013 study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery by researchers at the University of Buffalo found that people with the most cavities were the least likely to have oral cancer. The researchers compared 399 patients with oral cancer with 221 cancer free patients. They found “… an independent association between dental caries [cavities] and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [oral cancer cells]”, citing that the lactic acid produced by bacteria in cavities actually stop the development of these cancer cells. Researchers state that the bacteria are similar to those found in yogurt. In addition to preventing head and neck cancer, they can also help lower the risk of inflammatory diseases, allergies and some other types of cancer. Critics of the findings say that the results are preliminary and don’t distinguish between the causes of the cavities (periodontal disease) and don’t address the associated consequences of dental diseases that carry their own health risks. Other experts agreed, but noted that the findings could lead to new ways to treat and prevent oral cancers.
Oral cancer is a serious condition that must be detected early for positive treatment outcomes. Dentists screen for oral cancers as part of your regular dental checkup which is one reason why visiting the dentist every 6 months is vital to your good health. During an exam, the dentist will check your head, neck and the inside of your mouth for abnormal lumps, bumps, lesions and discolorations. If an abnormality is found, the dentist will take a tissue simple for analysis or send you to a specialist for further investigation. Increased risks for developing oral cancer include excessive consumption of tobacco products, alcohol and contraction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Cavity Prevention and Oral Cancer Screening in Salinas, CA
Whether you are concerned about cavities or oral cancer, it’s important to have regular dental checkups to protect your teeth and your overall health. The doctors at Blanco Circle Dental Care are happy to help you do so today. Contact Dr. Klugman and Dr. Bianco today to schedule your next visit. The doctors proudly serve residents in Salinas, CA, Hollister, Monterey, Seaside, Prunedale, Marina, Greenfield, Gilroy, and King City.