The health and appearance of your teeth and gums make a huge difference in the way you feel about yourself. Dr. Ana Martinez and her friendly team provides skillful, compassionate care. We provide the latest in modern dental technology to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy and look their best. In addition to the quality dental care she brings to the people of Santa Barbara, Dr. Martinez speaks Spanish and German. If you’re part of our Spanish-speaking community, you know your dentist will fully understand your questions and concerns. She is the dentist Santa Barbara families go to.
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Dental services at Riviera Smiles
Children's dentistry
Children can suffer from the same dental issues as adults:
• Cavities
• Gum disease
• Damaged or knocked-out teeth
• Bad breath
• Grinding their teeth
• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods or beverages
• In addition to these problems, your child may also have a baby tooth that is not coming out while the permanent tooth is trying to grow in.
By bringing your children to Dr. Martinez for regular dental exams, you establish a good practice for them to follow for the rest of their lives. You also ensure they have healthy teeth and gums as they grow up.
Inlays and onlays
Dental inlays and onlays are precisely crafted dental restorations for repairing a damaged tooth. Unlike crowns, which require healthy tooth material to be removed so the crown can fit over the tooth, an inlay or onlay is molded to the exact shape needed to repair the damaged part of your tooth. Your inlay
or onlay can be crafted from gold, porcelain, ceramic or a composite resin material used for fillings. Ask Dr. Martinez if an inlay or onlay would be a better choice for your tooth restoration. Dental inlays and onlays are precisely crafted dental restorations for repairing a damaged tooth. Unlike crowns, which require healthy tooth material to be removed so the crown can fit over the tooth, an inlay or onlay is molded to the exact shape needed to repair the damaged part of your tooth. Your inlay
or onlay can be crafted from gold, porcelain, ceramic or a composite resin material used for fillings. Ask Dr. Martinez if an inlay or onlay would be a better choice for your tooth restoration.
Zoom teeth whitening
Have your teeth lost the bright, white look they had when you were younger? Would you like to get that whiter smile back? You can with our Zoom teeth-whitening system. Zoom teeth whitening uses professional-strength whitening agents that you just can’t get in over-the-counter products. In one visit, usually, no more than an hour, your teeth will become their whitest. You will see the results immediately.
Dentures
Living without teeth can be challenging. You have difficulty speaking clearly, you find yourself eating bland, soft foods and you may look older than you are. Dentures are an economical way of replacing your missing teeth. With a properly fitted set of dentures from Dr. Martinez, you will look younger, have your smile back and be able to eat more of the foods you couldn’t eat before you got dentures.
Cosmetic dentistry
There are many reasons to smile in life. Unfortunately, many feel they have to keep their smiles hidden because they are embarrassed of the appearance of their teeth and gums. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry by our Santa Barbara dentist makes it possible for these individuals to transform their smiles, allowing them to smile with confidence and beauty once again.
Tooth-colored white fillings
When you need a cavity filled, wouldn’t you prefer the filling blend in with your teeth and be unnoticeable? You don’t need to get metal fillings anymore. With composite resin filling material, your fillings can be matched to the color of your teeth, making them virtually undetectable.
Dental bonding
Dental bonding uses a tooth-colored composite resin to repair your chipped or cracked teeth. If you’re on a tight budget, dental bonding can fix your smile at a lower cost than other options. With dental bonding, Dr. Martinez can improve the appearance of discolored teeth, close spaces between your teeth and add length to teeth that have been worn down. Another advantage to dental bonding is you can have the procedure done in one visit.
Tooth extractions
Dr. Martinez’s main focus is the health of your teeth and gums which form the foundation of a nice smile. For some patients, a tooth may need to be removed to safeguard their oral health. The reasons for extracting a tooth include:
• Too badly decayed to be saved
• Tooth broken in such a way that it can’t be filled or receive a crown
• Wisdom tooth that is impacted (blocked from coming through your gum)
• Wisdom tooth that is crowding other teeth
• You don’t need to live with tooth pain. Dr. Martinez will remove your decayed, broken or impacted tooth with minimal discomfort.
Preventative dentistry
The most important step you can take for your oral health is to prevent cavities and gum disease from starting. This is why getting a dental exam every six months is a vital part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. We do a thorough cleaning of your teeth which gets rid of hard mineral deposits called “tartar” that home-brushing can’t remove. Then Dr. Martinez exams your teeth and gums for any signs of cavities or gum disease. Early detection means quicker and less invasive treatment to fix the problem. Preventive dental services we offer include:
• dental cleaning
• digital x-rays
• dental exam
• fluoride treatment
• dental sealants
• night guards
Gum disease treatment
Gum disease is caused by bacteria that grow on the hard tartar buildup below your gum line which regular brushing can’t remove. If you haven’t had a dental cleaning in a long time, you may develop gum disease. This needs to be treated quickly to prevent damage to your gums and teeth. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to other serious health issues caused by bacterial infection traveling to other parts of the body. Our gum disease treatment is customized to each individual patient’s needs but typically includes deep yet gentle cleanings. Come see Dr. Martinez for a dental checkup to ensure your gums are healthy.
Porcelain veneers
Are you unhappy with the way your teeth look? Dr. Martinez can give you an attractive smile using porcelain veneers. Veneers correct dental problems such as:
•chipped teeth
•worn, uneven teeth
•teeth that are moderately crooked or not shaped properly
•gaps between your front teeth
•stained or discolored teeth that can’t be whitened
•Whether you need one or two teeth improved, or all your front teeth made to look better, Dr. Martinez and her team can give you the smile you want.
Dental crowns & bridges
You may need a dental crown if you have a tooth that is badly decayed or damaged. Sometimes the damage is too severe for a filling to work, so a crown is placed over your tooth to add stability and give you a stronger tooth surface. Your new dental crown is color-matched to the shade of your existing teeth so that it looks just like all your other teeth. A bridge is a special set of dental crowns used to fill the gap left by a missing tooth or teeth.
Dental implants
You don’t need to live with gaps in your smile. Dr. Martinez can replace your missing teeth using the latest technique—dental implants. Dental implants are permanently attached to the bone in your jaw, just like your natural teeth. Implants prevent bone loss and the shifting of adjacent teeth out of their proper positions. They also restore your smile to its natural look. Make an appointment with Dr. Martinez to find out which dental implant option will work best for you.
Smile makeover
We all want a good-looking smile, but sometimes we need help to make our smile look its best. With a smile makeover from Dr. Martinez, you can get the great smile you want. The first step is to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy. Then Dr. Martinez can give you the smile you’ve been wishing for.
Some of the procedures that can be used to restore your smile include:
• Dental implants to replace missing teeth
• Invisalign clear braces to straighten crooked teeth
• Porcelain veneers to repair damaged or discolored teeth
• Zoom teeth whitening to give you the whitest teeth possible
• Dental bonding to repair teeth
• Gum contouring to fix an uneven gum line
Teeth cleaning
A bright, healthy smile will only last if you give it the attention it needs. This includes a good regimen of oral care on your part, and regular visits to your dentist for exams and cleanings. At Riviera Smiles, our Santa Barbara dentist offers comprehensive exams and cleanings with one goal in mind: to help you maintain or improve your smile for a lifetime!
Gum contouring
Even the whitest, straightest teeth can appear flawed if your gums appear unhealthy or uneven. A beautiful smile needs balance, proportion, and eye-pleasing contours. Gums should be healthy, nicely colored, and nice frames for your teeth. If your gums are preventing your smile from being all it can be, Dr. Martinez can perfect its appearance with gum contouring treatment.
Invisalign
You can get straighter teeth without resorting to the older method of metal braces. The Invisalign clear braces system uses plastic trays which are molded specifically to fit your teeth and correct their alignment. As your teeth are shifted into better alignment, you switch to a new set of trays that are designed to continue the alignment process. Because the trays are made from a clear plastic material, they are nearly invisible, unlike unsightly metal braces. Make an appointment for your free consultation to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign clear aligners.
