Special Services (for Traditional Services click here.)

Bad Breath Management

Bad breath (halitosis) can be an unpleasant and embarrassing condition. Many of us may not realize that we have bad breath, but everyone has it from time to time, especially in the morning. In our full page report we discuss the reason morning breath is such a problem. Our prevention program has been very successful at eliminating this problem for patients in our Encino office.

Briefly, there are many reasons one may have bad breath, but in healthy people the major reason is due to bacterial deposits on the tongue, especially the back of the tongue. Studies have shown that by simply brushing the tongue reduced bad breath by as much as 50 percent. For more information on management and treatment of Bad Breath follow this link.

Dry Mouth Disease

Dry mouth disease is a change in your mouth that results from a reduction in the production of saliva. Dry mouth disease is usually caused by some chronic, ongoing problem and is becoming more and more frequently seen in my practice area of Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills. Many medications have this as a common side effect. We now see dry mouth problems every week as opposed to just occasionally as in the past. Dry mouth is highly destructive to the teeth and needs to be treated agressively. Read more about Dry Mouth Disease.

Sedation Dentistry

A persons fear of dental visits can be intense. It is often related to traumatic dental care as a child. This trauma can be very hard to overcome. Fortunately, a group of progressive dentists including Dr. Melnick saw a need to find a way to be able to provide full dental treatment for apprehensive people. A brief summary of the subject follows below. For more detailed information on the subject of Sedation Dentistry follow this link. Few dentists in Encino have Dr. Melnick's background in pharmacology.

You simply take a small pill prior to treatment. There are no intravenous tubes or needles. We carefully monitor your vital signs for safety.
You will have more comfort as sedation dentistry reduces the fatigue of extended dental treatments that can frequently required long visits.
Many people do not remember any sounds during the time of sedation. You likely will have very little or no memory of the entire experience.
Patients often sleep at home for five or six hours after taking the pill and wake up refreshed and comfortable.
Sedation dentistry saves time. Treatments requiring several appointments in the past can now be done in as little as one.
We can use sedation for those who have difficulty getting numb. Most people find that Sedation Dentistry can reduce this problem.

Implant Dentistry

An Implant is a small titanium screw placed in the jaw. Few advances in dentistry have been as great as Dental Implants. Dental Implants replace single missing teeth or anchor multiple teeth together like a bridge or a denture. Dental implants are the next best alternative to your natural teeth.

Dental implants are permanent, strong and natural feeling. Patients with dental implants are able to eat, smile and laugh. Whether you are a candidate for implants is evaluated on an individual basis. If you are missing teeth, we can explain all tooth replacement options with you. Call our Encino dental office for information on this exciting process with many, many options to consider

For full information on Implant Dentistry follow this link to our full description. We have helped people from all over the San Fernando Valley with our sophisticated implant techniques.

TMJ and Bite Therapy

For those suffer from TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), we offer several effective treatment methods. We provide an occlusal analysis for every patient. Occlusion is the way our teeth come together as we bite, as we close our mouth. Improper bite is a common cause of TMJ. Many who clench or grind their teeth will also experience TMJ.

We offer special splints and oral therapy to restore optimal occlusion and prevent damage due to grinding. There is no reason to live with the pain. For a complete report on TMJ and Bite Therapy follow this link. Being stress related, it is no wonder that so many people in our busy areas such as Encino, Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills and Tarzana experience this problem.

Snore Guard

Do you suffer from snoring or others suffer from your snoring. Then you probably need to take a look at Snore Guard. Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea which has been getting a lot of attention in the press recently. There are several medical problems that are worsened by sleep apnea and can be a very serious. Dr. Melnick is one of few dentists in Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills familiar with this technique.

Snore Guard is an oral appliance that resembles an athletic mouthpiece. Small and flexible, it has no moving parts, masks, hoses, or batteries. Snore Guard is made from a resin thermoplastic material and is easy to clean.

Snore Guard is worn during sleep. It uses normal body reflexes to keep the airway open. The device fits snugly on the upper teeth. When the lower jaw closes, the lower teeth close onto the lower portion of the Snore Guard. This keeps the jaw in a normal position, rather than sagging open and back into the throat.

In addition, the tongue reflexively seeks the small center orifice between the upper and lower ramp. This reflex keeps if from sagging back into the throat. With the airway open, breathing is relaxed and normal during sleep. In some cases it is used for Sleep Apnea. Call our Encino dental office and Dr. Melnick will be happy to discuss this FDA approved treatment with you.

"From the first phone call to your office for information my experience has been excellent. Dr. Melnick explained all my options so that I understood them all clearly. This was the first time in going to the dentist that I was given as much time as I wanted to ask questions. With all the dental work I needed I was very happy to find an office were they really cared about me. Good job guys."

Stan R., Accountant - Van Nuys