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The PDG blog

Straight answers about your teeth

Every article is written for Montebello patients and reviewed by Dr. Lina Shahinyan. Browse by treatment, or see what we’re publishing every week this year.

12-month content calendar
Smiling patient reading dental care tips on a tablet in the office lounge

Latest articles

Hygienist at Pacific Dental Group showing a smiling patient her teeth during a routine checkup in Montebello

· Dental Checkups & Cleanings

What to Expect at Your First Dental Visit in Montebello

A step-by-step look at a new patient visit at Pacific Dental Group — timing, X-rays, costs, and how to prepare.

Relaxed patient reclined in a dental chair while a gentle hygienist performs a deep cleaning

· Deep Cleaning (Scaling & Root Planing)

Is a Deep Cleaning a Scam? How to Know If You Really Need One

Pocket depths, bone loss and bleeding — the measurable signs that decide whether you need scaling and root planing.

Close-up of a natural-looking tooth-colored composite filling on a molar

· Tooth-Colored Fillings

Silver vs. Tooth-Colored Fillings: Which Should You Choose?

Comparing composite and amalgam fillings on looks, durability, safety and cost — and when to replace old silver fillings.

Hygienist painting fluoride varnish onto a smiling child’s teeth

· Fluoride Application

Is Fluoride Safe for Kids? A Montebello Parent’s Guide

What professional fluoride varnish does, how much is used, and why pediatric dentists recommend it every six months.

Happy preteen boy giving a thumbs up in the dental chair after getting sealants

· Dental Sealants

Dental Sealants: The Back-to-School Habit That Prevents Cavities

Why the 6-year and 12-year molars are the best time for sealants, and how the no-drill procedure works.

Custom clear night guard and blue sports mouth guard on a clean surface

· Custom Mouth Guards

7 Signs You Grind Your Teeth at Night (and What to Do)

Morning headaches, flat teeth and jaw soreness can mean bruxism. Learn the signs and how a custom night guard helps.

Dental Checkups & Cleanings

About dental checkups & cleanings
Hygienist at Pacific Dental Group showing a smiling patient her teeth during a routine checkup in Montebello

· Dental Checkups & Cleanings

What to Expect at Your First Dental Visit in Montebello

A step-by-step look at a new patient visit at Pacific Dental Group — timing, X-rays, costs, and how to prepare.

Deep Cleaning (Scaling & Root Planing)

About deep cleaning (scaling & root planing)
Relaxed patient reclined in a dental chair while a gentle hygienist performs a deep cleaning

· Deep Cleaning (Scaling & Root Planing)

Is a Deep Cleaning a Scam? How to Know If You Really Need One

Pocket depths, bone loss and bleeding — the measurable signs that decide whether you need scaling and root planing.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

About tooth-colored fillings
Close-up of a natural-looking tooth-colored composite filling on a molar

· Tooth-Colored Fillings

Silver vs. Tooth-Colored Fillings: Which Should You Choose?

Comparing composite and amalgam fillings on looks, durability, safety and cost — and when to replace old silver fillings.

Fluoride Application

About fluoride application
Hygienist painting fluoride varnish onto a smiling child’s teeth

· Fluoride Application

Is Fluoride Safe for Kids? A Montebello Parent’s Guide

What professional fluoride varnish does, how much is used, and why pediatric dentists recommend it every six months.

Dental Sealants

About dental sealants
Happy preteen boy giving a thumbs up in the dental chair after getting sealants

· Dental Sealants

Dental Sealants: The Back-to-School Habit That Prevents Cavities

Why the 6-year and 12-year molars are the best time for sealants, and how the no-drill procedure works.

Custom Mouth Guards

About custom mouth guards
Custom clear night guard and blue sports mouth guard on a clean surface

· Custom Mouth Guards

7 Signs You Grind Your Teeth at Night (and What to Do)

Morning headaches, flat teeth and jaw soreness can mean bruxism. Learn the signs and how a custom night guard helps.

Emergency Dentistry

About emergency dentistry
Dentist reassuring a patient holding her jaw in pain during an emergency dental visit

· Emergency Dentistry

Toothache at Night: Should You Go to the ER or the Dentist?

When a toothache is an emergency, what to do until you can be seen, and how to get same-day care in Montebello.

KöR Teeth Whitening

About kör teeth whitening
Woman with a bright, freshly whitened smile after KöR whitening

· KöR Teeth Whitening

KöR Whitening vs. Whitening Strips: Is Professional Worth It?

How KöR Deep Bleaching reaches stains strips cannot, why it causes less sensitivity, and how long results last.

Porcelain Veneers & Lumineers

About porcelain veneers & lumineers
Cosmetic dentist holding a thin porcelain veneer beside a patient’s smile

· Porcelain Veneers & Lumineers

Veneers vs. Lumineers: Which Is Right for Your Smile?

Thickness, prep, durability and cost — a clear comparison of traditional porcelain veneers and Lumineers.

Composite Bonding

About composite bonding
Dentist sculpting tooth-colored composite bonding onto a front tooth

· Composite Bonding

Can Bonding Fix a Chipped Front Tooth in One Visit?

How cosmetic composite bonding repairs chips and small gaps in a single appointment — and how long it lasts.

Smile Makeover

About smile makeover
Confident woman showing her new smile after a complete smile makeover

· Smile Makeover

Planning a Smile Makeover: The Right Order of Treatments

Why health comes first, alignment second and cosmetics last — and how to phase a makeover to fit your budget.

Invisalign Clear Aligners

About invisalign clear aligners
Smiling young woman holding a clear Invisalign aligner tray

· Invisalign Clear Aligners

How Much Does Invisalign Cost in Montebello?

What affects Invisalign pricing, how our $2,999 special works, and how insurance and financing can help.

Dental Implants

About dental implants
Model showing a titanium dental implant, abutment and crown beside natural teeth

· Dental Implants

Dental Implant vs. Bridge: Which Is Better for a Missing Tooth?

Comparing implants and bridges on longevity, cost, bone health and treatment time to help you decide.

Crowns & Bridges

About crowns & bridges
Porcelain dental crown and three-unit bridge on a dental model

· Crowns & Bridges

Do I Need a Crown or Just a Filling?

How dentists decide between a filling, onlay or crown — and why the size of the cavity matters.

Dentures & Partials

About dentures & partials
Smiling senior patient holding a natural-looking set of full dentures

· Dentures & Partials

Why Do My Dentures Keep Slipping? 5 Fixes

Bone changes, worn teeth and fit issues explained — plus relines, new dentures and implant-supported options.

Inlays & Onlays

About inlays & onlays
Tooth-colored porcelain inlay and onlay restorations next to a molar model

· Inlays & Onlays

Inlay vs. Onlay vs. Crown: A Simple Guide

The differences between inlays, onlays and crowns, and when each one is the best way to save a tooth.

Root Canal Treatment

About root canal treatment
Dentist explaining a root canal procedure to a patient using a tooth model

· Root Canal Treatment

Does a Root Canal Hurt? What Patients Actually Say

Separating myth from reality about root canal pain, recovery time and why it is often the best way to save a tooth.

Bone Grafting

About bone grafting
Dentist reviewing a 3D jaw scan with a patient to plan a bone graft

· Bone Grafting

Do I Need a Bone Graft Before a Dental Implant?

How dentists measure jawbone for implants, when grafting is needed, and what recovery looks like.

Periodontics & Gum Care

About periodontics & gum care
Dentist examining a patient’s gums with a periodontal probe

· Periodontics & Gum Care

Bleeding Gums: What They’re Trying to Tell You

Why gums bleed, how to tell gingivitis from periodontitis, and the connection between gum health and your body.

Tooth Extractions & Wisdom Teeth

About tooth extractions & wisdom teeth
Dentist reviewing a panoramic X-ray showing wisdom teeth with a patient

· Tooth Extractions & Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom Teeth Removal: A Day-by-Day Recovery Guide

What to eat, how to manage swelling and how to avoid dry socket after wisdom tooth extraction.

Pediatric Dentistry

About pediatric dentistry
Smiling young girl in the dental chair high-fiving her friendly dentist

· Pediatric Dentistry

Your Baby’s First Dental Visit: When and What to Expect

Why the first visit should happen by age one, what we check, and tips to make it fun.

TMJ & Facial Pain

About tmj & facial pain
Dentist gently examining a patient’s jaw joint for TMJ pain

· TMJ & Facial Pain

Why Does My Jaw Click? TMJ Explained

Common causes of jaw clicking and pain, when to worry, and conservative TMJ treatments that help.

Sedation Dentistry

About sedation dentistry
Calm patient relaxing with eyes closed in the dental chair during sedation dentistry

· Sedation Dentistry

Scared of the Dentist? Sedation Options Explained

Nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation compared, plus tips for managing dental anxiety.

Ready for a calmer kind of dental visit?

New patients get a comprehensive exam, cleaning and X-rays for $59. Most PPO plans and Denti-Cal accepted.

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