Good to know, from the team at mend.
Straight answers on aligners, whitening, emergencies and what things cost, written and reviewed by Dr. Sison.
Dental care after 50 in Irvine: gums, dry mouth, and keeping your teeth
Looking for a dentist in Irvine who plans care differently after 50? At mend dental I build those visits around gum health, dry mouth from medications, root sensitivity, oral cancer…
Sep 24, 2026 · 5 min read · Dr. Monique Sison, DDS Read article
Getting a second opinion on dental work in Irvine
Looking for a second opinion dentist in Irvine? Bring your X-rays to mend dental and I will tell you what I see, including when I agree with the first plan.
Read article Invisalign
Invisalign for adults in Irvine: what changes in your 40s and 50s
Yes, adults in their 40s and 50s are often strong Invisalign candidates at mend dental in Irvine. What changes with age is not whether teeth can move. It is whether gums, bone, bite…
Read article Comfort
Sedation dentistry in Irvine: when I recommend it (and when I don’t)
Sedation dentistry in Irvine is a tool at mend dental, not a default. I recommend nitrous oxide (laughing gas) when anxiety or a longer procedure truly needs it, and I skip it when…
Read article Gum health
Why mend has a periodontist in the same office
Why does mend dental in Irvine have a periodontist in the same office? Because once gum disease moves past a regular cleaning, you need specialist-level care without losing the team that…
Read article Emergency
Cracked tooth: fix it, crown it, or watch it?
Cracked a tooth and wondering whether to fix it, crown it, or watch it? At mend dental in Irvine, cracks that hurt when you bite, leave a sharp edge, or risk splitting the tooth need…
Read article Everyday care
Night guard for grinding: when I recommend one (and when I don’t)
Looking for a night guard for grinding in Irvine? At mend dental, I recommend a custom night guard when clenching or grinding is wearing enamel, stressing fillings, or leaving your jaw…
Read article Prevention
Dry mouth from medications: why careful brushers still get cavities
If you brush carefully and still get cavities, less saliva is often why: many common medications dry the mouth, and dry teeth stay under acid longer. At mend dental in Irvine, I check…
Read article Gum health
Gum recession: why roots get sensitive and when I treat it
Cold drinks that sting near the gumline, or teeth that suddenly look longer, usually mean the gum has pulled back and left root surface exposed. At mend dental in Irvine, I treat that…
Read article Emergency
My crown came off: what to do before you get to the office
If your crown came off, keep it, rinse it gently, and call the same day. At mend dental in Irvine, we can often recement an intact crown in a short visit, or protect the tooth with a…
Read article Restorative
Dental implant vs bridge: how I help you choose for one missing tooth
Both a dental implant and a bridge can replace one missing tooth. The better choice depends on the neighboring teeth, the bone under the gap, your bite, and how long you want the result…
Read article Gum health
Diabetes and your gums: what I watch for at dental visits
Blood sugar and gum inflammation affect each other, so dental visits matter more when you have diabetes. Research links gum disease with diabetes control, which is why I watch your gums…
Read article Restorative
How long do dental crowns last, and when I recommend replacing one
Well-made dental crowns often last many years with normal home care and regular checkups. How long yours lasts depends on your bite, grinding habits, decay at the edge of the crown, and…
Read article Emergency
Toothache on a Saturday? What to do until we open
First-aid steps for the most common dental emergencies, what helps, what makes it worse, and when to skip us and go to the ER.
Read article Insurance & pricing
Is a dental membership worth it without insurance?
The math behind mend’s $399 annual plan, how it compares with buying insurance yourself, and who should skip it.
Read article Cosmetic
Veneers vs. bonding: which one fixes a chipped tooth?
Two very different price points and procedures that can look identical on day one. How much tooth each removes, and how each ages.
Read article New patients
What actually happens at a first visit to mend
The scan, the X-rays, the conversation, and what you leave with. The whole 90-minute first appointment, in order.
Read article Whitening
Does whitening hurt? Why KöR is different
Sensitivity is the number one reason people quit whitening. Why teeth zing, why KöR rarely does, and how to whiten comfortably.
Read article Prevention
"I've never had a cavity": why careful people still get them
You brush, you floss, nothing hurts. So why is there a cavity now? Dry mouth, aging fillings and the spots a brush can't reach.
Read article Gum health
What your bleeding gums are actually telling you
Pink in the sink is not a reason to floss less. What bleeding means at each stage, and why a deep cleaning isn't an upsell.
Read article New patients
How to choose a dentist, from a dentist
Do they show you the X-ray? How often do they say "let's wait"? Who owns the practice? What I'd look for if I were choosing.
Read article Cosmetic
Why we told a patient to straighten her teeth instead of selling her veneers
She came in wanting six veneers. I recommended Invisalign first. Why veneers on a crowded bite chip, and how it turned out.
Read article Invisalign
Invisalign vs. braces: which is right for your smile?
Both work. The right one depends on your teeth, your bite and your life. How I compare appearance, comfort, treatment time, complex cases and cost.
Read article Invisalign
How Invisalign works at mend dental, from first scan to last tray
From the first 3D scan to your last tray: how treatment works at mend, who it suits, and what to expect along the way.
Read article Cosmetic
Crowns vs. veneers: what's the difference, and which do you need?
A veneer is a cosmetic layer. A crown is structural protection. Once you see it that way, the choice usually makes itself.
Read article Invisalign
Traveling with Invisalign: 7 tips to stay on track while you’re away
Business trip or long-overdue vacation, your aligners can come along without slowing your progress. A packing list, wear-time rules, and what to do if a tray goes missing.
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