Dr. Susan Fredericks D.D.S

Dentist | General Practice

6325 Topanga Canyon Blvd Suite 402 Woodland Hills CA, 91367 Show map

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About

Dr. Susan Fredericks is a Dentist practicing in Woodland Hills, CA. Dr. Fredericks specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures, and performing examinations, among many others.

Education and Training

UCLA MPH 2016

UCLA School of Dentistry D.D.S. 1981

UCLA B.A. Biology 1977

Provider Details

FemaleEnglish

Dr. Susan Fredericks D.D.S

Dr. Susan Fredericks D.D.S's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Can food get stuck in dentures?
You can absolutely get food stuck in a denture. You can also get very heavy and discoloring calculus buildup on them. Dentures should be checked and professionally cleaned at least once a year. Calculus can cling to any surface, dentures, crowns, bridges veneers and implants and of course, your own natural teeth. Susan Fredericks DDS MPH READ MORE
Does wearing dentures make your breath stink?
A denture is made of plastic and acrylic and therefore can absorb smells to a small extent. But if you ate garlic, your breath would smell of that too, regardless if wearing a denture. It is important to keep a denture clean. Daily brushing and soaking overnight in a solution that cleans and refreshes should eliminate any problem or concern. Dentures do stink when they are not properly maintained! Susan Fredericks. DDS MPH READ MORE
Can a receding gum line be reversed?
Receding gums can be reversed, but usually only by a surgical procedure. If the recession is not too bad, the doctor can take your own tissue and reposition it apically. If it is more severe, it may be necessary to do a connective tissue graft. If you are having recession at age 29, you may need to alter your brushing technique. Talk to your dentist about this. Happy Holidays, Susan Fredericks, DDS, MPH READ MORE
What is the safest form of teeth whitening?
All delivery systems are safe, whether they are at home trays or in office whitening. However, there are significant differences in sensitivity. Both systems can make teeth sensitive. In office bleaching delivers a high octane bleaching punch...the bleach is much stronger than you take home...35% Patients can have significant discomfort for 24 hours. But the whitening is done in 2 hours. Take home trays, you can get anything from 10% to 22% bleach. If your teeth get sensitive, don't wear the trays for a few days. The disadvantage...you have to be diligent and wear them. And with low power bleach, it might take you two weeks to get thereWearing the trays 90 minutes each day. Dr. Susan Fredericks READ MORE
How does a child get a tooth extraction under anesthesia?
I would assume that by "Stubborn", it may imply a ankylosed tooth. This means the tooth may be partially fused to the jawbone. That being the case, it may be best to give the child some light to moderate sedation as well as local anesthetic. If the roots need to be picked or drilled out, this could prove to be emotionally traumatic without some sedation. This will need to be done by an oral surgeon or a pediatric dentist. Both have training in sedation. READ MORE
Are silver fillings safe?
Hello, Dentists in California and other states have to collect silver filling waste and dispose of it in a toxic waste container. Silver fillings have mercury in them, which is toxic to the human body. I do not do silver fillings anymore. Unfortunately, insurance companies like them as they are the cheapest material around. So, they are still frequently used. And the dental board still deems them reasonably safe. I find it fascinating that the only two save spaces to store mercury silver fillings are in toxic waste dumps and peoples mouths! I would strongly suggest you ask about other materials for fillings. READ MORE
What will be discussed at my periodontal follow up?
Not all surgeries are 100% successful. The doctor wants to see the result. The doctor will also tell you the perio disease is like high blood pressure. It is something you control long-term, not have a procedure done and you are cured. Many people don't understand or grasp that it is something that needs to be managed the rest of your life. READ MORE
How painful is a dental implant?
The short answer is it is not very painful. I have had a patient get as many as 10 implants in one appointment and tell me the day after post-op that all he took was 600mg of motrin that night. Most patients report less pain from implant placement than from an extraction. Patients often anticipate great pain.That is not correct. However, the anxiety can be a force behind this. In cases like this, it is often best to be sedated for implant placement. You wake up and it's over. READ MORE
Is ridge augmentation possible at my age?
Age is not necessarily a defining factor in ridge augmentation. It depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you have osteoporosis that is affecting your jaw, there are other treatments. If you are considering placing implants and there is not enough bone to imbed implant into, you may need augmentation to create enough bone to stabilize the implant(s). This would all be determined by an oral surgeon and with 3D X-ray scans. Augmentation can be done in several ways, including taking bone from hip or utilizing part of the fibula. You may want to get several opinions. Age, overall health, and medications are all factors to consider. READ MORE
How many teeth can be in a bridge?
Like so many situations, it depends. If you are missing 2 teeth, your bridge would need to be at least 4 teeth in total, the 2 missing teeth and one tooth on either side to anchor it. Under ideal circumstances, and very healthy anchor teeth, you could go with 4 missing teeth and two anchor teeth for a total of 6 teeth. Other alternatives are placing 2 implants. If the adjacent teeth to the 2 missing are in poor shape,(root canaled or periodontal bone loss), it may need to have 4 anchor teeth total. There are variables, but that is a ballpark! READ MORE
How long should my child be brushing their teeth?
The recommended time is a minute on the top teeth and a minute on the bottom. Get a small timer for them and leave it in the bathroom. Tell them to set it for 2 minutes and brush. This makes it a game! READ MORE
How often should I mouthwash?
It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you have gum disease, rinsing twice a day, once after breakfast and once before you get in bed is best. If you have chronic bad breath from post nasal drip, you might want to rinse 3 times a day...or more. Make sure you brush your tongue, too, as it often has lots of bacteria on it. Listerine rinse has essential oils in it that others don't. It's my favorite to prescribe, but there are a number of good ones. READ MORE
Is tooth sensitivity a sign of decay?
Tooth sensitivity is the number one complaint of patients. It can be caused by several issues. The most typical reason for sensitivity is gum recession and exposure of the root surface, that is not like enamel and has nerve ending that react to hot and cold and sweet/sour. Typically, if an individual tooth has decay, it can gradually start feeling more sensitivity. Since your questions referred to your molars, it could be you are grinding your teeth and this is the problem. The best resolution would be to have a check-up. READ MORE
How do I whiten my teeth once my braces come off?
This is a good question and a common problem. Maintaining good hygiene, while wearing braces can be a constant issue. Often, when braces are removed, patients notice discoloration, often in an outline of where the bracket was bonded on. You can either do in-office bleaching, use trays and apply the bleach yourself, or do both. Doing both will probably get the best results. You may not be able to completely resolve and get perfect blending of color, but it will be a great improvement. READ MORE
I wear dentures. My gums are aching! What can I do?
Losing all of your teeth and wearing full dentures is for most people, a very long miserable experience. Dentures are like popping in a plastic eyeball and saying this replaces your eye. Dentures replace only 10% of your chewing function. Lower full dentures are particularly awful, as they have no stability. The tongue is constantly moving them around and lifting them up. Adhesives are of little value. The best course is to try to save your teeth, at least some of them. There is a fairly new product out there the help the edentulous patient; it is the all on 4 implant retained denture. This is put in and not removable by the patient. The denture is attached to the 4 implants and does not press on the delicate lining of the mouth. The denture does not move around. Most patients are very happy with this treatment. The downside, it is costly. Even if you have dental insurance, it will cover only $2,000 out of approximately $22,000 per arch. The expectation is that the implants will last forever, the denture has a metal framework with a lifetime guarantee.....but the plastic teeth on the denture will need to be reset periodically. Most of the cost is upfront. It really is a quality of life issue. This treatment is so much better than the traditional denture . In answer to your sore gums.....try to wear the denture as little as possible....hardly a great answer, but a common problem, with no great inexpensive solution. READ MORE
How do I reduce plaque buildup?
Plaque build-up is more a question of individual body chemistry than anything else. Some patients could get their teeth cleaned 4 times a year with scrupulous care and hygiene and others, who are not susceptible to heavy build-up, once a year with marginal self-care. I know, it's not fair. Keep brushing and flossing, you can keep in good dental health, it will just be more work for you. READ MORE
How to fix cracks in the teeth?
Most people have surface cracks in the enamel of their teeth. For most people, it's not a problem and not noticeable. If patients drink a lot of coffee or smoke, these surface cracks can get stained and discolored. This is usually the problem. The simplest route would be to bleach the teeth, to make this less noticeable. However, bleaching becomes an issue that has to be maintained. The other solution is the veneer the front teeth. The veneers won't restain. This is a more expensive solution, but a more permanent one. READ MORE
Is root canal the only way to treat a tooth cavity?
If a tooth has a deep cavity, either into or close to the nerve of the tooth, it will likely need a root canal. If a large amount of tooth structure is decayed, in some cases it is better to extract the tooth and place an implant, or a bridge. The depth of the decay and the sensitivity or pain the patient is in, are the factors in determining whether a tooth needs a root canal READ MORE
Why do I have sensitivity in all my lower teeth?
The number one most common reason for sensitivity is recession of gums. This is very typical, especially with people who are adamant about good oral hygiene and scrub their teeth and gums hard. Try a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and brush more gently! READ MORE