The different restorative procedures are used for specific purposes. For example, fillings are used to replace a relatively small amount of tooth material that is missing due to cavities or some other tooth injury. Alternatively, crowns, which cover the top of the tooth, are used when the tooth is more extensively damaged.

For many of our Frisco dental patients, veneers have become a particularly popular procedure for creating more beautiful smiles. Veneers can be used to improve the smile’s shade, smooth out crooked teeth, or fill in gaps between the teeth. In order to prep a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will first remove a thin layer of enamel from the tooth. This layer will be equal in thickness to the veneer layer that will be applied and bonded to your tooth.

It is important to remember that veneers are permanently bonded to the teeth, and anyone considering dental veneers should consult with a cosmetic dentist, who will be able to develop a treatment plan. Porcelain veneers are generally preferred to composites because of their durability.

Orthodontics patients don’t get to take a break from flossing. In fact, it’s even more important for people wearing braces to floss thoroughly to keep their teeth clean and their gums healthy.

The orthodontic wires prevent patients from inserting the floss at the top of the tooth and sweeping it downward all the way to the gum line. Instead, people with braces must start at the bottom of the tooth and come up to clean the lower half of the tooth and the gum line. However, getting the floss through the narrow gaps between teeth can be a challenge.

Fortunately, an inexpensive tool known as a floss threader can help orthodontics patients in this daily hygiene task. The threader is a small piece of plastic with a loop at one end and a tail at the other. The floss goes through the loop, and the tail is then woven between two teeth at the gum line. The tail is pulled through the two teeth and the floss then follows.

After the floss has been pulled through the teeth via the threader, the patient can use a typical flossing technique along the edges of the tooth and the gumline. The threading process must be repeated between every tooth, though, so flossing while wearing braces can take a little longer than normal.  While wearing braces, it’s also a good idea to floss—gently!—the immediate vicinity of the wires and the brackets to clear away any plaque that has accumulated in those areas.

Orthodontic treatment is a big investment toward a beautiful smile, so it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene habits to ensure that smile is a healthy one even after the braces come off. Contact your Frisco dentist for more information on proper care of you braces.

“Partial” dentures are a common way of replacing missing teeth, and can be either “fixed” or “removable.” While fixed partial dentures or “bridges” need sound support teeth that are reduced in size for capping and are expensive, the removable partial dentures are most non-invasive and economical method of missing teeth replacement. These are also suitable for those who have multiple teeth missing and lack healthy surrounding teeth suitable for supporting a bridge.

Removable partial dentures have traditionally been made of either acrylic alone (called ‘flippers’) or, more permanently, with a metal framework supporting the acrylic denture base. In spite of their popularity, a lot of people find these partials uncomfortable to adapt to. The metal framework and acrylic are made to be rigid, as it has long been believed that a rigid denture base is important for denture to be stable in use. However, these rigid denture bases can feel unnatural or cause sore spots. Also, as the gum ridge beneath the denture changes shape over a few years, these dentures become ill-fitting and require frequent re-lining or remaking.

“Flexible dentures” like “Valplast” are newer options that, while being much cheaper than fixed partials, do away with a lot of problems with regular removable dentures. These are made of lightweight but very strong special hypoallergenic nylon material, so they can be designed as very thin non-bulky denture bases that have unmatched comfort. The thin denture base allows the natural shade of the gums to show through, making the denture very aesthetic, especially because no metal clasps are needed. The best quality of these materials is that they are flexible while being strong, which makes the denture flex along with gum tissue during use; this is a huge advantage not just in terms of comfort but also in reducing sore spots and the bone loss that occurs below a rigid denture base.

Caring for flexible dentures is very simple. They can be easily removed for daily cleansing with a regular denture cleanser and stored overnight in water.

“More of my patients are switching to flexible dentures and finding them longer lasting, aesthetic and very comfortable. They are definitely an excellent alternative for those not suitable for implants or bridges because of clinical or economical reasons,” said a family dentist in Frisco who routinely offers flexible dentures as a treatment alternative for missing teeth.

The quality of x-rays has improved over the years, and they can now only x-ray the tooth or set of teeth that they need without affecting the other parts of the face. This is why some dentists feel this is not a cause of thyroid cancer. Others feel differently, and only perform x-rays when medically necessary. Additionally, they make sure the neck and chest area of the patient is fully covered during the procedure. This will help protect even the most sensitive organs and tissues in the areas during the x-ray.
As technology advances, scientists are learning more about the risks and dentists are responding accordingly. Talk to your Frisco dentist to see what measures they can take to protect their patients from harm and his thoughts on the controversy.

For one, young children lack dexterity and their brushing may not be as effective in removal of caries, causing dental plaque from the surfaces of teeth. Another issue is that newly erupted back teeth (molars and premolars) have narrow and deep grooves and pits on their chewing surface. These grooves are the most common areas where cavities can start and go undetected. These fissures are an ideal breeding ground for plaque microorganisms, being hard to reach and clean, and the acids produced by plaque microbes housed in the narrow grooves are responsible for cavities.

Pit and fissure sealants are made of special dental composite restorative material, which can easily flow within dental fissures and completely occlude them. They are usually recommended for children and younger adults whose teeth are not yet worn down and who have deep fissures on the posterior teeth. Your family dentist in Frisco will evaluate an adult or child patient’s mouth to determine the shape of teeth, depth of the pit’s fissures and cavity risk. Based on these, pit and fissure sealants may be of great benefit. Children usually should receive sealants on their permanent molars soon after they erupt; about at the ages of six for the first molar and twelve for the second molar.

Getting pit and fissure sealants is similar to getting a composite filling, except that no tooth structure is removed. Your dentist will clean the tooth, etch the enamel with a gel and paint the sealant on to the fissure, which is then light cured. The entire process is quick, painless, simple, and relatively inexpensive. You may choose between either a clear, tooth-colored or a ‘tinted’ sealant. The tint makes it evident when the sealant has worn off and needs replacement, a property that works well in a child’s mouth.

While a sealant can last up to five to ten years, it needs to be checked regularly and replaced when worn off. Pit and fissure sealants are a simple measure that your family dentist can include in a preventive regime to help grow healthy sound teeth, saving the time and expense more extensive dental treatment incurs.

Dental composites are popular restorative materials that closely mimic the natural appearance of teeth. These are composite glass-based materials, which have evolved over years to composites with high strength, sheen and effective bonding. While veneers can be designed from ceramics and composites, composite veneers are much more cost-effective. A common misconception is that composite veneers will be much less durable and aesthetic than a ceramic veneer. While it does hold true that dental ceramics have higher strength, advances in composite technology have made composite veneering a durable and highly predictable aesthetic treatment modality.

Composite veneers can be constructed in two way–a direct and an indirect method. The right choice would depend on the number of teeth to be veneered, the extent to which the tooth anatomy needs to be modified, and your dentist’s skills in the procedure. Your dentist designs a direct composite veneer, by directly shaping composite material on to the prepared surface of a tooth and bonding it, thus completing within a single appointment. The indirect technique involves making models of your teeth that have been prepared to receive the veneers. These models are used to design and fabricate the veneers in a dental lab. Often your dentist can show you how the veneers will look by showing you a ‘waxed up’ model with mock veneers.

Composite veneers can give great results for a long time, and last up to a decade if they are well cared for. Care measures are simple and would involve avoiding habits that are likely to stain the composite material, like smoking or frequent cola or coffee drinking, and taking care not to bite heavily on the veneers. If dental veneers can help you achieve a more confident smile, but you’re concerned about the expense of ceramic veneers, composite veneers may be just the right fit when you get your dental veneers from Frisco!

Digital technology has changed the way we take and store pictures and much more. Digital technology has also revolutionized the arena of dental x-rays, and digital dental x–rays that use a technology known as radiovisiography (RVG) are fast becoming the norm in dental practice. They offer a host of advantages when compared to the conventional film-based x-rays.

Digital x-rays are very time-efficient, not requiring any lengthy processing for developing the image, which means no waiting before the x ray is ready to be assessed. The time gap from image capture to electronic display occurs within a few seconds, saving valuable chair time for dentists and their patients. This allows your local dentist the ease of evaluating and recording multiple images, if needed, within a short time. The magnified image projected on the display often helps patients “see” their radiographic status, which can help them appreciate that a tooth has deep decay. A better understanding of the problem helps patients become more able to participate in their treatment.

Another important benefit is that digital x-rays require significantly less radiation to be transferred, making them more healthy. Additionally, image characteristics can be modified for better analysis. This allows the dentist to magnify or angle images to see a specific area better, a definite aid in procedures that need a high level of accuracy, like dental implant placement or root canal treatment. They also allow much better comparison of subtle changes in images taken over time, such as in bone loss and density, which is crucial in assessing periodontal disease. Digital image storage is electronic, so is less cumbersome with quick accessing of previous images that have been archived systematically. Finally, digital x-rays don’t require any processing chemicals, which are hazardous and an environmental problem.

Many parents avoid taking their children for dental checkups to save money. They tend to believe that “baby teeth” fall out anyway, so treatment would be a waste. Studies have shown, however, that overall dental costs for children who underwent regular dental checkups before age one was 40 percent lower than those who didn’t. Dental checkups at an early age help the dentist evaluate risk factors for possible dental decay in the future and suggest suitable preventive measures, like fluoride application and dental sealants. Getting an early start in regular dental care is an important step on the road to teaching your child healthy oral hygiene habits and preventing fear of the dentist.

Early visits also help in identifying habits like thumb sucking and mouth breathing and proper measures can be implemented to prevent dental disorders. Specially made appliances can restrict or encourage growth of the jaws to help achieve a proper facial profile when the jaws are undergoing changes.

Early tooth loss caused by advanced tooth decay can cause a multitude of problems in children. Oral health problems can lead to speech development disorders, inability to concentrate on important early learning experiences, and frequent absences from school. Chronic dental pain can cause children to lose focus, causing distractions, and may impede schoolwork. Their performance in school may be adversely affected. Studies have also shown that loss of teeth can affect their self-image, leading to decreased confidence in social relationships. New research findings suggest that improper oral hygiene may increase a child’s risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke as an adult.

Baby teeth or primary teeth play a crucial role in the proper nutrition of the child, along with speech development. They also act as natural space maintainers, so retaining these teeth until their permanent counterparts have emerged is of paramount importance.
Pediatric dentists are trained in child psychology and are better trained to deal with patients with mental or physical disorders. They are in a better position to deal with difficult patients and are an important member of the team that comprises of pediatricians, other physicians, and dental specialists who are committed to the overall health of the child. Visit your nearest family dentist in Frisco to learn more about pediatric dentistry.

Are x-rays safe?

Dental X-rays require exposure to very low levels of radiation, which makes the risk of potentially harmful effects very small. All health care providers are sensitive to patients’ concerns about exposure to radiation. Your dentist has been trained to prescribe X-rays when they are appropriate and to tailor radiographic schedules to each patient’s individual needs. By using state-of-the-art technology and by staying knowledgeable about recent advances, your dentist knows which techniques, procedures and X-ray films can minimize your exposure to radiation. By using digital x-rays, radiation exposure can be decreased up to 90%.