Your dentist may have recently recommended you think about implanting dental veneers. This recommendation could have sprung from a variety of different reasons, such as, chipped or cracked teeth, restoration after a root canal, or maybe you are just unsatisfied with the current appearance of your teeth. Whatever the reason may be, it is always best to do your homework and make sure that dental veneers are the best option for you. Continue reading to see if you need to call your dentist to make your veneer appointment!

What are Dental Veneers?

Veneers are very thin, film-like surfaces applied to the front of a tooth. Veneers are mostly for aesthetic purposes, making the tooth they are placed on top of look healthy and well kept. They can be made of one of two different materials, porcelain or resin composite. Resin composite is much thinner and offers less of the surface of the tooth to be taken off. Porcelain is much more natural-looking and is stronger against possible stains and cracks. Taken care of well, veneers can last for many years to come.

Dental veneers are a quick, simple and effective procedure to change the appearance of your teeth for the better, but what should you expect the day of your appointment? The day off, your dentist will buff the surface of your tooth to about half a millimeter down. If you opt for resin composite, our dentist will bond and sculpt the material to your tooth and can be done in one day. If you chose porcelain, your dentist will take a mold of your teeth and send the mold off to a lab to make your custom veneers. By the next appointment, your new veneers will be cemented to your teeth using a shade that most closely matches your natural tooth color, and using a handheld UV light to harden the bond.

Pros of Dental Veneers

• Strong and durable
• Stain resistant
• Instant results
• Natural looking
• Easy to maintain

Cons of Dental Veneers

• Cost
• Increased sensitivity – Don’t worry, this isn’t an issue for everyone, it is simply a possibility as part of the procedure includes removing a layer of tooth enamel.
• Possibility of damage
• Eligibility – If you suffer from weak enamel, this may not be the best possible option for your teeth.

Fluoride is one of the best cavity fighters at a dentist’s disposal and helps to ensure your teeth stay healthy for a long time. When bacteria caused by plaque starts to break down the enamel of the teeth, fluoride can help to rebuild the enamel where it is breaking down. Through a process called remineralization, it can also repair tooth decay. Studies have shown that since fluoride was incorporated into toothpastes and mouthwashes in 1960, there has been a decline in the amount of cavities people get.

There are many ways to get more fluoride into our bodies. It is in many of the foods we eat and the beverages we drink, but there are still many people with levels of fluoride that are too low. Luckily, there are more concentrated fluoride treatments that your dentist can recommend in order to help strengthen the teeth.

Fluoride treatments are often recommended for children to help strengthen their teeth from an early age, but many adults discredit the way fluoride can help. In fact, adults need fluoride treatments even more than children since the enamel can break down easier for adults. Children have naturally higher levels of fluoride while adults do not.

There are several conditions that can benefit from additional fluoride treatments, such as:

• Molars that have large grooves and deep pits
• Those with a lot of previous dental work or a history of cavities
• Patients with gum disease and/or recessed gums
• Frequent snackers
• Chronic dry mouth

Fluoride treatments can be in the form of a gel, a foam, a liquid or a pill. It is quick and easy, and the treatment is normally done as part of your bi-annual checkup and examination. Think a fluoride treatment can help strengthen your teeth or combat one of the issues mentioned above? Give us a call to set up an appointment so we can help get your teeth as strong as possible!

Mouth guards, night guards, and retainers are very helpful dental appliances, but unfortunately, many people neglect these items which can lead to dirty/damaged appliances or costly replacements. Mouthguards protect your teeth, so why shouldn’t you protect it from damage and harm? Caring for these items is important and easy to do. Here are a few retainer, night guard, and mouthguard cleaning tips:

Use an antibacterial solution.

While even water is better than nothing, don’t just give the mouthguard a quick rinse and think that is enough. Use an antibacterial soap to ensure it is clean and germ-free. Make sure to properly rinse before inserting in the mouth to avoid the soapy taste.

Thoroughly clean your mouthguard at least once a month.

At least once a month, it is crucial to deep clean a mouthguard. While many people think that using a toothbrush and toothpaste for a mouthguard makes sense since it kills germs, the scrubbing motion of a toothbrush on a mouthguard can lead to the plastic being broken down and shortening the life of the mouthguard. Denture cleaner is gentler and very effective. The effervescent quality works to get into small spaces better where bacteria love to thrive.

Clean your case.

We are guilty of sometimes putting our mouthguard back in its case without cleaning it, but that can lead to bacteria staying in the case and making an unhealthy environment to store your dental appliance. The case can be more aggressively cleaned than the actual mouthguard, so grab an old toothbrush, and some hot water an antibacterial soap like Guard Health and scrub it clean!

Replace your mouthguard, when needed.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes mouthguards need to be replaced. Pay close attention to the point when any cracks start to become large. They can cut the cheeks or trap bacteria easily and spread infection.

Most dentists do not advise consumption of candies as part of a daily diet because of the detrimental effect of sugars on the teeth. There are, however, benefits to chocolate being included in a person’s diet. Based on validated longitudinal studies, a daily consumption of chocolate may actually improve cognitive function of your brain and overall health of your teeth. A caveat though—all chocolate is not created equal.

What Makes One Chocolate Different from Another

There are three common types of chocolate; dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. Cocoa solids have the greatest benefits to overall health, but only dark chocolate and milk chocolate contain the solids which may improve health. White chocolates only contain cocoa fats and sugar, so have no proven nutritional value. Milk chocolate, while it does include cocoa solids, only contains approximately 10% solids and has a significantly higher sugar content than dark chocolate.

Benefits of Chocolate

The benefits of dark chocolate come from its increased cocoa solid content. The polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins in cocoa are considered antioxidants and are where cocoa’s health benefits lie. These chemicals contained in the cocoa solids help to discourage overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the mouth and neutralize the organisms found naturally in the mouth that lead to the breakdown of enamel and tooth decay.

There are different percentages of cocoa content, so it is important to be aware that the more solids chocolate contains, the less sugar it contains as well. Most dentists advise 70% cocoa solid content to achieve the greatest benefit to health and the less sugar it contains, the better. Some dark chocolate bars contain up to 99% cocoa solids.

When it comes to oral health, chocolate still isn’t everything and isn’t a replacement for an oral health regimen. It is important to continue regular yearly dentist examinations and daily brushing and flossing. Your healthy teeth are our pride and joy!

A nice, brighter smile can affect the way you look, the way people judge you and improve the way you feel about yourself. Smiling, however, can be a problem in individuals with stained teeth as a result of not taking care of your teeth, aging, beverages, tobacco and other food items. When your teeth are stained, many aspects of your life are affected. You may find yourself avoiding social scenes, close and long conversation, business meeting and general interactions with people. Teeth-whitening techniques can be an effective solution for the restoration of self-confidence when you smile. Teeth whitening can also give you a more youthful appearance when you smile. This can be done in two ways: either using whitening kits which have been made readily available over-the-counter or having a dentist do it.

Your smile affects:

• Personal and work-related relationships. Knowing that your teeth are white can give you much confidence to speak to people around you in the office or at home.
• Job interviews and meetings. This can be very important in job interviews where you have limited time to let your interviewer know that you are the best for the job.
• Success dealing with customers and potential clients.
• Your confidence and general happiness. With the feeling of confidence, you can face challenges which the assurance of success. This can also lower your self-esteem when you can’t hold a long conversation with friends or colleagues because of the fear that they are staring at your teeth.
• Your overall outlook on daily interactions.

Regaining confidence in your smile is very helpful in all the areas mentioned above. Once you get back a beautiful smile, you can regain the confidence necessary to let your smile loose! It’s exciting to regain your confidence, and we hope that this information helps you in your endeavor and provides you with some overall knowledge of what your smile can do for you.

Kids and adults enjoy participating in sports. It is good, wholesome entertainment, and there are so many benefits. But along with keeping players fit and having fun, there is always the risk of sports-related injuries. Dental trauma occurs all the time. Therefore, we encourage our athletic patients to always wear a mouth guard and reduce your risk of injury during practices, games and other physical activities. Play it safe with a durable and tear-resistant, custom-fit mouth guard.

Your Smile Is Worth Protecting

About 40 percent of all dental trauma is sustained by patients playing sports. Not wearing a durable and tear-resistant mouth guard during play leaves you about 60 times more vulnerable to sports-related injury. Wearing a custom sports guard protects your face and mouth during recreational activity and competitive sports, decreasing the likelihood and severity of dental trauma.

Custom mouth guards provide protection against more than a chipped, fractured, broken or even an avulsed tooth. It also safeguards against more serious conditions like neck injuries, jaw fractures, and concussions.

If you wear dental braces, it is especially important to safeguard the investment and prevent the brackets and wires from damaging your teeth or soft tissue in the mouth during impact. In addition, if your braces get damaged or broken it may delay your orthodontic treatment time.

Custom Mouth Guards Provide More Comfort and Protection

There are several options available for purchasing a sports guard. A custom mouth guard is specifically made to fit your mouth perfectly. It is the most comfortable choice and will provide the best protection. A professional mouth guard can also be customized to suit your specific sport.

Additional advantages of wearing a custom mouth guard:

• It is made to fit only your mouth, so it is less likely to be displaced while you are in motion.
• Custom mouth guards are more durable and tear-resistant. They last longer than over-the-counter versions due to the higher quality materials and construction.
• More fitted and less bulky, you will be more likely to wear it when needed.

Made to fit your mouth, a professional custom sports guard will provide the most comfort and the best protection against sport-related injury to the mouth and face.

Does your smile suffer from gaps and missing teeth? Did you know that missing teeth can affect not only your appearance but also the functionality of your smile? Patients with missing teeth often have difficulty speaking and chewing correctly, a higher risk of teeth shifting and loss and even eventual bone loss, causing the patient to look aged.

Dental implants are a newer form of restorative dentistry that allows your Pasadena dentist to restore the appearance and function of your smile permanently. Unlike dentures and partials, no adhesives are needed to ensure your teeth stay put; dental implants are surgically attached to your jawbone.

About Pasadena Dental Implants

When a patient is missing teeth, dental implants may be a great solution. A dental implant is made of three parts: the implant, the crown, and the abutment. The “implant,” a tiny titanium post, serves as an artificial tooth root, providing stability for the prosthetic crown. The crown is the artificial tooth which will look, feel and function just like a natural tooth. The abutment is used to attach the prosthetic crown to the metal root.

Because dental implants are surgically attached to the jawbone, they are permanent and do not have the risk of falling out with normal use such as eating and speaking.

Dental Implant Benefits

For many years, dentures and partials were the go-to solutions for patients with missing teeth and gaps. However, with recent advancements in dentistry, dental implants are now a great, comfortable and permanent alternative. Dental implants have many benefits for replacing missing teeth, which include:

• Remove the gaps in your smile.
• Can look and function similarly to a natural tooth.
• Reduce strain on remaining natural teeth.
• Improved speaking.
• Improved chewing.
• No dental adhesives needed.
• Decrease bone loss and restore a youthful appearance

Ready to restore the gaps in your smile with dental implants? Contact Town Square Dental in Pasadena, TX today to schedule your appointment. We’d be happy to look over your teeth, gums and overall oral health to determine if dental implants are the right treatment option for you.

Did you know that up to 75% of Americans suffer from some sort of dental anxiety or outright dental phobia? This isn’t all that surprising. In previous decades, fear of dentists was a lot more well-founded. The technology, practices, and sedation, were not as advanced as they are today. Thankfully, there is less of a reason than ever to be fearful of your local dentist. In fact, you should think of them more as a friend than a doctor.

How to Get Over Anxiety in the Dental Office

Yeah, sure, you can agree that medicine has become more advanced in recent years, but that might not alleviate your anxiety altogether. Think about this, though, that the study of not just dentistry, but psychology, has become more advanced. What is more, these two studies are being combined to make for a more pleasing atmosphere when you’re leaning back in the chair.

• Kid-friendly exam rooms.

Most dental offices are introducing kid-friendly exam rooms to take away some of the fear that comes with being in a cold, sterile, plain-looking environment that kids so often associate with things like injections and pain. Dentists know that it can be scary, trust us, they are no strangers to a screaming child or even a fearful adult!

• Advanced sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry is quickly becoming more advanced. This means less pain associated with the sedation process. It also means you will be sedated quicker and more efficiently than ever before. This leads to pain-free operations and a drastic reduction in dental anxiety.

The Dentist is Your Friend

Like we mentioned before, of course, your dentist is a highly trained professional, but that doesn’t mean they are intimidating or scary. Your dentist has your best interest at heart. They are looking for ways to keep your teeth, and your whole body, happy and healthy. Essentially, dentists are trying to do such a good job that you will need to be back in the office less often with less serious problems. If you go in for regular checkups and cleanings, then you will be able to overcome your fear of dentists and reduce your dental anxiety drastically.

Do you suffer from missing or severely damaged teeth? Looking for a dental treatment to permanently restore the function and appearance of your smile? With dental implants from Town Square Dental, the perfect treatment is possible. We are proud to offer dental implants for our patients that have one or more missing teeth or teeth that need to be extracted.

About Dental Implants

Dental implants function, feel and look just like natural teeth. They consist of an artificial root, an abutment, and a prosthetic crown. A tiny titanium post serves as the artificial root, with an abutment attached so that the crown can be placed and secured. Certain issues caused by missing teeth such as bite and speech problems as well as an aged appearance can be improved once dental implants have been placed. For patients with bone loss, a bone graft or even sinus lift may be necessary before treatment to fully support the implant.

Dental Implant Treatment

Before dental implant treatment, an evaluation of your teeth, gums, bone and overall oral health will be necessary to determine if you are a candidate and if a bone graft or sinus lift may be necessary. Once this has been completed, the dental implant procedure can commence:

• The artificial titanium root will be surgically placed into the jawbone.
• As the mouth heals, the titanium post and natural jawbone will grow together, creating a long-lasting foundation for artificial crowns. This can take weeks to months depending upon various factors.
• Once the mouth heals, and your jawbone has fully grown around the implant, abutments will be placed on top of the post so that the prosthetic crown can be attached.
• An individual prosthetic crown, bridge or denture will then be attached to the abutment.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Many patients at our Pasadena, TX dental office wonder if dental implants may be the right dental treatment option for their situation. Here are some of the benefits of dental implants in comparison to other options:

• Feel, Look & Function like Natural Teeth
• Improved Bite
• Improved Speech
• Improved Oral Hygiene
• Decreased Bone Loss
• More Youthful Appearance
• Permanent Solution
• Requires No Adhesive

To see if you’re a candidate for dental implants, book an appointment with Town Square Dental today!

Of course, we know what we’re supposed to do to take care of our teeth – brush and floss daily, stay away from overly-sugary foods and drinks, see our dentist regularly – and we do our best to keep up with that (…right?). But it’s important that we are also instilling that same diligence in our kids, which may be easier said than done. Here are five tips on how to maintain healthy teeth for your kids.

1. Take regular visits to the dentist.

Your child’s first visit to the dentist should be when their first tooth appears, or within six months of that event (but no later than their first birthday). During this first visit, the dentist will: obtain a dental history for your child; inspect for oral injuries, cavities or other problems; let you know of any risks in terms of dental health; clean your child’s teeth; and guide you on proper brushing habits and cavity prevention.

2. Eat healthily and drink fluoridated water.

Most cities fluoridate their public supply of water, so residents can receive their dose of fluoride easily. (If you live in a city where this is not the case, fluoride supplements are available.) Sugary snacks and drinks should be avoided; fruits and vegetables should be a big part of your child’s diet instead. Good snacks for healthy teeth include apples and carrots (for the vitamins and cleaning factor from the crunchiness) and cheese (for the calcium).

3. Use fluoridated toothpaste.

Fluoride is a very important part in helping to prevent cavities as it helps to build strong enamel. Though it’s a naturally-occurring mineral and you can get it through your diet and tap water (in most cities), it’s important also to be using toothpaste that contains that extra boost of fluoride.

4. Practice positive brushing habits.

Supervise your child’s brushing until you’re confident that they can do it properly and safely on their own. Then, make sure that they are brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day (morning and night).

5. Start flossing regularly.

This is a habit that’s important to instill early on. Parents may think that it’s not necessary until the permanent teeth have come in, but flossing should actually begin once teeth start to touch, since that’s when just brushing will not be enough to get rid of all that food and plaque.