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Congratulations on getting investing in a brand new smile that is sure to pay off after many years of enjoyment and satisfaction. No matter procedures you have just have performed, be assured that you can expect improvements in the way your teeth look and work.
Remember you need time to adjust to the way your new bite feels. When your bite has been altered and the position of your teeth changed, it takes several days for your brain to accept the new position of your teeth and their thickness. If you sense any high spots or problems in your bite, call your dentist for an adjustment appointment.
It is normal to feel some sensitivity and cold after undergoing a cosmetic dentistry procedure. Your gums may also be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm salt water; dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, then rinse out your mouth to reduce pain and swelling.
If your dentist advises you to take mild pain medication may, do so. It will help you feel better after a cosmetic dentistry procedure. We recommend you check with us first before using any pain medication, though.
If you find it hard to speak clearly following your cosmetic dentistry procedure, do not be too concerned. It will take a few days for your tongue to adapt to new tooth surfaces. After that happens, you will be speaking normally again.
Many times people experience increased salivation after a cosmetic dentistry procedure. This is due to the fact that the brain senses a new size and shape to certain teeth.
It is important to remove plaque in order to ensure the long-term success of your dental work. It is very important that you maintain a regular oral hygiene program of daily brushing and flossing. You need to get regular cleanings as well from a dentist every six months. The Cosmetic Dentistry Center staff uses special tooth cleaning materials that are not available over the counter and that cannot be duplicated at home.
We also recommend that you change your habits to protect your new teeth. Anything that chips or damages them will also chip and damage cosmetic restorations. There are many things we all should just avoid chewing on. These things include hard candy, foreign objects, and ice. Try to avoid smoking and chewing tobacco too, because these things yellow teeth. If you suffer from teeth grinding, get fitted for a mouthpiece that will protect your cosmetic tooth restorations.
Labels: after cosmetic dentistry, post operative dental care
If you have a dental bridge, its longevity and effectiveness will depend on keeping adjacent teeth and gums in optimal health. Deterioration of teeth and gums can cause the bridge to loosen and become weak.
Caring for your dental bridge is the same as caring for your teeth and gums. Be sure to brush and floss as you always have after every meal.
People always wonder exactly how they are supposed to floss when they are wearing a dental bridge. Special tools are needed for this. Super floss is one of these tools. It has a stiff end that lets you thread it through tight spots. It also has a fuzzy section that is specifically designed for removing plaque.
A floss threader has a loop on the end that lets you pull the floss through it. You can take about 18 inches of floss, pull it through the floss threader, and then run floss under your dental bridge. Care at this level of detail may seem too much trouble to you, but when you consider how many food particles and plaque it removes it, it is well worth the extra effort. It will not only clean under the bridge, but it will remove all harmful substances from your teeth and gums and keep them healthy as a result.
You can also use the same technique in temporary dental bridge care. Just be gentle so as not to dislodge it during brushing and flossing. If you do inadvertently knock it loose, just reattach it.
If you notice that your temporary dental bridge keeps coming loose every time you care for it, you may need to have it adjusted. Call our office and schedule an appointment so we can take a look at it.
Watching what you eat is also important to dental bridge care. Never chew on ice, and do your best to avoid chewing on hard candy or hard foods. These cannot only damage the bridge; they can also do permanent damage to your teeth.
Avoid grinding your teeth. This wears away the surfaces of teeth and will loosen the device. If you think you are grinding your teeth in your sleep, you need to be fitted with a mouthpiece that will prevent this. Call our office and we will set you up for an evaluation and mouthpiece fitting.
Finally, self-examination and self-honesty are the best tools to use in dental bridge care. It does little good to go through the motions of brushing and flossing your teeth if you do not also check on your own progress. Taking the time to examine your teeth and your bridgework in the mirror will immediately reveal if you are missing spots in your mouth. The extra few seconds it takes to find a problem area and do something about it can make the difference between a continued, healthy smile and an unexpected trip to the dentist for cavities, gum disease, tartar, or chipped teeth resulting from Bruxism.
It is also a good idea to have your teeth thoroughly cleaned in our office every 6 months to ensure optimal dental health.
Young teeth get off to a great start when you bring your child to our office. We are a child friendly dentistry center that makes it a point to make children feel comfortable. We believe in educating children and parents, and in minimizing the fear factor associated with going to the dentists.
Starting off on the right foot can teach your child how to care for his or her young teeth and begin a lifetime of good dental habits. Even if your child has had a bad experience with the dentist, we can help overcome these experiences with a few easy steps.
On the day of your appointment, call us and get a clear picture of what is going to happen during the appointment. Share this information with your child before coming in. Do not leave mystery to work fear in a young imagination. Teeth are sensitive areas of the body, and your child needs to know that we will take the utmost care in examining, cleaning, and repairing them.
It is a good idea as well to tell us about any past dental history and all medical history you are aware of. We especially want to know if your child is afraid of the dentist and why. If he or she had a bad experience, we want to be sensitive and avoiding repeating any events that may trigger old memories.
If your child has never been to the dentist, we recommend you make an appointment with us before you notice any dental problems. This is the best way to start your child out on a path of dental care. Young teeth need examination and cleaning long before problems like cavities arise. If we can see your child before anything painful develops in his or her mouth, we can most likely prevent it. We can also give your child a first dental experience that is painless and fun, rather than scary and painful.
It is much easier to earn the trust of a child when there is no pain involved and only basic dental routines are followed. It sets the tone for a lifetime of proactive care rather than reactive countermeasures.
If you are looking for cosmetic dentistry in Houston, Texas, no doubt you have already found a multitude of options online that can overwhelm the mind at a glance. Where are they located? What exactly do they do? How much do they cost? Can I get there and back conveniently. These questions are not always answered in the typical web link. However, we like to be candid and forthright with information about our practice so patients can make an informed decision. The following are just a few of the features, advantages, and benefits that our service offers that warrant strong consideration on behalf of the would-be patient.
- Convenient location in The Houston Medical Center
One thing you are going to want if you invest in cosmetic dentistry is a place you can get to from your home or office. No one wants to drive all the way across Houston to get to the dentist. Because of this, we decided to locate our practice in the Houston Medical Center. This central location, world-famous for its excellent medical care, is centrally located to all Houston neighborhoods like River Oaks, Bellaire, West University, Upper Kirby, Rice Village, Memorial, Sugar Land, Clear Lake, The Woodlands, Katy, and Pasadena.
- Best technology currently available
One very clear advantage our cosmetic dentistry center offers to Houstonians is access to the most current and sophisticated technology currently available. We are not afraid to use computers in our office for anything from checking medical and dental history to charting out a course of corrective orthodontic care. For persons suffering from gum disease, our LANAP services offers an almost pain-free alternative to gum surgery.
- A staff with over a half century in combined experience
The professionals in our cosmetic dentistry center represent some of Houston’s very best medical experts who have a combined experience of over half a century. Two have served in the US Armed Forces as dental practitioners. Our youngest member of our staff still has over 20 years of experience in LANAP and multiple cosmetic corrective treatments. Another member of our staff is one of the few cosmetic dentists in Houston who performs both the surgical aspect of dental implantation and the cosmetic phase of tooth replacement.
Regardless of who you work with on our team, you are in the very best of hands for your particular form of treatment.
- Multiple options in cosmetic dentistry for most dental problems
We believe in the power of choice. We want every patient who comes to our cosmetic dentistry office to feel like they play a role in their own dental care. We do not force specific treatments on any patient. Rather, we explain at great length and in great detail the nature of the problems that we find. Most cases will allow for more than one course of treatment, some being more expensive and complex than others. Financial assistance is also provided to our patients to enable them to choose what is best for them and not feel they have to settle for only what they can afford.
Labels: cosmetic dentistry Houston, cosmetic dentists Houston
While our highly trained staff of Houston cosmetic dentists does not claim the official title of orthodontics, we find ourselves nevertheless providing more and more orthodontic solutions to clients from all over Houston. There are a number of reasons why so many people are now turning to us first to correct malocclusion in their upper and lower jaws.
The biggest motivator appears to be a strong desire on the part of these patients to keep their corrective care confidential. No one wants to smile with a mouth full of metal. People who do wear traditional braces do so with a sense of resignation—putting up with the pain and embarrassment of the devices and grimacing with embarrassment within themselves when they feel forced to smile. Standard metal braces normally have to be worn a minimum of two years, are very expensive, and cause a great deal of pain on occasions when they are tightened.
Thanks to new technology, though, our cosmetic dentists can now offer some truly viable—if not superior—alternatives to traditional orthodontic treatment. We want to qualify this statement by making it clear we by no means feel that metal braces are completely obsolete or non-viable options. On the contrary, we still refer our most severe cases of tooth malocclusion to practicing orthodontists that we partner with. These extreme cases can only be corrected by drastic measures, and we recommend someone who specializes only in metal braces handle these cases.
However, a very large percentage of the patients that our cosmetic dentists see do not have problems this severe. They may only have a problem with crowded teeth that resulted from too little room in their mouth when their teeth first grew in. Or, equally common, we encounter a patient who suffered an accident and loosened or lost one or more teeth in the process. The surrounding teeth then began to shift toward the gap and created a noticeable irregularity in the person’s smile.
For mild to moderate cases like this, our cosmetic dentists will normally recommend our new Six Month Smile cosmetic dental braces. These amazing braces are designed much like their metal counterparts-- with two important differences. For one thing, the brackets are clear and the wires are the color of teeth—thus making the braces nearly invisible when the patient smiles. Secondly, the brackets and wires are much smaller and allow for more thorough tooth brushing and flossing.
True to their name, these cosmetic braces get the job done in only six months.
More noticeable problems with malocclusion, however, will need stronger corrective measures. Our cosmetic dentists, upon discovering severe bite problems, recommend that the patient spend the necessary funds to get the best possible cosmetic orthodontic solution. This solution does not lie in the form of braces, but rather a retainer-like mouthpiece called an Invisalign aligner.
The Invisalign aligner is custom-made to molds of the patient’s teeth and pre-adjusted to put just the right amount of pressure on teeth that are out of alignment. Bit by bit, each new set of aligners moves teeth back where they belong. A computer is used to pre-set the adjustment factor in each set of aligners, and the entire procedure normally takes about a year-and-a-half for the average patient.Before you just let your teeth go, or resolve yourself to the pain and embarassment of metal braces, talk to one of our cosmetic dentists first to see if you need a short-term solution, an Invisalign solution, or a referral to an orthondontist for an exceptionally severe alignment problem.Labels: cosmetic braces, cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic dentists Houston, cosmetic orthodontics
What makes our team perhaps the most unique group of cosmetic dentists in Houston is their exceptionally broad range of medical skills and their warm, professional bedside manner. We have established a practice that is highly unique in both its sophisticated level of care and the warm sense of comfort that our office and practice provides for our patients. With a comprehensive set of both general and cosmetic dentistry practices available, there is very little that we do not provide directly to patients ourselves. On those infrequent occasions where a specialist outside our office is required, we refer patients only to the very best and most reputable dental experts whom we personally know and trust.
Basic dental care falls under the domain of general dentistry. Things like teeth cleaning, fillings, root canals, and gum disease treatments are typically things that most people believe can only be done by a family dentist. Many of our first time patients are surprised when they learn that our cosmetic dentists are trained and experienced in all of these basic care techniques. The advantage this offers to the patient is a single office where multiple medical AND aesthetic problems can be solved by the same group of experts. Even more advantageous is the sophisticated technology and advanced methodology we use. For example, we fill cavities like every other practice in town, only our cosmetic dentists avoid using silver-mercury amalgams and favor the more healthy and attractive alternative of resin-based fillings that last longer and match the color of teeth.
Advanced cosmetic solutions are, of course, are main areas of specialty. Our cosmetic dentists have trained for well over 20+ years each in specialized techniques developed specifically for beautifying the human smile. Such techniques require not only advanced training, but a great deal of experience to master. As we have noted, the youngest dentist on our staff has over 20 years of experience, and other cosmetic dentists who work in our office have served in the United States Military as dental experts before moving into specialized practice for the general public.
Each one of our experts has any number of solutions that can provide as remedies to cracked, broken, or missing teeth. We have porcelain veneers to help even out damaged tooth surfaces. We have cosmetic dental bonding to repair cracks and replace old cavities. Porcelain crowns can cover the remaining portion of a broken tooth and make it as good as new. Or, a porcelain crown can be placed over a dental implant base and create an entirely new, completely natural looking replacement for a missing tooth.
Teeth that have been stained badly by years of abuse or necessary prescription medications can look pearly white again after dental bleaching treatments our cosmetic dentists perform in our office. No matter how badly the teeth are stained, we WILL find a way to make them white AND more resilient and healthy as a result of our treatments.
Bedside manner is something we feel is important to our practice as well. Technically there are no beds in a cosmetic dentist office, but you know what we mean by the term. People need a sense of warmth and understanding from ANY caregiver they work with, regardless of the nature of the practice or the ultimate course of treatment. Our team feels that the last thing we want to do is come across as aloof to our patients. Instead, we patiently explain advanced dental concepts in simple terms and empower our patients with more than one care option to choose.
Finally, if advanced technology and sophisticated dental materials are still not enough to calm people’s fears, our cosmetic dentists will administer either oral sedation, or IV sedation (with the help of a licensed anesthesiologist) to ensure that the patient will feel no pain. Some people who choose this service do not have a problem with pain but rather have such a strong gag reflex it is best to sedate them during treatment. For these individuals, we patiently look for every possible way to make their dental appointment pleasant and their outcomes remarkable.
Labels: cosmetic dental care, cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic dentists Houston
As professionals we do not take your fear of dentists personally. We understand that almost all of you have had a bad experience at least once in your life. This is not because dentists are mean people who want to hurt you. Rather, it is because the mouth is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, and some general dentistry practices involve procedures that are uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Most people who fear dentists develop these fears in childhood after going once or twice for fillings and cleaning and reacting as all children do to pain—with avoidance.
Because we work with so many children, and because we remember being children ourselves, we have developed a series of strategies to alleviate fear of dentists in young and old alike. We know that a great deal of fear is simply fear of the unknown. We make it a point to curb this fear immediately by providing our patients with as much knowledge as possible. When a new patient comes to us, we conduct a complete dental examination and explain in layman’s terms the problems that we find. We have found that the more details we explain about a problem, the more we demythologize it and deflate the fear factor attached to it.
Along with an informed explanation of the problem comes an informed awareness of the options at hand which we can apply to remedy the problem. We can almost always provide each patient with several types of treatment. Not everyone wants a Cadillac solution—and not everyone can afford one either. We strive to find something that will work for everyone. When people feel they have a choice in their dental treatment, we find that much of their fear of dentists subsides simply because they now feel empowered to make decisions for themselves.
We also find that people tend to lose their fear of dentists as soon as they become more comfortable with our office. We organize dental records, X-rays, photos, and insurance documents so they can always be conveniently accessed and discussed. Our staff is friendly and helpful, and we work hard to always provide bedside manner to our patients.
Once patients get into the routine of treatment at our center, we find that they lose a lot of their fears of the dentist simply on the basis of familiarity. We have often seen as well a reluctance to go to a specialist once a patient becomes familiar with our practice. They get into a comfort zone with our staff that feels difficult for them to move away from. Patients typically want us to administer the treatments we recommend because of our approach to cosmetic dentistry and because of the advanced methods we use to minimize pain and discomfort. This is one of the reasons we are so broad in our scope of services—we want to provide both general dentistry care and cosmetic dentistry care to our community.
For people who simply cannot get past their fear of the dentist no matter how comfortable we make the environment or the procedure, we offer sedation dentistry services. We can have an anesthesiologist come to our office 2-3 times per month to perform IV sedation on patients. For milder cases, we can also administer sedation through oral means to relax and comfort the patient during treatment.
We urge patients who have been procrastinating dental care to seek treatment as soon as possible. The quicker we can pinpoint a problem and come up with a plan of action, the cheaper and more comfortable the treatment options will be. Labels: cosmetic braces, fear of dentists, general dentistry
Ask the Dentist: I Need Dentures, But I am Afraid of Going to the Dentist
ASK THE DENTISTI am 23yrs old and I am terrified of the dentist.
I have alot of teeth missing, and too much work to be done on the ones that are left. I want to get dentures. I was wondering what is the price to put me to sleep and pull the remaining teeth out. I do have insurance, but it is a pre-paid dental services and I am not sure if the cover anything or not. I am willing to pay out of pocket but need an to know a ball park range to start saving.
Thank you.
Misti Scott
________________________________________________________________
Hi, Misti –
Thanks for the note.
http://www.cosmetic-dentistry-center.com/sedation-dentistry-t-27.html
I put the link above to have you read about the possibility of having IV sedation when you have your dental treatment. It is a neat way to avoid the most difficult part of dental treatment. Check it out.
The only way that I can tell you what you need and teach you what your options are and the different cost of different options is to have you come in for an exam and consult. Then you can know exactly what the finances need to be, and we can even contact your insurance carrier and help you to know if they will help you with the bill.
Please give us a call and come for an exam and conversation . You will find that it answers many of the questions and concerns that you have.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905
Labels: cosmetic removable partial dentures, financial options
The term malocclusion literally means bad bite. It occurs when teeth do not properly fit together. It can be caused by many different things. The most common cause is genetic. Some people are born with naturally straight teeth because of genetic factors passed down from their parents. Others, however, inherit crooked teeth because the sizes of the teeth are too large for the available room in the jaw, and they grow in crooked.
Teeth malocclusion can also be caused by other factors. An accident can knock teeth out of alignment. A gum disease that misshapes the gumline can also cause teeth to loosen and grow back in crooked. If a tooth gets knocked out, the surrounding teeth will start to shift into the open space. Children who suck on thumbs or pencils can put pressure on their teeth and cause them to shift.
In addition to their being many causes of teeth malocclusion, there are also many types of the condition. If an upper or lower jaw extends too far out, there may not be enough space for the teeth to grow in without crowding one another and becoming crooked. Or, there simply may just not be enough space in the mouth for teeth to develop properly, which in turn will cause them to crowd. The flipside of this problem is having too much space between teeth. This creates a situation similar to a missing tooth, where teeth start to shift in position and grow toward the gap or empty space. In some cases the problem is even more severe. The lower jaw extends farther out than the upper jaw, and some of the upper teeth actually bit inside the lower teeth.
If teeth malocclusion is not dealt with professionally, it can affect the eating habits of a person and the appearance of a person when they smile. Over time, problems with tooth alignment can lead to tooth decay and jaw-joint problems. Headaches have been known to result due to the difficulty these patients have opening and closing their mouths. Embarrassing clicking and popping sounds also can result, and jaw muscles can become sore and painful.
Orthodontics is the branch of dental science that is dedicated to correcting teeth malocclusion. For many years, the only orthodontic treatments available involved metal braces and wires that took an average of two years to correct alignment problems, were embarrassing to smile with, and often caused a great deal of discomfort when they were adjusted. Dental hygiene was also a challenge due to the bulky size of brackets.
Today, however, new clear braces and removable aligners have made it possible to correct teeth malocclusion in shorter periods of time without pain, and without anyone noticing that the patient is undergoing corrective treatment. The superior materials that orthodontic tools are now made from, plus their smaller sizes, make these new braces and mouthpieces practically invisible to the eyes of other people.
Some of these invisible braces are designed to get the job done in only 6 months. Others take almost as long as standard braces, but allow for much greater comfort, discretion, and dental hygiene. Labels: clean teeth, cosmetic orthodontics, invisalign aligners, invisible braces, teeth malocclusion
If you keep procrastinating about corrective dental treatment, your teeth are going to stay crooked. We know you are afraid that it will hurt to have metal in your mouth. We also know you will be embarrassed to smile.
That is why we want to fix your problem with cosmetic orthodontics.
Cosmetic orthodontics do away with the pain and obtrusive presence of metal brackets and wires. They use better materials that do not hurt your mouth, and that cannot easily be seen—if they are seen by anyone at all.
You can also count on spending less money on these treatments than you would on standard, banded orthodontics. In less time, for less money, you can have an award winning smile for the first time in years.
This is true because the materials used to make these braces are either clear or tooth colored. Some use clear brackets and tooth colored wires, while others use clear mouthpieces that fit over your teeth.
Take, for instance, the Six Month Smiles® program. This new brand of cosmetic orthodontics is ideal for correcting minor to moderate cases of crowded teeth that are out of alignment. They are affordable, low-profile, and comfortable. Because of their highly efficient design, it is also very easy to brush and floss your teeth while wearing Six Month Smiles®.
Another kind of cosmetic orthodontics called Invisalign does not use brackets or wires at all. Invisalign cosmetic aligners are mouthpieces that are special made to custom fit your upper and lower dental arches. Molds are taken of your teeth and used to make 3D models, which a computer then scans for alignment problems. The computer then incrementally maps out a 9-15 step program. For each step of the program, a set of aligners is made to correct the teeth as needed according to that stage of treatment.
This is the most advanced form of cosmetic orthodontics to date, because these aligners are not only made custom to your teeth, but also to the very process of correction itself. Each set of aligners is worn for approximately 2 weeks for about 22 hours per day. They are removable, so you can take them out while you are eating and brushing your teeth. They should be worn during your sleep though, and will not irritate your mouth or keep you awake because they are made from very soft, medical grade plastic with rounded edges.
These aligners are clear, so it is doubtful anyone will ever see them in your mouth. They are so snug you can speak clearly without sounding like you are wearing something over your teeth. Invisalign aligners are expensive than other forms of cosmetic orthodontics, but if you have a more severe case of maladjustment, a bad bite problem, or noticeably crooked teeth, they are the best route to go.
Labels: braces, clear braces, corrective dental treatment options, cosmetic dental braces, cosmetic orthodontics, invisible braces
Cosmetic braces offer you a discrete alternative to the traditional orthodontic treatment. New clear and tooth covered materials now make it possible to either conceal wires and brackets from view, or to replace wires and brackets altogether. Banded orthodontic therapy is still needed in some extreme cases, or course, but in most instances, cosmetic braces can offer you the same results without the pain and discomfort associated with traditional treatment and without the embarrassment of metal in your mouth.
For mild to moderate cases of tooth misalignment, you may only need braces for a short period of time. The new Six Month Smiles® braces are designed to get the job done in only 6 months. These braces use clear brackets and tooth colored wires to conceal their presence. Few people, if any, can even tell if you are wearing them. Each set of braces comes with a Patient Tray Kit that makes it easy, fast, and convenient to adjust these braces.
Patients report that Six Month Smiles® treatment are very comfortable compared to traditional treatments, and they also find that dental hygiene is much easier with these devices. For people on a limited budget, this is often the best option to go with.
There are also cosmetic braces for more extensive, long-term dental work. Invisalign aligners are custom-fitted, removable devices that look more like mouthpieces than braces. Actually though, they are much more than mouthpieces. They are actually molded to provide an exact match for your teeth that will incrementally readjust the position of your teeth.
Invisalign aligners are actually made from impressions taken of your upper and lower dental arches. A special computer is used to create a 3D image of your mouth that shows where alignment problems are located and maps out, step-by-step, where correction is needed. Each set of aligners is made to perform each step of correction with just enough gentle pressure to painlessly move your teeth.
These remarkable cosmetic braces are completely removable, so you can take them out when you eat and brush your teeth. They are also completely transparent, so you do not have to worry about people seeing them. Best of all, they are painless to wear, because Invisalign aligners are made from a soft, medical grade-plastic that will never hurt or irritate your gums.
Invisalign cosmetic braces take 9-15 sets of aligners to complete the process. However, most people see noticeable improvements long before the treatment is over. The accuracy with which they work, the superior comfort associated with wearing them, and the total discretion of something practically no one will ever see makes these revolutionary devices some of the most effective orthodontic treatments in the world of cosmetic dentistry.Labels: clear braces, cosmetic braces, invisalign aligners, invisible braces, six month smiles
Financial Assistance Needed
I would like to replace some dental partials I've lost...I also need to have some other dental work done...hoping that you can arrange some sort of payment plan..--Thanks, Wendell_________________________________________________________________
Hello again, Wendell –
When you come for an examination, we can teach you about financial options. We do use some outside financing for some of our patients that allows them to get dental treatment done in a timely manner. Give us a call.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905
Afraid of Going to the Dentist
I have several bad teeth in my mouth and the reason why is because of a bad dental experience I realize that I have to address this problem soon as I feel it's starting to impact my overall health...
________________________________________________________________
Fear of dental treatment is common and can allow you to let time pass until you have a more serious problem. Dental problems are best treated early, trying to get things under control before decay or infection is allowed to advance and spread.
You should begin the process by having a complete exam done with x-rays and photos, learning what your problems are. Then a plan can be made to get healthy. If you require IV sedation because of the fear, we can teach you about our anesthesiologist that comes in several times a month to sedate our patients for dental treatment.
Get started!
http://www.cosmetic-dentistry-center.com/sedation-dentistry-t-27.html
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905
I would like to replace some dental partials I've lost...I also need to have some other dental work done...hoping that you can arrange some sort of payment plan.. Hello again, Wendell – When you come for an examination, we can teach you about financial options. We do use some outside financing for some of our patients that allows them to get dental treatment done in a timely manner. Give us a call. Chuck Campbell, DDS Dale Brant, DDS (713) 795-5905
Invisible braces let you do away with unsightliness of metal braces and still get the corrective orthodontic treatment you need. New technologies are now able to duplicate the results of banded orthodontic therapy without the pain and embarrassing presence of visible metal in your smile. You have two options you can choose from if you are interested in invisible braces. Each type offers its own distinct advantages in terms of treatment time, the degree of correction that must be performed, cost, and the cosmetic discretion throughout the duration of treatment.
Six Month Smiles® are a new form of invisible braces that rely upon invisible brackets and tooth-colored wires to conceal themselves. They combine the basic design of traditional braces with superior grade materials and are much more comfortable when adjusted. They offer several distinct advantages over traditional metal equivalents.
• Six Month Smiles® braces take only 6 months to produce the same results as metal braces.
• Few people, if any, will ever notice the clear brackets and tooth-colored wires.
• The patient tray kits that come with Six Month Smiles® make it fast, convenient, and painless to adjust them.
• The shape and size of Six Month Smiles® makes dental hygiene easier and more effective.
Invisalign invisible braces are removable aligners that are custom-made for your individual lower and upper teeth. These aligners are made using 3D models created from impressions that the dentist takes of your upper and lower arches. Computer animation sequences then forecasts each needed step in the alignment correction process. As these corrective actions are mapped out, they are literally built right into the shape of the aligner so it will exert just enough pressure on your teeth to painlessly move them back where they belong.
Removable invisible braces offer several clear advantages over metal braces.
• To begin with, Invisalign aligners are completely transparent. No one is likely to notice you are wearing them.
• Invisalign aligners can be taken out when you brush and floss your teeth and when you eat meals. They will not interfere with normal speech and are made to be comfortably worn in your sleep.
• The high degree of customization made possible through 3D computer technology has made Invisalign invisible braces one of the world’s most precise and effective orthodontic treatments in cosmetic dentistry. By isolating the most minuscule alignment problems, the computer maps out, every corrective step, and it incrementally makes changes with each new set of aligners.
• Invisalign aligners are made out of from special, medical plastic and have comfortable, smooth edges that will never hurt your gums.
Invisalign takes almost as long as metal braces take to produce their final results. However, most people notice drastic improvements long before their treatment is over. Furthermore, the high level of incremental precision, painlessness, and the invisible secrecy of these braces makes them both medically and cosmetically superior to most band orthodontic treatments.
Labels: clear braces, clear dental braces, invisalign aligners, invisible braces, six month smiles
Our experience in both general and cosmetic dentistry has taught us over the years that most people who forgo or put off corrective orthodontic treatment do so because of shyness. No one wants to be seen smiling with a mouth full of metal. Clear braces offer the obvious advantage of discretion over traditional metal braces. For these individuals whose self-consciousness is completely understandable, new technologies and better materials can now produce the same results as traditional orthodontic therapy.
There are two options you can consider, depending on the length and degree of treatment you need, and how much you can afford to invest time and money wise in the process.
Invisalign clear dental braces are removable aligners that are custom made to fit your teeth.
The dentist begins by making impressions of your upper and lower bite, which are then used to make a 3D model of your teeth. A computer is then used to forecast the realignment of teeth in a series of steps. Each step forms the blueprint for the creation of an Invisalign aligner. Each set of aligners is worn for 2 weeks, for a minimum of 22 hours per day. Treatment will consist of anywhere from 9-15 aligners, depending on the severity of tooth misalignment.
Invisalign offers a number of advantages over metal braces.
- To begin with, they are completely removable. You can take out your aligners for brushing and flossing your teeth, or to eat, and then put them back in. Aligners can be worn in your sleep.
- Invisalign aligners are completely transparent. It is almost impossible for people to see them, even when they are standing close to you.
- The level of customization made possible by 3D computer technology makes Invisalign clear braces among the most precise corrective dental therapies available anywhere in the world today. The smallest problems can be pinpointed with the computer, appropriate corrections forecast, and aligners created that will make each adjustment incrementally.
- The aligners are made from a special, medical plastic with comfortable, smooth edges designed to avoid irritating your gums.
- More than likely you will see a marked improvement even before you complete your treatment.
Invisalign takes almost as long as banded orthodontic treatments to produce final results. The advantage that aligners offer is incremental precision in tooth alignment correction, complete comfort throughout the procedure, and a completely discreet, cosmetic alternative to visible metal in your mouth.
The cost of Invisalign aligners is about $6,000.00 for full treatment.
Six Month Smiles® clear braces use invisible brackets and tooth-colored wires to conceal their presence.
This revolutionary corrective treatment combines the basic design of traditional braces with better materials and more comfortable adjustment techniques. There are a number of advantages Six Month Smiles® offers over metal braces.
- True to their name, these clear dental braces take only 6 months to do the work that traditional orthodontic treatment takes 2 years to accomplish.
- The clear brackets and tooth-colored wires are practically undetectable, even to people who are standing close by.
- Patient tray kits that come with the braces make adjustments convenient, fast, and comfortable.
- The shape and size of the materials allow for more effective dental hygiene.
Six Month Smiles® take far less time to correct minor and moderate alignment problems, and they are considerably less expensive than all other types of clear dental braces. They are ideal for people on a budge with mild to moderate two alignment problems who need a short-term solution as soon as possible. The total cost is approximately $3,000.00 for one arch, and $4,500.00 for both arches.
Labels: clear braces, clear dental braces, invisalign aligners, six month smiles
    Millions of Americans suffer from misaligned and crowded teeth. Too self-conscious to smile, and too sensitive or financially challenged to take corrective action with metal braces, they go year after year trying to cover their mouth when they smile—or simply smile without showing their teeth.
Now, thanks to a revolutionary combination of traditional orthodontic dentistry, better dental materials, and more creative methods of applying these materials, Six Month Smiles® offers a breakthrough in corrective dental therapy. Using nearly invisible, clear braces, Six Month Smiles® takes only 6 months on the average to gently realign teeth and give you a whole new smile.
Six Month Smiles® is an ideal blend of the old and the new. In many ways, it takes the best aspect of metal braces and modifies the materials and treatment methods with more comfortable brackets and wires. The reduced time factor and improved comfort make this the most sensible first line of treatment for the average adult with mild to moderate tooth crowding or tooth alignment problems.
The advantages and benefits of this services are clearly measurable and within the reach of the average Houstonian struggling with embarrassment when they smile.
· The average treatment time is only six-months—ideal for students and busy professionals alike.
· The clear brackets and tooth-colored wires can barely be seen by anyone, so they are much more cosmetic than typical metal braces.
· Six Month Smiles® relies upon Patient Tray Kits that make your appointments fast and comfortable, so you do not have to miss much time from work or school.
· Dental hygiene is easier with cosmetic dental braces.
· Six Month Smiles® is the most affordable short-term orthodontic treatment available—less expensive than traditional braces, cosmetic dental veneers, and Invisalign®.
The Houston Medical Center Dental Group is very excited and enthusiastic about this service. We find it fits well with other general dentistry practices. There are large numbers of teenagers and adults who would love to have straighter teeth, but for whatever reason, do not want to go through the standard 2-year treatment with metal braces. This is often due to the unattractive appearance of metal braces, but many patients also cite pain and difficulty brushing and flossing as other justifications for procrastinating orthodontic solutions.
However, Six Month Smiles® involves no pain and takes only 25 percent of the time that metal braces take to do their work. Of course, the more severe cases of tooth misalignment or maladjustment may still require traditional braces. For these few individuals, referrals are made to trusted orthodontic specialists who we are confident can offer the very best and most effective treatment for severe cases.
However, a large percentage of patients who come to us generally get the results they need using these revolutionary, affordable, virtually undetectable cosmetic dental braces. Labels: cosmetic dental braces, invisible braces, six month smiles
How Much Does it Cost to Repair a Tooth That is Only Chipped?
Ask The Dentist The Cosmetic Dentistry Center in the Houston Medical Center Dental Group offers the full range of cosmetic dentistry procedures and general dentistry practices. Every patient is treated as a genuinely unique individual with his or her own set of unique and specific needs. We like to say that no two smiles are exactly alike, so when you come to our office, you can be confident we provide your smile with a restorative or cosmetic solution that is specifically created just for you._________________________________________
I have a tooth that is not broken though, only a little chipped. How much will it cost to repair it?
Thank You.
--Ingriz
__________________________________________________________
Hello, Ingriz –
The cost to do a repair varies a lot – the more complicated, the more expensive. If it is truly a small project, it can cost as little as $100 to do a small repair. There are lots of other factors, however, that can change things drastically. Oftentimes an anterior tooth is chipped because of simple factors, but there can be some surprises. If you have a heavy bite, or you are a protrusive bruxer (http://www.frankspear.com/content/aeid/AEID_V2N4_Mandibular_Incisor_Intrusion.pdf) there are times that there is just not enough room to repair a tooth. Similarly, if there is undermining decay, the project can be bigger than you realize. If there is old trauma that caused the chip, there can be an underlying endodontic (root canal) problem….lots of possibilities – even the possibility of orthodontic treatment to move teeth into better locations.
Many people assume that they are the easy case, but there are a lot of things to consider. This is why we are really unable to quote you definite fees – there are just too many factors that can affect the treatment. I recommend that you call and come in for an examination. That is the only way we can fairly and accurately give you a cost estimate.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905
If you have a lower denture it is a good idea to go ahead and get it replaced with a lower jaw implant. A lower jaw implant will look much more like a natural tooth and will provide you with a more effective chewing surface.
You already know how uncomfortable a lower denture can be. You have probably noticed that it hurts to choose sometimes. This is because when you lose teeth, the bone in your jaw starts receding. Nerves that run to the surface of the bone become sensitive when you bite down.
Partial dentures are not the best solution to the problem of missing teeth because they do not anchor to the jaw itself. Lower jaw implants do, however. Shaped like cylinders with screw-shaped bottoms, these tooth root replacements are embedded in the bone itself, which then believes them to be natural tooth roots. This stops the process of bone recession, and it provides a sturdy base to cap with a porcelain crown that looks just like a natural tooth.
You may be saying at this point that you have lost too many teeth to replace all of your lower dentures with implants. In this case, we recommend you schedule an appointment and at least start with a combination of dentures and implants. What we will do is to connect the new lower jaw implants with a bar, then clip the new dentures to the bar.. These clips snap down on the bar and keep the denture from moving around and making those obnoxious, embarrassing noises. You can still take out your dentures to clean them, however, and this will also help you better clean the bar and the porcelain crowns.
Regardless of the option you ultimately go with, be aware that any implantation procedure is the one sure way to take the pressure off of jaw bones and nerves. And, like we already mentioned, they give the bone something to grow around so that bone loss gets stopped in its tracks.
Lower jaw implants are placed in your mouth in a two-phase process. The first phase is the surgical phase. Patients are sedated during this phase to prevent them from feeling pain. The dentist makes a small incision in the gums and screws the titanium base into the jaw bone. Over the next few months the jaw bone grows around this base, thinking it is a new tooth root.
Lower jaw implants are placed using a two-phase procedure. The first phase is called the surgical phase and involves sedating you so you will not feel any pain. The dentist makes a small incision in your gum and screws the implant in to the jaw bone. A few months are needed for the bone to accept the implant and properly heal.
Once it heals, a porcelain crown is then made that looks identical in size and coloration to your surrounding teeth. This is placed over the artificial root to provide a hard, comfortable surface for chewing that looks so close to the real thing no one will even know you are using a tooth replacement.
Not only will this make eating more enjoyable, but it will make you feel more confident when you smile and talk to other people.Labels: cosmetic dental implants, dentures, implant dentistry, tooth replacements
How Much Does Dental Bonding Cost?
Ask The Dentist The Cosmetic Dentistry Center in the Houston Medical Center Dental Group offers the full range of cosmetic dentistry procedures and general dentistry practices. Every patient is treated as a genuinely unique individual with his or her own set of unique and specific needs. We like to say that no two smiles are exactly alike, so when you come to our office, you can be confident we provide your smile with a restorative or cosmetic solution that is specifically created just for you.____________________I would like to know how much does Dental Bondingcost (estimate) for an adult with no insurance? Thank you,Debbie______________________
Debbie,Thanks for the question. As with many things we do, it varies widely. There are times that we do minor bonding and it does not take much time and we do not charge much for it. There are other complicated situations that take more time and therefore we charged more for these – and, since major changes are not done any more with bonding, we often also have a conversation about laminate veneers, which is a much more durable and esthetic service.
You really need to make an appointment to come in and have an exam done so that we can understand what you want done and you can get correct information. I cannot answer your question well blindly --- give us a call..
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905Labels: cosmetic dental bonding, cosmetic dental procedures
Can I Afford Dental Implants?
Ask The Dentist The Cosmetic Dentistry Center in the Houston Medical Center Dental Group offers the full range of cosmetic dentistry procedures and general dentistry practices. Every patient is treated as a genuinely unique individual with his or her own set of unique and specific needs. We like to say that no two smiles are exactly alike, so when you come to our office, you can be confident we provide your smile with a restorative or cosmetic solution that is specifically created just for you._______________I am a 36yr old male. About four years ago I had several molars pulled. They were in bad shape from heavy meth use. I have been drug free for 12yrs. I would like to get dental implants but I am not sure I can afford it. I have insurance, but I’m not sure what or how much it covers. So I guess my question would be how much this procedure cost ??
________________
Thanks for the question --- it sounds like you are a perfect candidate for dental implants. As you suspect, dental insurance will be limited. There are always things that they will cover and other things that they will not cover. After we get a good examination with x-rays and photos, we can give you a pretty good idea of what your insurance will help you with. A predetermination will also give you more information.
That said, the majority of the cost will not be covered by your insurance, so we often advise patients to make their financial plans based on the total cost, and then any money available from insurance is a pleasant surprise and will be helpful. You cannot make your plans on complex dental work based on dental insurance.
Costs vary widely according to what you need. There will always be options that you have for dental treatment, and each option is different in cost. Honestly, the only way we can help you to understand your needs and options and the cost options is for you to come in and have a complete exam that includes photos and x-rays. Otherwise, we would be just guessing. Give us a call and let one of us help you understand your situation.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905Labels: cosmetic dental implants, dental insurance, finacial options for cosmetic dental implants
Two-implant bridges make excellent replacements for missing teeth. Unlike other bridges, they do not anchor to natural teeth. Rather, they anchor to dental implants. This prevents wear and tear on natural teeth.
Implants are cylindrical and are made from a titanium alloy known as Tivolloy. They have screw-shaped bottoms that allow them to be twisted into the bone. The jawbone accepts these implants as if they were actual tooth roots, then porcelain crowns are placed over the Tivolloy roots to act as tooth replacements.
Placing two-implant bridges after teeth have been lost helps prevent a chain reaction from happening. You see, teeth need each other for support. When a tooth is lost, they shift. Teeth next to the empty space begin to extrude from their sockets. They become misaligned and can eventually fall out if the missing tooth is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
Regardless if teeth are lost or not, you will have problems chewing your food and you may damage your jaw-joint, the TMJ. It will also be hard to clean teeth that have shifted, because shifting gives plaque and tartar new places to hide from brushes and floss. Periodontitis, cavities, and sometimes even permanent bone loss may follow.
The cost of two-implant bridges can sometimes intimidate people, who may opt instead to go the cheaper route with partial dentures. There are some issues associated with this, though. Dentures have clasps and metal work that require adjustment, and they do not stop bone loss.
These factors being considered, it is a better idea to ask your dentist about payment plan options that can help you afford a two-implant bridge.
After a financial plan has been chosen, (and we have several options that you probably qualify for—then we can perform the implantation of the bridge in two phases right here in our office.
The first of these phase is called the surgical phase. The patient is placed under a general anesthetic and the dentist makes a small incision in the gum. The base of the implant is screwed into the jawbone. Sometimes, the dentist covers the implant with a temporary crown that remains in place for the next 3-6 weeks. After the healing phase (known as osseointegration) has been complete, you return back to our Houston Medical Center Office for phase two of the procedure.
The dentist will then take impressions of your teeth and he will use these to create porcelain crowns that will then be used to anchor the two-implant bridge. Porcelain is hard and very durable substance, and it gives strong support to a bridge and provides a reliable chewing surface. It also looks practically identical to natural tooth enamel.
Labels: dental implnats, implant dentistry, two-implant dental bridges
Dentin hypersensitivity, aka sensitive teeth, affects over 40 million Americans. It is caused when thinning enamel exposes the more sensitive, middle layer of the tooth called dentin. Nerves and cells inside the tooth become irritated when they come in contact with anything cold, sweets, sour, and even air.
As mentioned above, dentin hypersensitivity is caused by the thinning of the tooth enamel. Enamel is very hard compared to dentin, but it is also very thin, and it can be worn down by many things.
· Aging
· Brushing too hard close to the gums.
· Tooth grinding
· Tooth decay
· Gum disease
· Digestive acids
Any one or any combination, of these factors will eventually result in exposed dentin and hypersensitivity to any type of unusual stimulus. If you have been recently feeling discomfort or even pain when you brush your teeth, you need to contact our office immediately and schedule an appointment. You also need to make an appointment if you feel any consistent discomfort or pain while eating or drinking.
Neglecting to have your teeth professionally cleaned can also contribute to decay, gum disease, and plaque buildup. If it has been several years since you had your teeth cleaned, and you are feeling a nagging discomfort when you eat or drink, call our office and ask to have a full dental exam performed.
As severe as all this may sound, dentin hypersensitivity is actually very easy for a trained dental professional to treat. There are a number of treatments we can prescribe based on patient case history and severity of the condition.
Milder cases can normally be resolved with desensitizing toothpastes. These toothpastes contain chemicals that block pain signals in tooth nerves. They take a few days to start working, but after that, relief is typically consistent.
Tooth enamel that has been substantially worn away may require fluoride treatments. Fluoride will remineralize the damaged enamel by binding to tooth surfaces and strengthens it. We can apply the fluoride in our office, or we can send it home with you for self-treatment.
Dental sealants and cosmetic dental bonding resin are sometimes used to treat dentin hypersensitivity. These substances coat the tooth surface and prevent irritants from affecting more delicate tooth layers beneath the surface.
In light of how simple and inexpensive such treatments are, does it not make sense to go see a dentist now if you have noticed any discomfort or pain while eating or drinking? If you ignore the condition it will only get worse, and it will possibly cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Avoid needless suffering and higher, future costs by scheduling an appointment today.
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