Monday, November 2, 2009

Houston Implant Dentists

There are all sorts of advertisements both in the newspaper and all over the Internet for Houston implant dentists. People see these ads and draw all sorts of conclusions—some accurate, some not so accurate—about the true nature of these highly specialized dental professionals.

The following FAQ is intended to address some of these perceptions and misperceptions with the simple facts about this very important and highly sought after cosmetic dental service.

What do Houston implant dentists do?
First and foremost, they provide permanent tooth replacements for missing teeth. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. No other form of tooth replacement can be expected to last for the life of the patient.

What are the benefits of permanent tooth replacement?Houston implant dentists offer patients both medical and cosmetic benefits as a result of these amazing tooth prosthetics.

While technically in a manner of speaking, there is only one type of Houston implant dentist, most of these professionals specialize in one or the other phase of implant dentistry. These phases are the surgical phase and the prosthetic phase.

The surgical phase involves placing the actual implant into the jawbone itself.

The prosthetic phase involves placing an abutment over the implant to create a stable, flat surface for a crown. The actual placement of the crown is called the prosthetic phase of dental implantation.

Where do they get their knowledge?
Houston implant dentists must undergo standard dental school training in General Dentistry in order to learn the basic dynamics of tooth, gum, and bone health. They must also attend cosmetic dentistry school in order to learn how to make implant dentistry help their patients not only medically, but also cosmetically beneficial to the patient as well. If possible, they also mentor under an implant dentist who can teach them advanced surgical implantation and prosthetic placement strategies so Houston residents can receive the maximum medical and emotional benefits from their dental implants.

Why should patients see a Houston implant dentist?
Although dental implants cost more than bridges and dentures, they are well worth the money. They are the only form of tooth replacement that is permanent and expected to last for the life of the patient. They are certainly less conspicuous and difficult to clean than dentures.

They are also better for natural teeth than are bridges. Bridges require the use of natural teeth as anchors to support the bridge. Over time, this puts stress on tooth enamel and causes
Dental implants, however, go directly into the jaw bone in a way that actually helps the bone grow back toward its original shape. They do not impact the surrounding teeth in any way and thus are much more tooth-preserving than dental bridges.


What makes the Medical Center Dental Group Unique?
Perhaps the most unique thing about our practice is Dr. Charles Campbell’s dual specialization in both the surgical and prosthetic aspects of dental implants. Many cosmetic dentistry centers in Houston either perform the surgical aspect of dental implantation or the prosthetic aspect of it.

However, in our office, Dr. Campbell does both. He has mentored for over 20 years now with Dr. Hilt Tatum, who is regarded as the leading authority in the world on cosmetic dental implants.

Labels: , ,


Thursday, June 4, 2009

General Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic Dentists are general dentistry experts who extend that expertise into aesthetics. Cosmetic dentistry is not a separate from general dentistry, but is a grouping of sub-sciences within it. Our dental professionals have years of experience and continuing education in both health and wellness services and full mouth restorative services.

Implants
Implants rank among the most important forms of general dentistry. Implants involve the use of crowns, but they are much more than crowns. An implant is an artificial titanium tooth root implanted in the jawbone itself. A porcelain crown placed over the tooth appears identical to surrounding natural teeth and provides a stable, hard, reliable chewing surface that will not chip or break while you are eating normal food.

Laser Periodontal Treatment (LANAP)
LANAP is periodontal surgery (surgery on the gums) that uses a special laser to replace the metal cutting tools traditionally used in general dentistry. You will experience the same benefits as the standard surgical methods, but with much bleeding pain. Recovery time from LANAP is also much quicker.

Sleep Apnea Management
Obstructive sleep apnea is very serious and can cause anything from restlessness to chronic fatigue the following day. Sleep apnea is normally treated with CPAP therapy, which uses a machine to keep air passages open while the patient sleeps. Many people try CPAP and give it up on the basis that it causes them too much discomfort or awareness. This is where general dentistry, surprisingly, can actually step in and provide alternatives.

The FDA has approved a number of sleep apnea oral appliances. These devices are like mouth guards, only much more sophisticated. The dentist has to select the type that is best for your mouth, and in most cases, further customize the model to your particular teeth and bite.

When correctly manufactured and fitted, dental appliances have proven to be equally effective to CPAP in treating all but the most severe forms of sleep apnea.

Fillings
Using fillings to repair cavities in teeth is common in both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. The difference lies in the nature of the fillings themselves. In general practices, amalgam fillings have historically been used that are made by mixing silver and mercury. They are not the healthiest things to have in your mouth, and they will often fall out after several years and require replacement.

We prefer to use composite dental resin instead of silver-mercury fillings. Composite resin is customized to look like the color of your natural teeth and is made from bio-friendly resin. It is healthier and last longer than other types of fillings, and it creates a much better cosmetic appearance.

We use porcelain inlays and onlays to fill teeth when the area that needs to be covered is more than 40%-50% of the biting area.

Crowns
Before the development of titanium dental implants, crowns were used to cover teeth that could not be repaired by fillings. Crowns were made of gold and were often known as “caps.” Crowns are now mostly made from porcelain, which is used equally in both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry to cover teeth that have been severely cracked, chipped, or fractured.

IV Sedation
General dentistry practices might involve working on the teeth in a way that the patient finds uncomfortable. IV sedation delivers anesthetics to the body so the patient will feel no pain during the procedure. Lucidity is maintained in a very relaxed state, but is monitored by an anesthesiologist.

We would like to point out that in many cases the general and the cosmetic can go hand in hand to create a win-win situation for both health and physical appearance.

Labels: , , , ,


Monday, June 1, 2009

Houston Dental Office

Our Mission
Every member of our Houston dental office staff is devoted to patient health and wellness. Everyone seeks to ensure the highest level of professional care for patients who walk. We feel it is mandatory to earn the respect and confidence of every patient through the services we provide.

Our Philosophy
We have committed ourselves to lifetimes of continuing education in dental science. This helps us maintain the forward motion of our proactive stance toward preventative dentistry. We believe that ongoing pursuit of the latest dental treatments combined with an aggressive health and hygiene programs, are the essential to dental health..

New Patient Policy and Procedures
Every day, we see new patients come into our Houston dental office daily. We recommend to every one of theme that that they begin their relationship with our care professionals with a comprehensive dental examination. This examination normally consists of the following:

· Medical history and dental history review
· Radiography examination
· Visual examination
· Photographic series
· Oral cancer screening
· Periodontal exam

After these examinations, dentists take great time to share their findings with patients and go over treatment options. Not only do we offer cosmetic dentistry, but we also offer all forms of general dentistry. Many insurance plans cover the majority of our services. However, some of our more advanced cosmetic procedures may not be covered under the typical corporate dental benefits plan. In these instances, we have a number of financial services plans that allow a person to work out payment options without having to depend on insurance.

Office Hours and Appointment Policy
Our Houston dental office is open every Monday through Thursday 7 AM to 4 PM. For dental emergencies, we do have an answering service that will page the dentist. We ask if you make an appointment with us, that you treat it with the same the same high respect that our professionals do. We know how busy Houston work schedules can be, but we also very busy as well. We respectfully ask that you give us the courtesy of a 24-hour notice should you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

Dental Fees
The general and cosmetic dental services that Houston dental office offers represent the highest level of dental care, applied technology, and new sciences. Time, treatment option, ability, education, and professional experience all factor into determining our fees. Many services are more affordable than others. However, it is our policy to never tack on fees after the fact. We explain every treatment option up front, quote exactly how much it will cost, and explain why. This allows our patients to make better informed decisions about which options are best for them at what times. It also serves as a guideline for obtaining certain dental financial services throughout many assistance programs.

Labels: , ,