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What Are Dental Sealants?

They are thin, clear, plastic-like coatings that help prevent decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars. Dental sealants feature different materials that can fill the pits and fissures of back teeth to create barriers that shield teeth from bacterial infections. While dental sealants are types of dental fillings, their uniqueness lies in preventing infections rather than treating damaged teeth.

The procedure for dental sealants is not complex. The dentist cleans the tooth to remove any debris and food residue. Afterward, (s)he paints the sealant over the back teeth, hardening it with a laser or UV light.

Who Needs Dental Sealants?

At Dr. Teeth Dental Care – Katy, dental sealants are ideal for people with weak tooth enamels or who have a high possibility of getting dental cavities. Ideally, dental sealants are popular and suitable in pediatric dentistry to treat children. However, adults too benefit from dental sealants. Our dental team has identified several factors that increase the risk of dental cavities, heightening the need for dental sealants in Katy. They include:

1. High consumption of sugary foods like candies and sodas.
2. Having diabetes which increases your risk of gum disease and other oral infections.
3. Weak, soft, and worn down teeth enamels that cause tooth hypersensitivity.
4. Oddly shaped back teeth – so that you have abnormally deep fissures and depressions.

How Do Dental Sealants Work?

Dental sealants near you work in two main ways. The first is by creating a protective barrier over teeth, sealing them from the entry of bacteria. When your dentist in Katy, TX, applies the sealant material on your chewing surface, it hardens to bond with your tooth. Afterward, bacteria and acids cannot directly impact the tooth enamel.

The second approach is by releasing fluoride. Some types of dental sealants called glass ionomers contain fluoride. While the sealant is over your teeth, it releases fluoride gradually. Fluoride is a natural mineral, otherwise found in food sources like tap water. The mineral helps build strong teeth while increasing their resistance to bacteria that cause dental infections. Therefore, dental sealants containing fluoride have a double-action protection mechanism for fighting bacteria that cause dental cavities.

Can Sealants Be Placed Over Cavities?

Dentists do not typically recommend dental sealants near you when you have already developed dental cavities on your teeth. Usually, tooth sealants are for proactive dental care. However, sometimes a dental sealant in Katy can protect your tooth during the early stages of cavity development. The dentist would have to remove the damaged part of the tooth before applying the sealant material. Still, the damage must not be advanced enough, destroying a substantial portion of your tooth enamel. Besides, during the initial stages of cavity development, fluoride treatment can reverse it.

Are Dental Sealants Effective for Preventive Dental Care?

Dental experts have substantial evidence providing that dental sealants prevent up to 80% of cavities in the back teeth for the first three years. After that, the effectiveness reduces to 50%. Therefore, you must liaise with your dentist now and then to know the best time to repair or replace your dental sealants.

Besides, dental sealants help improve oral hygiene. Patients with deep fissures in back teeth have a hard time keeping their teeth clean. Dental sealants fill the pits and depressions, making it easier to clean them to discourage plaque build-up.

Is It Enough to Get Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are only effective for fighting cavities in the premolars and molars. Therefore, although you will prevent 9 in 10 cavities on back teeth, preventive dentistry with dental sealants is not enough. Take up other dental measures to protect the rest of your teeth. Besides, you also need to cater to the other portions of your teeth, including between teeth. Other necessary dental tips are:

1. Brush and floss your teeth daily.
2. Visit your dentist regularly for routine dental exams and cleanings.
3. Get routine fluoride treatments.
4. Moderate your intake of sugary and acidic foods like sodas and candies.
5. Eat healthy foods that increase mineral absorption in your mouth.
6. Avoid taking alcohol and quit smoking and other tobacco usage.

An endodontist is a dental specialist who has specialized in tooth disease, infection, and pain. Most endodontic procedures will involve correcting defects in the deep tissues of a tooth. Although dentists are trained to diagnose endodontic issues, there are instances where they will refer you to an endodontist.

What Procedures Are Done in Endodontics?

Various procedures can be done in endodontic treatment to save a severely damaged or decayed tooth as well as restore a tooth’s functionality. They include:

• Endodontic surgery

Sometimes a root canal is not efficient enough to save a damaged tooth, and endodontic surgery is suggested. This surgery is used to locate hidden canals and small fractures that previously went undetected by x-rays in the initial dental treatment. Endodontic surgery may also be done to treat surrounding tissue bone around a tooth, damaged root surface, and eliminate calcium deposits that sometimes form in the root canals.

Advanced dental technologies like operating microscopes and digital imaging have made endodontic surgical procedures quick, comfortable, and successful. One of the most popular procedures of endodontic surgery is an apicoectomy. This root-end resection procedure is prescribed when infection or inflammation around your tooth’s bony area persists following a root canal treatment.

• Dental implants

Whenever a patient suffers a dental infection or tooth injury, saving the natural tooth is any dentist’s first choice. However, there are cases where, due to severe decay or injury, less can be done to save a tooth, and a dental extraction will best fit. Before a tooth extraction is recommended, your dentist will refer you to an endodontist who will try saving your tooth with root canal therapy. An extraction is scheduled if this endodontic procedure fails to save your tooth.

Your dentist will recommend getting a replacement for the extracted tooth, and dental implants are among the most used restorative options for missing teeth. Getting dental implants at an endodontist’s office near you will restore your bite, allowing you to chew properly.

• Traumatic dental trauma care

Sports or accidental injuries often lead to traumatic oral injuries that can cause minor or major damages. However, irrespective of the injury extent, you will need to have your injured tooth examined by an endodontist or your dentist. This is because, at times, the adjacent teeth suffer an additional injury that can go unnoticed unless a thorough oral exam is done. Endodontists have advanced techniques, technologies, and skills that can help save an injured tooth. The type of treatment suggested by your dental practitioner will depend on the tooth’s location, type, and injury extent.

If you crack or injure your teeth, make sure you see an endodontist right away to raise the chances of saving your dental.

How Long Does It Take to Do a Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental restorative procedure that aims to restore a tooth’s root in an effort to preserve the natural tooth. Getting a root canal near you becomes necessary when severe inflammation or bacterial infection develops in the tooth’s pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth found below the dentin layer). The pulp harbors connective tissues, nerves, and blood vessels that link a tooth to the gums and jawbone. When tooth pulp becomes infected, it should be treated; or otherwise, you’ll risk losing the tooth and the infection spreading along your gumline to other oral tissues. In addition, since nerve tissues are present, you will likely experience severe dental pain and sensitivity.

Your endodontist or dentist can do the root canal therapeutic process. Although both professionals guarantee high chances of a successful outcome, endodontists are more specialized in providing the service. If you are looking for an endodontist in Katy, TX, who offers root canal therapy, visit Dr. Teeth Dental Care – Katy.

A root canal procedure may need one or two dental appointments to be completed. This will be highly influenced by the specific type of tooth affected and the severity of your tooth’s infection. On average, you are going to spend at least 30 minutes or about one hour at our dentist’s office in Katy for a root canal appointment. However, if the tooth being restored is large and has multiple affected roots, your root canal therapy visit may be an hour and a half long to 3 hours.

Straightening teeth becomes necessary if they are crooked, misshapen, gapped, or have under bites, overbites, cross bites, open bites, and misalignment with the jaw. When contemplating treatments to straighten your teeth, you have two options to achieve your desired results. If your dental situation is complex, the best way to have your teeth straightened is to seek orthodontic treatment with metal brackets mounted over your teeth and wires holding them together with bands for three years or more and enduring retainers over them after completing the orthodontic treatment.

If your dental situation is mild or moderate and not complicated, you can achieve your goal of having straighter teeth by researching Invisalign near you providing a comfortable alternative to straightening teeth with dental-grade transparent plastic liners fitting snugly over your teeth. Invisalign, introduced in the late 90s, is currently a popular choice for straightening teeth among teenagers and adults because the therapy offers a discreet method of having a beautiful smile without the embarrassment of wearing metal brackets in the mouth and confronting numerous challenges posed by them. In addition, Invisalign transparent braces allow you to straighten teeth between six to 18 months than the three years you need with conventional orthodontic treatment.

How Long Do You Have Invisalign for?

Smiles vary between patients, and no two are alike. Similarly, orthodontic issues with the teeth are also not similar, making every patient need customized treatments. If you qualify for Invisalign therapy after an evaluation by the dental office in Katy, the complexity of your orthodontic situation determines whether you can straighten your teeth within six or 18 months.

Mild orthodontic problems are comfortably treated by Invisalign in approximately six months requiring you to wear the aligners for 22 hours or more if possible during the day and night. Invisalign transparent braces have a removable feature and need removal without the provider’s help when having food and beverages besides water and cleaning your mouth by brushing and flossing. Invisalign allows you approximately three to four hours to complete your everyday activities of nourishing yourself and maintaining excellent dental hygiene. However, delaying the return of the aligners back to your teeth can compromise your treatment and set you back to extend the duration of your treatment.

When you seek orthodontic treatment with Invisalign and qualify for the therapy, you commit to having the transparent braces over your teeth for 20 to 22 hours every day and complete all activities like eating, cleaning your teeth, and the braces in the four hours allowed by Invisalign. Failure to adhere to the guidelines will compromise your treatment and require additional aligners to increase the costs of the therapy besides leaving you with crooked teeth longer.

You require approximately 18 months to straighten teeth if your orthodontic situation is complicated. However, you cannot expect any changes in the rules on how long Invisalign braces must remain on your teeth during the day and night. Besides delaying the eventual treatment results, any compromises with the timeline can reverse the treatment to put you back where you started with your crooked teeth. Therefore your compliance with the therapy requirements determines how long you must have Invisalign braces over your teeth.

Is Invisalign permanent?

After completing orthodontic treatment with Invisalign transparent braces, you might think you have achieved the desired results and don’t need further care from Invisalign in Katy. However, the Invisalign provider surprises you by stating that you must wear Invisalign transparent retainers over your teeth to prevent them from moving back to their original positions. The retainers made from the same dental grade transparent plastic remain inconspicuous in your mouth when wearing them throughout the night for at least 12 months before shifting to wearing the retainers when sleeping.

The retainers are essential to hold your teeth in the new positions because if not, your teeth move back to the original and malformed places. You must prevent such occurrences after receiving treatment with Invisalign transparent braces to achieve your goal of having straighter teeth and getting rid of the dental infections that followed you with your malformed teeth.

Orthodontic treatments, whether traditional or with Invisalign, merely help to guide your teeth to the correct positions but have no control over your teeth after the braces or aligners are removed to complete your treatment. Left without retainers, your teeth begin moving back within a week, requiring you to seek new orthodontic treatments from other providers.

Straightening your teeth is not just about getting orthodontic treatment with metal braces or Invisalign aligners. It is also a commitment to have straighter teeth without compromising the requirements of the therapy.

After getting Invisalign therapy from Dr. Teeth Dental Care — Katy, you do not help yourself if you don’t comply with the treatment requirements. However, this dental practice guides you appropriately to ensure you change the appearance of your teeth and smile when you decide to receive Invisalign teeth straightening treatment from them. Therefore if you want to correct your malformed teeth, kindly do not hesitate to contact this dental facility for Invisalign treatment.

According to the world health organization, approximately 2 billion adults have untreated cavities. Dental fillings are common procedures for repairing or restoring decayed or damaged teeth. They also prevent further tooth decay and enable the affected tooth to function as expected. However, fillings do not necessarily replace the whole dental structure but fill the holes caused by decay.

The dental fillings procedure is painless and generally takes about an hour. A simple process will take about 20 minutes. At Dr. Teeth Dental Care in Katy, we have adopted the latest dental technology for dental fillings. This makes it easier to create inlays and onlays on a single appointment. However, multiple and larger fillings may take longer to set. The material used also determines the time fillings take to fix.

What to Expect During a Dental Filling Procedure

The procedure is simple, and the dentist will start by examining your mouth and checking the cavities. An X-ray may be required to check the extent of the decay. The next step is numbing the affected area using an anesthetic to prevent discomfort. However, an anesthetic may not be required if the filling is just on the surface.

Once the anesthetic effect has set off, the decayed part is removed. For this, your dentist may use a dental drill, a laser, or air abrasion equipment. After the decayed matter is removed, the area will be sterilized and prepared for filling.

The fillings are then placed and hardened or cured using a blue wavelength light. The last step is polishing the tooth and ensuring the bite is correct.

Be ready for a little sensitivity after the numbing has worn off. Avoid very hot or cold food substances for a day or two.

For dental fillings in Katy, visit our offices near you.

Different Types of Fillings

While your dentist is best equipped to recommend what filling suits you best, learning the different types of dental fillings near you is also important. Below are some of the most commonly used dental filling materials.

Composite Fillings

Composites or tooth color fillings are made of glass mixtures, acrylic resin, and quartz particles. These fillings are ideal for repairing visible teeth since they closely match your natural teeth. They are versatile and are also used in correcting chipped teeth.

Silver Fillings

Silver fillings are metal amalgams made from silver, copper, mercury, and tin. They are durable and more pocket-friendly compared to other fillings and can withstand pressure from the back teeth.

Ionomer Fillings

These are a type of tooth-colored fillings made of acrylic and a special kind of glass. Despite not being as strong as composites, ionomers release fluoride that prevents cavities. They are more used in children and beneath the gum line.

Gold Fillings

Gold fillings are a mixture of copper, gold, and other metals. Despite not being natural-looking, they have a longer lifespan and are more expensive. Gold fillings will not erode and can take hard chewing. They require two dental visits. This is because, during the first dental visit, an impression must be made for it to be used to make the gold filling in a lab.

The lifespan of Your Dental Filling

It’s not surprising when a patient inquires how long their fillings will last. Fillings do not offer a permanent solution but can last 10 – 15 years, depending on the filler used. Dental fillings are prone to damage and wear and tear that come with aging. According to our dentist in Katy, various factors can affect how long your filling will last. Some of them include:

• The complexity or type of procedure used during the treatment. That is, if it involved extensive restoration and drilling.
• The size of the cavity determines the size of the filling expected. A small dental filling decreases the probability of being stressed or negatively affected by my mismanagement. However, this cannot be said to be the same with large dental fillings.
• If you have had additional dental procedures; the dental filling can diminish if the affected area requires different treatment. However, a crown may be recommended to preserve your natural tooth.
• Certain oral habits will also affect your dental fillings. Grinding teeth, chewing hard objects, or accidental damage can cause premature wear of dental fillings.

If you have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to improve your smile’s appearance, now is as best a time as any. The good news is that modern dentistry provides many dental approaches that can repair and restore your teeth. Whether you want a functional or purely aesthetic solution for your smile, there is something for you in dentistry. For an aesthetic solution for your smile, you only need to consider the role of dental bonding in transforming teeth. Besides, it may be the only solution with little to no damage to your natural tooth structure.

What Is Dental Bonding?

It is a procedure in cosmetic dentistry that transforms the appearance of natural teeth. The goal is to change their color, shape, sizes, and spacing. Dental bonding entails applying a composite resin to teeth. Composite is a popular tooth-colored material in modern dentistry that offers an aesthetic solution to many oral problems. It is often used as an alternative to porcelain.

Composite bonding has a definitive role in cosmetic dentistry, transforming teeth’ appearance. Its primary role is aesthetic transformations. However, dentists can use similar dental protocols in restorative treatments for repairing decayed teeth. In this case, the dentist will use composite resin as a type of dental filling.

What Should I Expect During Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding procedures are among the simplest dental protocols in cosmetic dentistry. The processes entail a few effective steps that will drastically transform your smile’s appearance. The initial step is a comprehensive dental exam. The dentist must first evaluate your oral health, determining if you have any underlying infection, extensive tooth damage, or dental pain. These factors may affect the course of your treatment.

After a proper dental examination, dental bonding begins when the dentist roughens your tooth. (S)he will use a conditioning liquid on the surface of the target tooth. A roughened surface promotes the resin’s adherence to the enamel.

After roughening, the dentist will apply the composite resin to your tooth, then mold and shape it appropriately before hardening it. Lasers harden composite, making it one with your natural tooth structure. Once the composite has hardened on your tooth, the dentist will trim off any excess material, then polish the tooth for the final glare.

Will the Treatment Damage My Teeth?

Dental bonding in Katy is one of those cosmetic dental protocols that anyone can try without being excessively mindful about teeth’ health. Although several dental restorations can damage natural teeth, composite bonding is different. The dentist does not have to trim part of your tooth enamel to make room for the composite resin. Instead, the composite resin applies and adheres to teeth better by roughening the surface. Your dentist in Katy will only need to remove tooth enamel if it is damaged, as in the case of dental decay.

What Reasons Should Prompt Me to Try Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding near you gets quite the praise from patients and dentists in Katy because of their key role in transforming smiles in cosmetic dentistry. Some of the reasons that dental bonding is advantageous for your smile are:

1. It is reversible – if you want to remove the composite material from your teeth, visit us at Dr. Teeth Dental Care – Katy. We can undo the treatment since the dental bonding process does not damage your natural tooth structure.
2. It is a quick procedure – dental bonding is a relatively simple treatment protocol in cosmetic dentistry. Dentists can complete transforming your tooth with instant results in under 45 minutes.
3. It is a painless process – unless your tooth is severely damaged or you have an underlying infection, composite bonding is a pain-free procedure. In fact, the dentist may not even administer local anesthesia to numb your mouth unless you are experiencing tooth hypersensitivity.
4. It is versatile – dental bonding can correct various oral problems to transform your smile’s aesthetics. You can whiten, reshape, resize and realign teeth through composite bonding.
5. It is natural-looking – you do not need to worry about your treated teeth stranding out from your natural teeth. Since composite is tooth-colored, your dentist can match it to your teeth’ color for a natural-looking appearance.

One of the common dental surgeries in the dentist’s office is wisdom teeth removal. However, the procedure can be associated with some pain for many adults. It seems like every individual has a story about their experience. This includes maybe the crazy thing they said when the anesthesia was wearing off or what they wish they would have known before the procedure. To help you keep the recovery stories on the lighter side, here is a quick overview of what you should expect after having your wisdom teeth removed. Also, how you can make your recovery as painless as possible.

What to Expect?

The wisdom teeth, referred to as third molars, are the last adult teeth between 17 and 21 years. After that, your wisdom teeth may not grow properly because they might not have enough space to emerge, leading to serious oral problems.

When there’s not enough space, the wisdom teeth can crowd on your mouth, causing oral health problems such as infection and pain.

At Dr. Teeth Dental Care in Katy, we recommend you have your wisdom teeth checked before you turn 20 years of age. This helps your dentist see how your wisdom teeth grow and check any impaction while the roots develop.

Your oral surgeon or dentist may recommend that you have your third molars removed in a single outpatient procedure. However, wisdom teeth extraction is considered an effective procedure, although it’s an outpatient procedure.

Your dentist will administer local anesthesia to make you feel comfortable during the process, but you’ll experience some discomfort and pain after it is worn off. You should also ask your dentist about the type of sedation they’ll use to help you prepare yourself when you wake up from surgery and what time the recovery will begin.

Taking Care of Yourself After Surgery

After your wisdom teeth are removed, you’ll experience swelling, pain, and light bleeding. Your dentist will instruct you should take care of your mouth after the surgery. However, here are some common suggestions for a healthy recovery:

• Avoiding flossing, spitting, brushing, rinsing, or drinking from a straw during the first day of surgery
• Be careful to prevent dislodging the blood clot from where the teeth were removed
• Do not consume alcohol, solid foods, soda, coffee, or hot beverages for the first few days after your surgery

The Recovery Time

After getting wisdom teeth removal in Katy, the recovery takes three to four days. However, if you have impacted teeth, it could take as long as a week to heal. You’ll experience pain for three to one week after wisdom tooth extraction unless you get an infection resulting from a blood clot getting dislodged from the extraction site. You should expect the swelling of your cheeks and mouth to go down after two to three days and the soreness and stiffness to go away in seven to ten days.

How to Speed Up Healing?

We’ve listed some of the things you can do to speed up the healing during your wisdom teeth recovery:

• You should try placing an ice pack over your jaw to help with swelling. The cold from the ice pack helps reduce the discomfort and inflammation that comes with swelling
• Try taking it easy for the first few days. You can resume normal activities after the first day, but it would be best if you wait for like a week. Avoid doing anything that can dislodge the blood clot from the site your teeth were removed.
• After the first day, rinse your mouth gently with salt water a few times a day. This will help keep the site clean and prevent infection.
• To manage pain, you can take a prescription pain killer that your oral surgeon has prescribed to you or a recommended over-the-counter pain reliever.

Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid

It is important to drink a lot of water and eat healthy after wisdom teeth removal near you. However, you may be required to change your eating habits for the first week following the procedure. Some of these foods include:

What to Eat?

You should eat soft foods such as:

• Eggs
• Mashed potatoes
• Yogurt
• Soup
• Smoothies

What to Avoid?

Avoid steaky candy, chewing gum, scorching foods, and complex, crunchy foods like nuts, seeds, and chips.

Tooth extraction in Katy, TX, is a routine procedure to remove damaged teeth, but it is done when necessary. The dentist will first consider other forms of treatment before settling on extraction because our primary goal is to preserve your natural teeth. However, the tooth extraction is necessary when:

• Severely damaged teeth. Broken, cracked, and fractured teeth are often treated with veneers or crowns. But, if the crack or fracture spreads to the root of the teeth, an extraction may be done.
• Tooth decay. If the tooth is decayed and cannot be treated with teeth filling or a root canal, tooth removal becomes the treatment of choice.
• Impacted teeth. Teeth become impacted when you lack sufficient jawbone for them to emerge. Wisdom teeth are the most affected because they tend to come out after the jaw has attained maturity. The dentist will recommend a wisdom teeth removal in Katy to prevent complications.
• Overcrowded teeth. If you have a smaller jaw that does not accommodate all the teeth, it causes them to become crowded. This can lead to misalignment and other oral health complications. The dentist will remove the extra teeth to make room for the alignment process.

Do Surgical Tooth Extractions Hurt?

Yes, the process of removing the teeth can be painful. However, our dentist in Katy will take the necessary precautions to reduce the pain. Based on the complexity of the extraction or comfort level, the dentist will use anesthesia to numb the gums at the site of extraction. The anesthesia does not completely remove sensations, and you may feel movement and pressure during the process.

Local anesthesia is used on simple extraction. If surgical extraction is done, dental sedation is used.

The dentist can use nitrous oxide or laughing gas that offers minimal sedation. Oral and IV sedation can also be used during the procedure. These two are known as conscious sedation because they do not cause you to sleep.

Deep or general anesthesia is used in special situations or complex dental procedures. It causes unconsciousness, and you will be asleep during the extraction. It takes time for the anesthesia to wear out, and the dentist will use medication to reduce the effects of the anesthesia.

What Does Tooth Extraction Procedure Involve?

Tooth removal can either be surgical or non-surgical, depending on the visibility of the teeth. A simple extraction is done on the teeth that lie above the gums. After numbing the anesthesia, the dentist will use an elevator to loosen the teeth and pull them with forceps.

Surgical tooth removal is done on teeth that lie beneath the gums. The dentist will make an incision in the gum to access the teeth. If there is a bone blocking it, he will remove it before pulling the teeth. Sometimes, the teeth are cut into small pieces for easy removal. The dentist may place sutures or stitches to close the wound and facilitate the healing.

How Long Does Tooth Extraction Recovery Take?

The extraction recovery depends on the type of procedure that was done. However, you can expect some bleeding in the first 24 hours after the tooth removal. Additionally, a blood clot will form on the socket to facilitate healing. Don’t disturb the blood clot because it causes dry sockets and can slow down the recovery process.

The pain and the soreness tend to decrease after day three of the removal process. Granulation tissue forms after about a week to protect the extraction site until new bone forms.

What are Teeth Removal Aftercare Tips?

The first 48 hours is when the most attention is needed, and here is what you can do:

• Place gauze on the socket for a few hours to stop the bleeding and allow the clot to form.
• Rest for the first 24 hours after the extraction and avoid strenuous activities
• Elevate your head with a stuck of pillows when lying down
• Avoid drinking beverages with a straw and spitting forcefully
• Reduce swelling by applying an ice pack on the cheek for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Eat soft foods and snacks that do not require chewing, and avoid nuts or hard candy.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Dr. Teeth Dental Care for more information about tooth extraction and what you can expect.

Some people are lucky enough to be born with perfectly straight teeth; others, not so much. Having crooked or misaligned teeth is a real problem, and it can cause a lot of discomfort in the long run. Crooked teeth can affect your bite and also alter the way you speak. However, luckily you can correct your bite and straighten your teeth with the help of Katy orthodontics. So, what is orthodontics? In simple words, orthodontics near you is a branch of dentistry that deals with diagnosing and preventing dental irregularities and bad bites.

A specialist known as an orthodontist is responsible for addressing all related problems. Katy orthodontics is something everyone should know about because it can change your life for the better. If you have a crooked bite and you don’t address the issue soon, you will end up causing a lot of problems later on. So, let us talk about some of the different orthodontic treatments in a bit more detail.

Benefits

People usually think that straightening the teeth only has aesthetic benefits, but that is only half the truth. Crooked teeth impact a person’s looks, but that is common knowledge. Something that a lot of people don’t know is that crooked teeth can be harder to clean. When you are unable to clean your teeth properly, bits of food can stick in the gaps.

If these pieces are not dislodged quickly, it can promote the growth of bacteria. As a result, plaque forms between the teeth, leading to tooth decay or any other periodontal disease. Aside from this, crooked teeth can make it harder to chew food, leading to shoulder pain, back pain, headaches, and even temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

What is the Best Orthodontic Treatment?

If you want to bring all of your teeth to their correct position, there are a few options you have at your disposal. You can either go for traditional braces; they are cost-effective but take a considerable time doing their job. Another option is Invisalign. They are clear aligners that are custom-made according to your needs. The dentist will change your aligners every few weeks to maintain pressure and force your teeth to realign.

What Types of Orthodontic Treatment are Available?

If you wish to fix your crooked teeth or faulty bite, you need to go to orthodontics near you. The different types of orthodontic treatments available are fixed or removable. Let’s discuss them in detail.

The most common type of orthodontic treatment is braces. Braces consist of brackets, wires, and bands, all of which work together to put pressure on the teeth and jawbone to help the teeth fall into the right position. The brackets are attached to the front of the teeth, and wires are used to tighten the brackets so that an adequate amount of pressure is applied.

Sometimes, a child can lose their teeth prematurely. If this happens, the dentist can place space maintainers in the child’s mouth to fill the space so that when the permanent teeth do appear, they grow out straight.

Now, let us talk about removable orthodontic appliances. First, we have aligners, and as the name suggests, they help straighten crooked teeth. However, with aligners, the individual has the option to remove them while eating or brushing.

Removable space maintainers can also be found. They work in the same way as permanent ones. But they are made from plastic branches with an acrylic base. They are placed between the teeth to keep them apart.

How Do You Know You Need Orthodontic Treatment?

If you think that you are in need of orthodontic treatment, there are a couple of ways you can find out. If you are suffering from the following problems, you might need help.

• If you have an overbite, which means that the upper front teeth appear to be sticking out over the lower teeth.
• An underbite is when the lower teeth appear to be ahead of the upper teeth.
• Another case when you might need orthodontic treatment is if you have a crossbite when the upper teeth fit behind the lower teeth.
• If you have an open bite, crowding, spacing or a misplaced midline, you will need orthodontic treatment.

Brighter and white smiles are more common now than ever. Social media has brought a lot of pressure on having a flawless and flashy smile; there is a continuous introduction of teeth whitening products due to this pressure. There is a huge demand for getting a brighter smile. The quicker the results, the better.

Our dentist in Katy can recommend various methods to lighten your smile. They range from in-office bleaching techniques to home teeth whitening kits and natural home remedies.

The many options available bring the question, “which is the most effective teeth whitening method?” Choosing the best treatment option from all these options might be challenging. Understanding how each method works is paramount before making a decision.

We have discussed the various ways to help you understand how each works.

1. Brushing Your Teeth with Baking Soda

Using baking soda instead of toothpaste when brushing your teeth may remove stains on your teeth. Baking soda is abrasive; it can slightly penetrate your teeth’ outer layer, removing any stains. However, use baking powder only once per week as an excess of baking soda can cause harm to your teeth. Also, make sure you don’t keep it in your mouth for long periods.

If you don’t see any changes within three weeks, stop using it to prevent dental problems like teeth sensitivity.

Our dentist in Katy will recommend using a brush with soft bristles. In addition, ensure you brush your teeth with gentle circular strokes to prevent any damages from aggressive brushing motions.

2. Using Whitening Toothpaste

This method is the quickest and strongest to obtain a whiter smile. This toothpaste contains hydrogen peroxide as one of the ingredients of this toothpaste. However, the hydrogen peroxide is of much lower concentration than the one used by a dentist during an in-office teeth whitening session.

It would be best to use the toothpaste at least twice a day. You will have to use this toothpaste before seeing any clear transformation.

3. Homemade Teeth Whitening Kits

You can use several options of these kits, but I will only talk about whitening strips. You can buy prefabricated ones at the store or get custom-made whitening trays from our dentist. The custom-made ones may take longer to whiten your teeth, but they are more effective than prefabricated ones since they fit your mouth better.

It will take a few weeks before you can notice a difference in the shade of your smile.

4. Professional Teeth Whitening

During this treatment procedure, your dentist will apply a protective barrier on your gums to protect them from the strong concentration of hydrogen peroxide (around 35%) used for your teeth.

This process is the most effective and fastest to whiten your teeth. However, it is associated with teeth sensitivity as a side effect.

Is It Bad to Whiten Your Teeth?

Whitening your smile may boost your smile. The procedures used are considered safe. However, some side effects may arise, like irritated gum and teeth sensitivity. If this happens, you should consider switching the product or method you are using to whiten your teeth.

Teeth whitening strips may impact the protein-rich space underneath the enamel, mostly collagen.

How Can I Get Permanent White Teeth?

Practicing good oral hygiene, for example, brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing your teeth once a day, will prevent plaque formation on your teeth. In addition, avoid other staining foods like beetroot, soft drinks, and red sauces.
Try avoiding foods that can cause teeth staining. These include drinks such as coffee, red wine, and tea. Smoking also stains your teeth quitting these habits while brushing your teeth regularly and your smile’s shade might turn whiter and maintain this shade.

Having stained teeth can ruin your smile, lowering your confidence while in the company of others. If you have an event coming up, may it be a wedding, a birthday party, or an anniversary, you might want to have a perfect smile.

Dr. Teeth Dental Care – Katy, TX, has an experienced dentist to offer teeth whitening near you. Our dentist will advise you on the various options for teeth whitening and help you choose the best one as per your requirements. So please visit our office to book an appointment with us and get teeth whitening in Katy.

There are things that occur which are beyond our control and emergencies are part of them. Anyone can experience an urgent situation at any time. Dental emergencies are not any different. An individual can suffer for a dental emergency without having to plan for it or even predict it. However, not all dental problem can be counted as an emergency. Here is all you need to know about dental emergencies and what type of dental issues require emergency dental treatment.

Emergency dental situations involve dental issues that cannot be left untreated immediately. These dental issues need to be treated on time to prevent the case from deteriorating or to avoid life-threatening situations. Dental emergencies are basically any dental treatment that requires urgent dental treatment either to stop excess bleeding, prevent tooth loss or relieve a severe pain.

Whenever you are caught up in an emergency dental situation, you should visit the emergency dentist as soon as possible. They are more experienced in tackling dental emergencies and always know the right treatment to give. If you stay around Katy, TX, you can visit Dr. Teeth Dental Care – Katy, TX if you need an emergency treatment.

Emergency Dental Situations

Sometimes emergency dental patients might not know the urgency of the dental situation until they experience severe bleeding or pain. Not all dental emergencies would cause excess bleeding or pain. However, this doesn’t dispute the fact that the dental situation needs the attention of an emergency dentist. The dental patient might be at a higher risk of infection and not know it because they are not experiencing pain or excess bleeding.

Dental emergency situations include the following:

1. Swollen Gums: If you have noticed a swelling that keeps spreading from your gums to other areas of your face, it is time that you see a dentist as soon as possible. Swellings around the gums and other parts of the mouth can be a sign of a worse dental problem which is about to deteriorate.
2. Severe Toothache: A toothache that practically leaves you powerless or unable to do anything at all, is a severe tooth pain and requires emergency dental care. You should refrain from self-medications because of the pain. Your dentist is at the best position to prescribe the right pain relieve medications for you.
3. Excess Bleeding After A Tooth Extraction Procedure: Although it is usual for patients to bleed or feel pains after a tooth extraction procedure. However, the bleeding and pain doesn’t persist for long. If you are bleeding profusely hours after a tooth extraction procedure, you should contact an emergency dentist near you to report the issue as soon as possible.
4. Mouth Ulcers: Mouth ulcers are sores or wounds inside that occur inside and outside the mouth. If these mouth sores persist for couple of weeks without healing, you should head to the emergency dental clinic immediately and complain to the emergency dentist.
5. Cracked, Chipped, Broken or Knocked-off Tooth: A dental damage like a broken, chipped or knocked-off tooth can occur due to a sudden heavy blow or hit on the face. When this happens, the affected tooth develops a higher chance of getting infected. Also, getting to the emergency dental clinic on time can increase your chances of saving the tooth.

Non-emergency Dental Situations

As much as there are emergency situations, there are also dental situations that do not require emergency dental treatment. You can schedule a normal dental appointment with your dentist to lodge a complaint and get your teeth checked.

Non-emergency dental situations include the following:

1. Teeth Sensitivity: If you feel sharp pains in your teeth whenever you take hot or cold stuff, it is a teeth sensitivity. Teeth sensitivity can be caused by various reasons. You can book an appointment with your dentist for a dental checkup.
2. Dull Toothache: You might feel a dull pain in your tooth if you eat hard stuffs. A dull toothache can occur due to various reasons. Your dentist in Katy can prescribe pain relieve medications for you if the pain becomes serious and causes distractions.
3. Mouth Ulcers: If the sores inside your mouth do not persist for more than 7 – 10 days, you won’t have a need to see a dentist. Mouth sores occur most of the time and do not always indicate a serious dental problem. However, you should contact our emergency dentist in Katy if the sores persist for too long than 10 – 14 days.