Sedation Dentistry: A Dream in Houston

Sedationdentistry is one of the best tools available to a dentist in Houston. It provides the best method for keeping patients calm, relaxed, and free of pain.

Some dental procedures can be uncomfortable, and some patients are always nervous, whether or not they might experience discomfort. Sedation dentistry can work for both situations.

Relaxing Patients with Sedation Dentistry

At some point in our lives, everyone is a little nervous about visiting the dentist. For some though, that nervousness may prevent them from even going to the dentist.

With that level of anxiety, the patient can most certainly benefit from sedation dentistry. The sedation is perfectly safe and continually monitored to administer the lowest necessary dose to keep the patient relaxed.

For children who are constantly in motion and difficult to keep still, a visit to the dentist can take a lot longer and may require several visits to accomplish a single procedure. With sedation dentistry forkids in Houston, a little bit of nitrous oxide “laughing gas” can calm the child down without causing any negative effects.

The most common side effect to any sedation dentistry is drowsiness, as the sedation, in higher doses, can put the patient to sleep. In many cases, it’s not necessary for the patient to be asleep.

On the contrary, the dentist may need the patient to remain awake to receive instructions such as moving their head or opening their mouth wider.

Some procedures that are more invasive may allow for the patient to be just barely asleep. In this state, the dentist can accomplish a lot of work in a shorter amount of time, and to the patient, time seems to fly by and the procedure is over before they know it.

Taking Care After Sedation Dentistry

While the use of sedation dentistry is perfectly safe, it is strongly advised against driving or operating machinery after using sedation dentistry. The feeling of drowsiness, and possibly feeling “out of sorts” or incoherent, can cause a patient to have delayed reactions.

It is strongly recommended that a friend or family member drive the patient to and from the dental appointment and that the patient get as much rest at home after their appointment.

For patients who use nitrous oxide gas, the effects generally wear off within a few hours, but care should still be taken to avoid any mishaps.

Finding the Best Dentist for Sedation Dentistry in Houston

Some people may just do a web search to find a dentist that is close by in a convenient location. But there can be a lot more criteria that help narrow your search.

A convenient location, such as in central west Houston in the Tanglewood area, can be nice. But also finding a dentist who can take care of both children and adults would be best for families. When looking for a kid’s dentist in Houston, one near a school can also make timing appointments easier.

And of course, you’ll want a dentist that can provide sedation dentistry. Even if you or children feel like you can handle the dentist, it’s always good to have the option for a pain free, dream like dental experience.

Preventing and Treating Cavities with Sealants and Fillings

Dental sealants are one of the best ways to prevent cavities after proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing.

Sealants alter the “terrain” of teeth wo reduce the areas that bacteria can hide and cause problems. This aids people in brushing, allowing them to remove more bacteria with each cleaning.

When bacteria gets to be too much for teeth or it manages to hide out of reach of a toothbrush and floss, it can lead to cavities.

Cavities can be fixed using dental fillings, which replenish lost mass within the tooth, strengthening it and protecting the rest of the undamaged tissue.

How Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities

Dental sealants are made from a special resin that is applied directly to a tooth.

This resin is similar to glue, but instead of bonding two surfaces together, it fills in grooves.

Imagine a long bolt with threading all down it. If you were to get dirt into the threading, it can be very difficult to remove.

Conversely, getting dirt on a smooth nail is easy to remove.

The resin used on your teeth would be like coating the entire bolt with resin and letting it harder. It fills in the grooves created by the threading and once dry leaves a smooth, much easier to clean surface.

Bacteria loves to congregate in crevices and grooves. If it can’t be easily reached by a toothbrush or floss, the bacteria can thrive. This is why bacteria is often found on top of molars and along the gumline.

Dental sealants can fill in the grooves of molars and teeth that have grooves in them from teeth grinding or hard foods.

By filling in the grooves, the surface of the teeth becomes smoother, making it much easier to brush.

Since the surface is easier to clean, bacteria don’t cling there as well, reducing the chances of developing cavities.

How Dental Fillings Fix Cavities

When a cavity does form, it can cause a lot of damage to your teeth and can also cause pain.

Cavities expose the inner portions of the tooth, mainly the dentin, to outside stimuli, which can cause the nerves to overreact. Teeth with cavities tend to be very sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure.

Repairing a cavity is a pretty simple task, however. Just visit your local Houston dentist and have it professionally cleaned and filled.

Fillings can be comprised of different materials, depending on the patient’s allergies, budget, or appearance preference.

Metal fillings like silver or gold are more noticeable, but very strong. They are better suited to the molars where higher bite pressures are located.

Composite resins and porcelain fillings look natural and can be color matched to your teeth. They tend to be more expensive, but patients love the natural look.

Allergies to certain materials may affect what kind of filling a patient can get. Most often, they will receive a metal filling for their more sterile properties.

Preventing Cavities in the Future

The best way to prevent cavities is to properly maintain oral hygiene. That means brushing your teeth twice per day, flossing every time you brush and after meals, and use mouth rinse to flush out debris.

It also means that you should visit the dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning. Cavities develop because of bacteria gathering in a small spot, and a good cleaning will clear all of it out.

How to Choose the Best Dental Crowns in Houston

Dental crowns can serve a variety of purposes both cosmetic and practical. Cosmetically, they can restore the look of natural teeth after one or more have become damaged. Practically, they can restore function of damaged teeth.

A dental crown generally takes two visits to the dentist to install. The first visit prepares the tooth while the second visit actually installs it.

Practical and Cosmetic Restoration with Dental Crowns in Houston

Most times, someone will get a dental crown to restore their bite, perhaps because it has become painful to apply pressure to the tooth.

Crowns can be used to fix teeth that have been severely damaged by decay or a fracture. When a tooth requires a feeling that is too much for what’s left of the tooth, a crown can be used to strengthen and secure it.

If a patient is getting a dental bridge to replace a lost tooth, dental crowns are used as anchors on the teeth adjacent to the gap.

Even if the damage is not so severe that it requires a dental crown for support and strength, they can be used to improve the appearance of teeth. Certain materials like porcelain and resin can be color matched to the other teeth for a natural look.

Balancing Strength with Appearance

An important aspect to consider when getting dental crowns is the location and function of the tooth being repaired.

Teeth toward the back, like molars, are subjected to high pressures for chewing. This is why most often a molar will be the tooth to fracture.

Teeth toward the front, such as incisors and canines aren’t subjected to the same forces, but they do need to be durable.

Regardless of their location, the proximity of a tooth to be repaired to adjacent teeth must also be considered.

●     Generally speaking, molar crowns should be constructed from metal, including gold, palladium, nickel, or chromium.

●     The type of metal used may vary based on its price point or any allergies the patient has.

The reason these teeth should have metal crowns is that these crowns are the most durable. They can more easily withstand the pressures of chewing.

●     Due to their forefront location, front teeth are most often covered with porcelain, resin, or porcelain-metal crowns.

These teeth are more visible, so patients tend to go for a more natural look. These materials can be color matched to the patient’s teeth for a natural appearance.

●     Teeth that sit in close proximity to adjacent teeth to the point where they touch may affect material choice.

Resin crowns produce the least amount of wear on nearby teeth, so they will prolong the health of your natural teeth better. However, they will also wear themselves out more quickly than any other material.

All porcelain and all ceramic crowns are more durable than resin, but they are still much less durable than metal or even metal-porcelain hybrids. These crowns are also more prone to fractures, which is why it is not advised to get them for molars.

Proper care of dental crowns will prolong their lifespan, helping you get the most out of them. Be sure that your new crown is comfortable before leaving the dental office as well.

If a crown isn’t set properly, it can cause problems like infections. A well set crown will seamlessly be sealed to the host tooth, and will feel like any other tooth. If it isn’t comfortable, let the dentist know so it can be adjusted or a new one can be fashioned.

When to Visit the Kids Dentist

Taking care of your child’s teeth and gums is an important part of early development. Children’s teeth need to be well cared for in order to develop properly, reducing the likelihood for misshapen mouths caused by teeth growing in at odd angles or decay causing infections.

It’s extremely important to teach your child the proper way to care for their mouth as when they get older, they will still need to exercise good care to keep their smile from fading in the decades to come.

Meeting the Best Dentist in Houston

The first visit to a pediatric dentist should be a pleasant experience.

Children want to feel safe wherever they go, and getting briefly introduced to a new face and immediately engaging in a dental procedure is going to make them fear future visits.

Instead, we like to introduce them as if they were meeting family members.

           

We like to introduce your child to our dental staff and show them around the office in an effort to familiarize them with the location and make them feel like it’s just a fun family trip somewhere.

Building a relationship with the child garners trust and relieves anxiety about visiting the kids dentist. We recommend introducing your child to us very early on, preferably right after their first tooth comes in or by the age of 12 months, whichever comes first.

We want to start them early so as to check the development of their teeth and ensure that they will continue to come in without issue. Should it be necessary, we may also be able to determine if corrective measures such as braces may need to be taken later in life.

Pediatric Dentist Care Standards

To become a dentist, there are many standards that must be met and certifications that must be required.

To become a pediatric dentist, the standards and certifications are much stricter and require an unrelenting devotion to the care of children. As a result of this more involved level of care, we take great pride and care when it comes to children’s teeth.

Along with general care, we specialize in sedation dentistry for children. Keeping your child calm and relaxed helps the procedure go by quicker and without any fuss.

The Importance of Checkups

Getting your teeth checked out every six months and getting x-rays every 12 months will go a long way toward monitoring the health of your teeth.

For children, these periodic checkups are even more important as their teeth are coming in for the first or second time. In addition to the benefit of a standard checkup, the visits will reinforce the idea that a visit to the kids dentist is not something to be feared. Proactive pediatric dentistry will be of greater benefit than reactive dentistry.

When a child is familiar with their dentist from repeated visits, there becomes a greater chance that they will look forward to the visit more than a child who goes infrequently or has never gone at all.

We will always provide a welcoming atmosphere for them and do everything we can to make them comfortable. In addition, we will teach them ways to take good care of their teeth at home, so their twice yearly visits are never anything more than a cleaning and checkup.

Centrally Located Galleria Dentist

At Naba Dental, we focus heavily on conservative, proactive dentistry. This form of dentistry is especially helpful for children as it instills a desire to preserve the teeth.

We will, of course, provide care needed for root canal treatments in Houston or dental sealants, and we will always provide these with the same level of care and comfort as we do with conservative measures.

Children are very important to us, and we will go the extra mile to help them keep their smiles.

Gingivitis: First Sign of Gum Disease, or Something Worse?

Gum disease often goes unnoticed because people don’t always know what to look for. The sight of bleeding gums may make them think they were brushing too hard. Tender gums might be attributed to an allergic reaction.

In reality, these could be the earliest signs of gum disease: gingivitis.

Gingivitis can be pretty easily cured, but it needs to be addressed right away. Leaving it alone and not fixing the problem can exacerbate it, leading to full on gum disease or advanced gum disease.

While gingivitis is usually never more than a nuisance, catching it early on can save a lot of grief later.

Identifying Gingivitis

Gingivitis is often associated with bleeding gums, usually while brushing the teeth.

The bleeding is due to bacteria damaging and destroying the soft gum tissue in your mouth.

The sight of plaque around the gum line is also a common giveaway that gingivitis is present. This is actually the entry point for bacteria causing problems with your gums. The plaque around the gum line is waste left behind by bacteria.

If this plaque is not cleared regularly, it can harden, usually within 3 to 4 days, to form tartar. Tartar is much more difficult to get rid of without a professional cleaning from a Houston dentist, and it provides a safer haven for bacteria.

Other symptoms to look for include swollen gums, receding gum line, gums changing color, and persistent bad breath.

All of these are indicators of gingivitis taking hold, and you should visit your Houston dentist as soon as the symptoms appear to get them treated right away.

Diagnosing Gingivitis

Your Houston dentist will perform a visual examination of your teeth and gums and ask you about what symptoms you’ve been experiencing.

Based on your symptoms and the examination, the dentist can diagnose the condition as being gingivitis.

Getting this examination performed soon after discovering the signs of gingivitis can save you some major headaches (or toothaches) in the near future.

If left unattended, gingivitis can become periodontal disease, and that brings with it greater challenges for treating.

Gingivitis Treatments in Houston

In most cases, you can reverse the effects of gingivitis on your home with proper oral hygiene.

This means you need to practice regular brushing of your teeth, flossing, and rinsing.

While you can potentially reverse the effect of gingivitis at home, it’s still best to visit a Houston dentist so they can check out your teeth and gums.

If it is confirmed that you have gingivitis, they may recommend home treatment or possibly prescribe an antibiotic or medicated mouthwash to help combat the bacteria.

If no obvious signs of the gingivitis are detected during the physical examination, your local Houston dentist may recommend a complete medical evaluation.

Gum disease can be a precursor or a sign of other medical conditions, such as diabetes. A full medical evaluation will screen for these more severe diseases and provide a basis of treatment for them and the gum disease all at once.

This is another major reason to get checked out at the first signs of gingivitis. Whether it’s just the first sign of gum disease or a sign of something far worse, it’s always best to get checked out by medical professionals at your local Houston dental office.

Beating Decay before it Controls You: Houston Dental Sealants

Our back teeth are incredibly important. They are the teeth that grind food down to manageable sizes so it can be easily digested. These teeth withstand huge amounts of pressure when crushing certain foods.

And yet, they can be the most fragile.

How? Decay. Tooth decay can easily strike the rear teeth, known as molars, due to their rough surfaces. The surface of these teeth is covered with divots and grooves to aid in grinding or crushing food material.

But these grooves and divots, while useful, can provide a safe haven for millions of bacteria.

When Home Care is Not Enough

Even if you brush your teeth twice a day, every day, you may not be able to fully clean the grooves of your molars. There are too many of them and they can be so small that toothbrush bristles cannot reach inside to scrape away bacteria.

Mouth rinses may help, but they don’t have the raw scraping power that brushes have. And floss can only tackle the spaces in between teeth.

Because of this, dental sealants may be necessary from your Memorial / Galleria dentist.

Dental Sealants in Houston

Dental sealants prevent decay from occurring by keeping bacteria out of those grooves and pits in your teeth.

How do they accomplish this? By filling them.

Dental sealants are made from a thin plastic like material that fills in the grooves, smoothing out the upper surface of the molars.

They are typically applied in 6 steps:

1.    Clean the tooth

2.    Dry the tooth and border it with cotton

3.    Add a solution to increase adherence

4.    Rinse and dry the tooth again, replace cotton

5.    Apply the sealant

6.    Let the sealant dry

Best Candidates for Sealants

So who should be getting sealants for their teeth? Just about anyone, really!

It is especially important for children to visit the dentist right after their molars come in (the first ones around ages 5 to 7, and the second set between 11 and 14 years old). Visiting a kids dentist in Houston for dental sealants will help protect their teeth for up to a decade afterward.

For teenagers and young adults that are prone to tooth decay, dental sealants could be the answer as well, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Dental sealants can last for up to 10 years, after which they can be reapplied. The whole process is painless and doesn’t require any anesthetics; however a kid’s dentist could use sedation dentistry if the child is anxious about the procedure.

Choosing the Right Dental Fillings in Houston

Restoring damaged teeth has been a mainstay of dentists around the world for quite some time. Dental fillings are one of the most common methods for restoring teeth.

A dental filling repairs damage caused by accidents or decay and strengthens the tooth to prevent further damage.

Dental fillings can be made from several different materials, each with different levels of durability and appearance. Being such a common method of repairing teeth, just about every dentist in Houston is capable of repairing teeth with them.

Dental Filling Materials

Dental fillings are typically made from one of a few different substances:

●     Silver or gold amalgam

●     Composite resin

●     Glass ionomer

Gold and silver amalgam fillings remain a standard filling for their durability. They can withstand strong bite forces that could potentially chip or break other materials.

However, these fillings are generally very noticeable since they stand out against the normally light colored teeth.

Composite resins, porcelain, and glass ionomer fillings are less durable, but they mimic the natural appearance of teeth. Certain fillings may take longer to apply, possibly requiring multiple visits.

Direct and Indirect Fillings

A direct filling can be placed in the tooth as soon as the tooth is prepared. These fillings are completed in a single visit and application at your Houston dentist.

Direct fillings are primarily composed of ionomer or composite filling materials.

An indirect filling includes inlays, onlays, veneers, and partial or total tooth replacement.

For partial and total tooth replacements, indirect fillings involve preparing teeth for crowns caps, or bridges. First, the tooth is prepared and a mold of your teeth array is taken.

After a period of time, the cap, crown, or bridge is completed and placed. It can take two or more visits to complete and indirect filling.

Choosing a Filling Method and Material

There are some key factors to consider with your Houston dentist when choosing a dental filling.

●     How much of the original tooth will remain

●     The location of the tooth being filled

●     The bite force of the tooth

●     The amount of time required to apply a filling (direct or indirect method)

Your local Houston dentist will discuss these factors with you to help you choose which filling material and procedure work best for your situation.