Dental implants are titanium fixtures that are placed within the upper or lower jaw to support and replace missing teeth and to anchor loose dentures.
Without natural tooth roots in place to provide stimulation, the jaw bone will begin to deteriorate. Dental implants act as substitute tooth roots and provide the same function as natural roots, including stimulating and preserving the jawbone, thereby preventing the bone loss that normally occurs with the loss of teeth.
Dental implants can be placed in the mouth of any individual provided he/she fulfills certain criteria. Your Plano/Dallas implant dentist will conduct a thorough dental and medical exam to confirm that you are a candidate for dental implant surgery. Dental implants are not placed in children and are only advised after facial growth is complete.
Factors that may rule out implant surgery:
Insufficient bone height and width
Unhealthy gums with untreated gum disease
Patient with history of clenching of teeth (bruxism)
Patients with previous history of failure of dental implants
Improper/inadequate opening of the mouth
Pregnancy
Severe dermatological diseases
Malignancy (cancer)
Smoking
Diabetes
Hemophilia and bleeding disorders
Epilepsy
Impaired movement
Today with proper medication, patients with diabetes and bleeding disorders can also undergo implant surgery; therefore they are not automatically excluded.
Contact your implant dentist to determine if implants are right for you.
It is important to visit the dentist regularly for preventative dental care because there are many diseases and conditions that can occur within the mouth. Some of the diseases that you can contract through dental health can affect your overall health as well such as Gum Disease. Without the proper dental treatment, the issue will only worsen.
A dentist will clean, care for, and treat your teeth, gums, and mouth to ensure optimal dental health. It is recommended that you visit the dentist every six months – more frequently if you are deemed “high risk.”
Normally, oral cancers, and other diseases of the mouth do not make themselves evident to the untrained eye until they are far along. Regular checkups with a dentist can help identify an oral disease in the early stages, thus increasing your chances of successfully combating them.
In between dental visits, daily brushing and flossing helps prevent the onset of cavities, gum disease and improves your overall health. A Plano dentist can tell you more about dental hygiene.
Tooth loss can be a traumatic experience for people of any age. The quicker the dentist is able to rehabilitate the patient, the faster the patient will be able to return to his/her normal life. Dental implants were a huge step forward for patients wanting a fixed solution to their lost teeth. The duration of treatment (up to 18 months in some cases) needed with conventional implant therapy prevents many people from seeking this form of treatment. In the absence of sufficient bone support bone grafts may be required to support conventional dental implants.
To provide an alternative solution to these problems implant manufacturer Nobel Biocare, along with celebrated implant dentist Paulo Malo devised a technique that uses fewer dental implants without the need for bone graft surgery. Highly esthetic results can be achieved in the shortest time possible with this technique. This method is suited for patients who have lost most or all of their teeth.
The technique called All-on-4 utilizes four dental implants that are angled to achieve maximum support from the bone. Four implants are placed strategically in each jaw to support a fixed bridge. You can receive your full set of new teeth in one appointment; therefore this procedure is also called ‘teeth in a day’.
You can start chewing on your newly received teeth immediately after placement. In certain cases 4-6 implants maybe needed in your upper arch. The dentist will use your first visit to ensure you are a candidate for the All-on-4 procedure and conduct a thorough examination. X-rays and CT scans are needed to complete the evaluation. You receive your new permanent fixed teeth on the day of the procedure, without the need for temporaries. You can visit your Dallas implant dentist in the morning and leave with a set of new teeth the same day.
Smile makeovers are very common practice in dental offices today. With a little money and a will to improve your smile you can visit your dentist and transform that unsatisfactory smile into the smile that you’ve always wanted. A total Smile makeover with porcelain veneers in Plano is a highly esthetic, conservative and cost effective cosmetic dentistry treatment.
Porcelain veneers are thin shell like pieces of porcelain that are placed over the front surface of teeth to hide imperfections.
Porcelain veneers can be used to:
Correct chipped teeth
Close gaps in between front teeth
Masking discolored teeth
Minor straightening of crooked teeth
Porcelain veneers provide excellent results and are more natural looking than bonding, which can make the tooth look bulky. A smile makeover with porcelain veneers can greatly improve your self esteem and the way you smile, which can last for at least 10-15 years with proper care.
Steps to a smile makeover with porcelain veneers
The dentist will conduct a thorough dental examination and record a detailed dental and medical history.
The dentist will discuss with you the treatment plan to determine the number of veneers needed for an optimal makeover.
Any existing dental decay and gum disease will be corrected before treatment begins.
The dentist will then proceed to remove a thin layer of enamel on the front surface of teeth.
Dental impressions will be taken and models of your teeth will be prepared and sent to the lab.
Temporaries will be placed until the next visit, which may take 5-7 days.
Once the permanent veneers arrive, they will be placed and you can leave with a completely new smile.
With the rising popularity of dental implants, more people are choosing implants as the definitive treatment option for replacing missing teeth. As awareness grows, the questions regarding the use of implants grows.
* What are dental implants?
Dental implants are commonly titanium implants that are placed within the jaw to support artificial teeth. They are placed to replace missing teeth. The most common type of implants is the ‘endosteal’ or ‘root form’ implant that resembles the root of a tooth. Other types include: subperiosteal, transosteal, plate-form, intra-mucosal, etc. Dental implants are a suitable alternative to conventional dental bridges, which are placed after preparation of the adjacent teeth.
* Are Implants aesthetic? Are they comfortable for chewing?
Once the gum tissue around the implant has healed properly, the implant looks completely natural. The skill of the restorative dentist plays a great role in determining the final appearance. Once the final prosthesis or crown is placed, the patient can chew naturally. Some experts say up to 90 percent of the chewing efficiency of natural teeth can be restored with dental implants.
* Are dental implants costly?
The placement of implants includes the cost of surgery, the implant, the final crown, radiographs, including CT (if needed) etc.. It can vary from one dentist to another and can depend on the type of implant being placed. Ask your dentist for further information regarding the fee.
* Is the implant surgery painful? Do I have to miss work the following day?
With modern local anesthetics and anti-inflamatories, the incidence of discomfort is extremely low. In fact implant surgery is less invasive than having a tooth pulled. Minimal discomfort and swelling can be expected after any surgical procedure. You may be given anti-inflamatories and antibiotics for a few days after the procedure. A day’s rest is normally advised. Avoid strenuous exercise and chew only soft food for a few days.
* What are the different methods of placing implants?
The placement of implants can be classified by timing of placing implants after extraction of tooth/teeth into:
1. Immediate post-extraction implant placement.
2. Delayed immediate post-extraction implant placement (2 weeks-3 months after extraction).
3. Late implantation (>3 months after extraction).
Dental implants can be classified into: Immediate loading, early loading and delayed loading depending on the timing of placement of load on the implant. Delayed loading implants take 3-6 months for the entire procedure to heal.
Restorative dentistry is the art and science of diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases in the mouth aimed at restoring the function and aesthetics of the teeth and supporting tissues. Restorative dentistry is an amalgamation of various other specialties, including conservative dentistry and endodontics (root canals), periodontics (gum specialty), fixed and removable prosthodontics (replacement of lost teeth) and dental implantology.
In some countries, restorative dentistry is considered a specialty of its own and dentists receive additional training in this field. In most countries, restorative dentistry is also practiced by a team of dental specialists from various other specialties. Your restorative dentist must be an expert in all the different disciplines that make up restorative dentistry, but he should be able to integrate the knowledge in a seamless and sensible manner. There is considerable interactivity between the different specialties and the treatment planning can become highly complex, testing the diagnostic and clinical skill of your restorative dentist. Preventing damage to the teeth also comes under the umbrella of restorative dentistry; your dentist has to be able to teach you to maintain your oral hygiene and prevent future damage.
What are the common reasons for restoring teeth?
Dental decay
Fractured tooth
Dental abrasion
Misaligned teeth
Closing gaps
To improve the aesthetics of teeth
How does the dentist restore decayed teeth?
Dentists have been using dental amalgam or silver amalgam for over 100 years. Even today, most developing countries still use dental amalgam due the low cost and durability. Your Dallas cosmetic dentist uses dental composites and glass ionomer cements to restore teeth for patients who need a more aesthetic option for restoring their teeth. More extensive decays can be restored with onlays and inlays.
The dentist will first diagnose the type of dental decay. He will determine the extent of decay with the help of a dental explorer and mouth mirror.
He will proceed to take x-rays to determine the extent of decay within the tooth.
Pulp vitality tests will be conducted to rule out inflammation of the pulp. If the pulp test elicits no response, the tooth is dead. The tooth will need a root canal.
The dentist will use the dental drill to remove a major portion of the decay.
He will remove the remaining decay with help of a slow-speed drill or hand instrument.
He will then proceed to include retentive features and finish the margins to ensure a perfect fit for the filling.
The extent of tooth preparation will depend on the type of filling. A dental amalgam will require ore tooth preparation than dental composites or cements.
If the decay is extremely deep, the dentist will place a dressing made of calcium hydroxide.
A base of dental cement is placed to protect the pulp from sudden thermal and electric changes that can affect the pulp adversely. If dental composites or cements are used as restoration material, a base is usually not placed.
A band is placed to support the filling if the decay has extended into the margins of the tooth.
The cavity is filled incrementally with the restorative material.
High points in the filling is marked out with articulation paper and reduced to proper height.
TMJ is an acronym for the temperomandibular joint, which is the joint connecting the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull. TMJ disorder is a term that encompasses multiple conditions that can affect this joint. It can be acute or chronic in nature. The TMJ consists of many muscle attachments, nerves, veins, arteries, cartilage and surrounding bones. It is a complex joint with a wide range of motion and is normally capable of dealing with most stresses on a day-to-day basis.
Several facial muscles are attached to the jaws and the forces applied on the jaw act through the TMJ, which act as a fulcrum around which the whole jaw hinges. The TMJ is vulnerable to any disorder affecting the joints in any part of the body, including arthritis, dislocations, ankylosis, trauma, etc.
What are the common symptoms of TMJ disorder?
Pain in the muscles of the face that can radiate to the side of the face and neck. Swelling and pain is experienced near the joint, in front of the ear, around the eyes and side of the face and head. Pain is commonly experienced when chewing, talking and yawning.
Deviation of the jaw to one side when opening the mouth. You may also experience “lock-jaw.” With lock-jaw, the patient will complain of difficulty closing the mouth after opening.
Clicking or popping sound from the joints is heard while opening and closing the mouth.
Ear pain, ringing in the ears and loss of hearing.
Most treatment options available are conservative and involve medications and jaw exercises.
If the cause of pain is trauma or if the pan is acute in nature the first thing you can do is apply an ice-pack to the joint intermittently while allowing the jaw to rest.
Eat soft foods items that require little or no chewing. Avoid foods like hard candy, steak and raw carrots. Some patients are advised to eat hot soups or baby food for a few days until the pain subsides. Try eating food without opening your mouth too wide.
Anti-inflammatory medications and pain killers can be consumed to reduce the inflammation and pain. Skeletal-muscle relaxants help relax tight muscles. Anti-anxiety medications can help reduce stress that can aggravate TMJ pain.
Avoid resting your jaw on your hands while working or studying. Try to sleep on your back rather then your stomach. Maintain a good body posture while working.
Your Dallas dentist will advise jaw exercises to help stretch and relax your jaw muscles. You can do these exercises at home in front of a mirror. End the exercises by applying a moist cloth to the affected side of the face. Repeat the exercises 4-5 times daily.
An occlusal splint may be placed to establish a harmonious relationship between jaw muscles, teeth and TMJ. Splints will also help reduce teeth clenching and grinding which can exert unwanted pressure on the joint. Avoid over-the-counter mouth guards.
Orthodontic treatment may also be done to establish uniform occlusion. Replacement of lost teeth with properly designed dentures, replacing old dentures, replacing defective fillings, crowns and dental bridges can also help. Improperly designed dentures can also cause TMJ pain. Orthodontic treatment is used as an adjunct to occlusal splint therapy.
Corticosteroid injections into the TMJ can help reduce inflammation in chronic cases.
A TMJ wash, which comprises inserting two needles into the TMJ and washing out the joint with water or anesthetic solutions, has been found to be effective.
TMJ Surgery. Usually done as a last resort. Arthroscopy or open joint surgery can be done. The entire joint can be replaced with TMJ implants.
Other options include: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound therapy, etc.
Sterilization procedures are very important to any good dental practice. These are a part of basic care and handling of patients that your dentist must incorporate to be able to give you quality oral health care. Our mouths are teeming with microbes, and any dental office that sees a large number of patients a day has an inherent potential for spreading infectious germs between patients and dental staff, through contaminated instruments and surfaces. These can be greatly minimized by following proper infection control procedures.
The Centers for Disease Control has laid down infection control guidelines that a dental office should adhere to:
Good dental infection control starts with the dentist’s room itself. A well-ventilated room with air-circulating devices prevents building up of aerosols produced from the dental drills. The sterile dentist and assistant are immunised against hepatitis, wear clean personal protective equipment—a scrub apron, eyewear, disposable gloves and facemasks. The patient is draped, and may be given a protective “face shield” to prevent skin contamination from the dental drill’s water spray. An anti-microbial mouth rinse just before a dental procedure is important to reduce contamination.
The dental chair’s knobs and handles need to be chemically disinfected between patients. All the dental instruments that go into patient’s mouth need to be subjected a high-degree sterilization procedure, such as “autoclaving,” which destroys all microbial contamination. These instruments are then stored in a dry, sterile, contained area such as disposable pouches or cassettes, and removed just before using for the patient. Local injections require disposable needles with single-use syringes or sterile cartridges for each patient.
Surgical procedures require more stringent measures to eradicate all chances of infection and need special preparation of the dentist’s room. The dentist, assistant and patient all need sterilized gowns, and all instruments, drills, suction apparatus has to be completely sterilized. These procedures require sterile saline within the drills. Bone grafts, membranes and suture packets are all intended to be used once opened and cannot be reused at later appointments.
Sarah, a nursing aide by profession who recently got dental implants in Plano, said: “One reason I chose my Plano dentist to have implants was that I could see the utmost importance his office gives to maintaining sterilisation, which I know is crucial to the success of implant surgery. Not only that, it reflects on the commitment my Plano dentist has to care for his patients like his own family!”
Infection control measures not only reduce the chances of getting a dental infection, they also reduce the risk of catching serious diseases like HIV and hepatitis, so choosing a sterile dentist is important to stay healthy!
Guided dental implant surgery, with the help of computers and CT scans, has totally revolutionized the art and science of implant dentistry.
Earlier implant surgery procedures were conducted after taking standard x-rays. The challenge was always that, once the implant dentist began the procedure, he often encountered unexpected issues. A standard x-ray does not allow the dentist to visualize the bone height and width in all three dimensions. Therefore the placement of the implants are decided on the basis of guesswork. Certain bone deformities can be seen only after an incision is made. In the end, he will have to make several compromises and the overall result may not be satisfactory.
With computer-guided dental implant surgery, the dentist views multiple radiographs of the same area. This is done with the help of cone-beam radiography or 3-D CT scans. This can greatly improve the dentist’s visualization. He can view the entire jaw from multiple angles on the computer screen, and, with the help of planning software, the CT images help generate a comprehensive virtual treatment plan.
Who is a good candidate for guided dental implant surgery?
Guided implant surgery is particularly useful in patients needing multiple implant surgeries, such as patients who have lost all their teeth. Patients with severe bone loss due to trauma, genetic disorders or diseases are also prime candidates for guided implant surgery. Patients who need quick rehabilitation with implants also prefer guided implant surgery. Although it can also be used when placing single implants.
There are two guided implant systems commonly used today: Nobel guide from Nobel-Biocare and Simplant from Materialise.
What are the advantages of guided dental implant surgery?
There is less guess-work required on the part of the dentist.
Accurate visualization of the bone height and width is possible.
Reduced healing time
There is considerably less swelling.
More accurate final result.
It also allows the dentist to create the permanent crowns before doing the surgery.
The crowns can be placed soon after the implant surgery is over. Therefore temporary crowns can be avoided
Lower cost, due to fewer number of visits.
With guided implant surgery, patients can receive their implants in hours, instead of weeks or months.
Contact Plano dental implant dentist Dr. Hucklebridge for additional information a no-obligation assessment of your dental implant options.
Invisalign, or “invisible braces,” is a revolutionary new treatment in orthdodontics. Conventional braces require metal or ceramic brackets to be bonded to teeth to hold an “arch wire” in place. As the orthodontist progressively changes the tension in the arch wire, the teeth are slowly moved to their desired locations. While this method is tried and tested and works well, the “metal mouth” look and discomfort associated with braces deters many patients, especially adults, from seeking the orthodontic treatment that can give them better smiles or dental function.
The Invisalign system of invisible braces works without any brackets or wires and is equally and, in some cases, more effective than conventional braces in producing an aesthetic and stable orthodontic result. The Invisalign system uses a series of sheer removable aligners, similar to bleaching trays, which the patient needs to wear most of the day. These aligners, like retainers, while are easy to wear and almost unnoticeable though they cover the front surfaces of teeth.
The clear aligners generate forces on teeth similar to conventional braces. Each tray is designed from special Invisalign software, which uses computerized images of your teeth to design a series of trays, each tray causing a small force to shift the teeth slightly–about 0.25mm–to a more desirable position. Thus, when worn in succession, the teeth are progressively moved into alignment.
The Invisalign system actually virtually simulates the treatment outcome on the computer, which you can also see in the consultation phase, and actually see how the teeth will look after orthodontics. These computerized images are then used to produce the aligner series specifically for you. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and an average patient would need about 18 to 30 aligners over a year to year and a half.
The Invisalign aligners are matchless in comfort because they can be removed while eating, brushing or flossing, so you enjoy your food more and oral hygiene is not a problem, unlike with regular braces. Plus you can smile without anyone noticing them, which makes them worth the higher expense when compared to regular orthodontics!
The Invisalign system works best for mild to moderate bite corrections and is well researched and clinically proven, but may not be suited to all cases. Visit your Dallas Invisalign dentist for a consultation to determine if Invisalign is the right orthodontic choice for you!
Many employers are skimping out on benefits these days. With the rising costs of healthcare, it’s pretty normal for dental insurance to be skipped over altogether. So when you come across an employer in Plano, TX that actually provides dental benefits, it’s imperative that you take advantage of those perks.
But wouldn’t it pay to just buy your own insurance, especially if you find a better policy? Not necessarily. Even if you do find a Plano dentist insurance company that provides better coverage than what your employer offers, you should nine times out of ten stick with your employer-based insurance. You see, money for your employer plan is taken out of your paycheck each week to pay for your dental insurance premium. If you fail to use your dental benefits, money from your hard-earned wages will simply go to waste.
No matter what your situation, it’s always a good idea to take advantage of employer-based benefits. Even if your teeth are in relatively good health, you should still have routine cleanings every six months and go in for a thorough oral examination once a year with your Plano dentist. This sort of preventative care is usually free with the payment of your monthly premium, and if your dental benefits are taken out of your paycheck each week, it would behoove you to take advantage of your plan.
Keeping your smile healthy is good not just for your looks, but also for your pocketbook.
Today more people are choosing dental implants to replace their missing teeth, instead of opting for conventional treatments like bridges or removable ‘flipper’ prostheses. Dental implants mimic tooth roots and give a look and feel closest to that of natural teeth, which can make an enormous difference in your appearance and the way you chew.
Most dental insurance plans don’t cover implants, considering them “cosmetic treatment,” but an increasing number of plans are adding implants to their lists of covered procedures, and charging higher premiums. It makes sense to compare the offers and read the fine print before deciding on a plan. Ask your insurance agent and research online to find the best deal.
If you’re paying a high premium for your existing plan, it may already cover implants. Some plans offer to cover half the costs of certain higher cost dental treatments such as implants. Shop around for a plan that’s best for you. To avoid any surprises, make sure to be aware of what your plan offers, and how it fits with your finances and needs.
At times, medical insurance can cover some of the add-ons in implant surgery. If the implants are medically necessary or there is a lot of bone loss and bone grafting is needed, a medical insurance provider will sometimes cover the cost. Ask your dentist if they can bill the medical insurers for some of these services.
You could also consider medical flex spending accounts, which pays for medical services not covered by your insurance provider, and you also get tax benefits. Check out your employer’s policies for the cap on a flex spending account and if it can be used to reimburse implant surgery costs.
If your insurance doesn’t cover them or if you have no insurance, be sure and ask your dentist if they offer financing options.
With so many different designs of toothbrushes flooding the supermarket shelves, people often wonder if a specific kind of toothbrush is better than the rest. The truth is, there is no “ideal” toothbrush and what best works for you may not be the best for someone else!
Toothbrushes can be manual or powered/electric. The best toothbrush for you is the one you can use most effectively for removal of dental plaque from most areas of the mouth.
Manual toothbrushes are the most popular, and can be classified based on their bristle size as hard, medium, soft and ultra-soft. Generally, soft bristles are recommended for most people, as they are gentle on the enamel and gum tissue, and result in less wear or gum recession. When the bristles start showing signs of wear, it is time to change the brush. People who brush over-vigorously and have sensitive teeth as a result, or have had gum surgery recently, would benefit from using an ultra-soft toothbrush.
Handle designs and brush head sizes also vary considerably. While ‘regular’ straight handle toothbrushes are acceptable, many people can reach far back in the mouth to areas such as lower molars’ inner surfaces when they use toothbrushes with angled handles. A thick “ergonomic” handle design helps improve the grip and maneuverability; helpful for young children. The size of the brush head should generally be selected according to the jaw size; children’s brushes have smaller heads. A tapered brush head design is often useful in reaching hard to reach areas, such as around the wisdom teeth. Overall, a toothbrush brand with a seal of approval from the American Dental Association would make a good choice.
Electric toothbrushes have electrically operated rotating or oscillating heads. While the ADA considers both manual and powered toothbrushes to be equally effective in plaque removal, many people do prefer electric toothbrushes. The gentle massage produced from the vibrations has a soothing effect, and many have a timer attached, which helps users keep track of brushing time. As your local dentist will tell you,” the ‘right way’ is more important than the ‘right brush’!”
We at Plano Smile Studio would like to send you and yours all the best wishes for a happy holiday season and a healthy new year!
As we wind the year to a close, we at Plano Smile Studio want our practice family to know we sincerely appreciate their continued support. We look forward to another year of Professional and Personal growth. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and fulfilling 2010 for all of us!
From all of us at Plano Smile Studio, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day. We hope you have a safe and satisfying holiday!
We are having a great year in the new Plano Smile Studio and are looking forward to greeting the holiday season. Stay tuned to this site for updates regarding brand new ways to bring your best smile into the new year!
Remember how much we all have to be thankful for and Happy Turkey Day to all!
With over 45 years of combined experience, Dr. Hucklebridge and Dr. Fred Thompson are pleased to provide the leading technology in restorative implant dentistry through Straumman and Nobel Biocare implants.
An attractive smile can not only enhance ones appearance but also greatly elevate ones self-esteem. Throughout life, tooth and gum loss due to neglect or trauma can lead to more serious dental issues. Tooth loss can have a far-reaching effect on your dental health and personal appearance. When you lose one or more teeth, your remaining teeth can drift out of position. This can lead to a change in the bite, the loss of additional teeth, decay and gum disease. Dental implants can be an effective method to replace one or several of your teeth.
The Straumman and Nobel Biocare technologies offer more than 20 years of clinical research and the most extensively documented, clinically validated and practice-proven implants system in the market. Doctors Hucklebridge and Thompson are recognized experts in restorative implant dentistry in Dallas.
Athletes in just about any sport can take advantage of an innovative new mouth guard that can not only protect their teeth, but also helps them perform better.
Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™ with ArmourBite™ technology is a new Sportguard we have made available at Plano Smile Studio to help athletes in a variety of activities – from contact sports such as football and hockey to limited or no-contact sports like weight training, running, soccer, baseball, and golf.
How Can It Help?
As a cosmetic, restorative dentist, and a former athlete, I can tell you that I see a number of patients come into my office who have serious damage to their teeth, or have developed TMJ Disorder, because they failed to wear the proper guards to protect their teeth. Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™ with ArmourBite™ technology prevents the teeth from clenching, a natural reaction to those engaging in sports, and pivots the jaw forward. This ultimately relieves pressure on the temporomandibular joint and lessens the release of hormones that can cause fatigue and distraction.
The Fitting Process
This patented technology is applied in a three-step process: we will take an impression of your teeth here at Plano Smile Studio in order to get a custom-fit; then, the impression will be shipped to a lab for the sportguard to be made; and, finally, the mouthwear will come back to our office where we will give you a final fitting.
Performance Benefits
The exciting thing about this new kind of sportguard is that it is not only designed to protect your teeth during sporting activities, but also to enhance your performance. Recent statistics show that Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™ products can increase endurance, speed up reaction time, reduce athletic stress, and diminish the G-Force impact from blows to the jaw. From Yoga and Pilates to wrestling and football, this new mouthguard can do wonders for protecting your teeth, and boosting your game!
There is a new option for patients who wish for straighter teeth and a more functional bite without the unsightliness of conventional braces. For the “ideal” patient – Dr. Hucklebridge believes good results can be achieved using Invisalign for particular patients, which provides a tooth straightening alternative.
Invisalign treatment begins with a visit to Dr. Hucklebridge, who will then discuss whether or not Invisalign is an appropriate treatment plan and schedule an appointment to take molds of your teeth. These molds are sent to a lab where a system of mouth guard-style aligning devices will be fabricated, each one a couple millimeters different than the last until the ideal tooth position is realized with the final appliance.
Approximately every two weeks you will visit Dr. Hucklebridge, who will monitor the movement of your teeth and provide the next aligning mouth guard. The average treatment time with Invisalign is approximately 11 months.
Having a confident smile can change everything. With Invisalign you can get a stunning smile without most people even noticing you’re going through treatment.
Your smile is one of the first things people notice when they meet you. A whiter, brighter smile is powerful and can help you feel better about yourself and make a memorable impression!
Lifestyle and aging can stain and darken your teeth. Many things people do routinely such as drinking coffee, red wine or smoking can contribute to stained teeth.
Fortunately, at Plano Smile Studio you can have a whiter, brighter smile through a Zoom whitening procedure that takes about an hour! With the Zoom Technology, Dr. Hucklebridge can provide a beautiful change that can last for years with either an in-home supervised method or an in-office laser-assisted method.
The In-office whitening is our most popular choice. It takes just 1 hour to complete and includes take-home trays so you can maintain your shade.
Another option is a professional strength take-home solution with a custom-fitted mouthpiece. This method will take 2 to 4 weeks to produce results equal to that of one in-office whitening session.
Zoom into Plano Smile Studio for a whiter, brighter smile today!
From the Plano Smile Studio family to your family, here’s wishing you and yours a happy and safe holiday weekend!
Great things are happening in the office and we can’t wait to share them with you. Watch this space for new updates on technology advances, procedural upgrades, and personal holiday messages from me, just like this one!
Happy birthday to our country and happy Independence Day to everyone. Light a sparkler for us!
I’m thrilled to announce the latest powerful technology addition to our office: a brand new oral cancer screening process called ViziLite.
It is a simple, FDA approved cancer screening process that can actually save your life. It is composed of a chemiluminescent light source (ViziLite) to improve the identification of cancerous lesions and a blue phenothiazine dye to mark those lesions identified by ViziLite. Early detection is the strongest tool we have in the fight against oral cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, estimates reveal that more new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in 2008 than new cases of cervical cancer. In fact, it is estimated that there will be 34,000 new cases of oral cancer with 8000 fatalities this year, versus just 11,070 new cervical cancer cases; over three times the instances. What is of significant concern is that 25% of this group will have no predisposing factors, such as tobacco or alcohol use, or even a family history of ANY type of cancers.
We at Plano Smile Studio have implemented this new screening technology and will be talking with you about it at your next dental cleaning visit. If you have any questions please feel free to call or visit us today!
To learn more about this groundbreaking new screening process, please visit the ViziLite web page.
Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don’t forget the backside of your last tooth.
When flossing, establish a regular pattern. Do the top half on one side, then the other. Move to the bottom half on one side, then the other. This way you’re less likely to miss any teeth.
You may experience sore or bleeding gums for the first five or six days that you floss. This should stop once the plaque is broken up and the bacteria removed. If bleeding does not stop, call your dentist. Improper flossing may be banning your gums.
Persons who have trouble handling floss may wish to try a commercial floss holder or an interdental cleaning aid. Interdental cleaning aids include picks, sticks or brushes used to remove plaque from between teeth. Your dentist can explain the proper use of these implements.
Reprinted in part from the American Dental Association “Caring For Your Teeth and Gums” guide.
Daily brushing and cleaning between teeth are important to your dental health because they remove plaque. Plaque is a thin, colorless, sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth.
When you eat foods containing sugars and starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids, which attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with teeth. After many such attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms.
If plaque is not removed with daily brushing, it eventually hardens into calculus (tartar). As calculus forms near the gum line, gums can become irritated and inflamed. They become swollen and may bleed. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth and form pockets that usually become infected. If gum disease is not treated promptly, the bone supporting the teeth is destroyed and healthy teeth may be lost.
It may surprise you to know 50% of adults over age 18 and 75% of adults over age 35 have some degree of gum disease. It’s never too early to start fighting back. Your dental team can remove calculus from your teeth and treat gum disease that has already appeared. But daily dental care is in your hands.
Reprinted in part from the American Dental Association “Caring For Your Teeth and Gums” guide.
This month, I attended the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s 24th annual Scientific Session in New Orleans, Louisiana May 6-10 2008. This year’s program gathered the most dynamic group of educators ever assembled in the field of cosmetic dentistry. I attended daily CE classes and hands-on workshops in order to gain further expertise in the field of Cosmetic dentistry. It was a very rewarding time and I look forward to next year’s Session!
