Category: Dental Health

What Is TMJ Pain and What Are the Symptoms?

TMJ is an acronym for temporomandibular joint, a connective tissue that links the jawbone to the skull. The acronym also refers to the disorder that affects this connective tissue, making it dysfunctional. Therefore, TMJ points to the dysfunction of the connective tissue linking the jawbone to the skull.

Unfortunately, TMJ is a common problem in dentistry, affecting children and adults alike. Some of the pointers that you have TMJ disorders are:

1. Jaw pain – especially when you chew
2. Jaw lock – when the mouth keeps getting stuck in the open-mouth position, like when you yawn.
3. Swollen and tender jaw
4. Uneven bite
5. Migraine headaches
6. Ear pain
7. Clicking sounds when you move your mouth

What Are the Causes of TMJ?

The causes of TMJ pain develop due to different reasons, including the following:

1. Dental trauma – dental-related injuries or accidents are the most common causes of TMJ pain.
2. Bruxism – is a condition featuring excessive teeth grinding. Teeth grinding places unwanted pressure on teeth and the jawbone, likely resulting in TMJ pain.
3. Clenching – is common when you are stressed, anxious or depressed.
4. Poor posture – your sleeping position can be the reason you have jaw pain. Sleeping on your side with an uncomfortable pillow can aggravate jaw pain.
5. Underlying health problems – patients with bone-related health issues can suffer TMJ pain, for example, arthritis or bone cancer.

How is TMJ Treated?

TMJ treatment in Colony, TX, differs from one patient to another depending on the underlying cause of the condition. Some patients need medication, others lifestyle changes, and other drastic surgical measures. Visit us at Main Dentistry to determine the most suitable treatment for your condition. The common treatment approaches for TMJ are:

1. Jaw exercises – your dentist in the Colony, TX, will recommend some jaw movements that will stretch, strengthen and relax the muscles while reducing the swelling in the connective tissue. Your dentist may also recommend massages for the jaw to complement the jaw exercises.
2. Mouthguards – are protectors for the oral cavity. They cushion your teeth to reduce clenching, reducing the pressure you exert on your jawbone. Mouthguards are especially crucial for patients that partake in high-contact activities and sports.
3. Changing sleeping position – your dentist may recommend replacing your pillow ad adopting a different sleeping posture to improve your TMJ symptoms.
4. Compressions – hot or cold compressing can alleviate swelling and pain in your jawbone.
5. Pain medication – ensure your dentist prescribes medicine suitable for pain management for your jaw instead of randomly purchasing over-the-counter pain relievers to suppress the pain.
6. Injections – neurotoxin injections like Botox can relieve pain in your joint hence treating TMJ.
7. Open-joint surgery – when the conservative approaches for treating TMJ pain do not work, your dentist will recommend surgery. The procedure will repair and restore the discs in the connective joint.

How Can I Find a Good TMJ Treatment Specialist?

Finding a good specialist for TMJ treatment is crucial if you want to treat the jaw pain permanently. Besides, TMJ causes various problems to your health, spreading the pain to your head and neck. Some tips for finding a good TMJ specialist are:

1. Experience – find a dentist who has had several years of active practice in treating and managing TMJ. Besides, find out whether your dentist has up-to-date knowledge relevant for treating TMJ in modern dentistry.
2. Individualized treatment options – TMJ affects patients differently. Therefore, you need a specialist that can tailor a treatment plan to your condition after a compressive evaluation of the cause of your TMJ pain.
3. Get referrals – other patients who have had successful experiences with dentists can point you in the right direction.
4. Trust your instincts – even though everyone praises that specialist, if something feels off to you are visiting, find a different one. It is crucial to pick a dental expert you feel comfortable around and trust their insights regarding your treatment.
5. Versatile treatment options – TMJ has various management and treatment alternatives you can try. If your dentist can only offer a few, find one who can do more.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

It is a sleeping disorder that affects your ability to breathe properly when you sleep at night. Sleep apnea features repeated episodes where you stop breathing for short periods. When you stop breathing, the brain signals your body to wake, disrupting sleep. Sleep apnea can occur as a mild disorder or a chronic illness with adverse and potentially life-threatening side effects.

Sleep apnea treatment in the Colony, TX, focuses on improving breathability at night, which directly impacts the quality of your sleep. To do so, your doctor would have to underline all factors that may be decreasing your ability to breathe well at night.

Common Factors that Increase the Risk of Sleep Apnea

While medical experts continue to research sleep apnea, the particular underlying cause of the disease is still unknown. Doctors have only been able to point out several risk factors that can increase your risk of getting sleep apnea, including:

1. Being male – more men are likely to suffer from sleep apnea than women.
2. Age – people over 55 years old are more likely to have sleep apnea than younger ones.
3. Neck circumference – having a thick neck translates to a smaller airway, which can cause sleep apnea.
4. Smoking
5. Excessive consumption of alcohol
6. Family history
7. Obesity or being overweight.

Obesity and Sleep Apnea – How Are They Interlinked?

When treating sleep apnea, dentists in Colony, TX, must consider all possible factors that may promote this sleeping disorder. The connection between obesity and sleep apnea catches many people by surprise. When overweight, you attract many health complications, including sleep apnea. Ideally, sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder affecting the respiratory system. Any factors that reduce breathability worsen your sleep apnea. In that light, obesity significantly worsens your breathing. When overweight or obese, worry about pharyngeal fat which is excessive fat deposits in your neck. The fat deposits layer your neck region, increasing the pressure on the upper airways. The pressure then results in a restricted air passage and decreased neuromuscular control.

Further, the fat deposits when you have excessive fat in your body lead to a decrease in the volume of your lungs, making it harder to breathe properly. It happens due to increased abdominal girth, which compresses your chest and the organs therein.

Unfortunately, studies continue to show that disrupted sleep patterns result in weight gain. The reason is that the lack of sleep eventually increases your appetite, making you desire to keep eating more food. Therefore, if you are already struggling with being overweight, poor-quality sleep will only accelerate your weight gain.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea and Weight Loss

The relationship between sleep apnea and obesity is complex because it is reciprocal so that both conditions worsen as you go. It is, therefore, paramount to seek treatment early, especially because both health issues can result in fatal complications to your heart, brain, and general body health.

The surest way to treat sleep apnea aggravated by weight gain is by losing the extra weight. Shedding several pounds will not happen overnight. Employ several guidelines in your daily lifestyle to influence your weight positively. Some of the things we recommend at Main Dentistry that may help include:

1. Exercising – move your body every day in the healthiest way possible. Do not over-exploit your body in the gym because you want to lose weight.
2. Eat healthily – ultimately, what you eat every day reflects in your overall appearance. Make healthy meal plans that will support your weight loss journey.
3. Changing your sleeping position – although it may not impact your weight loss journey, employing a different sleeping position can make breathing a lot better when you sleep. As you work on losing weight and making a turn to leading a healthy lifestyle, good sleeping positions can ensure you catch some sleep.
4. Surgery – obese patients may benefit from gastric bypass surgery to aid their weight loss journey. Besides, you can consider tracheostomy, a surgical procedure that places a permanent opening to your windpipe in your neck. However, surgery is always a risky treatment protocol that may introduce other health struggles during recovery.

Your dentist recommends that you visit them every six months for dental exams and cleanings to ensure your dental and oral health is in prime condition. While you may accept your dentist’s view and see them frequently to get your mouth and teeth examined would you behave similarly if your dentist recommended you also have a dental checkup for oral cancer?

You would probably jump out of the dentist’s chair when you hear the term ‘cancer,’ thinking the dentist is trying to pull your leg. However, are you aware oral cancer screening is an essential part of every dental checkup, and you receive the examination without realizing it? If not, we suggest you continue reading this article to understand why oral cancer screenings are essential.

Why Is Oral Cancer Screening Important?

Oral cancer screening doesn’t indicate you have this devastating disease in your mouth or even suggests you could be prone to the condition. Unfortunately, if you are accustomed to the risk factors that might make you prone to oral cancer-detecting the condition early during regular dental exams provides better outcomes if you are detected with the condition.

Dentists recommend these screenings for everyone over 40 every year. People with risk factors such as using tobacco, excessive alcohol use, having human papillomavirus a family history of cancer benefit from early detection of oral cancer when treatment outcomes are optimal.

Adults over 20 are recommended oral cancer screenings every three years but nevertheless receive one whenever they visit oral cancer screening in the colony, TX. Dentists are trained to perform oral cancer screenings and routinely do so when patients visit them for regular exams. Oral cancer screenings are not scary and are completed in under five minutes. Furthermore, dentists don’t charge any extra fees because the screenings are incorporated with the exams.

What Does Oral Cancer Screening Involve?

Oral cancer screenings start with a clinical exam of your mouth and throat. You might find it intriguing why your dentist is looking at areas of your mouth other than your teeth and gums. However, if you try to understand the oral cancer screening dentist looks for abnormal ulcerations, swelling, bumps, changes in color, et cetera, you will realize the professional is trying to make sure you don’t have any unusual developments in your mouth that might aggravate to oral cancer.

When examining your mouth, the dentist checks all areas, including the mouth’s roof, tonsils, outside of the cheeks, tongue, and gums. The dentist also palpates the jaw, neck, outside of the cheeks, beneath the chin, looking for unusual masses and firm nodules.

If dentists discover any abnormalities, they might use a special dye or light to evaluate the area further for oral cancer. Some standard tests dentists perform include:

• Using laser lights that help reflect abnormal tissues differently than normal tissue.
• Applying toluidine blue dye over the suspicious area, which turns blue if irregular tissue is detected.
• Asking you to rinse your mouth with an acetic acid solution to examine the abnormal area in your mouth with a special light.

The examination is a precautionary measure to ensure you don’t have any abnormal lesions in your mouth that might indicate cancer later.

When Should You Get Screened for Oral Cancer?

When thinking about oral cancer screenings, you don’t have to visit an oncologist a specialist in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Instead, if you are diligent with your dental visits every six months or a year, you receive an oral cancer screening from the dentist during your exams.

Dentists also recommend adults self examine every month, looking for signs of oral cancer in their mouths, and report any changes they notice promptly. If you don’t understand what to look for in your mouth that might indicate suspicious growths, it includes white patches, lumps, sores, and report them to your dentist for evaluation.

If you receive an abnormal oral cancer screening, dentists don’t provide any treatment for the condition but refer you to an experienced oncologist for help. Oral cancer needs a multispecialty team, including pathologists, radiologists, oncologists, and other specialists working collectively together to ensure you receive the best treatment and care possible.

However, trying to put off oral cancer screening from Main Dentistry is an error you mustn’t commit when you visit them for your regular dental exam. The screening is a precautionary measure that helps avoid unnecessary problems needing treatments from various specialists.

Nothing fills a parent’s heart like seeing their little one healthy and developing as they should. Almost any parent will give anything to see that their kids get what’s essential for their development and well-being. One of the ways most parents meet their kid’s health needs is by seeking pediatric dentistry in The Colony, TX.

Children’s dental health is a critical part of their overall development. In fact, almost 50 million school hours are lost each year because of dental issues. Dental cavities are prevalent and affect kids much more than asthma and hay fever combined.

This is why seeking pediatric dentistry near you is not a luxury but a necessity that will help keep your kid’s teeth healthy and strong.

But some parents are wondering whether it is necessary to seek pediatric dentistry in The Colony, TX. If this is the case, read on, and you will find out more.

Should Kids Go to a Pediatric Dentist?

Generally, children’s dental health issues are not exactly the same as adults’. However, they still need extra care for those tiny pearly whites to develop as they should. Also, bear in mind that their needs are unique.

First, their tooth structure is a bit different from that of adults. They also have primary teeth that come out, and then permanent teeth come in and develop over time. This is why they need special attention to ensure that the primary teeth are taken care of and come out as they should. Also, to make certain that the permanent teeth grow properly.

Secondly, dealing with kids is not the same as dealing with adults. A regular dentist might find it challenging dealing with a kid. There are essential psychological issues that must be addressed for your little one to be comfortable to receive treatment.

This is why having a dentist who has spent some extra time learning how to handle all dental issues that your little one may face is a huge plus. Besides having the necessary education, experience is also a vital component since your kid will receive quality care. Nothing beats having your child treated by experts who understand the nitty-gritty of growing teeth and gums.

Pediatric Dental Services

Some of the services that your kid will enjoy when they come to our dental clinic will include the following:

• Treatment of dental emergencies and injuries such as broken, chipped, cracked, or knocked-out teeth
• Thorough dental examinations to rule out any dental issues
• Managing and treating gum infections and periodontal disease
• Diagnosing and managing any dental issue linked to preexisting medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
• Treating dental issues such as cavities and tooth decay
• Offering alternative solutions to eradicate habits that affect the growth and development of teeth, such as overusing pacifiers and thumb sucking
• Early diagnosis and treatment of orthodontic issues, including crooked teeth and teeth alignment
• Providing preventive services such as cleaning, fluoride treatment, and dental sealants

Why Should You Take Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist?

It’s so easy to downplay the importance of taking your kid to see a pediatric dentist. As you already know, your children’s dental health is critical for their growth. Without further ado, let’s check out why your kid needs to see a pediatric dentist:

1. 1. Your Kid Will Be Treated By an Expert

Your kid will get the most from their dental visit if they get treated by an expert. A trained and experienced dentist knows the various stages of teeth development and has the psychological skills to ensure that your kid receives the necessary care.

1. 1. It’s a Child-Friendly Space

The environment is key when it comes to treating kids. If they feel intimidated by the environment, they will always give you a difficult time and might not even feel enthusiastic about getting dental care. But if the environment is kid-friendly, it makes the session way easier. Your baby will not be intimidated by the white and sterile environments characteristic of other dental offices or even hospitals.

1. 1. Child-Friendly Staff

The environment can be amazing, and the dentist can be an expert. However, if the staff is not child-friendly, your child may still give you a hard time. Therefore, our staff members know how to handle kids. Nothing calms an anxious child than being in the hands of a warm and friendly expert.

So, if you wish to bring your child for expert dental care, contact us at Main Dentistry, and we would love to cater to your kid’s needs.

You have most probably wondered how it is that celebrities and TV personalities have picture-perfect smiles. Why do their smiles seem perfect, and how did they get that way? In most cases, they have dental veneers near you to thank for their unique smiles.

Dental veneers in The Colony, TX, have been around for many decades and have been used in movie sets as temporary veneers or permanent veneers that we have today, which can alter your smile.

Dental veneers near you are an ingenious way of dealing with several minor dental flaws that have a knack for sucking the life from your smile.

What Is a Dental Veneer?

Dental veneers in The Colony, TX, are the most common cosmetic dental procedures. They are highly favored amongst many patients since they are easy to fix and can solve a myriad of cosmetic dental flaws.

They are ultra-thin shells resembling the color and shape of your teeth and are placed over the front surface of your teeth. Once they are set up, your smile will be redefined.

Dental veneers are less invasive than dental crowns. However, they are both permanent procedures since the enamel has to be filed down. Our dentist will chisel away some of the enamel during the dental veneer procedure before placing the veneer.

On the other hand, if our dentist places veneers directly onto the teeth without shaving off some of the enamel, they will be bulky and uncomfortable. So, this is why some of the enamel must be removed.

So, if you wish to get veneers, remember that this is a one-way street.

You will mainly encounter two types of veneers:

• Composite veneers. These are also known as direct veneers because our dentist can fix them within a single visit. They are made from a composite resin and are much thinner than porcelain veneers, which means that our dentist will remove less of your enamel to create space for them. These veneers can serve you for about seven years if you care for them.
• Porcelain veneers. These are also known as indirect veneers because our dentist will fix them in two visits. In most cases, these veneers are highly-customized to ensure that they suit and match your teeth. They are much thicker and sturdier than composite resin veneers. Therefore, they can serve you for almost 15 years. Plus, they are more aesthetically pleasing than composite resin veneers.

Are Dental Veneers Worth It?

You most probably are wondering whether getting dental veneers will be worth it. If this is a concern that you have, then let’s delve into the pros and cons to have a better understanding:

Pros

• Permanently Whiten Your Smile

Years of smoking, drinking, and eating other highly pigmented foods can stain your teeth, making them lose their shine. This is where veneers can make a huge difference. After our dentist places the veneers over your teeth, you will be able to say goodbye to unattractive yellow or brown teeth.

Plus, if you have gone for porcelain veneers, your teeth will not be stained in the future since they are stain-resistant.

• Fix Minor Cosmetic Issues

Many people gravitate towards veneers because they get to deal with so many dental issues simultaneously. They can remedy gaps between teeth, cracks, chips, discoloration, and even minor misalignment. Remember that veneers camouflage minor orthodontic problems, but they cannot correct orthodontic problems. So, your teeth will still be gapped or even crooked, but it’s only you and the dentist that will know.

• Replace Damaged Enamel

Your enamel is very sturdy, but it is not indestructible. The enamel can be worn down if you are overzealous when brushing your teeth or consuming highly acidic drinks and foods. Sadly, when the enamel wears off, it cannot grow back. The perk is that it can be replaced using tooth veneers.

Cons

• Relatively Expensive

The cost of getting veneers will depend on the number of teeth you wish to restore. In any case, the price will still be high since a veneer costs close to $1,300. Plus, most insurance companies view the procedure as purely cosmetic, so don’t expect them to cover the procedure.

• It’s Irreversible

As mentioned earlier, our dentist will have to remove some of the enamel to create space for the veneer to fit. Once this is done, it cannot be reversed. Therefore, you will need to change your veneers after every few years.

• Increased Sensitivity

Some patients complain that their teeth have become more sensitive after the procedure. This might be because some of the enamel has been removed.

So, are they worth it? It all depends on your desires, dental issues you want to correct, and the amount of money you are willing to spare.

In any case, veneers will transform your smile since they are versatile. If you need clarification, you can reach out to our dentist at Main Dentistry to schedule an appointment.

Tooth extraction near me or removal is a standard procedure relatively common among adults. Your permanent teeth are expected to last for a lifetime. However, some reasons may compel you to get a tooth removed. They are tooth decay or gum disease, damage from trauma, or crowded teeth. Would you please continue reading to learn more about the tooth removal procedure from Main Dentistry and what you must do after this dental procedure?

How Are Tooth Extractions Performed?

You can schedule an appointment for tooth extraction in The Colony, TX, with the dentist or an oral surgeon. During your appointment, you receive local anesthesia near the tooth to numb the area and prevent experiencing pain. However, you remain aware of your surroundings. If you are having several teeth removed, the professional chooses stronger anesthesia. More potent anesthetics can make sleep during the tooth removal procedure.

If you need a straightforward extraction, the professional loosens your tooth with instruments called elevators by rocking it back and forth before they remove the tooth using forceps.

Unfortunately, if you need a molar or an impacted tooth removed, you require surgical extraction. During surgical extractions, an oral surgeon makes incisions in your gums and bone tissue before they use forceps to rock the tooth back and forth until it breaks away.

What to Expect with Tooth Extraction?

After tooth removal, a blood clot forms in the socket, and your dentist or oral surgeon packs it with a gauze pad to stop the bleeding. You may need stitches in a few cases when you undergo surgical extraction.

How to Take Care after Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction aftercare is relatively easy, depending on the type of extraction and the tooth’s location. You can expect the healing process to complete in approximately seven to ten days. First, however, you must keep an eye on the blood clot in the tooth socket. You must not allow the blood clot to dislodge because it can cause a dry socket a painful condition.

If you want to speed your recovery, you can use the following tips. They are:

• You can take any painkillers prescribed by the dentist for comfort.
• You must leave the gauze pad placed by the dentist three to four hours after the procedure.
• You can use an ice pack over the affected area soon after the process. However, do not overdo this remedy by applying the ice pack for merely 10 minutes on your cheeks. Leaving the ice packs for too long results in tissue damage.
• Do not jump into your regular activities immediately after tooth removal. Instead, rest for at least 24 hours after the procedure avoiding strenuous activities like exercising.
• Do not rinse, spit, or use straws for drinking for fear of dislodging the blood clot. The restriction remains in place for 24 hours after the extraction.
• Stay away from habits like smoking or consuming alcohol.
• After 24 hours, use a saltwater solution to rinse your mouth made from half a teaspoon of salt and eight ounces of warm water.
• Prop your head up with pillows when sleeping because lying down flat can prolong your recovery.
• Brush and floss your teeth, as usual, to prevent infections by avoiding the extraction site.

Foods to Have after Tooth Removal

You must exist on soft foods like soups, pudding, yogurt, and applesauce during your recovery. You can add smoothies to your diet but must have them with a spoon. As your extraction site recovers, you can incorporate solid foods into your diet, but your dentist recommends continuing with the soft food diet at least a week after the removal.

Managing Pain After Tooth Removal

Experiencing some discomfort, soreness, and pain after tooth removal is standard. You may also observe some swelling in your face. The painkillers you receive from the dentist help to reduce these symptoms. The dentist might also suggest over-the-counter painkillers for relief.

If your pain doesn’t subside 48 or 72 hours after the extraction, you must contact the dentist for advice. Unfortunately, if your pain worsens after several days, you may have to get your dentist immediately to ensure they rule out infections.

After the healing period of one or two weeks, you will likely be able to begin your regular diet. New bone and gum tissue begin developing over the extraction site as well. However, having a tooth removed makes you prone to shifting your remaining teeth. The shifting affects your bite, making you think about replacing the extracted tooth. Your dentist can provide dental implants, bridges, or a fixed denture to close the gap in your mouth.

After undergoing tooth extractions for any reason, you must follow the after-care tips mentioned in this article besides any advice provided by your dentist to speed your recovery and prevent complications.

A dental filling is a procedure to repair a cracked or broken tooth, a tooth damaged by decay, or a tooth worn down by misuse, restoring it to its original shape and functioning normally. First, the dentists remove the decayed tooth material, clean the space, and place the filling material. Types of materials used as fillings include gold, silver, plastic, and porcelain.

Factors Affecting Your Diet After Dental Filling Treatment

Dentists in the Colony, TX, say that the selection of food you can eat after a filling treatment significantly depends on the filling material used. For example, silver fillings typically take 24 hours to harden completely and reach maximum strength and allow you to eat normally. On the other hand, a composite filling immediately sets just after a dentist directs a blue ultra-violet light on your tooth.

Numbing medication may also affect what you can eat after a dental filling. Dentists apply local anesthesia during the filling treatment. The numbing effect of this medication may last even after the procedure. You won’t be able to move your mouth correctly and taste anything.

We Have the Following Promotions

There may be increased tooth sensitivity after treatment. The procedure includes removing the cavity and cleaning the affected area, thereby exposing the sensitive parts of the teeth, such as its roots.

However, most of the time, your dentist will be able to suggest what you should be having and when you can start eating solid food after your dental filling procedure.

What to Not Eat After a Dental Filling

To be on the safe side and to consider the things listed above, it is best to avoid these types of foods for up to two weeks:

• Hard foods – Nuts, candies, chips, pretzels, and fruits such as apples or pears.
• Chewy foods – Foods such as jerkies, pizza crusts, fibrous meat, and chewy candies.
• Sticky foods – Caramel, taffy, and toffee, chewing gum, candy bars, and dried fruits or roll-ups.

Your dental fillings may fall out when eating these foods if the filling material has not fully hardened. You may also accidentally bite your tongue, cheeks, or lips when your mouth is still numb from the anesthesia.

What Can You Eat After a Dental Filling?

While you are somewhat limited on what food you can eat, there are still other food options that you can partake without risking your newly filled tooth.

• Soup and Broth – You can have a tasty lunch requiring much chewing at all. You can reach your daily nutritional needs by adding healthy ingredients to your recipe.

• Dairy Products – Foods such as yogurt, cheese, and scrambled eggs do not require much chewing and biting. More importantly, these types of foods are some of the most nutritious out there.

• Smoothies and Shakes – One of the best food solutions, you just let the blender do the work. Slurp and gulp your favorite fruit or protein shake.

Always speak to your dentist after you’ve had dental fillings in The Colony, TX. Feel free to ask any questions before the procedure.

Don’ts After Dental Filling

To help in your fast recovery, dentists here in The Colony, Texas, advise you to refrain from doing the following after having a dental filling:

• Hard, chewy, and sticky foods – At the very least, you may feel discomfort on your tooth, and at the very worst, the filling may fall out, which may require another procedure.
• Sugary foods – These foods may trigger teeth sensitivity and promote bacterial growth around the new filling.
• Hot and cold food and beverages – Since a newly filled tooth increase teeth sensitivity, these kinds of foods may have a painful effect on you.
• Refrain from grinding your teeth – if you habitually grind your teeth, you can wear down the top of your teeth, along with your new fillings.

Final Words

A dental filling procedure is a restorative treatment that is the last recourse to saving a tooth before it is deemed subject to removal. It is a risk-free treatment with typically minor complications. Usually, the only setback is the limitation on what food to eat afterward.

At Main Dentistry, our professional team is ready to help guide you through the dental filling process and what to do after your procedure. Contact us today for a consultation, and we will help you retain your smile.

Accepting Insurances

A dental crown is a cap-like covering that fits over the upper part of an existing tooth or a post from a dental implant. Crowns are used to cover a flawed tooth, protect a weak tooth and restore the shape of your natural tooth. Dental crowns in The Colony, TX, are used for several reasons. First, they restore your teeth’ size, shape, and appearance, giving that look that you have always desired.

Patients with teeth that are severely stained can have a crown fitted over them for a brighter smile. Crowns are also used in dental restorative procedures such as dental bridges to hold the bridge in place, root canals to cover the treated tooth, and dental implants. In addition, teeth with large fillings covering the bigger part of the tooth structure are covered and supported by crowns.

The dentist in 75056 uses different types of crowns on your teeth. Traditional crowns which cover the entire tooth are used when you do not have a solid tooth structure. When only a small area of your tooth is affected, it is removed then the tooth is reshaped in preparation for placing a ¾ crown or onlay. An onlay and ¾ crown cover only a portion of the tooth and are the right choice for you if you seek a more conservative approach.

Types of Dental crowns

Crowns are made of different types of materials. The most commonly used dental crowns near you are:

• Metal Crowns

If you are looking for a crown that will last the longest, a metal crown is suitable for you. Metals such as gold, nickel, chromium, and platinum make durable and strong crowns. This material is mainly used for the back molars and premolars since it can withstand chewing forces. However, these artificial caps do not blend well with your natural teeth because of their color, so you may prefer to have them placed over the back teeth. For patients who have had a dental bridge procedure, metal crowns provide great strength to the bridge. In addition, your natural tooth structure is preserved as only a small portion of your tooth is removed when placing metal crowns. However, these crowns are not biocompatible and may cause allergies to some people.

• Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal Crowns

Patients who desire strength, durability, and awesome aesthetics prefer these types of crowns. The porcelain matches well with your natural teeth due to its light-reflecting properties, while the metal provides strength to the crown-making it last for a longer time. You may prefer to have these crowns on teeth that are not easily seen when you smile or laugh since the metal under the porcelain cap may appear as a dark line. Also, only a moderate amount of your tooth structure is removed while placing these crowns.

• Porcelain or Ceramic Crowns

A beautiful natural-looking smile can be easily achieved through the use of porcelain crowns. These caps match your natural teeth in shape, size, and color, making them less noticeable to people around you. Furthermore, they can be altered so that their shade matches perfectly with your natural teeth. If you have metal allergies, a porcelain crown is the right one for you. Individuals who want to have their front teeth repaired choose these crowns since they are aesthetically pleasing.

• All-Resin Crowns

If you are looking for the least expensive type of crown, all-resin crowns are good for you. They can be made to match the color of the teeth next to the one being repaired therefore appearing natural. However, these crowns are fragile and wear down easily, so they are not suitable for people seeking durable crowns.

• Stainless Steel Crowns

Has the dentist near you recommended crowns for your child? Stainless steel crowns are most preferred when restoring primary teeth. After a pulpotomy, these crowns protect your child’s tooth. They are also used when normal cavity fillings will not do the job properly.

Schedule an appointment at Main Dentistry for a dental crown procedure with the crown type of your choice. Before the procedure, the dental team will discuss with you the steps involved in placing a crown, problems that can develop with a crown, and how to care for your crown. Our dentist in 75056 also offers various services from cosmetic dentistry, preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry, and emergency dentistry.

Preventive dentistry is the habit of taking appropriate care of your teeth to keep them healthy. The routine helps prevent cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, et cetera. Preventive dentistry in the Colony recommends habits like brushing daily and dental cleanings to maintain oral health in optimal condition besides informing clients about the ADAs recommendation of dental visits at intervals suggested by the dentist or every six months. The habits help ensure your teeth are clean, robust, and white. Children must also learn about appropriate oral hygiene at an early age.

If you want to keep your teeth healthy and save money is continue reading to learn more about the habits you must incorporate.

Daily Brushing

The most crucial element of preventive dentistry is daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste authenticated by the ADA. It would help if you replaced your toothbrush every quarterly or when the bristles start to fray. Do not neglect to brush your tongue when brushing your teeth. Ignoring your tongue will help bacteria remain in your mouth and not permit you to have fresh breath.

Flossing At Least Once a Day

Preventive dental care near me recommends flossing at least once a day to clean the tight space of your teeth. In addition, you can consider using floss threaders if you have braces on your teeth to clean between the metal brackets. To benefit most from flossing, you must be using dental floss correctly. If you are unsure about the technique, inquire with your dentist for a flossing demonstration to ensure you learn how to derive the best benefit from this tool.

Dental Visits

You must visit the dentist in The Colony, TX at least once a year to evaluate your gums and teeth and check for any problems existing on them. If you are at an increased risk of dental infections, you will likely benefit more from frequent visits. However, if your risk levels are negligible, you may notice similar results from one visit for cleanings every year. Dental exams and cleanings allow the Colony dentist to detect problems in your mouth and treat them promptly.

Suppose you possess dental insurance; go through details of your coverage. Two preventive dental visits are authorized by many insurance companies. Therefore you may avail preventive dentistry treatments free of charge.

Have a Balanced Diet

When trying to protect your teeth, it helps if you have a balanced diet with the nutrients your teeth need. Include simple carbohydrates like white bread and drink plenty of water throughout the day while limiting your sugar intake. Vitamins are also crucial for your oral health. Having a diverse diet helps you get all the vitamins you require to sustain a healthy smile.

How Does Preventive Dentistry Help?

The dentist in 75056 states preventive dentistry helps you from developing dental problems later. If you follow a proper dental care regimen, you can avoid or lessen consequences like cavities, gum disease, enamel loss, and periodontitis.

Does Preventive Dentistry Help Everyone?

Everyone benefits from preventive dentistry. However, children specifically benefit the most because it allows that new developing permanent teeth to erupt robust and healthy. In addition, treatments like fluoride and dental sealants help prevent decay in your child’s teeth. Aging adults can also benefit from preventive dentistry because it allows them to keep their natural teeth.

Oral health is associated with your body. For example, your mouth is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Therefore if your mouth is clean, it benefits your overall health.

How Is Preventive Dentistry Beneficial?

Maintaining excellent dental hygiene significantly reduces your risks of developing cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, and other dental infections. In addition, the preventive habits you practice reduce your risk of secondary problems resulting from poor oral health. Some health issues associated with poor overall health include diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, and cancer.

Poor oral health also has an association with premature birth and low birth weight. Therefore pregnant women must continue to practice preventive dentistry, including visits to dentists for routine checkups and cleanings during pregnancy.

Besides reducing your risk for other health problems, excellent preventive dentistry helps accumulate money in your account. Even if you possess dental insurance, the costs associated with poor oral hygiene can multiply significantly. Preventive dentistry does not eliminate your requirement of dental fillings, implants, or root canals. However, the habit ensures it reduces your need for these expensive treatments.

Have you ever considered getting orthodontics in The Colony? The teeth are known to greatly enhance a person’s smile and which makes people crave to have a perfect set of teeth.

A lot of people want to have sparkling white and bold teeth that reflect their beauty whenever they smile. However, not everyone will have white teeth and not everyone’s teeth will be perfectly aligned. It is very common to see people with misaligned or brown teeth. This is not always a medical condition for people who find themselves in this situation. However, for certain people, the displacement of their teeth can cause lead to several issues like tooth decay, gum diseases, etc. Some people might have difficulty chewing food while the space between some people’s teeth might cause them to have bad bites.

You should see a dentist in The Colony, TX if you are experiencing any of the situations described above or find an orthodontist near you. An orthodontist is a dentist but unlike other dentists, an orthodontist deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of irregularities in a person’s teeth or jaw. These dentists offer their services to everyone, both male or female, old or young. They can help to recognize impending problems and solve existing ones for their patients.

Roles of an Orthodontist

It has been established that an orthodontist helps people with teeth misalignment to restore their teeth to their normal position. These medical experts employ the use of retainers, braces, and bands to properly a person’s set of teeth. These tools are either fixed or removable but either way, they serve the purpose for which they are being used. However, that is not all that an orthodontist does. Other than correct the position of the teeth, and orthodontics also deals with different kinds of dental abnormalities. If you are in 75056, dental orthodontics are used for teeth that are no longer as straight as they should be. If you have problems with your bite, probably they are too big or too small, you will need to see a dentist in The Colony, TX. Another class of people who make an ideal client for an orthodontist is people whose teeth are far from each other or crowded in a particular spot. Jaw misalignment can also lead a person to the office to seek orthodontics in The Colony.

The primary aim of any orthodontics treatment is to make sure that a person has a perfect bite. This means the person’s teeth are correctly fitted so that each upper tooth is directly under its opposite tooth. achieving this will mean that a person can chew and better properly. It will also help to boost speech and give you a better smile.

Before now, orthodontists used to be the go-to physician for children and teenagers who needed braces. However, at this time, an orthodontist can be of service to anyone of any age. After attending college and dental school, one has to go to an orthodontic school to become an orthodontist. After finishing in the orthodontic school, every graduate who wishes to practice will have to spend about three years as a resident orthodontist before they can finally go ahead to practice on their own or work for an existing business. in their time as resident orthodontists, they focus on two major disciplines – Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Orthodontics deals with the safe movement of the teeth in the mouth while Dentofacial Orthopedics is concerned with the development of the teeth, jaw, and face. After this, they become certified to practice orthodontics in The Colony and the whole of the United States.

Why should I visit an Orthodontist?

Misalignment in the teeth is the major reason why most people visit an orthodontist. This condition is usually hereditary causing a disparity in the size of the upper jaw and lower jaw. There are two ways in which an orthodontist treats this misalignment – Braces and Surgery.

Braces, usually made of either metal, ceramic, or plastic, are attached to the teeth to apply force on a certain point and move the teeth to the desired position. Sometimes, headgear might be worn to apply pressure from outside the mouth.

Surgery is usually used to lengthen the jaw of people with an underbite or reduce the jaw of those who have an overbite.it is usually the last option when other options have been exhausted.

Orthodontics has a lot of advantages; it eases the process of biting, eating, and talking. It helps to reduce the risk of cavities and improves a person’s facial look.

Accepting Insurances