Do Dental Crowns Require Special Care?

Dental crowns are commonly used to repair cracked teeth, to cover a tooth after a root canal, for injured teeth, and occasionally for aesthetic reasons. In most cases, dental crowns do not require additional care beyond everyday cleaning and regular dental checkups. Our dentists can help supply information about dental crowns in the San Antonio area.

Caring for Crowns

How crowns should be cared for depends on what type of crown your dentist uses. Dental crowns can be made from various types of materials. The most common types of crowns are:

• Metal crowns
• Porcelain crowns
• Metal crowns covered with porcelain

In general, teeth with crowns can be brushed and flossed just like your other teeth. If you have difficulty flossing between teeth with crowns, consult your dentist for recommendations.

Porcelain crowns, or porcelain-covered metal crowns, are susceptible to staining just like natural tooth enamel. They could…

Dental Bridges Can Fill in for a Missing Tooth

One of the most common ways to replace a missing tooth or teeth is with a dental bridge. Also known as partial dentures, dental bridges can fill the gaps created when teeth are removed or damaged. If you are looking for information regarding dental bridges in San Antonio, here are some facts to consider.

How Bridges Work

Because dental bridges only replace a few teeth, they need to be anchored to the remaining teeth on either side in order to remain in place. The bridge can be anchored in different ways. A common technique is to treat the adjacent teeth to receive crowns. The replacement tooth is then manufactured so that it is attached to the crowns that will be placed over the adjacent teeth. This method can look very natural when completed. The major disadvantage is that the adjacent teeth must be altered to receive the crowns.

Bridges can…

Pregnancy and Your Dental Health

It’s very important to take good care of your mouth and teeth during pregnancy. Pregnancy places strong demands on the body, and awareness of how your body can change and react to these demands will help you stay healthy. If you are pregnant and require dental care, our dentist serving San Antonio TX can help you with all of your dental needs.

Changes in Oral Health During Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes numerous hormones to be circulated throughout the body, helping your baby grow and ensuring a safe delivery. However, these hormones can also have side effects that affect your oral health. You might discover, for instance, that your gums are more sensitive and more likely to bleed when you brush and floss your teeth. You will also be more susceptible to gingivitis and gum disease during your pregnancy.

Because of these changes, it’s very important to maintain good oral hygiene…

Single tooth replacement: What are my options?

When you are faced with the decision to replace a missing tooth, it’s nice to know that you have at least three options. Some tooth replacement options have proven to be more effective, more conservative, or more natural-looking than others. Sorting out the details, and choosing the solution that is best for your particular needs can be challenging. Of course, not all tooth replacement choices are created equally, and our implant dentist serving San Antonio can offer a great deal of guidance, advice, and support during the decision-making process.

A removable partial denture is a commonly used replacement for missing teeth. Generally anchored to either an acrylic or metal base, artificial teeth and gums can be designed to fit into the space previously occupied by the missing teeth. For stability, a removable partial denture must span the distance of the entire upper or lower jaw. This full-mouth restoration is most…

Keeping Teeth Healthy During Pregnancy

It is easy to understand why pregnancy is often viewed as the healthiest time in a woman’s life. By paying special attention to your physical and emotional health, you can give your baby the best chance at a healthy start. In return, you can reap personal benefits from your healthier mind and body as well.

Understanding the details of a pregnant woman’s needs during this exciting time can be challenging. Fortunately, for advice and support regarding the relationship between pregnancy and dentistry in San Antonio, you can turn to our experienced dental team.

Many of the same principles and values that apply to the general population regarding oral hygiene also apply during pregnancy. The main difference may be that the body naturally functions differently during pregnancy and attention to detail becomes more critical than ever.

Brushing and flossing, the staples of all oral hygiene routines, becomes vitally important. As…

When is your pain in the neck more than just a “pain in the neck”?

A spontaneous, occasional, or short-lived pain in the head, neck, and shoulders is not typically cause for alarm. Each day, many of us spend hours leaning over to peer into computers, gaming devices, and mobile phones. This uncomfortable posture can cause random muscle soreness or pain.

Even occasional clenching and grinding of the teeth, known as bruxism, can cause temporary discomfort to the head and neck. During periods of intense stress, both physical and emotional, a large number of children and adults may experience short periods of bruxism.

Unfortunately, some patients experience annoying headaches and neck pain on a daily basis or for extended periods of time. For these patients, an evaluation of the TMJ in San Antonio may be helpful. Pain upon waking in the morning or throughout the day can be a sign of chronic bruxism. Random, non-specific sensitivity to chewing pressure, temperature, or sweets may also indicate…

Invisalign: A Virtually Invisible Orthodontic Treatment Option

Patients with malocclusion problems usually hate the thought of getting braces. Getting a mouth full of metal comes with a high price if you enjoy comfort food like bagels, corn on the cob, popcorn or pretzels. Imagine not being able to eat some types of food because they might dislodge your brackets. Chewy and sticky food like taffy and bubblegum are frowned upon. Fortunately, there is an alternative to traditional braces: Invisalign in San Antonio.

Invisalign treatment is a great way to straighten your teeth without having to give up the food you love. So what makes it better than braces? You can take them off when you eat and of course, when you drink tea, coffee or red wine. This comfortable breakthrough in orthodontics allows you to indulge in whatever food your heart desires.

The dentist will take an impression of your bite, as well as x-rays. The…

Is It Too Late To Have Braces If I Am An Adult?

Some adults secretly want braces and even Invisalign treatment but decide against it because they think that there is an age limit. Orthodontic procedures are not exclusive for younger individuals. Getting traditional braces or Invisalign clear braces is one way towards straighter and healthier teeth. Aside from boosting your self-esteem, the true benefit of getting your teeth aligned properly is the fact that it can prevent future TMJ problems that are caused by malocclusion.

Adults get braces in San Antonio TX for various reasons. Some have malocclusions that cause speech or TMJ problems. Other patients have overlapped teeth that cause plaque build-up, which may lead to periodontal disease. A number of adult patients get braces because they require prosthodontic work but have insufficient space.

Many older patients prefer Invisalign because they don’t want a mouth full of metal. Most of them consider it awkward for their age. Aside…

How Does A Root Canal Become Infected?

A root canal infection is a common problem and easy to treat. There are many factors that can lead to this condition. Any dentist will tell you that improper oral hygiene is the major culprit. When we do not brush at least three times a day, plaque build-up begins. This soft matter soon hardens if it is not removed and becomes a good breeding ground for harmful bacteria. The bacteria makes its way past the enamel, dentin or cementum and into the pulp canal. The patient then begins to feel swelling in the gingival area, accompanied by a constant and throbbing sort of pain.

Treating a root canal in San Antonio is not uncommon. Treatment should be performed by a licensed dentist who has extensive knowledge about endodontic therapy and the procedures involved. The goal of this treatment is to kill the bacteria in the pulp chamber in an…

Who is a Candidate for dental veneers?

A dental veneer is a form of cosmetic dentistry that can create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned, shapely teeth to cure a variety of dental conditions.  Your cosmetic dentist can offer dental veneers in San Antonio to correct worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment or spacing, tooth discoloration, tooth chips or cracks.

A dental veneer is a shell or layer of tooth-colored porcelain or composite material that is placed over the front surface of the tooth or teeth to be corrected.  The best candidate for dental veneers is the patient who is seeking a solution for cosmetic enhancement that offers the benefits of longevity and proven ability to improve the mouth, smile and other facial features that are better supported by properly shaped teeth.

Dental veneers are suitable for healthy individuals who do not suffer from gum disease.  Dental veneers have proven durability and are appropriate to protect…