Smile Texas

The superior answer for replacing missing teeth If you’re missing one or more teeth you’re not alone. Statistics from the American Dental Association show that 178 million people in the U.S. are missing at least one tooth. Over 35 million are missing all of their teeth. https://www.smiletexas.com/dental-implants/teeth-by-tonight/ While it can be tempting to not replace a tooth whether due to the cost or just a fear of the dentist, this can lead to a variety of additional dental problems. The better solution is to replace your missing teeth with dental implants from Smile Texas. Dental implants are perfect for replacing a single tooth or to anchor prosthetic fixtures replacing multiple teeth. What Is A Dental Implant? A dental implant is a prosthetic replacement for a missing tooth. The tooth could have been lost due to injury or accident, or it could be so badly decayed that it cannot be saved. The name implant actually refers to the anchoring portion of the prosthetic. Shaped like a screw, the implant is made of titanium and screws down into the bone in the socket formerly occupied by the tooth root. The bone then naturally grows around the implant, making it a part of the jaw. Once this process is complete, a post is placed into the implant and an artificial tooth atop that. Dental implants, because they are integrated into the bone, behave exactly like a natural tooth. Why Replace A Missing Tooth? Many people lose a tooth or two and simply don’t replace them. Of course, this leads to cosmetic issues with front teeth, but it can also lead to the person avoiding certain foods if the missing tooth is a molar. Beyond the cosmetic issues, missing teeth cause problems with the other teeth and lead to bone loss. Without the pressure to stay in place, the adjacent teeth tend to slide over into the open gap, creating problems with your bite and the alignment of your teeth. Plus, when a person chews, a tremendous amount of bite force energy is transferred through the teeth down into the bone. This stimulation continually creates new bone mass. Without the stimulation (due to missing teeth above), the bone in that area begins to deteriorate and resorb. That’s why many people with many missing teeth appear as if their face is collapsing inward around their mouth. Advantages Of Dental Implants Dental implants function exactly like your natural teeth. Unlike dentures, you don’t need to worry about them slipping and you can say goodbye to messy adhesives. You can eat anything you want without worry; favorite foods such as corn on the cob can return to your diet! There won’t be any gaps in your smile or whistling when you talk. And your confidence will soar with your beautiful new smile.

What Are Porcelain Veneers And/Or “No-Prep” Veneers? A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain bonded to the front of the tooth. Porcelain veneers are an ideal way to correct stained, spaced, chipped or crooked teeth. Veneers will transform your smile to a bright, straight, natural-looking smile!. Imagine that in just two visits you can have a custom-made smile of your dreams. PORCELAIN VENEERS AND NO-PREP VENEERS CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THAT GOAL BY CORRECTING: dark teeth stained or discolored teeth gaps or spaces old crowns and fillings crooked or crowded teeth small or chipped teeth old fillings and cavities At Smile Texas we use porcelain veneers and gentle no-prep veneer alternatives. Porcelain veneers are designed in a style and proportion to fit your face, look naturally beautiful, and give you a great new smile you’ll be proud to show off. Veneers make your smile straight and white, resistant to staining and discoloring, and in many cases are stronger than your natural teeth. The end result is what we call a “Smile Makeover” because your beautiful, new smile will make you feel more attractive, confident, and like a new you! The Porcelain Veneer Procedure The placement of porcelain veneers is one that requires the skill, precision, and artistry of a talented cosmetic dentist. Having your smile made over with veneers at our office will only take about two office visits. During your first visit at Smile Texas, our doctor will consult with you regarding your expectations. Size, shape, and color of the porcelain will be discussed. Your teeth will be prepared for the final restorations, and temporaries will be placed while your case is crafted by a master ceramist. At the second visit, your case is seated, and you leave with a beautiful, brand new smile! This procedure can be done in as little as 1 week! Dr. Bret C. Davis and Dr. Rick L. Kline are Houston’s award-winning cosmetic and implant dentists who have helped thousands of clients transform their smiles.

What Is Sedation Dentistry? Sedation dentistry is a great option for patients who experience high anxiety when visiting the dentist. We use the latest sedation techniques, including oral-conscious sedation, IV sedation, and nitrous oxide. We offer sedation dentistry to meet the unique needs of our anxious, fearful, or busy dental patients, because your comfort and peace of mind are our first concern. The most important person in our office is the patient. We use nitrous oxide and oral sedation in our office every day and use IV sedation two days a week, every week. Using these safe sedation techniques, we have successfully treated thousands of fearful, anxious patients. Many of our patients have complicated cases which require the skill and expertise of each doctor in our practice. Our dedicated team will assist you with all of your dental needs in conjunction with your cosmetic and implant treatment. Sedation Dentistry Options One of the benefits of sedation dentistry is that these safe techniques allow several treatments to be performed in a single visit. Sedation dentistry allows Dr. Rick L. Kline and Associates to efficiently handle even the most complicated treatments while you are sedated and comfortable. It helps simplify complicated treatment… most patients remember very little or nothing at all about their visit and feel like hours went by in minutes. What they remember is that they left home and then they woke up with their new smile. To ensure a pleasant experience, we provide “comfort” items such a blankets, pillows, and an ipod with your favorite music. Various levels of conscious sedation Intravenous sedation (for implant surgeries, extractions, and high-fear patients) Nitrous oxide Comfort measures

At Smile Texas we use porcelain crowns and bridges to return strength to damaged teeth and to replace missing teeth. While the two are different dental prostheses, crowns are an integral part of every bridge. Both play a role in our Smile Makeovers. We use only porcelain for our crowns and bridges, as it mimics the reflection characteristics of natural enamel and is exceptionally strong and durable. Our restorations will look completely natural and will give you renewed confidence. You’ll have a smile you’ll be proud to show off! What Is A Porcelain Crown? When a tooth either has extensive decay or inherent problems such as a crack or chip, we use a crown to return function and strength. A crown is a porcelain restoration that covers the entire tooth down to the gumline. In addition to damaged teeth, crowns can be used to cover misshapen teeth or to fill uneven gaps. They also serve as the anchors for dental bridges. What Problems Do Porcelain Crowns Correct? At Smile Texas, we use porcelain crowns for these dental problems: Teeth with overly large fillings Severely worn teeth Chipped teeth Broken or fractured teeth Heavily decayed teeth Misshapen teeth Severely discolored teeth Teeth that have had a root canal Teeth on both sides of a bridge

What Is A Gummy Smile? A very common symptom of a gummy smile is the growth of excessive gum tissue over the teeth. This causes the teeth to look too short and boxy and results in what is often called a “Gummy Smile.” As part of a Smile Makeover at Smile Texas, we offer a variety of solutions that will eliminate the appearance of a “Gummy Smile.” Using a Diode Laser, we can gently and permanently remove the excess gum tissue that is hiding the top of the teeth. This is often done in conjunction with making the all-porcelain veneers that are used slightly longer than the natural teeth. Also known as Aesthetic Crown Lengthening and serves to make your teeth more proportional to the perfect smile. Finally, some of our guests have a naturally over-active upper lip that moves up too high when they smile. This exposes the gum tissue to view and is often not considered optimal. Using a simple Lip Tack procedure, we can reduce the amount that the upper lip moves to create a beautiful smile line. Guests who have had this procedure have loved the result. Diode Laser Treatment During your 2-Visit Smile Makeover, we will use a Diode Laser to trim back excess gum tissue. The doctor performs the procedure in conjunction with the correct sizing of your new all-porcelain veneers. Results are amazing and will eliminate the look of a gummy smile.

What Is Full-Mouth Restoration? When teeth become severely worn down over time (often through grinding/clenching) the jaw may become misaligned. In many cases the jaw over closes due to the shorter teeth. That means the muscles controlling the jaw are nearly constantly engaged. This is NOT a natural condition and can cause jaw pain, neck pain, headaches and many other symptoms. It can also cause that sunken face appearance that will make you look much older. Full Mouth Reconstruction identifies a comfortable and relaxed jaw alignment and then uses all-porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, porcelain bridges and dental implants to rebuild the teeth to the correct size, shape, and position. This not only alleviates many painful symptoms and strengthens weakened teeth, it also creates a healthy, beautiful new smile! FULL MOUTH RESTORATION CORRECTS: Jaw that Is Out Of Alignment Chronic Headaches Neck And Jaw Pain (TMJ pain) Worn And Damaged Teeth Missing Teeth Sunken Faced Appearance Wrinkled corners of the mouth, lips, and chin Thin-lipped smile Gummy Smile