Long Family Dental of Cleburne Blog

Restorative Dentistry Defined

January 7, 2013

Are you disappointed in the appearance of your teeth? Is you smile not quite as nice as you’d like it to be? Perhaps you should look into restorative dentistry.

Restorative dentistry is focused on restoring the health and appearance of your teeth. If your teeth are damaged or decayed, your dentist will fix the damage, thus improving the health and appearance of your teeth. Restorative dentistry usually involves a combination of services, customized to the patient’s unique needs. Some of the common services are discussed below.

Bridges

Bridges are used to replace missing teeth. Since teeth rely on each other for support, a missing tooth could cause the surrounding teeth to shift directions. A bridge allows your dentist to replace your missing tooth while helping the rest of your teeth remain in their ideal position.

Crowns

Crowns are used to help repair and restore teeth that are cracked or decayed. If the damage is too large for a filling, then a crown is used. This allows your dentist to save your natural tooth, which is better for the overall health of your mouth. Usually crowns are made from porcelain, ceramic, or metal. If you care for them like you would your natural teeth, they will last for years.

Dentures

If you’re missing more than one tooth, dentures are your solution. Depending on the location of the missing teeth and the health of your remaining teeth and jaw bone, full or partial dentures may be used. Dentures are custom-molded to fit your mouth, and may sometimes be anchored by remaining teeth. Since they’re custom-made, you’ll have a great fit and be able to smile and eat with confidence. It is also important to treat them as you would natural teeth with regular brushing and flossing.

There are lots of restorative dentistry options available to help you smile proudly once again. Your dentist will analyze your mouth and come up with a treatment plan, using some of the restorative dentistry techniques discussed above. See how easy it is to have healthy teeth once again!

Cosmetic Dentistry Defined

December 20, 2012

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, cosmetic dentistry is defined as “comprehensive oral care that combines art and science to optimally improve dental health, aesthetics, and function.” Thus, cosmetic dentistry is a term that encompasses anything having to do with the appearance of your teeth.

While it is essential to your wellbeing that your teeth are healthy, it’s also important that your teeth look attractive as well. A smile is one of the first things other people notice about you, so a healthy smile makes a good impression.

There are a variety of different procedures that fall under the umbrella of cosmetic dentistry, especially as each individual dental practice defines it a little differently. These are some of the standard types of cosmetic dental procedures.

Teeth Whitening
Invisalign Clear Braces
Porcelain Veneers
Cosmetic Bonding

If you are unsatisfied with the color of your teeth, if your teeth are stained, crooked, or chipped, then cosmetic dentistry could be what you’re looking for. Most dentists will start by having a consultation with you to analyze the current state of your teeth and understand your personal goals for your smile. Then, they’ll create a treatment plan using any number of these cosmetic dentistry techniques to dramatically improve the appearance of your smile.

Cosmetic dentistry is an important type of dentistry as it deals with the day to day appearance of your teeth. It helps enhance the natural beauty of your teeth and gives you a boost of self-confidence. When you feel confident about the appearance of your teeth, you’ll smile proudly and look forward to social interactions. Thus, it’s important to carefully consider your cosmetic dentist to ensure that you will be satisfied with their work. Cosmetic dentistry can affect your life for the better.

Concerned about Bad Breath?

November 26, 2012

Many people suffer from bad breath and may not know why. There are several causes from the foods you eat to digestive problems. However, a very common cause is gum disease. If a person has not had their teeth cleaned in a while, there is mostly likely a layer of plaque that has formed and hardened around the base of the tooth. This plaque layer is full of bacteria and has a bad odor. If this hardened plaque layer is not removed, it will become thicker and harder. This is very damaging to the gum tissue and leads to bone loss.

A person cannot remove this hardened plaque layer with their toothbrush, it must be removed by a professional hygienist at the dental office. Bad breath is a symptom of gum disease, but if gum disease progresses and is not treated, it can lead to severe tooth problems and even tooth loss. The latest research also indicates there are several health issues linked to gum disease.

Another area that can cause bad breath is the tongue. Many people to do not brush this area and the tongue can collect bacteria that carry an odor. Some people even use a device called a tongue scraper, sold at most pharmacies, to help clean the tongue along with brushing.

So it is important for your overall health to stay current on your professional cleanings. This avoids the problem of bad breath as well as minimizing other health risks.

Link Between Diabetes and Oral Health

November 12, 2012

The American Diabetes Association has named November as American Diabetes Month. It is important to be aware of how your oral health is related if you have been diagnosed with diabetes.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), there is research that suggests a link between diabetes and gum disease. People with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections in general. Gum disease is often a complication of diabetes, making consistent dental care even more important for diabetes patients.

Research also indicates gum disease makes it challenging for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar. Depending on the severity of the gum disease, it can increase blood sugar in the body, which contributes to times when the body would function with higher blood sugar. This puts people with diabetes at increased risk for diabetic complications.

The AAP recommends the following:

Keep your blood glucose under control
Brush your teeth twice daily
Floss your teeth daily
Look for early signs of gum disease (bleeding when you brush or swollen gums)
Visit your dentist twice a year at a minimum

Long Family Dental focuses on total body health, so when our patients have certain health conditions, such as diabetes, we make certain their customized treatment plan is designed specifically to their needs. If you or someone you know has diabetes at any level, make sure regular dental care is part of the overall health treatment.

Midlothian Grand Opening

November 5, 2012

On Friday, November 2, 2012, Long Family Dental celebrated an open house at our new location in Midlothian, TX. The Chamber of Commerce brought the ribbon and scissors and our entire team was there for the event. We had many other Midlothian businesses come out and several people from the medical and health community to welcome us! B’s Texican provided some awesome food as well!

Our Midlothian office has many amenities to offer for both patient education and comfort. Just like in our Cleburne office, we have digital radiography which allows us to take x-rays with much lower radiation. Both offices also offer intra-oral cameras so patients can see their own dental conditions up close and personal. In our Midlothian office, we also have a Hospitality Menu including Netflix movies, XBox, television, music and other items to make our patients as comfortable as possible. You can even bring your own DVD’s!

We hope you will come out to see our Midlothian office and even make an appointment if this is a convenient location for you.

Your Oral Health Matters

October 18, 2012

A healthy smile is important at any stage of life. That’s because, from the moment your first tooth comes in, your smile is vulnerable. But through regular general and family dentistry, your doctor can help you avoid and treat such common conditions as tooth decay, gum disease, and others.

Prevention Is An Important Aspect of Family Dentistry

There are many ways a general and family dentist can help his patients. One is through dental sealants. As an effective family dentistry tool, dental sealants are applied directly to teeth, protecting vulnerable pits and grooves from harmful bacteria and plaque. Children are often the primary recipients of dental sealants, but adults can benefit from them as well.

Another great general and family dentistry tool is laser decay detection. With this revolutionary tool, a general dentist can quickly scan teeth for even the smallest signs of decay. As a result, cavities can be diagnosed sooner, rather than later, resulting in fillings that preserve more of your natural smile.

As great as dental sealants and laser decay detection are, though, they’re just part of a preventive process that includes twice yearly checkups and cleanings. Through regular checkups and cleanings, a family dentist can watch for changes in your smile over time and can suggest services or home care techniques to improve oral health. What’s more, through a professional cleaning, your teeth can be cleaned more thoroughly can they can be with just brushing and flossing alone.

Make Regular Checkups and Cleanings a Priority

To make sure that you and your family are thoroughly protected, contact your general dentist twice a year, or about every six months, for a regular checkup and cleaning. Through visits like these, your general and family dentist can help you maintain a healthy smile and an improved quality of life.