Has your dental provider ever asked you what you don’t like about your smile? What was your answer? Are your unhappy due to stained, crooked, broken or missing teeth? If you answered yes to any or all of these conditions, it is time to visit our cosmetic dentist serving Allen TX.

There are many procedures that can produce the smile makeover you desire. If your teeth are stained or have lost their luster due to age, medications taken, smoking or consuming too many sweet or dark colored beverages, your cosmetic dentist can introduce you to any number of solutions.

Generally the most cost and time efficient treatment that produces a large impact is teeth whitening. The whitening procedure done by your dental provider can whiten your teeth many shades and is generally more effective than products that you can purchase over the counter. The reason is the strength of whitening agent in professionally applied products allows your cosmetic dentist to produce the desired result in a short amount of time.

If you are experiencing broken or misshapen teeth, or perhaps you have an unattractive gap between your teeth that you wish wasn’t there, there is a dental product referred to as dental veneers that resolve many of these issues. A dental veneer is a thin covering that is made of a porcelain material that your cosmetic dentist applies directly over your existing teeth. Dental veneers are ideal in that they can cover up many flaws without extensive invasive treatment.

If you have lost a tooth in your smile line, there are many different options for your consideration. Whether it is one or several teeth you need to replace, your cosmetic dentist can offer you a partial or bridge. Of a more permanent nature and a result that is as close to your own teeth as possible is a dental implant.

A dental implant is the perfect answer for a healthy person who is looking to enhance their smile by placing teeth where one or more teeth have been lost. A dental implant is a small device much like a screw that is made of a titanium type material that is imbedded in your gum tissue. During the months after receiving your implant, the implant adheres to bone tissue during the healing process giving your new tooth stability much like the root of your natural tooth.

Once the healing process is completed, your cosmetic dentist will make a final restoration to match the shape and shade of your existing teeth making your dental implant difficult to discern from your natural teeth.

Whatever your dental needs, a smile makeover can boost your self-confidence, which is a good reason for a big smile! To schedule your consultation, please call The Dentist of Allen at 972.727.8249 today.

Teeth whitening in Allen TX is one of the simplest and safest procedures in cosmetic dentistry. Performed in a one to two-hour session in your dentist’s office, whitening can dramatically lighten discolored teeth and make your smile one you can be proud of.

In-Office Whitening versus At-Home Whitening

There are many teeth whitening products available over the counter at your local drug store. Many people wonder why they should visit a cosmetic dentist for teeth whitening when these less expensive options are so readily available.

The answer is that you get what you pay for. In-office teeth whitening is not only more effective, but also less likely to cause unwanted side effects such as irritation to the lips and gums or increased sensitivity in the teeth. Although the whitening agents used are stronger, they are often gentler, as they are made of different substances than the harsh peroxide bleaches used in over the counter products. In addition, the dentist will use special tools and protective gels to keep the whitening agents from contacting your lips and gums.

Side Effects of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening treatments provided by our experienced dentistry team such as the Zoom! and Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems have few, if any, side effects. Some people might experience mild irritation to the gums or lips, and some increased sensitivity is fairly common but usually short-lived. It is more common in the take-home versions of these whitening systems, because the whitening agents used are stronger and used for a longer period of time, since at-home systems are recommended for people with particularly stubborn stains. And of course if you have any concerns about allergic reactions to the ingredients of the whitening agents, be sure to discuss this with your cosmetic dentist.

Overall, teeth whitening is safe, easy, and produces dramatic results. If you have any concerns or questions about teeth whitening and what it can do for your smile, please contact our office at 972.727.8249.

Maintaining a proper diet is important to your overall health. However, most people don’t consider how a proper diet can help support your oral health. Our dentist in Allen TX can help you learn more about how to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy through a good diet.

As Teeth Develop

Proper nutrition is particularly important for children, as their teeth develop and grow. Sufficient calcium as well as other minerals help ensure that teeth will be strong and healthy when they emerge. It is also important for young children to avoid sugary sweets and sticky foods, which can greatly increase the likelihood of decay that could lead to seriously damaged teeth or teeth that must be removed.

The nutritional foundation set for young children will serve them well as they grow older, helping them make good food choices that will support their oral health as well as overall nutrition, health and immunity. You can work with your dentist to help establish excellent nutritional habits for your child as well as for yourself.

Adult Nutrition and Oral Health

Proper nutrition is also important for adults who wish to maintain good oral health, strong teeth, and who want to avoid cavities and other problems. Foods adults should avoid to keep teeth healthier include:

• Sticky foods that can remain on the teeth and promote decay
• Sugary foods, which also promote decay
• Dark-colored foods and beverages, which can stain the teeth
• Hard foods, which can chip or crack teeth

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove sticky or sugary substances from the surfaces of the teeth, but limiting these kinds of foods is helpful not only because they promote decay, but because they usually have very little nutritional value, if any.

Keeping your body healthy by eating nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables as well as appropriate levels of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, helps support the immune system. A strong immune system helps the body fight problems such as gum disease or other problems that could affect your teeth. If you have any questions about the type of diet you should maintain for good oral health, please contact our office at 972.727.8249 today.

If you’re dissatisfied with the appearance of your teeth, rest assured that you can overhaul your smile through a variety of dental procedures. Many patients consult with a cosmetic dentist in Allen TX to address a host of problems with the teeth, ranging from discoloration to misalignment.

For a simple fix that offers a major aesthetic impact, teeth whitening is an increasingly trendy treatment. The teeth can become dramatically whiter, by as many as 10 shades in some circumstances. This is a particularly popular choice for patients who are striving for a more youthful look. As people get older, their teeth become more yellow. In whitening the teeth, patients can also shave years from their smiles.

Other patients have problems that extend beyond discolored or stained teeth, and these cases require more complex treatments. For example, many patients need to restore teeth that have been broken or chipped. A cosmetic dentist can use veneers, or thin porcelain shells that sit atop the enamel, to cover a chip or crack in a tooth. Veneers can also be placed to fill a gap between teeth or straighten slightly crooked teeth. Other porcelain restorations, such as inlays, onlays and crowns, can help to preserve a damaged tooth’s structural stability.

Porcelain is a particularly useful material for these restorations because it shares many qualities with natural enamel, making it difficult to discern where the restoration begins and the natural tooth ends. The porcelain may be bonded to another material, such as gold, to increase the restoration’s strength and durability.

Some patients may have lost a tooth, leaving an unsightly space in the smile. These patients benefit from dental implants, which are titanium screws topped with an artificial tooth-shaped cap, that replace the missing tooth. Not only do implants improve the smile’s appearance, they also mimic the missing tooth’s entire structure, including the root. Patients who have lost all of their teeth can boost their self-confidence through dentures, which are also offered by many cosmetic dentists.

A cosmetic dentist can correct a variety of defects in the teeth, so if you want to enhance your smile, call our office at 972.727.8249 to see what procedures might be helpful in your case.

When a tooth’s innermost layer—the pulp—is compromised, it is often necessary for the dentist to perform a root canal to save the tooth. In a root canal, the dentist removes the damaged portion of pulp and cleans out the canals, or open spaces in the center of the tooth. After the canals are cleaned, the dentist will fill them with a rubber-like substance called gutta percha.

Our family dentist serving Allen TX may need to perform a root canal for any number of reasons. Damage to the pulp can occur through decay that progresses through a tooth’s outer layers, eventually reaching the pulp. When the pulp becomes infected, a root canal may also be necessary.

Damage to the pulp can result from external trauma, such as a strike to the mouth, as well. A root canal may also be required when a tooth is broken, exposing a portion of the pulp.

The pulp houses a tooth’s nerve endings, so a sudden onset of pain or sensitivity in a tooth may suggest pulp problems, as may swelling in the area of the tooth. You should also visit a dentist as soon as possible after suffering any sort of traumatic injury involving the teeth, in case a root canal is necessary.

Although many patients dread the root canal, it’s an important tool for the dentist. Whenever possible, it is preferable for the dentist to save a natural tooth that has been damaged rather than extract it and fill in the gap with an artificial replacement. A root canal helps the dentist and patient to achieve this goal.

One of our well-trained family dentists can perform a root canal in an office setting, often in a single appointment. Following a root canal, the dentist will often place a crown as well, to stabilize the tooth and protect it from further damage.

A cavity, also referred to as caries, is a weakened area of the enamel or root of the tooth caused by the dental decay process. Usually, dismissed as a childhood disease, cavities can develop at any age. Your dentist may detect cavities on the tops or biting surfaces of the teeth, in between the teeth, or at the gum line. When the gums pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots of the teeth, cavities may develop on the root surface as well.

Cavities form when the bacteria in the mouth produce an acid byproduct that weakens the enamel. All humans have an assortment of bacteria in the body which can become organized into a thin film on the teeth and gums, known as plaque. When food and drinks are consumed by humans, the bacteria also enjoy a feast, and produce acid as a result. In an acidic environment, the enamel is stripped of precious minerals and the result is a cavity.

Under the most ideal circumstances, dental plaque is removed after each meal by brushing and flossing, as directed by your dentist. Because this is sometimes impossible, the saliva is a natural line of defense against decay. Saliva helps to flush away food particles and neutralize acids.

When proper brushing and flossing are not practiced, the bacterial plaque is allowed to continue producing destructive acids. When the salivary flow is inadequate, the oral environment becomes too acidic, leading to an increased risk for decay. For this reason, it is vitally important to recognize and treat dry mouth. Frequent snacking and exposure to sweetened drinks (even naturally sweetened and diet drinks), can also increase your chances of developing cavities. Because of the continuous exposure to sugars, the saliva is unable to effectively control the acid level, creating the ideal conditions for a cavity.

No matter your age, you may be at risk for cavities due to dietary, environmental, systemic, and local factors. Schedule an appointment with Dr. David Bishop, a dentist in Allen TX, to determine your specific risk factors and to discuss strategies for avoiding future decay.

The look of your smile is an important part of your self-image. If your teeth are misaligned, discolored, or missing, it can have a detrimental effect on how you feel about yourself.

Cosmetic dentistry can help give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Whether you want whiter teeth or need to have missing teeth replaced, a cosmetic dentist can help you.

Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

There is a wide variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures available to help make your smile the best it can be. Some of the most common procedures include:

• Dental veneers
• Inlays and onlays
• Invisalign aligner trays
• Dental implants
• Naturally-colored crowns
• Teeth whitening

These procedures can help make your teeth whiter, straighter, or more even. A relatively simple approach, like dental veneers, can address a variety of problems without using extensive reshaping of the teeth, complex orthodontic procedures, or surgery of any kind.

Choosing the Right Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

In order to choose the right procedures for your individual needs, a cosmetic dentist will sit down with you to discuss the problems you perceive in your smile and the best way to correct them. The cosmetic dentist will consider your goals, your current situation, and the available technology and dentistry options to put together a recommendation for how best to improve your smile.

Once you have decided the best approach to improving your smile, you can begin to schedule appointments to have the work done. Some procedures can be performed in one visit or combined with other procedures. Be sure to ask your dentist about the best approach to scheduling so that you can achieve your goals of a dazzling smile as soon as possible.

To begin your journey to a more beautiful smile, please contact our office to speak to a cosmetic dentist in Allen, TX. We can answer your questions and schedule a consultation to determine how cosmetic dentistry can give you the smile you deserve.

It’s not uncommon for adults to experience sensitive teeth, which is often caused by worn tooth enamel. Sensitive teeth can make it difficult to enjoy hot and cold foods, as well as make it uncomfortable to visit the dentist for a cleaning. However, there are several ways to treat sensitive teeth, which can alleviate the symptoms and get you back on track.

Use toothpaste recommended by your Allen, TX dentist that’s specially made for sensitive teeth. This toothpaste generally contains potassium nitrate, which reduces tooth sensitivity at the nerves and helps to restore some of the lost tooth enamel. There are also new sensitive toothpastes on the market that contain strontium chloride, which actually encourage minerals found in your saliva to crystallize and coat your teeth to reduce that stinging sensation. Be sure to use the toothpaste daily for the best results.

Most adults use a toothbrush that is too harsh for teeth and this actually wears down the tooth enamel and causes sensitivity. Switching toothbrushes at least a couple of times a year is healthy for your teeth and gums. A softer brush causes less damage to the teeth and gums and allows them to heal. Also, be sure to use gentle strokes when brushing and flossing teeth.

Avoid foods and beverages high in acid when working with your dental office to reduce tooth sensitivity. Foods that contain a lot of citric acid, such as tomatoes, oranges and lemons, lead to acid erosion, which breaks down natural tooth enamel quickly. In addition, beverages like soda and tea contain acid that can destroy important tooth enamel and lead to sensitive teeth. Try to drink more fluoride-enhanced water to irrigate the teeth and gums and encourage a healthier mouth.

Dentistry has made many advances when it comes to treating sensitive teeth and other uncomfortable mouth conditions. Be sure to visit your DDS in Allen, TX at least twice per year and take care of your teeth so that you can enjoy all that life has to offer.

If you’re in the market for teeth whitening in Allen, TX, then you’re in luck. There are a variety of methods that will meet your needs.

Zoom! Teeth Whitening is an effective and efficient approach to brighten your teeth. With the Zoom! system, the dentist applies a gel to the teeth and then uses a high-intensity light to activate the ingredient responsible for the bleaching. The process takes place in a dental office, and results are typically visible in a little over an hour. Your teeth may become as many as 10 shades whiter. If teeth are significantly stained, though, it may take a little longer to achieve the desired shade.

Bleaching trays are another alternative. Your dentist will take a model of your mouth and send it to a lab, where a custom-designed tray will be produced to fit the unique shape of your mouth. Your dentist will then give you the tray along with a highly concentrated gel for your use at home. Patients must leave bleaching trays in for several hours, and many opt to keep them in overnight. Bleaching trays take longer to whiten the teeth. You would typically need to wait at least three days before expecting to see results with this technique.

Over-the-counter methods are typically the least effective at whitening the teeth. Boil-and-bite whitening trays and whitening strips rarely fit the mouth well enough to whiten the smile evenly. The gels in over-the-counter products also have lower concentrations of the active ingredient, so they don’t work as well as professional solutions. The color of your teeth may get only a shade or two whiter, for example.

At your next dental appointment, talk with your dentist about ways to make your teeth whiter and brighter. You should also plan to schedule a cleaning in advance of teeth whitening to achieve the best results possible.

Although baby teeth (also known as deciduous or primary teeth) ultimately fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, cavities in baby teeth can still cause major problems for your little ones. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers, also known as early childhood caries, is on the rise.

Early childhood caries can lead to premature tooth loss in young children. When a baby tooth falls out too soon, the remaining teeth are likely to shift and fill in the gap, which leaves less room for the permanent teeth to come in.

Cavities are caused by bacteria that live in the mouth, and research in dentistry has shown that sugary liquids are a major factor in early childhood caries. If you put your baby to bed with a bottle of juice or some other sweet drink, the liquid can pool in the baby’s mouth. Those bacteria then feed on the sugar and produce acids that can break down the enamel.

A baby’s bottle isn’t the only risk factor for promoting cavities. Dipping a pacifier in a sweet substance also can produce the same effect. Tooth decay in babies and young children is most often found in the front upper teeth, which highlights the effects of bottles and pacifiers on decay.

Fortunately, early childhood caries are preventable. In addition to limiting your child’s access to sugary liquids, ask your dentist how you can do your best to prevent your child from developing cavities. You may be surprised to learn that keeping up your own oral hygiene routine is essential to helping your baby have a healthy mouth. The bacteria that cause cavities are often shared between parent and child, through shared eating utensils, for example. So, if you reduce the bacteria in your own mouth, you’ll be decreasing your child’s exposure to those bacteria, too.

Be sure to establish a relationship with a dentist early in your child’s life, too. When your child’s first baby tooth comes in, schedule an appointment with your dentist in Allen, TX, to give your child a head start down the path to good oral health.