Dental Sealants

Over time, your teeth can suffer damage that causes natural grooving and indentions in your teeth’s surfaces.  These grooves and notches can allow bacteria and other materials to gather in your teeth and can cause a variety of dental problems.  With an excess of bacterial growth in your mouth, you could be subject to tooth decay (cavities), gingivitis, infection, or other serious dental problems.  However, investing in a quality sealant can help seal these grooves and prevent the gathering of bacteria.

Even your tooth brush and mouthwash cannot reach all areas of your mouth, which is why bacterial growth can lurk in the recesses of your teeth caused by natural circumstances.  However, a sealant acts as a protective coat through which no bacteria can seep.  A sealant is generally applied as a thin coating to one or more teeth in order to “seal” out all bacterial invasions and to help secure the health of your teeth.

Dental sealants are always applied at a dentist office. The practitioner first cleans cleans off and dries the tooth that is about to be sealed, then puts an acidic solution on the tooth that creates a rough surface which causes the sealant to bond more effectively, and then applies a layer of sealant material on the places in the tooth where there are microscopic imperfections. After application of the sealant, blue light is put on the applied sealant for a couple seconds to harden the plastic. After hardening, the freshly applied plastic sealant becomes a tough, super-thin layer that covers the parts of the tooth that needed sealing.

Bacterial growth in and around teeth typically happens with age, which is why many parents have their children receive sealant treatments when they are relatively young.  Much of the bacterial growth has not occurred at this time, so the sealant can be its most effective.  However, even adults can receive sealant treatments if they are concerned with the possibility of bacterial development in their mouths.  Sealant is one of the best ways that a person can take preventative action against tooth decay, and is relatively easy to explore through your local Texas dentist.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap on a tooth that is meant to cap a lost or ruined tooth.  Many people in Austin have had a crown placed, because over half of Texans over the age of 35 have lost a tooth because of some accident or general tooth decay.  Crowns are used very often in dental reconstruction surgeries, and many people rely on their crowns to relieve tooth discomfort or pain.  Knowing more about crowns and how they may benefit you can prepare you for making a smart decision regarding your tooth health.

Millions of people suffer from general tooth decay, but sometimes this decay can threaten the overall health of your teeth.  Crowns are mean to protect your teeth in the long-term, and prevent permanent damage that can be caused by cavities or tooth decay.

A crown is made by:

•    Getting the shape and structure of the tooth – “taking an impression”
•    Making the permanent crown from the impression
•    Placing the permanent crown in a patient’s mouth and securing it

During the making of a permanent crown, patients are given a temporary crown, in order to relieve discomfort and also to prevent any further damage to the tooth being crowned.  If you are considering crowns as beneficial to your overall tooth health, consulting with an experienced Austin dentist could be a great idea.

Veneers for Brighter Teeth

In the Austin area, how you look makes a huge difference in how people perceive you.  If you want to make a good impression, your smile is a great place to start. Unfortunately, with the passing of time teeth can become stained or discolored.  Tooth discoloration can be caused by a variety of things, such as poor dental care or drinking and eating acidic beverages and foods.  Whatever the cause of your tooth discoloration, you’re likely interested in having the problem remedied.  Veneers are one great way to do just that.  Veneers are applied to the tops of teeth to give them the appearance of brightness and health, and can make your teeth look healthy and shining.

Veneer Procedure

Many people in the Austin area have had a veneer procedure done, because tooth discoloration is such a common problem.  Knowing about this process can help you prepare adequately for it.  Generally, a veneer process involves:

~An initial consultation with your dentist
~Buffing your tooth
~Stripping away a thin layer of your tooth to be replaced by the veneer
~Preparing to replicate the tooth by “taking an impression” of the original
~Placing the veneer on your tooth
~Sealing the veneer in place by bonding

This procedure is fairly basic, but you should always consult with your doctor when thinking about having any dental work done.  There are a couple of different kinds of veneers available to dental patients, so deciding on which one is right for you is an important decision that  your dentist can help you with.