Author: harmonydentaltx_admin

Dental emergencies, such as any other emergency, can never be planned. Dental emergencies, in particular, can be particularly scary and painful, but you should always call your dentist immediately. If for any reason your dental office is unable to see you, or their office is closed, there are few steps you can take to handle the emergency until you finally get seen by your dentist.

Pain and Sensitivity

Pain and sensitivity can be caused by an abscess or exposed nerves from a lost filling or crown. If this is the case be sure to rinse out your mouth with warm salt water in order to reduce swelling. See your dentist at the earliest possible time to be treated, as this can be a serious case.

Broken Tooth

Broken teeth happen quite commonly, as they usually happen while eating or after an accident. Be sure to save any pieces of the broken teeth that you can find and rinse them with warm water. Be sure to also rinse your mouth with warm water and apply gauze to any point of the mouse that is experiencing bleeding. Use a cold compress on the outside of your mouth.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Unfortunately, if you have experienced tooth loss due to blunt force, a fall, or an accident, try to keep your tooth in your mouth. It is vital to hold the tooth by the crown and not by the root. Begin by trying to insert the tooth into the socket that it came out of, but if you are unable to do so soak the tooth in milk on the way to the dentist. Teeth that are knocked out have the best survival rate if treated within 1 hour.

If you are currently experiencing a dental emergency, please give us a call at Harmony Dental in Pearland, TX. however, if you are not experiencing a dental emergency still give us a call or send us an email to schedule an appointment with one of our dental professionals.

It can confidently be said that over the years, root canals have become sort of the “bad guys’ in dental procedures. Root canals, also known as endodontic therapy, is. treatment plan aimed at removing infected tissue from inside of the tooth and then filling it ignorer to avoid further decay or even loss of any of your precious teeth. While you may be scared of root canals, in this article, we’ll discuss why some of the biggest myths associated with root canals aren’t even true.

1.Root Canals are Painful

Thanks to modern anesthetics and highly skilled professionals, root canals conducted in 2018 are not as painful as they might have been in the past. A root canal shouldn’t any more painful than a routine filling.

2.Root Canals are Too Expensive

While each patient’s circumstances, the dental office, and the type of insurance had will vary, it is important to note a few things about the cost of root canals.Root canals are extremely difficult and complex procedures and end up being a lot less expensive than having a dental extraction filled in with a dental bridge or implant.

3.Tooth Pain Instantly Goes Away

With the root canal itself will help to take care of the pain associated with the infected tooth, there will be a bit of pain following the procedure. This is due sensitivity and swelling that is a result of the procedure itself.

4.Benefits of Root Canal Therapy are Short-Lived

The results of a root canal are long-lasting, and can even last a lifetime if coupled with regular visits to the dentist, and a well-fitting crown.

5.Pulling an Infected Tooth is Better Than a Root Canal

Noting can replace a real tooth. This would require a replacement alternative which is ultimately more money and more time in the dental office.

At Harmony Dental, we want our patients to never fear coming through our doors. One way we attempt to achieve that is by keeping you all very educated on what our treatments entails and what they fix. If you are suffering from pain or if you have more questions about root canals, please give out Pearland, TX, offices a call to speak with one of us today!

Do you have chronic bad breath? Notice that your gums are swollen, red or bleeding? You may suffer from a common condition known as periodontal gum disease. Common symptoms of periodontal disease to look out for include:

• Bad Breath
• Red Gums
• Swollen Gums
• Receding Gums
• Tender Gums
• Bleeding Gums
• Toothaches
• Loose Teeth
• Tooth Loss

Only the earliest stage of periodontitis (gingivitis) is reversible through professional dental treatment. Once the disease has progressed, treatment is only capable of managing the disease and symptoms associated with it. It is extremely important to schedule routine professional dental care to reduce your risk for periodontal disease and ensure optimal health.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontal gum disease and is the only stage in which treatment can actually reverse the disease. When plaque is not properly removed and begins to build up at the gum line, it produces toxins which cause gum irritation and gingivitis.

Think you may have gingivitis? Schedule your appointment with our periodontists in Pearland today!

Periodontitis

Left untreated, gingivitis eventually becomes periodontitis. During this stage of periodontal gum disease, the supporting bone and tissue responsible for holding your smile in place are irreversibly damaged. Pockets usually begin to form around teeth, allowing debris, bacteria, and plaque to become trapped.

For advanced periodontal disease, we recommend a deep cleaning. Schedule your appointment with Harmony Dental today!

Advanced Periodontitis

During the final, most advanced stage of periodontal gum disease the tissue and bone which support your smile are destroyed, and teeth often begin to shift, loosen and even become dislodged. Ultimately the function and appearance of your smile will become compromised.

In severe cases of periodontal disease, tooth extractions, periodontal surgery, and more aggressive treatment options may be necessary. Ready to manage your advanced periodontal disease? Schedule an appointment with our Pearland periodontist today.

Schedule Your Periodontal Gum Disease Treatment Today

Are you interested in starting gum disease treatment in Pearland? Feel free to contact Harmony Dental today! We would be happy to examine your smile and overall oral health to determine whether you may benefit from our periodontal treatment.

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the fluoridation of water has reduced the decay in teeth of adults and children by about 25%. Additional treatments can raise that amount even more.

Fluoride: A Shield for Your Teeth

Fluoride is a mineral that helps to strengthen the enamel of our teeth, which helps to fight against decay caused by plague and bacteria. As the acids formed by the bacteria fight against the teeth, we lose fluoride through a process called demineralization.

Fluoride Both Prevents and Repairs Tooth Decay

The fluoride we take in through the foods we eat, fluoridated water, and through treatments helps to replace the fluoride lost in the demineralization process. In addition to fighting against cavities, fluoride can help to repair early stages of decay through a process called remineralization.

Fluoride Comes in a Variety of Forms

There are many ways that fluoride treatments can be applied. At home, methods include rinses and special toothpaste, but their fluoride level is not as high as the treatments offered by your dentist. The most common forms found at dental offices are varnishes, gels, and foams. The higher concentration of fluoride offered by in-office treatments is much more beneficial than any at home methods.

Fluoride Intake Is Important at All Ages

Every single patient can greatly benefit from fluoride treatments: toddlers, adolescents, tweens, teens, adults… everyone! To help with the development of children’s teeth, it is recommended that children receive consistent fluoride treatments from around 6 months and on. When the teeth are in their formative stages, the fluoride treatments can help your children start their oral health on the right foot. For adults, fluoride treatments can greatly help fight against cavities as we become older and lose more fluoride.

Has your Harmony Dental dentist recommend dental implants for your smile? In order to complete the procedure, you will most likely need to get a bone graft done. What is a bone graft? Is it a safe procedure? Continue reading on for more information and facts about bone grafting.

Bone grafting is a routine procedure in our Harmony Dental clinic. In recent years, many dentists have made bone grafting into a standard procedure for dental patients. Our dentists can provide patients with an anesthetic or conscious sedation to avoid pain. This can also help to calm patients with anxiety. A number of materials can be used for bone grafting. The best method is to use the bone from each patient’s body. This prevents the individual’s body from rejecting new bone being placed. Our dentists can take bone from an individual’s hip, jaw, or lower knee. If obtaining bone from a patient is not an option, then we can request bone from a tissue bank. New innovations have made bone grafting into a safe and effective method for many patients.

Bone grafting allows for your body to rebuild itself. The new bone graft is used as a framework for the new bone to grow on. Eventually, the old graft will be completely replaced with new bone your miraculous body has grown. It is amazing to see the complete regeneration process take place. Your body is dependent on a healthy amount of bone tissue. It also helps to maintain your oral health and keep your teeth healthy.

For more information on the complete bone grafting treatment, we encourage you to speak with members of our dental staff. If you are in need of a bone graft, then we welcome you to contact our Harmony Dental clinic today to set up your next consultation.

We do not pay much attention to our teeth when they are healthy and working properly, till we lose a tooth. That is when we begin to truly appreciate how a healthy smile transforms our appearance.

The loss of a tooth can be quite distressing. Often, sadness and depression set in, chewing become painful, and you become self-conscious about your looks when you smile that you rather stay away from people.

Dental Implant Facts

We fully appreciate how upsetting losing a tooth can be for you. Which is why we have set out to help you find a solution that will best suit your needs. You may have heard a lot about dental implants, but do you really know much about them and how they compare to other tooth replacement options?

A dental implant is a root-like component usually made of titanium that is surgically embedded into your jawbone. A replacement tooth can then be firmly mounted on it, or in cases of loss of contiguous teeth, securing a bridge or denture component to replace several teeth. However, there are a few considerations to make when choosing a replacement tooth:
Dental implants restore your ability to chew comfortably: Removable dentures lets you regain just 10% of your chewing ability, while dental implants restore about 90%.

• Dentures can make it tough for you to speak and eat normally, but a replacement tooth attached to a dental implant serves just like natural teeth would. If you wear dentures, we can add implants to increase stability.
• Implants are made to stand alone and don’t require adjacent natural teeth for support, unlike dental bridges.
• Dentures require attention every 3 to 5 years, while dental implants are maintenance free.

We always tell our patients at Harmony Dental to schedule a dental cleaning with us at least twice each year. Part of the reason is to give our dentists an opportunity to catch any tooth decay early on before it grows more. We can prevent cavities from growing with composite fillings. Read on to learn more about fillings and why composite resin is the best option for your teeth and overall health.

What are fillings?

Fillings are a material that is placed in the area of decay in a tooth. Dental fillings are important to avoid further growth of the decayed area. They also help to alleviate toothache and sensitivities to hot or cold foods and drinks. Catching cavities early on will also keep you from needing more expensive and painful procedures such as a root canal.

Why is composite resin the best?

With today’s technology and research comes a better understanding of how our body reacts to certain materials. Dentists no longer use mercury fillings because mercury is toxic to our bodies. We now use composite resin for our dental fillings. Composite resin fillings are not only safer but more aesthetic. Their appearance is more similar to your natural tooth enamel color. You won’t even be able to distinguish where your tooth ends, and the filling begins with composite resin. The material also stays the same shape versus the ever-changing silver amalgam fillings.

If you are in need of a filling due to a cavity, then contact Harmony Dental in Pearland, TX to set up your next appointment. Visit our website to read our many reviews and learn why our dentists only provide the very best treatment. Contact us today if you have any further questions or concerns about your dental fillings.

Maybe you’ve decided that getting bridges or dentures is not really the option for you. Dental implants are a great alternative to remedy the problem of missing teeth. It lasts a long time and is more stable than dentures or a dental bridge, almost functioning like a real tooth. If you’ve decided to undergo dental implant surgery, here’s what you need to know about the procedure.

Pre-Surgery

Before any work is done, your dentist will take an x-ray of your mouth in order to assess your bite, the location of the missing teeth, and the location of where the implant will be placed in the jawbone. Your dentist may also make models of your teeth to better prepare for the surgery.

Surgery

To ensure the most comfortable, pain-free procedure possible, you will receive either local anesthesia or oral sedation. You can discuss which you’re most comfortable using with your dentist.

If it’s determined that the jaw bone will need additional space to support the implant, a bone graft will be performed. This is not necessary for all patients. The procedure involves adding graft material to the location of the implant. Usually, this can be done in the same appointment as the implant surgery, but your dentist may recommend letting the graft heal before moving on to the next step.

Once the area is ready to receive the implant, your dentist will cut the gum to gain access to the bone. (You’ll be under sedation or anesthesia, so you won’t feel anything at this point.) The dental implant will be placed into the jaw through a hole that is drilled through the bone. Then the incision is closed. You will have to wait several months for the implant to fuse to the bone through a process called osseointegration. This process ensures that the implant is stable and can serve as a solid foundation for the crown. In the meantime, your dentist can place a temporary crown or denture.

When you next return to the dentist, the implant should be fully integrated into the jaw bone and ready to hold a permanent crown. An abutment connects the prosthetic tooth to the implant. Sometimes, a healing cap will need to be placed before the abutment to promote gum healing, extending the process by a couple weeks, but every patient is different.

Post-Surgery and Implant Care

After surgery, you may experience minor pain and bleeding, though these should not last long. Bruising and swelling of the face are rare. You will need to follow a soft-food diet for two to three weeks and may be prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, or pain relievers as they are needed.

Caring for implants is the same as for natural teeth: brush twice daily, floss regularly, visit the dentist every six months. You should also be careful to avoid eating hard candy, chewing ice, using tobacco, and consuming teeth-staining foods and drinks such as coffee and red wine.

With proper care, your implants should last for at least ten years, up to the rest of your life.

Although our “permanent” adult teeth are meant to last us our entire lifetime, there are certain situations where a tooth extraction may be necessary. At Harmony Dental, with locations in Pearland, we often find that patients have some concerns and questions regarding their tooth extraction. Today we are going to cover the most common questions about tooth extractions, hope it helps!

Why do teeth need to be extracted?

There are quite a few reasons we may suggest a tooth extraction, but ultimately it is for the better of your overall oral health. Wisdom teeth are the most common tooth extractions we perform, often due to overcrowding, infection or even impaction. Poor oral hygiene and decay is another common reason a tooth must be extracted along with spacing and crowding issues of teeth.

Think that you may need a tooth extraction? Contact Harmony Dental to schedule your appointment.

Do tooth extractions hurt?

When most people hear “tooth extraction,” they immediately think of a lot of pain. However, with advancements in dentistry and sedation dentistry, you really have nothing to worry about. At Harmony Dental we offer various sedation dentistry options that can help make your tooth extraction a more comfortable experience.

What is the difference between a simple extraction and a surgical extraction?

When it comes to tooth extraction, there are various factors that come into play when deciding whether a simple or surgical extraction is required.

• A simple tooth extraction can be provided when your affected tooth has successfully erupted from the gums and is able to be removed in a single piece. Using forceps, your tooth will be gently loosened until it is ready to be extracted.
• A surgical tooth extraction may be necessary if a tooth has not properly erupted, has become infected or has broken. Wisdom teeth are often removed surgically as well. During a surgical extraction, the gums must be opened so that all of the affected areas can be removed.

In order to save a tooth from severe damage and decay, a root canal treatment must be performed. This is necessary when the root canal, which is full of pulp and nerves, becomes infected and/or inflamed. The symptoms for root canal issues is not always visible, but the biggest indicator of issues shows itself in the form of an abscess or pus-filled pocket located near the affected tooth.

How to Prevent Needing a Root Canal

To keep the roots of your teeth healthy, it is vital to practice proper oral hygiene. While we wish there was a magic trick to preventing damage to the roots, it really comes down to taking care of your teeth! You must brush twice a day, floss once a day and always visit your dentist as scheduled. Even with proper oral hygiene, plaque and tartar can begin to form. A cleaning by your dentist is the only way to remove this buildup. To try to slow the development of these teeth harming elements, avoid foods that are high in starch, sugar, and acid. Always rinse or brush after every meal as well.

Root Canal Procedure

During a root canal treatment, the crown of the tooth is removed, and the pulp and nerves inside the tooth are removed. Once removed, the inner part of the tooth is sanitized and sealed. This helps to keep the tooth alive and prevents the tooth from needing to be extracted. A custom-made crown is attached to the top of the tooth afterward to give stability and a cosmetic appeal.

With proper sedation, a root canal treatment is not painful, but there may be some soreness afterward. As long as your dentist’s specific aftercare directions are followed, the discomfort should subside fairly quickly.