Wisdom teeth usually grow between the ages of 17 and 25, but this isn’t as simple as it sounds for some people. Your wisdom teeth might grow up in the wrong direction, which can cause pressure on other teeth. Or, if your wisdom teeth grow out close to your existing permanent teeth, it can prompt crowding in your mouth. If such is the case, your dentist may advise you that you need to undergo wisdom teeth extraction.

Some symptoms you will experience with an impacted wisdom tooth are pain, inflammation, and infection.

When Can Your Wisdom Teeth Become A Problem For You?

Mostly, when your mouth becomes too crowded with teeth due to lack of space, you will start feeling a little bit of discomfort. This can increase into an infection, eventually causing tooth decay.

How Much Does A Wisdom Teeth Extraction Cost?

The price of wisdom teeth removal can range between $75 to $900 per tooth, but this is subject to change on several factors. The number of teeth that your dentist will remove also affects the costs drastically.

If you have all your four teeth removed, it may cost you around $300 and $3,000. These charges will also include the cost of anesthesia and follow-up visits. Another factor is the cost of anesthesia. No matter if it’s general, local, sedation, or nitrous oxide. It can directly impact the cost of the procedure.

Can Your Insurance Pay For The Extraction of Your Wisdom Teeth?

Whether or not your insurance covers the cost of wisdom teeth extraction is something you will have to ask them. But if your insurance does cover your wisdom teeth extraction cost, you can save up to 80% of the price.

The best situation here is to speak to your dentist about this and see what procedure is required. Then consult your insurance company and see what the possibilities are. If your wisdom teeth extraction is not covered under insurance, do not worry. Check with your dental care provider and see what could be done.

If you are experiencing any symptoms and feel that you require wisdom tooth extraction, call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530, and our team of expert dentists will help clear all your doubts.

When your teeth crack, break, or misshapen, a crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits for aesthetic or structural reasons. A crown can also be used for after bridges, root canals, and dental implants, and it must firmly affix over the existing tooth.

Crown lengthening is your solution. Your dental surgeon will perform crown lengthening by recontouring your dental gum tissue (and the bone in some cases), so more of the tooth’s surface is exposed for a crown. The procedure is standard and takes less than an hour to complete.

What Happens Before A Crown Lengthening Procedure?
Your dentist will advise you to wear a temporary crown until your procedure is done. This will help you get comfortable as well as protect your tooth in the interim.

What Happens During A Crown Lengthening Procedure?
During your crown lengthening procedure, the periodontist removes your temporary crown and most likely inject you with local anesthesia or sedative. He will then remove the gum and wash the area with saltwater and suture. While suturing, your periodontist will apply a bandage on the wound for protection and let you go home. Once your home and your anesthesia start wearing off, ensure you take the painkillers prescribed by your doctor to relieve you from pain and use the specialized mouth rinse to help your gums heal quickly.

How Long Does It Take For Recovery?

It takes about three months for a complete recovery. Although you will be able to function normally once your gums have healed. Your surgeon will guide you throughout your treatment process, but in general, you should follow these guidelines:

• Take your prescription medication without fail
• Regularly use an ice pack
• Skip on eating hot foods for the first 24 hours
• Do not remove the dressing for the 7 to 14 days
• Brush very carefully
• Wear your stent or denture in-case you have one
• Try consuming soft foods
• Avoid alcohol and smoking
• Avoid prodding the area

What Should You Look For After The Procedure?

Nowadays, oral surgeries have become efficient and effective, and crown lengthening has become a common procedure. Ensure you visit a qualified professional, and if so, the procedure will go smoothly and increase your teeth’ health and longevity.

If you have been told that you will need to underdo a crown lengthening procedure and are not sure it is, worry not! Call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530, and our team of expert dentists will help clear all your doubts.

Invisalign treatment is the best solution if you’re looking to straighten your teeth without the use of traditional metal braces. Instead of having metal brackets stuck to your teeth, Invisalign is a transparent plastic aligner to be worn on top of your teeth.

A new set of Invisalign for every week shaped slightly different to move your teeth into their place. Invisalign are removable while you’re eating, so you don’t need to change your diet.

Although you don’t need to see your orthodontist regularly, Invisalign cost you somewhere about $4,000 to $7,400 to straighten your teeth.

Invisalign Cost vs. Traditional Braces

The traditional metal braces will cost your around $3,000 to $7,000 for complete treatment. Ceramic braces will be around at $4,000 to $8,000. Your third option could be lingual braces. These braces have a bracket that attaches to the back of your teeth and costs you approximately $8,000 to $10,000, but these are not your best option if budget is your concern.

If you have been craving for that celebrity looking smile. If you worry about how much does Invisalign cost. Worry not! Call your affordable dentist in Sugar Land Tx at 281-937-7530.

A root canal therapy is not as scary as it sounds. This article will put your mind at ease if you’re about to have root canal therapy in your next dental visit. So what does a root canal involve, and how long does a root canal take?

Treatment Basics

It is crucial to undergo root canal therapy when decay has penetrated the tooth’s root. You might be experiencing pain or sensitivity. To save you from a more expensive, lengthy, and painful tooth extraction process and replacement, your dentist will have to perform root canal therapy. The dentist will clean the decayed area. Remove the nerves and clear the infection. Next, the dentist will fill in the cavity into the hollow teeth. In some cases, the patient must have a crown installed on top of the tooth for support.

How Long Does It Require To Do A Root Canal?

In most cases, a regular and straightforward root canal requires about 2 hours. If the infected tooth is a molar, chances are it might take a little longer as the tooth is bigger, at the end of your mouth, and has more root canals.

From when you sit in the dentist’s chair, it looks like a simple filling session, but the dentist needs to be cautious and attentive while doing the procedure. He/She needs to use all their training, education, and experience to ensure the therapy is done at best possible level.

Plan Your Root Canal Therapy with Adequate Timings

The dentist might require an X-ray before the procedure. Sometimes even if you have an appointment, the dentist might be busy with another patient who has taken longer than expected. Hence, we always recommended that you plan out your therapy with adequate time in hand. Do not rush your dentist or get rushed yourself. Remember that your teeth are more important than other activities of yours.

If you’re worried about how long it takes to do a root canal, do not worry anymore. Our experienced dentists have successfully treated many patients in the past. Call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry now to get answers to your question, “How long does it take to do a root canal ?” Call us now at 281-937-7530 .

What are Veneers?

Veneers are the most viable solution to help you achieve the smile you have desired. Veneers are the best solution for a chipped tooth, a gap between teeth, or misshaped teeth.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are the most straightforward option if you are looking to improve your smile. These are thin layer type covering, which you can place over your tooth’s front, and they will look completely natural. Using veneers, you can correct several dental cosmetic issues.

• stained teeth
• broken, chipped, or worn teeth
• crooked or misshapen teeth
• teeth with large gaps between them

Veneers come in 2 different makes, porcelain or composite resin material. Our dentists at Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry will help you choose the best option. Remember, every veneer has its benefits.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shell-like coverings. Some of its benefits are:

• these are strong and long-lasting
• natural-looking
• doesn’t stain very easily

Composite Resin Veneers

Composite resin veneers are made from the tooth-colored filling material and are bonded to the tooth. Some of its benefits are:

• less enamel will be removed from the existing teeth
• can be fixed in lesser dental visits
• cost relatively less compared to porcelain veneers
• easily repairable and replaceable if damaged

What to do Before you get your Veneers Fixed?

• Make sure your teeth and gums are healthy. Your dentist will have to treat any dental diseases before installing the veneers.
• If you are always clenching or grinding your teeth, your veneers may chip or break.
• In case the veneers get loose, you will have to get new ones fixed.
• Before you start your treatment, discuss all your expectations and treatment options with your dentist.
• Remember that once the process of fixing veneers has started, the process cannot be reversed.

What to do After you get Veneers Fixed?

• Don’t bite on your fingernails, hard objects, pencils, or ice. Your Veneers can chip.
• It will take you a couple of days to get comfortable with your new veneers.
• Regularly brush your teeth and keep your clean by brushing.

How Long do Veneers Last? And How to Make them Last?

As much as you would love you, you cannot do much about veneers’ lifespan. That is because your veneers are not meant to be a one-time fixed. You can get back your money’s worth by ensuring you take care of them properly so they can last long.

• You must follow good oral hygiene practices. Often clean your mouth to avoid stains and retain your teeth’s health. It is recommended you brush at least twice a day. It would help if you also flossed regularly.
• Make sure you visit the dentist regularly.
• Any strong impact on your face can result in chipping or cracking of veneers, so wear oral protection when you need it.
• Never use your teeth as an opening tool. Nots, bottle caps, etc. These can very quickly let bacteria come in your mouth and chip the teeth or veneer.
• If you are bruxism, meaning someone who grinds or clenches your teeth when you sleep, make sure to speak to your dentist about it. Without a proper nighttime mouth guard, you have a higher chance of damaging your veneers.

Veneers can help you achieve the smile you have been craving, but it comes with a responsibility to take care of your oral hygiene. To learn more about how your veneers could last long, book an appointment with one of our dentists now. Call Smiles On Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530 .

What is an Invisalign Tray?

Let’s call them the invisible braces. It’s an efficient alternative to the traditional braces we all know, a discreet way to straighten your teeth. To have an effective outcome, you should know how to clean your Invisalign Tray properly.

How Often Should You Clean an Invisalign Tray?

For complete oral health, it’s essential to keep your Invisalign tray clean and safe from damage. Ideally, you can clean your Invisalign tray every time you remove it for having a meal and when you’re brushing your teeth.

How to Clean Invisalign Trays?

There are several ways to clean an Invisalign tray. Some methods are mentioned below:

• Clean your Invisalign tray using a cleaning kit for the Invisalign system. Make sure to follow all instructions as provided on the packaging.
• You can also use a retainer-cleaning product. There are several in the market, which will also give your teeth a whitening smile. These products remove fog and white buildup on your Invisalign Tray.
• Another way is to brush your Invisalign Tray is by using a soft or baby toothbrush to reach all the tray areas. Use it with cold water and soap.
• A household product, vinegar, is an excellent way to clean your Invisalign Tray. Mix one-fourth of vinegar with three-fourths of warm water and soak your Invisalign Tray for 15 to 30 minutes. After, gently brush it using a soft brush and wash it with warm water.

Remember to rinse your Invisalign Tray every time you remove it from your mouth.

This will help protect it from outside contamination. In addition,  keep Invisalign in a case when not in use to avoid losing them.

Here are some Don’ts:

• It would be best if you did not use denture cleansers.
• Never brush your teeth while wearing your Invisalign tray.
• Do not use any type of abrasive cleaner.
• Do not soak your Invisalign tray in a mouthwash that contains any alcohol.

Your oral health is extremely important! If you are looking to visit the dentist, call Smiles On Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530 now.

A tooth is referred to as ‘dead’ when it no longer has any blood flow. Sometimes this is also called as a ‘non-vital tooth.’

Tooth decay and an injury both can cause a dead tooth. In this blog, we will look at the causes and how a dead tooth can be treated and prevented.

What causes a tooth to die?

• Trauma or injury to your tooth or mouth is one possible cause for a dead tooth.
• A tooth can also die as a result of poor oral hygiene, leading to cavities, which, when left untreated, can gradually destroy your tooth.

Dead Tooth Treatment

It is important to treat a dying or dead tooth as soon as possible. That is because if left untreated, the bacteria from the dead tooth can spread and lead to the loss of more teeth. Moreover, it could hit your gums and jawbone.

Your dentist may treat a tooth that is dead or dying with a procedure known as a root canal. Or, they may extract the entire tooth.

Root canal

With a root canal procedure, you may be able to keep your tooth intact. During the root canal, the dentist drills an opening into the tooth and then uses small instruments to remove the pulp and clean out the infection. Following the infection removal, your dentist will place a permanent filling and seal the roots.

In many cases, your doctor may recommend having a crown after a root canal. This may be a good option if there was damage to the enamel or if the tooth had a large filling.

If your dentist or endodontist determines that you don’t need a crown, you may be able to use tooth bleaching to treat any color changes to the affected tooth. If not, your doctor may recommend covering the tooth with a porcelain veneer.

Removal or extraction

If your tooth is badly damaged and unable to be restored, your dentist may recommend removing the dead tooth completely. During the procedure, the dental professional will completely remove the tooth. After the extraction, you can replace the tooth with a denture, implant, or bridge. Talk to your dentist or oral surgeon about your options. Some questions you should ask are:

• What is the recovery like?
• How much will it cost?
• Will it need to be changed over time?

Pain management

If your tooth is causing intense pain, there are some things you can do at home while you wait for treatment:

• Avoid hot beverages. They can aggravate inflammation, which can make your pain worse.
• Take an OTC anti-inflammatory medication, like ibuprofen.
• Avoid eating hard snacks. The biting-down force may worsen the damaged nerves.

It is best in your interest to visit your dentist immediately. Home remedies should not be used in place of professional treatment. Instead, you should use them while you wait for your dental appointment.

Is your retainer, which used to fit securely in your mouth, starting to wobble, feel loose, or just don’t fit properly? If this is the case, it may be time to schedule an appointment with the dentist in Sugar Land.

Most Retainers Don’t Require Tightening

Most retainers last for many years without requiring tightening. Occasionally, the retainer’s shape may need to be changed to accommodate the shifting of your teeth or because of wear and tear from wearing, but this is more of a repositioning of the retainer and not a tightening.

Types of Orthodontic Retainers 

There are several types of retainers that you can wear after completing your treatment. Some of these retainers have more of a “fixed” shape and can’t be repositioned or reshaped while others can.

The following are some examples of the most common types of orthodontic retainers and whether they can be reshaped or repositioned:

Clear plastic retainers – These types of orthodontic retainers cannot be repositioned or reshaped. If your retainer is worn down or your teeth shift, you will need a completely new retainer.

Fixed retainer –These retainers cannot be tightened. If your teeth shift, the complete wire needs to be removed, and a new one will need to be glued back.

Wrap around retainers –Due to the increased amount of wire, this type of retainer can be tightened. However, if your teeth shift too much, you may need a brand new retainer.

Retainer Instructions 

When you receive your retainer, your orthodontist will give you a list of instructions. Following the instructions will not only help your teeth retain their new position, but it will limit you from going to the dental office to tighten your retainer or get a completely new one.

Are You Having Problems with Your Retainer? Call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530

Everyone wants to feel good and make a lasting first impression, and braces are often a way to do that. However, a considerable investment both in terms of time and money is involved. As with any major decision, you’ll want to know the pros and cons of braces so you can figure out whether they are worth it.

Having years of experience with braces of all kinds, we’ve seen the pros and cons of braces upfront, with real-life patients. Here are a few things we have learned and now want you to know:

Pros: Reasons to Get Traditional Metal Braces

They work. With proper care and maintenance, they will straighten your teeth over time.

They are durable. Traditional braces don’t easily chip or crack. Although there are cases where the wire snaps or brackets fall off, these are relatively easy fixes.

They are slightly less hard on your pocket. Traditional metal braces typically are less expensive, since they have been out in the market longer.

Cons: Why You Might Avoid Metal Braces

There are many drawbacks, and many people feel that they outweigh the benefits:

They can hurt.  Putting on the braces or getting them tightened can be very painful since they are moving your teeth by applying pressure.

Brushing and flossing can be difficult. Maintaining metal braces is not easy at all. Flossing can be very difficult since you must thread the floss around the wire to get between your teeth.

They limit what you can eat. Since traditional metal braces are attached to your teeth, they are present all the time, meaning that you may need to cut down your favorite foods.

Alternatives to Metal Braces

While you are exploring metal braces, you should be aware that there are alternatives worth considering. Specifically, there are different types of braces, such as Invisalign, Ceramic braces, Lingual braces, each with their pros and cons.

You can read about braces on the internet forever. It’s time now to take that first step. We hope you’ll make it with us!

In this blog post, we will shed some light on what components make up your braces and how they move your teeth.

Components of Braces

Brackets

Brackets are the most visible part of your braces. They bond to the surface of each tooth to hold them in place throughout the orthodontic treatment.

Archwires

Your orthodontist will place these thin metal wires over each bracket. They are necessary for building up the pressure against your teeth that will move them in their appropriate positions.

O-Rings

These small elastic bands are responsible for holding the bracket on the archwire.

Now that you have a know-how of what braces are made of let’s discuss how they move your teeth!

Moving the teeth through bone remodeling

After the braces are in place, they will begin to put pressure on your teeth. The periodontal membrane (encases a bottom portion of the tooth) is stretched on one side and compressed on the other, which slightly loosens the tooth. Then a new bone grows in to support the tooth. This is the process of bone remodeling, and it’s where the magic happens!

The force behind the movement

Your brackets and archwires are responsible for providing your teeth with the necessary force and pressure for positive tooth movement. Therefore, the archwires are typically made of materials activated by body heat to increase the stiffness level.

The wire we use in the beginning is known as a twisted wire and when this wire is placed on your teeth, it is activated by the heat of your mouth. Once you advance into the treatment process, a more flexible one will replace the twisted wire. Your body heat activates this wire, too, causing it to become stiff. Once we place the brackets on your teeth and tie them together with the wires, the transmission of forces is on the go.

If you want to get really technical, meet one of our dental experts at Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry. To schedule, an appointment calls us at 281-937-7530.