Intrinsic Stains

Patients at ProSmiles dental are assured of getting cosmetically-pleasing solutions for all their dental health problems. Most tooth stains do not constitute a threat to the patient’s health, but there are some which indicate a deeper problem. These are called intrinsic stains, and they may not be treatable with whitening.

Extrinsic stains are on the surface of the tooth and are acquired from smoking and drinking dark liquids, such as coffee and soda. But intrinsic stains are caused by something related to the dental pulp. It may just be that the patient was exposed to excessive amounts of fluoride or tetracycline antibiotics, which cause permanent teeth to develop with a blackish-purple color. These stains can simply be covered with veneers. But if the pulp is inflamed due to an infection, the patient is at risk of developing a severe tooth ache and a bad taste in their mouth. The body struggles to fight off dental infections on its own, and if the infection spreads, the patient could develop a facial abscess.

Root canals are necessary for removing inflamed dental pulp. Once it’s gone, the tooth will be sealed and can be given a veneer. However, it may be necessary to replace the whole crown, depending on the extent of the stain.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

At ProSmiles Dental, we see many patients who are unhappy with their smiles for various reasons.  The overall look of your smile includes the gums, and even when a patient has healthy teeth and gums they may be dissatisfied with the overall appearance of their smile.  We are excited to offer cosmetic periodontal surgery because it allows us to give any patient their best smile.

Cosmetic periodontal surgery is a technical way of saying sculpting the gum line.  A lack or excess of gum tissue can cause a smile to have the look of elongated teeth or a gummy smile.  To create a balanced look between gum and tooth, the procedure can include removing gum tissue, placing gum grafts, or both.  Excess tissue is removed using a laser or scalpel tool.  Soft tissue grafts are harvested from a healthy location in the patient’s mouth, and placed where gum tissue is lacking or has receded.  The result is an even ratio of tooth to gums throughout the whole mouth.  Don’t let your gums keep you from your best smile!

To learn more about cosmetic gum surgery and all the services we provide, visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Archana Lankupalli at ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-369-8000.

Clear Braces

Braces are still the most common way for adolescents and adults straighten their teeth.  Clear aligners have become more popular, but aren’t always effective for everyone.  If your orthodontic treatment requires brackets and wires, clear braces may be the solution for you. Visit ProSmiles Dental to see if you are a candidate for clear braces.

Clear braces use the traditional straightening technique of braces with materials designed to avoid the metallic look dreaded by so many patients.  Aesthetic improvements made to the components of braces in recent years include brackets that are available in clear and ceramic varieties, and are designed to resist staining.  Wires the color of natural teeth are used to connect these brackets. The outcome is a look that’s not totally invisible, but is much more subtle than traditional silver braces and doesn’t look metallic. Almost any orthodontic patient can achieve the same great results as traditional braces offer with a better disguise during treatment.

To learn more about all the orthodontic options and services we provide, visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Archana Lankupalli at ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-369-8000.

What is a Frenectomy?

At ProSmiles Dental, we perform frenectomies to correct a number of issues patients may have with their teeth, lips, and tongue.  A frenectomy is a procedure to remove a frenum, or muscular attachment between two tissues, from the mouth.  One frenum is located underneath your tongue, and removing this is called a lingual frenectomy.  Patients that have an enlarged frenum underneath their tongue have trouble moving their tongue freely.  This is often called ‘tongue tie’, and can interfere with speech development. Lingual frenectomies are typically performed on young patients, who can recover quickly and continue to develop their speech.

Another frenum in your mouth is between the font teeth (both the upper and lower sets) and connects the inner surface of the lip with the gum. Removing this attachment is called a labial frenectomy. Patients who have receding gums can benefit from this procedure, because a strong frenum from the gum to the lip can cause extra pulling on the gums and lead to further recession.

To learn more about frenectomies and all the services we provide, visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Archana Lankupalli at ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-369-8000.

Night Guards for Bruxism

Bruxism is regular teeth grinding or clenching of the jaw. Stress can intensify bruxism, but it is most often caused by an abnormal bite or crooked teeth.  Some teeth grinders consciously grind their teeth and clench their jaw, but some only do so while asleep and may not even realize it.  ProSmiles Dental offers custom night guards to help patients overcome the negative effects of bruxism.

Waking up with a dull headache or experiencing pain and stiffness in your jaw are signs you may be grinding your teeth overnight, and shouldn’t be ignored.  Patients who continually grind their teeth often end up needing crowns, bridges, root canals and implants. In severe cases tooth loss can occur, and partial or complete dentures may be needed. Having a custom night guard made is a simple step that will help prevent so many issues for teeth grinders.

Night guards look similar to mouth guards worn by athletes, but serve a different purpose. A dentist uses an impression of your teeth to ensure a custom fit, and the night guard is manufactured in a dental lab. Wearing a custom night guard protects the surface of the teeth, and also properly aligns the jaw to improve breathing and sleep. If you think you a custom night guard could help you, please contact us.

To learn more about night guards and all the services we provide, visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Archana Lankupalli at ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-369-8000.

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting may not sound like a dental procedure, but a bone graft has become routine throughout medicine because of how it helps a body heal. The bone graft procedure consists of harvesting bone material from a healthy part of a patient’s body, and transferring it to a site that needs reinforcement.  ProSmiles Dental performs bone grafts for patients with weakened jaw bones that need dental implants.

A jaw bone can weaken over time if tooth loss or gum disease has left a certain portion of the jaw vulnerable. When a patient needs a replacement tooth, the jaw bone needs to be strong enough to handle the placement of the implant. There are synthetic options for bone grafts, but a dental graft is usually obtained from a different spot in the patient’s own mouth. This gives the injured or deficient bone a replacement, and encourages growth of new material around the site.  The healing process can take several months, and your jaw is monitored by your dentist until it heals enough to handle the placement of an implant.

To learn more about bone grafting and all the services we provide, visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Archana Lankupalli at ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-369-8000.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are a preventative measure used to preserve the teeth and tooth enamel. Almost half of all children and adolescents in the United States have had cavities in their permanent teeth.  At ProSmiles Dental we recommend dental sealants for pediatric patients to avoid becoming part of this statistic.  Most tooth decay in children and teenagers occurs on the chewing surfaces of molars, where the pits and grooves tend to trap food and bacteria.  Molars first come in at around 5-7 years of age, with a second set coming in between the ages of 11-14.  It is best to have a sealant placed on each set of molars when they first come in to ensure they are protected early.

Sealants are applied to surfaces of these molars much like paint. The plastic resin fills any pits and grooves on the surface and hardens. Now the surface is protected from bits of food being stuck, so bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay, and tooth enamel is protected from plaque and acids.  Sealants can effectively prevent cavities for up to ten years and can be reapplied of necessary.

To learn more about sealants and all the services we provide, visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Archana Lankupalli at ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-369-8000.

Mouth Guards for Sports

Are you and your family getting active in sports this season?  The staff at ProSmiles Dental wants you to know you may be overlooking an important safety precaution.  Athletes participating in any contact sport are advised to wear some kind of mouth protection. A mouth guard helps prevent damage to the teeth and jaw, and also helps prevent injuries to the cheeks, tongue, and lips.  Most sporting goods stores carry mouth guards, but not in many sizes. These generic mouth guards often end up feeling uncomfortable, leading to child and teenage athletes in particular not wearing the protection at all.  A bulky or cushioned mouth guard can even interrupt breathing and speaking.

Custom mouth guards can be fit over braces and won’t interrupt normal activity. Come see us at ProSmiles Dental and have a dentist perform a custom mouth guard fitting for a mouth guard made of thin, hard plastic that protects your teeth and still fits comfortably.  This is an easy precaution to take for athletes, and you can go right back to playing your best!

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

Scaling and Root Planing

In its most advanced stages, gum disease can lead to gum recession and even tooth loss.  At ProSmiles Dental, we can help make sure it never gets to that stage with a scaling and root planing procedure.  When sticky bacteria called plaque builds up on a tooth, the gum starts to pull away from the tooth and form a pocket around the buildup.  This only leads to more gum recession.  Scaling and root planing are two parts of a deep cleaning your dentist can perform to repair gums and prevent the later stages of gum disease.

The procedure begins with scaling, the process of removing plaque from the surface of your teeth all the way down to your gums. This is followed by root planing, which involves minor contouring to smooth the surface of a tooth near the root.  Once the plaque has been removed and the tooth root has been smoothed, the gums that have pulled away have a clean, smooth surface to reattach to.   Local anesthetic is used during this procedure, and your dentist may recommend completing the treatment over a series of appointments. 

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.