Cosmetic Dentistry

From subtle changes to major repairs, at Prosmiles Dental we offer a variety of procedures to improve your smile. While traditional dentistry addresses the health of your teeth and gums, cosmetic dentistry focuses on the appearance of your teeth, mouth, and smile as a whole. Today, cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, from whitening and shaping to closing spaces and replacing teeth. But before you decide to undergo any cosmetic procedure, we can discuss what's right for you.

At Prosmiles Dental, some of our cosmetic procedures include teeth whitening as well as applying veneers, dental bonding, and white fillings. Teeth whitening is a common and popular chemical process that brightens teeth that have become discolored or stained. Depending on the patient’s preference, this can be performed by one of our doctor’s in-office or in the comfort of your own home. Veneers and bonding, on the other hand, are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. They are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic placed over the front teeth to change the color or shape of your teeth.

If you desire a more aesthetically pleasing smile, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.prosmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Prosmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-677-8966.

TMJ Disorder

The temporomandibular joint acts like a sliding hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear. This joint allows you to move your jaw up-and-down and side-to-side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn. Problems with your jaw and the muscles in your face that control it are known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, it can also be known as TMJ, after the joint. If these muscles are causing you pain, our doctors of Prosmiles Dental can provide you with relief.

Some of the symptoms of TMD include pain when opening or closing the mouth, trouble chewing, jaw becoming stuck open or shut, headaches or ear pain, clicking or popping sounds while opening your mouth, as well as teeth grinding. Many of these symptoms can often be associated with other health problems, so only a medical professional can tell you if it is due to TMD.

If you suspect you may have TMD, come in for a consultation. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.prosmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Prosmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-677-8966.

Gum Recession

If your gums have receded, the ProSmiles Dental clinic in Fort Worth can help you restore them to health. Gum recession can occur for a number of reasons, including tooth misalignment and genetics, but the most common cause is periodontal disease.

Teeth naturally fit into gum pockets, which are sung, but not airtight. Some bacteria will always work their way below the gum line and contribute to decay. Deep cleanings can remove plaque from gum pockets, but if decay goes on for too long, the gum tissue covering the teeth will dissolve or contract, exposing tooth roots. Besides looking unattractive, this also leaves the patient uncomfortable and unable to enjoy cold foods.

Fortunately, gums can usually heal on their own if the plaque is removed and patients maintain their oral hygiene. Severe cases may require consultation from a periodontal specialist, who can perform surgery to cover tooth roots with donated or artificial gum material. However, patients need not fear that their exposed roots will be permanent.

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.

 

Electric Toothbrushes

At ProSmiles Dental, we’re proud to provide our Fort Worth patients with the advice they need to maintain their oral hygiene. Most people understand the importance of brushing their teeth, but for various reasons, people often do it improperly. Some people would benefit from using an electric toothbrush, but it depends on what they’re doing wrong.

Proper use of a manual toothbrush requires two full minutes of brushing during each session. Most people don’t do this, and some can’t. An electric toothbrush is much faster; most can make thousands of strokes per minute, while people can only make hundreds, at most. This also makes it much easier to brush too hard or for too long, but most electric toothbrushes now come with features to alert patients if they are overdoing it.

Newer models of electric toothbrushes are being manufactured with a variety of apps to assist patients with their technique and motivation. If a person is fully capable of using a manual toothbrush correctly, an electric toothbrush may only be an expensive toy. But for a person with a limited attention span or motion control issues, electric toothbrushes can make a huge improvement in oral hygiene.

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.

 

Are You Flossing Correctly?

Flossing your teeth is more important to your well-being than brushing. So why do people come up with silly excuses such as, “I’m not coordinated enough to floss,” or “I don’t know how to floss.” After today, you won’t be able to use these excuses anymore, because Dr. Archana Lankupalli of Prosmiles Dental is going to teach you how to floss correctly.

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.prosmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Prosmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-677-8966.

Are You Brushing Effectively?

When you brush your teeth, you help remove food and plaque – a sticky film that forms on your teeth and contains bacteria. The longer plaque is left on your teeth the more time it has to break down tooth enamel and lead to cavities. As much as we love to see your smile here at Prosmiles Dental, Dr. Archana Lankupalli wants you to keep it healthy and utilize these brushing tips in between professional cleanings.

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.


• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.


• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.


• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and don’t forget to floss!

If you need assistance maintaining your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.prosmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Prosmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-677-8966.

Inlays, Onlays, and Making Partial crowns

After veneers, partial crowns are the smallest type of restoration offered at ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth. Dr. Arachana Lankupalli can install restorations as complex as full-mouth dentures, but when only the surface of a chewing tooth is damaged, a partial crown called an inlay or an onlay is usually sufficient.

Molars and premolars have complex surfaces consisting of indentations and raised bumps called cuspids. An inlay fits in between the cuspids; an onlay replaces cuspids as well as indentations. If the chewing surface was lost to tooth decay, Dr. Lankupalli will need to remove the decayed material before making an impression of the patient’s mouth. The impression is sent to a lab where the partial crown is manufactured—usually out of porcelain, although patients may discuss other options. A partial crown usually takes about two weeks to arrive at the clinic, during which the patient will have a temporary crown. When the inlay or onlay is installed, patients will need to care for their teeth as normal but will have a second chance at functional, painless molars.

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.