Back to School Check Up

It’s important for everyone to get bi-annual check-ups at the dentist and children especially need professional cleanings and consultations. If decay is allowed to go untreated, they can encounter serious problems at school. Fortunately, it’s still early enough in the year for children to avoid having their development derailed by tooth aches.

“Caries” is how doctors describe small instances of tooth decay. Children are the demographic that is at highest risk for them. The latest information from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention found that untreated tooth decay is very common in children, occurring in 13% of teenagers and 20% of preteens. The effects of tooth aches can be severe: missed sleep, reluctance to eat, difficulty speaking, difficulty focusing, and grouchiness. But while tooth decay is common, it can also be prevented with sealants, such as those we can provide our patients, and by regular oral hygiene. Tooth decay does not get better on its own, so to prevent children from needing more extensive restorations later in the year, they should get everything taken care of now. We can also ascertain whether the child will need wisdom tooth extractions.

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.

 

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.

 

Loose Teeth

Permanent teeth should never come loose, but when they do, ProSmiles Dental is here to help. Dentists categorize dental trauma as either “primary occlusal trauma,” if the teeth split without being infected, and “secondary occlusal trauma,” which is the result of gum disease. When teeth come loose over time, instead of from a specific violent event, gum disease is to blame.

Periodontal disease causes gum tissue to recede, weakening the ligaments holding teeth in place. But what many people don’t know is that it also causes the jaw bone to lose mass. Loss of jaw bone weakens teeth even more, and the effect snowballs once the back teeth come loose. To spare their back teeth, patients often start chewing with the front of their mouths, putting too much stress on their incisors, and pushing them even further out of place.

Dentists have to get the bacterial infection under control before doing anything else. Treating loose teeth will likely involve putting a splint on them at some point, although the splint may or may not be permanent. When a large amount of bone tissue has been lost, a bone graft will be necessary before a patient can receive implants.

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.

 

Traditional Braces

Though they are usually not aesthetically pleasing, traditional braces are one of the quickest ways to straighten your smile. If you have crooked teeth, and/or a misaligned bite, traditional braces can correct the problem in a matter of months. Fortunately, our doctors at ProSmiles Dental offer this orthodontic option to patients.

If you desire a straighter smile, braces work by continuously applying pressure over a period of time to slowly move teeth into their appropriate direction. Braces consist of brackets, wires, and bands, that you can customize them to express yourself. How long a patient will need to wear braces depends on the individual case, but most people wear them for one to three years. After orthodontic treatment is over, our doctors will discuss retainers with you.

If you wish to inquire about orthodontic options, please 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.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

With age comes wisdom, and also, wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth usually erupt during the ages of 17-22 and though not everyone needs them removed, extraction is best to avoid damage to surrounding teeth. Wisdom teeth will cause problems if there isn’t enough space for them to grow. If you are noticing pain or swelling in your mouth or stiffness in your jaw, our doctors at ProSmiles Dental may need to suggest extraction.

There are more disadvantages to keeping your wisdom teeth than there are to keep them. This is because wisdom teeth that don’t erupt properly can allow food to become trapped in the gums, leading to tooth decay. Wisdom teeth that have partially-erupted can give bacteria a place to enter the gums and infection may occur. If our doctors decide that extraction is right for you, they will discuss the details in full during a consultation.

If you wish to inquire about wisdom teeth extraction, please 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.

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.