Orthodontic Treatment Can Help People With Bite Difficulties

Posted February 1, 2021 by Dr. Vaughan

There are several challenges that can affect a person who has trouble maintaining an even bite. If your bite is awkward or uneven, it can cause you to unintentionally overuse certain teeth, wearing them down prematurely and making them more vulnerable to harm. You can also be more likely to develop issues with your jaw joints and muscles because of uncomfortable movements. When that problem is not resolved in time, it can lead to painful TMJ problems. Our Bellaire, TX dentist’s office is prepared to help you address troubles that you may have with your bite function. One approach is to resolve problems with malocclusion through orthodontic treatment. By straightening your teeth, we can improve your ability to bite and chew in a more comfortable manner and reduce stress on your joints! (more…)

How Same-Day Dental Crowns Fit Into Cavity Treatment

Posted January 25, 2021 by Dr. Vaughan

Your Bellaire, TX dentist will only use a dental crown during cavity treatment when a tooth is too damaged for a dental filling to be effective. After a cavity forms, it will keep growing and damaging more of your enamel. Eventually, the damage can become so severe that a tooth has to be fully covered to stay safe. It is often necessary to perform root canal therapy as well, as an infection can develop because of the cavity. Same-day crowns shorten the process of restoring a tooth affected by an advanced cavity. We can produce a lifelike restoration that is capable of comfortably covering your tooth and imitating its appearance. Because of this, we can finish treatment in less time and restore your confidence in your smile! (more…)

Making The Move To Implant-Held Dentures

Posted January 18, 2021 by Dr. Vaughan

When a patient needs dentures to replace a row of teeth, the restoration they receive will be custom-made to ensure it fits securely and comfortably. Over time, that fit can feel less secure as jawbone deterioration takes place. This problem will affect people after tooth loss because they no longer have the roots of their teeth present to stimulate the bone. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems with less secure dentures as well as oral health and cosmetic concerns. At our Bellaire, TX dentist’s office, we can talk with patients about making the move to dental implant-held dentures. With implant dentures, you can enjoy more bite support, protect yourself against jawbone deterioration, and be free of frustration over a restoration that slips or feels insecure. (more…)

Can My Teeth Be Straightened Without Traditional Braces?

Posted January 11, 2021 by Dr. Vaughan

Traditional braces that rely on brackets and wires to gradually move teeth have helped patients with a range of concerns about poor smile alignment. These issues, known as malocclusion, affect a person’s appearance while also creating potential difficulties with bite function and cavity prevention. As common as they are as a form of treatment, many people look for alternatives to these appliances when they want to correct trouble with gaps and overlaps. At our Bellaire, TX dentist’s office, we can recommend two alternative orthodontic treatments. One is treatment with lingual braces, which are braces applied to the backs of teeth. Another option is to provide clear aligners. Aligners like Invisalign and ClearCorrect are both discreet and easily removed, which can make the treatment experience easier to manage. (more…)

Planning Significant Smile Improvements In The New Year

Posted January 4, 2021 by Dr. Vaughan

What goals should you set for smile improvement in the new year? No matter how healthy or unhealthy your teeth are at the moment, you should commit to good hygiene habits to avoid future troubles. If you are someone who already has issues like tooth loss, dental pain, or other concerns, your plans can include services to restore your oral health and appearance. Our Bellaire, TX dentist’s office provides a range of treatment options, including work to restore missing teeth. After an evaluation, we can discuss what your treatment options look like, and what we can do to help you show off an improved smile for the new year! (more…)

Resolving Problems With Poorly Spaced Teeth

Posted December 31, 2020 by Dr. Vaughan

If your teeth are too far apart, or if they are too close together, you can experience cosmetic and oral health issues. Malocclusion is a frustrating issue, one that often calls for orthodontic treatment to resolve. At our Bellaire, TX dentist’s office, we provide multiple approaches to care for those interested in straightening their teeth. In addition to using traditional braces to make changes to the way that your teeth are aligned, we can recommend discreet alternatives, like lingual braces and clear aligners, to fix your problems. In some cases, cosmetic dental work can be effective at covering minor gaps or overlaps that hurt the quality of your appearance.
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How Dental Implants Let Patients Preserve Jawbone Density

Posted December 21, 2020 by Dr. Vaughan

How will your oral health change after tooth loss? It may not surprise you to hear that this issue causes more than just difficulties with your appearance. Just one missing tooth can make it difficult for you to bite and chew comfortably, and it can make you more vulnerable to losing more teeth. Another issue to watch out for is jawbone deterioration, which will occur over time. What you should know is that with prosthetic dental work that includes dental implants, you can prevent this issue from occurring. The implants will stimulate the bone, which leads to the continued delivery of nutrients. At our Bellaire, TX dentist’s office, patients who have suffered tooth loss can discuss the benefits of implants. This approach can be good for people with one tooth to replace, and for those who need to secure a denture! (more…)

Same-Day Crowns Can Shorten Cavity Treatment Times

Posted December 14, 2020 by Dr. Vaughan

Cavity treatments take care of more than just the presence of decay affecting a tooth. After removing the damaged area, your dentist will need to make sure that your tooth is protected, as your enamel is not able to heal on its own. While this can often be addressed with a dental filling, it is sometimes necessary to place a dental crown, as the damage may be more than a filling can address. Our Bellaire, TX dentist’s office can make the crown placement process easier by using technology to make same-day restorations. CEREC technology used at our practice can produce crowns that are the right shape, size, and color to fit in with your smile in a single appointment, ensuring that your oral health and appearance are no longer affected by a cavity. (more…)

Regaining A Confident Smile After Losing Several Teeth

Posted December 7, 2020 by Dr. Vaughan

Losing a single tooth can hurt your confidence in the way you look, and it can also create problems for your oral health. While losing one tooth can have serious consequences, your issues can become even harder to ignore when lose several teeth! In addition to making more trouble for your smile and bite function, multiple missing teeth can make you worry that the process of restoring your full smile will be more difficult. At our Bellaire, TX dentist’s office, we are ready to take on the issues caused by tooth loss. Through the right approach to prosthetic dental treatment, we can give you renewed confidence in your smile and bite function! One thing we can recommend is treatment that includes the support from dental implants to hold your prosthetic appliance (or appliances) permanently. (more…)

How Clear Braces Resolve Frustrating Smile Problems

Posted November 30, 2020 by Dr. Vaughan

The overall comfort you feel toward your appearance can be significantly affected by the quality of your smile. Problems with teeth that are poorly spaced, that overlap awkwardly, or experience any other alignment flaws can make it difficult for you to enjoy confidence in the way you look. At our Bellarire, TX dentist’s office, problems with malocclusion can be dealt with so that they no longer make you feel self-conscious about the way you look. We can actually make the process of straightening your teeth less awkward by recommending clear braces for your treatment. While traditional orthodontic appliances are permanently affixed to your teeth, where they can draw undesired attention, your clear aligners can be removed easily, and they can prove difficult for others to notice! (more…)