What are Inlays?

Inlays are used to repair damaged between cusps of the teeth. A cusp is the race part of the tooth on the bottom surface, and when dental decay or damage is too deep to be repaired with a filling, an inlay it’s crafted from stronger materials to be placed in the area that needs help.

What are Onlays?

This option is used to replace one or more damaged or decayed tooth cups. Rather than removing healthy tooth structure, and onlay simply repairs the parts of the tooth that are damaged.

What Happens if Inlays & Onlays Aren’t an Option?

For some patients, an inlay or onlay is not an effective option to repair the tooth. If inlays and onlays are not right for you, the best choice for your overall oral health is to place a dental crown over the entire too. Other restorative options we can recommend is a root canal.

Benefits of Inlays & Onlays

The benefits of inlays and onlays are many, but just to name a few:

• • • Maintain the greatest amount of healthy tooth structure
    • Receive restoration with long-lasting, stain-resistant material
    • Natural-looking and feeling restoration
    • Prevent the need for more advanced treatments in the future

From all of us here at Katy Dental Experts in Katy, TX we hope to help you with any questions or concerns you may have as one of our patients. If inlays and onlays are a treatment option that you have perhaps contemplated in the past, a simple and quick consultation at our office can potentially all of the questions you’ve ever had. Please call our office today to ensure that you’re staying up to date with your health. We would love the opportunity to help you and your family achieve a more beautiful and healthy smile!

What Is It Made Of And How Long Will It Last?

Most occlusal guards are made of hard, clear acrylic. Some dentists may recommend a soft based acrylic depending on your particular needs. Over time though your occlusal guard can become discolored, even though it doesn’t affect the functionality aspect of this dental appliance. The occlusal guard longevity is primarily based on the severity of your grinding. If you are a severe grinder yourself, you may need to replace your occlusal guard more often than others.

Care of Your Guard

It’s important that while wearing your guard you don’t drink or eat anything other than water. Anything other than water can discolor your guard. After removing your occlusal guard in the morning, be sure to brush it with your toothbrush and rinse it with cold water. Don’t use toothpaste while cleaning it as most pastes can have abrasive in it that can scratch the services of the guards.

Cost of Custom Made Occlusal Guards

A custom-made occlusal guard can vary from dentist to dentist in terms of price. Overall the investment is worse preventing your teeth from becoming damaged. Without the use of an occlusal guard, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in the future used to repair the damage that’s been done to your teeth.

At Katy Dental Experts, we are exactly that! At our office in Katy, TX, we are a group of dental professionals that take pride in not only caring for your teeth but caring for your health and well-being as a whole. Our expertise and comfort care is evident as soon as you walk through our doors. In order to see for yourself, feel free to give us a call or send us an email to make your very first appointment!

1. Which Is Better?
   There is no one perfect restoration. Each restoration will bring its own unique benefits while one might be better than the other in a certain situation. Dental crowns are typically used to repair or restore one individual tooth. They can be placed on top of a tooth or a dental implant. Dental bridges can replace several missing teeth in just one restoration. Your dentist might recommend one restoration over the other for your specific situation.
2. What Can They Fix?
   Dental bridges are a common solution for replacing one or more missing teeth. Dental crowns can fix a variety of issues including restoring a cracked or broken tooth, replacing a large filling, covering an implant, are strengthening a tooth that had a root canal treatment.
3. What Are the Benefits?
   Restoring your teeth can help to prevent different oral health issues later on that may require more attention, treatments, and money. They also help to improve the appearance of your smile and boost your confidence.
4. How Long Will They Last?
   The lifespan of any restoration can vary from patient to patient. It depends on how well an individual takes care of their smile. Regular brushing and flossing, as well as scheduling frequent dental examinations, will ensure a healthy smile and lasting restorations. Our staff recommends regular dental exams and cleanings at least twice a year.

Restore Your Teeth

Contact Katy Dental Experts for more information regarding the many restorations and services we offer to patients like you. Call us today to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam or consultation with a member of our staff.

1. Why is Tooth Extraction Necessary?

   There are a few reasons why you might think of visiting the dentist for tooth extractions. Following is a list of three major reasons:

   • Wisdom Tooth
     This is the most common reason why a tooth should be removed. Many cases exist where there is no need to remove the wisdom tooth, but for most people this is not the case. In the latter cases, the mouth has no more room for extra teeth and it begins to get crowded and can cause severe pain.
   • Severe Decay
     When you don’t take care of your teeth, they get infected and start decaying. Most simple cases will only require a filling or root canal and the patient will be good to go. However, when the infection has spread too far, the only option is to remove the tooth.
   • Periodontal disease
     This is more related to the gum than it is to the tooth. It breaks the bone underneath the gum and loosens the tooth. In such a scenario, the best practice is to pull the tooth out and think of solutions to prevent further progression of the disease.

   Benefits of Extractions

   • Stop the infection
     Removing the tooth will stop the infection altogether if the source of infection is the tooth. This is not true in the case of gums.
   • Lessen the pain
     Although extraction is a slightly painful process itself, it will greatly reduce the level of pain you were experiencing earlier.
   • Reverse the damage
     Many people simply remove the tooth and get an implant or bridge to reverse the damage.

1. What Causes Tooth Discoloration, Staining, Dulling & Yellowing?

   When it comes to whitening and brightening smiles, it is important to understand why our teeth become dull, yellow, discolored and/or stained in the first place. While exterior staining is often caused by choices such as smoking, drinking coffee or even eating certain things. Interior “staining” is typically caused by erosion of enamel, exposing the yellow dentin below. Erosion of enamel occurs due to age, poor dental care, bacteria, acidity and even wear-and-tear.

   Professional or Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?

   Did you know over-the-counter teeth whitening products are designed to only remove exterior staining? When it comes to teeth whitening, we find that store-bought options leave a lot to be desired, results can often take months. Tooth sensitivity and gum irritation are often reported with over-the-counter teeth whitening products as well. With professional teeth whitening, you can achieve results in just one appointment (around an hour) and we ensure to protect your gums and tooth from irritation and sensitivity.

   DIY Teeth Whitening?

   Do-it-yourself teeth whitening has become popular in the last few years, with people claiming activated charcoal, lemon juice, and even strawberries can “whiten” your smile. While we do agree, these methods can remove EXTERIOR staining, they can also be detrimental to your oral health. We recommend always trusting in a professional for your teeth whitening needs.

   Schedule Professional Teeth Whitening in Katy, TX

   Interested in a brighter, whiter, more healthy-looking smile? Schedule an appointment with our teeth whitening dentist in Katy today! We’d be happy to evaluate your smile to determine if professional teeth whitening is the right option for you.

1. About Our Katy Dental Onlays

   A dental onlay is also a dental restoration quite similar to a dental inlay, however, an onlay can be used to repair damage or decay which has extended past the cusps of the affected tooth.

   Both dental inlays and onlays can actually help provide additional strength and structural support for the affected tooth, making them a great option to prevent future decay, damage or even breakage.

   Benefits of Inlays & Onlays

   • Dental onlays and inlays last longer than a filling.
   • Dental inlays and onlays allow teeth to withstand 50-75% more pressure.
   • Dental inlays and onlays preserve more of your natural tooth.
   • Dental onlays and inlays are designed to blend with your natural smile.

   Get Dental Onlays & Inlays in Katy, TX

   Think that you or a loved one may benefit from our inlays or onlays? Schedule an appointment with Katy Dental Experts today! We’d be happy to examine your smile to determine if one of our restorative dental treatments is recommended for you.

It’s an indication that your tooth may be in serious trouble.

Cavities may not seem like a big threat to your teeth, and they aren’t – if they are treated in their mild to moderate stages. If they’re allowed to progress until they reach the pulp of a tooth, though, they can be a big threat to your oral health. The root canal treatment is meant to stop the internal tooth infection from spreading through the root canal and beyond the tooth.

You might need a dental crown afterward.

The goal of a root canal treatment is to save the tooth and restore functionality without having to remove it. However, having work done on the tooth and losing part of the tooth structure to decay will most likely require the placement of a crown. This dental restoration is custom-made and protects the tooth.

You can avoid the need for another root canal treatment.

Although needing a root canal treatment means that the decay on a tooth is pretty well-developed, the condition is entirely avoidable. If you’ve had a root canal done on one tooth, you can view it as a reminder to take better care of the rest of your teeth. Practicing good oral hygiene at home and visiting the dentist regularly (twice a year) is the best way to make your first root canal treatment your last.

If you need a root canal in Katy, speak to your dentist about the benefits of the treatment and what to expect during and after the procedure.

How a Cavity is Formed

Bacteria is essentially always present in your mouth, both good and bad. This doesn’t necessarily constitute a bad thing unless you neglect to clean your mouth regularly and effectively. When you eat soft sugary foods, they have a tendency to stick to the surface of your teeth and the hard-to-reach crevices within them.

When the bad bacteria in your mouth latch on to the leftover food particles, they start to form a colony. As this colony of bacteria seeds and grows on to the food that you have neglected to clean from your mouth, the bacteria excrete an acid that corrodes into the enamel of your tooth.

As time goes on, the colony of bacteria becomes harder and harder to remove, slowly forming dental plaque. Eventually, the plaque becomes very hard and the bacteria will bore a hole into your tooth. This hole filled with bacteria is called a cavity.

How to Fix a Cavity?

Once a cavity has formed, you must see the dentist in order to get it corrected. You cannot do so on your own at home. If you suspect that you have a cavity, please give us a call and schedule an appointment today. If you catch the cavity early, the correction will be very easy. However, if you wait too long, the situation will only get worse and the correction will become more difficult.

When it comes to tooth extraction, the best option is to let your dentist decide whether or not the tooth can be saved. Your dentist is highly trained and has the expertise needed to make that call.

But why might an extraction be necessary? Let’s consider some reasons:

A Dangerous Infection

If your tooth has a serious infection, it can cause you severe pain. Not only pain, but it could cause you to suffer in other ways. An infection that is deep in the root of the tooth can actually spread to other parts of your body and cause serious and negative health effects.

If your tooth is severely infected, an extraction may be a safer alternative to two other extreme measures that could potentially save the tooth. When an infection is too far gone, and extraction could be the only course of action. Always listen to the advice of your dentist.

Severe Pain

If you are suffering from severe pain, a tooth extraction could be the fastest way to relieve your suffering. It is possible that other treatments could be effective and save the tooth. However, it could take a lot of time. If your pain is simply too severe, you could request that the tooth is extracted. This will relieve your pain faster than any other procedure.

Severe Damage

Tooth damage can be the result of a severe injury or decay due to a cavity. When a tooth is fractured or cracked in a way that is severe, or if it is discolored or decayed due to a cavity then it may not be possible to save the tooth. In this case, your dentist will be able to make the call effectively.

• • • Basketball
    • Boxing
    • Field Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Ice Hockey
    • Roller Hockey
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Gymnastics
    • Martial Arts
    • Racquetball
    • Water Polo
    • Skateboarding
    • Skiing
    • Soccer
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling

Although there are store-bought, generic mouthguards available, these are often ill-fitting, uncomfortable and inefficient and properly protecting the smile, jaw, and face.

Why You Need a Custom Mouthguard

When it comes to properly protect your oral health, Katy Dental Experts recommends a custom sports mouthguard. We’ve found that most athletes prefer not to wear bulky, uncomfortable ill-fitting mouthguards and may even be inclined to remove them (increasing their risk for a traumatic dental sports injury). Generic over-the-counter mouthguards are often ruined within a few uses as well, making them a costly investment in the long run.

At Katy Dental Experts, our custom sports guards are personalized per patient to ensure proper fit and the most comfort possible, allowing for maximum protection and proper breathing. Our custom mouth guards can even be worn by patients who are currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, also protecting your investment.

Get Your Custom Mouthguard in Katy, TX Today

Ready to make sure your smile is as protected as possible when playing sports? Schedule your appointment with Katy Dental Experts today! We’re always happy to have new patients and look forward to helping you protect your pearly whites.