Three of the Best Tools to Clean Your Dental Bridge

Dental bridges are a common solution for patients who have lost or damaged teeth. Made up of one or more artificial teeth, a bridge anchors to the teeth on either end of the gap, restoring your smile and bite to its previous state. Bridges are a great temporary restoration option that can last over five years if properly cared for.

It’s important to clean around your dental bridge every day, but the structure of the bridge can make it tricky to floss and brush as you would around natural teeth. Luckily, there are several tools that can help keep your bridge and the surrounding area in good shape.

1. Interdental Brush

Interdental brushes are small handheld brushes that come in a variety of sizes. Once you find the proper size, using an interdental brush is a breeze. Simply insert the bristled end of the brush between your bridge and your gums and gently clean the area. Interdental brushes are also a great alternative to regular floss if you prefer to use them between all of your teeth!

2. Floss Threader

If you’ve ever worn braces, you’ll be no stranger to a floss threader. This handy tool looks like a soft plastic needle. By running floss through the eye of the threader and then pulling the threader through your dental bridge, you can get floss in that tough-to-reach area with ease.

3. Water Flosser

A water flosser, or oral irrigator, is a device that uses a high-powered stream of water to remove food particles and plaque from your gum line and gaps in your teeth. Just aim the water jet between your gums and your bridge and it’ll be clean in no time. While a water flosser can be pricier than a pack of interdental brushes or floss threaders, it’s a solid investment that you can use over and over.

Dental Bridges in North Richland Hills, Texas

We at North Richland Hills Dentistry are committed to giving you the best smile available. If you need a dental bridge or just want to keep yours looking good as new, schedule your next visit today!

Contact Us Today!

Can a Root Canal Be Done on a Front Tooth?

Our back teeth, those big, strong molars, are the ones that do a lot of the work when it comes to grinding down our food before it goes down the pipe. They also have more surface area with little crevices and grooves where food particles can often get stuck. Put those two things together and you can see why it’s more common for the back teeth to develop infections that may need root canals. So, what happens if you have an issue with one of your front teeth and it requires a root canal? We have the answers!

How a Front Tooth Root Canal Works

Regardless of whether the tooth is in the front or in the back, the general root canal procedure is really the same. We start by accessing the inner pulp of the tooth, remove the infected material, clean and shape the area, and eventually place a dental restoration, like a dental crown, on top to fully restore the tooth.

The big difference with the procedure is that with back teeth, we create a hole in the top surface of the tooth to access the inside while with the front tooth, we need to make that hole from the back. There’s also the fact that sometimes a front tooth doesn’t require a whole dental crown and instead can be restored using just a filling.

The Difference Between Front & Back Root Canals

Many people consider root canals on front teeth to be “easier” because of the recovery afterwards. Since front teeth are thinner and have less pulp inside, it’s a faster healing process overall. It may only take you a few days to be completely recovered! It’s normal to feel a bit of discomfort right after a root canal as the local anesthesia wears off but this is often less than with a back tooth since it was a smaller area being treated.

Do you need root canal therapy on a front tooth? Contact North Richland Hills Dentistry today to set up your appointment at our practice!

Contact Us Today!

Do Root Canals Remove Permanent Teeth?

Smiling elderly man giving the thumbs up sign from the dental chair.

There are a lot of common misconceptions about root canal therapy. Some of the most common misconceptions are that they are incredibly painful and that they remove your natural tooth. At North Richland Hills Dentistry, we want to debunk dental myths and help educate our patients and community so that they can make well-informed decisions for their oral health. Here’s what you need to know about root canal therapy.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is an advanced dental treatment that can repair a severely damaged or decayed tooth. Unlike some myths state, the entire purpose of a root canal is to preserve the natural tooth, not remove it.

How Does Root Canal Therapy Save a Tooth?

With root canal therapy, a trained dentist will make a small hole in the top of the crown. Through the hole, they will access the diseased pulp in the middle of the tooth and remove it. Once it’s successfully removed, they will fill the canals with a biocompatible material. Dentists remove the damaged pulp so that it can’t infect the roots of the teeth and cause the tooth to fall out.

How to Know if You Need a Root Canal

There are signs you can watch out for that may point to root canal therapy. Some of the most common ones are:

Schedule Your Consultation with North Richland Hills Dentistry

If you currently have a dental problem that you’ve been putting off, don’t wait to have it looked at! Whether you’re in need of a root canal or another dental treatment, the sooner you have it treated, the less likely it is to turn into a more serious, complex issue. Please contact our office to schedule your consultation!

Contact Us Today!

What Are My Options if I Want My Teeth Removed & Replaced?

While it’s more common for someone to remove and replace a single tooth or a few teeth, there are still situations where a patient will be looking to replace all of their teeth at once. If you have a long history of neglecting your dental care, have experienced dental trauma, or if you have certain genetic issues that affect your oral health, you might be able to relate. North Richland Hills Dentistry offers a few different options to restore your smile.

Traditional Full Dentures

Full dentures are probably the most popular option for people who want to replace all of their teeth at the same time. This is true for a number of reasons. For one, dentures have long been a proven restorative method, and they also happen to be one of the more affordable tooth-replacement options. Traditional dentures stay in place because of adhesives and suction. No surgery is required and the dentures can be ready in a short period of time. Every time we provide a patient with dentures, we make sure they look natural and fit comfortably so they can regain full confidence in their smile.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are biocompatible posts which are surgically placed into your gums. They help maintain bone integrity where you previously had tooth roots. After a period of healing, the implants are used to secure your custom created tooth restoration. Dental implants can be used for each missing tooth or in combination with other restorative options, like dentures.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Another option is to get implant-supported dentures. Here a full arch of teeth is fixed in place by four dental implants. This is often seen as a better option for those replacing more than a couple of teeth. While this option is more expensive than traditional dentures, many people love how secure and natural the dentures feel.

Full Mouth Restoration in Richland Hills, TX

While doing some research on your own is a great first step, the best way to go through your options is to consult a dental professional who can become familiar with your specific case. Dr. Desai at North Richland Hills Dentistry will consider the many factors that can determine what option is best for you. These can include your budget, the current state of your oral health, and your own personal preferences. If you’re ready to see a dentist about restoring your smile, contact us for a consultation! We also offer a variety of payment methods to make the restoration of your smile more affordable.

Contact Us Today!

Chipped My Tooth, What Are My Options?

Uh oh! Did you just chip your tooth? Hopefully, the answer is no, but if it’s yes, stay calm and know that there are options available to you. Unfortunately accidents can happen, usually when we least expect them. But, thanks to modern dentistry, you don’t have to put up with the chip for the rest of your life.

How to Treat a Chipped Tooth

The first main factor in determining which treatment option is right for you is seeing how big the chip is. If it’s a small chip, then Dr. Desai might be able to use a small tool that buffs and files the area to make it smooth again. If it’s a medium-sized chip, then we’ll need to replace the missing material with either a filling, dental bonding, or a dental veneer. If it’s a large chip then it’s possible you’ll need a dental crown to cover the area.

Consult Your Dentist

The good news is that you don’t need to make a decision about what treatment option you want before you actually see a dentist. All you have to do is get yourself to our office as soon as possible so that the tooth doesn’t get worse. Once you’re here, Dr. Desai and our team will examine the tooth and do a dental X-ray if necessary. Then we'll be able to determine what kind of restorative treatment you need. If you have multiple options, we'll walk you through the differences in cost, maintenance and recovery time.

Smile Restoration in North Richland Hills

If you have a chipped tooth and need to see a dentist, then we welcome you to North Richland Hills Dentistry. We offer many different restorative dental services. Our team will make sure that you understand the options. Together we will figure out what is the best option for you and your smile. Call or email our practice today so our experienced team can get your tooth repaired and have you smiling again!

Contact Us Today!

Everything You Need To Know About Dental Fillings

If you get a cavity, a dental filling is the most common fix. What are fillings made from? Does the process hurt? Here’s everything you need to know.

What Are Fillings?

Dentists use materials like porcelain, composite resins, and even gold to make fillings. The material acts as a patch that fills in a dental cavity. Fillings prevent further decay, treat any pain, and strengthen your tooth. At North Richland Hills Dentistry we offer tooth-colored composite fillings. We like this restorative option because composite fillings are strong and they blend in with the rest of your smile.

What’s It Like To Get a Filling?

Once we’ve determined that you need a filling, we'll numb the area. Next, we'll remove the decay from your tooth. This keeps bacteria from spreading. The final step replaces the part of your tooth destroyed by decay with the composite filling. Most of the time, we can complete a filling in about an hour. If you have several cavities that need fillings, we might need more than one appointment. You won’t feel pain during the procedure, but your teeth might feel slightly sensitive for a short time afterward.

How Do You Care for a Filling?

Fillings don’t require any special care. Continue brushing, flossing, and coming in for regular cleanings and exams with Dr. Desai. Fillings can break down or crack, so you might need to replace yours at some point. Most fillings last for years before replacement is necessary. Prevent lost fillings and cracked teeth by avoiding hard or super chewy foods that can damage your teeth. If a filling falls out or breaks, it’s considered a dental emergency, so please give us a call!

Dental Fillings at North Richland Hills Dentistry in TX

Every cavity is different, so we’ll always assess the specific situation and discuss your options. We use dental fillings regularly, so we’re happy to answer any questions you might have. Regular preventive care exams allow us to detect cavities early while they're still small. Please contact us today if you want to learn more or if you want to book an appointment!

Contact Us Today!

Image by Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Are Smile Flaws Holding You Back in Your Career?

Stuck in a rut when it comes to your career? Your lack of confidence could be to blame. If you’re looking for an easy way to boost that self-esteem, start with your smile. If you think your smile flaws could be holding you back, here's some things to think about.

Are Smile Flaws Holding You Back in Your Career?

What is the first thing someone notices when they meet someone new? Survey says, their smile! Whether you're meeting a client or interviewing for a new position, the working world is all about making connections. If you’re self-conscious about your teeth, you may be hesitant to smile when you’re in those scenarios. This could come across as unfriendly, cold, or unenthusiastic, even though that’s probably not the case. First impressions are very important, so if your smile is stopping you from making the best one possible, it’s time to change that.

Cosmetic Solutions in North Richland Hills, TX

Now for the fun part! Whatever problem spots you have with your smile, we’ll fix them! That’s right, we have the skills and services to fix pretty much whatever is bothering you. Discoloration getting you down? Professional teeth whitening can brighten up your smile drastically. Crooked or misaligned smile? Invisalign® clear aligner therapy will fix it. And we also have the ultimate smile transformation that will improve just about anything. Porcelain veneers can correct cracks, discoloration, gaps, misshapen teeth, and more!

Tooth Restoration Options

If your smile needs more than a cosmetic boost, we have solutions for that too. There are many ways to replace missing or severely damaged teeth. Restoring a damaged smile does more than improve your confidence. It also improves your oral health. Don't let financial worries stop you from getting the dental care you need. We offer many different payment options and our in-house dental savings plan makes it easy for busy professionals to maintain a beautiful smile.

Enhance Your Smile with North Richland Hills Dentistry

So now that you know the key to improve your self confidence, what are you waiting for? A consultation for a smile makeover is just a call or a click away. Call our North Richland Hills office about achieving a smile that reflects your great potential.

Contact Us Today!

What Are the Best Tooth Replacement Options

If you’re missing a tooth, there’s no reason to fret about the future of your smile. Modern dental technology has made it possible for us to offer natural, comfortable tooth replacement options that will make you forget that your replacement is not the real thing. What’s the best tooth replacement option for your smile? Read on as we highlight the transformative restorative procedures offered here at North Richland Hills Dentistry.

Fixed Dental Bridges

When you’re missing one or more teeth, bridges are a great restoration option to turn to. A bridge will be used to provide false teeth to fill the gap left by the missing teeth. The bridge is held in a permanent place by dental crowns on either side of the gap.

Dentures

Dentures are often portrayed badly in cartoons and other popular culture, but today’s dentures are much improved from what they once were. When considering dentures, you’ll have the choice between full or partial dentures depending on how many teeth you're missing. It's possible to replace a section or even an entire arch of teeth. Unlike a fixed bridge, partial dentures are removable just like their full counterpart.

Dental Implants

Implants are different from the two options stated above. They replace the entire root of the tooth. The implant itself is a titanium post that is surgically placed in the jaw and fuses with the bone as it heals. This creates a sturdy base for the realistic false tooth to be placed on. Implants create a sturdy, natural replacement and help to preserve the integrity of the jaw bone. Implants can also be used as a base to support your dentures.

Restorative Dentistry in North Richland Hills, TX

Ready to get on the road to tooth replacement? Your first stop is a consultation here at North Richland Hills Dentistry. Call our office or visit our website today to request your visit.

Image by Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Contact Us Today!

What Is a Dental Abscess?

Bacterial infections can occur in your tooth, gums, and jaw bone. When left untreated, they can develop into a formation of pus, also known as an abscess. Abscesses can develop for a variety of reasons, primarily lack of oral hygiene, poor diet, and trauma.

Signs & Symptoms of a Dental Abscess

Dental abscesses come with a host of symptoms, including:

Treatment for Dental Abscess

If you believe you have a dental abscess, it’s important to schedule an appointment with North Richland Hills Dentistry right away. Early treatment is best to prevent the infection from getting worse or spreading. Most abscesses are treated with root canal therapy depending on how advanced the infection is.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is typically complete in just one treatment. First, Dr. Desai will numb the area around the affected tooth so you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during treatment. We will then drill a small hole in the tooth and flush out any infected pulp, or soft tissue inside of your tooth. The area will then be filled with gutta percha, a biocompatible rubber material that replaces the pulp tissue. Finally, the tooth is sealed with a crown to protect it from decay or damage. Root canals aren’t nearly as painful as having a dental abscess, so don’t be afraid to schedule an appointment if you think you need one!

Gentle Care in North Richland Hills, TX

Dental procedures can be daunting, but at North Richland Hills Dentistry, it’s our mission to provide comfortable, professional service at an affordable price. We offer luxe amenities like pillows and blankets, flat-screen TVs, headphones, and refreshments in the lobby to help you feel right at home in our care. Don’t suffer in pain alone! Dr. Desai is here to help you maintain a beautiful and healthy smile. Give us a call or schedule an appointment with us online. We look forward to seeing you!

Contact Us Today!

Is a Root Canal Painful?

Somehow over the years, root canals have become one of the most dreaded dental procedures, if not the most dreaded. We’re here to say that’s really not such a fair assessment. Root canal treatments are a widely common procedure, basically as routine as a normal dental filling. Despite that, many patients live in fear that getting one is going to be a painful experience. North Richland Hills Dentistry is here to quell your worries and reassure you that there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to root canal treatment.

Separating Fact From Fiction

Let’s set the record straight: Root canals should not be painful. Maybe back in the very early days of dentistry there were some issues with patient comfort during the procedure, but thankfully those times are far behind us. The fact of the matter is that a root canal is used as a remedy when someone is experiencing dental pain due to a severe infection. What really hurts is not the root canal treatment itself, but the condition you’re already experiencing if you’re in need of a root canal.

More About Root Canals

During a root canal treatment, a local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area. For those who think they need more aid easing their worries or staying comfortable in the dental chair, there are sedation options like nitrous oxide (laughing gas) that can be used too. Our dentist will carefully remove the infected pulp, flush and seal the area to prevent further infection, and strengthen the tooth with a filling or crown. Two more positive facts: You get to keep your tooth and you're free of pain!

Your Root Canal Dentist in North Richland Hills

We understand that even with all of this information, you may still feel hesitant about getting a root canal. That’s why it’s so important to get the treatment done at a place you can trust to put your health, safety, and comfort first. At North Richland Hills Dentistry, we provide root canal therapy in a calm environment with a gentle touch. We also have different dental sedation options available to help ease any dental anxieties you might have during the procedure. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or to book an appointment.

Contact Us Today!

How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?

Dental crowns are frequently used to save the smiles of patients because they’re handy in a variety of dental situations. They can strengthen a tooth that’s been severely weakened by decay, they can cover up a tooth that has been chipped, and they’re often used along with other procedures like dental bridges or dental implants. If you think a dental crown might be the solution you need for your smile, your next thought may be, “Okay, but how much is this going to cost me?” Let’s break it down:

Average Cost of Dental Crowns

There are a few factors that can influence the cost of a dental crown. The material yours is made out of will certainly affect the price. For example, there are all-porcelain crowns, porcelain fused-to-metal crowns, zirconia crowns, and gold crowns. A general range is that a dental crown can cost between $800 to $1,700. If you have dental insurance, your plan might cover a good portion of that since crowns are often used as restorative measures.

Our Financial Options

At North Richland Hills Dentistry, we’re used to seeing patients with a range of budgets. While everyone may be coming from a different financial situation, we strongly believe that everyone deserves to access the dental care they need. As a way to make our services affordable to our community, we offer a few types of payment options. For example, we accept all dental PPOS, we have an in-house savings plan, and we extend payment plans through CareCredit and our own in-house financing.

To learn more about any of our financial options, you can head to the Financial page of our website. You’re also more than welcome to contact our office directly with your questions.

Dental Crowns at North Richland Hills Dentistry

Remember, if you need a crown, it may cost you more in the long run to ignore the problem. The North Richland Hills Dentistry team wants to make sure your dental health is always in tip-top shape and that you don’t have to break the budget getting there. Contact our practice today to set up your dental crown appointment

Contact us for all of your oral health needs!

What Is the Dental Implant Procedure Like?

Interested in replacing a tooth—or teeth—with a dental implant? Well, you’re not alone! Dental implants have become very popular in recent years. Read on to learn why implants are such a favored restoration solution, and what you can expect when you get one!

The Benefits of Dental Implants

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the dental implant procedure, we’ll tell you why you’re going to want one. Replacing a tooth with an implant comes with a number of great benefits. One of the key reasons why implants are favored over other great restoration options—like dentures and bridges—is that they look and feel just like a natural tooth. That means that your new tooth won’t alter your appearance or your ability to eat or speak. Implants are also stable, permanent, and long lasting. Finally, the dental implant procedure is straightforward and virtually pain-free. Keep reading to learn more!

Inside the Dental Implant Procedure

If you are due to get a dental implant, you can expect the process to be completed in two visits to the dentist or oral surgeon. At the first visit, we will insert the implant into the jaw bone. The implant itself is a titanium post that’s formed like a screw and is inserted where the tooth root would have been. After the first procedure, you’ll be given time to heal. During that time, the implant will fuse with the jawbone, forming a strong and steady bond. Once healed, you’ll come back in to have your custom-made restoration attached to the implant.

Dental Implants in North Richland Hills, Texas

Sound good to you? The next step is to meet with Dr. Desai here at North Richland Hills Dentistry to talk about your treatment plan. To set up a consultation, give our office a call. Or, request a visit on our website.

Contact us for all of your oral health needs!

What Is a Dead Tooth?

Of all the tooth trouble you could be faced with, a dead tooth might sound the most dire by name, and certainly the creepiest. In this blog post, we’ll let you know how to spot a dead tooth, and help you understand why you might have one.

What’s a Dead Tooth?

When a tooth is healthy, the pulp and the nerves that reside within its hard, outer shell are healthy, and it’s considered alive. When that matter within the tooth is damaged, thanks to decay or injury, it is possible for blood flow to the tooth to halt, causing the tooth to die.

What Causes a Dead Tooth?

One possible cause is trauma. If you have an accident and your tooth gets hit with enough force, the tooth might end up dying. That death can occur quickly, or it might take months. Poor dental care is another common cause of tooth death. If you fail to brush and floss regularly and visit the dentist for your biannual cleaning and exam, you’re putting your teeth at risk and a dead tooth can come as a result. Without proper oral hygiene, cavities are nearly inevitable. If left untreated, that decay targets and infects the tooth pulp, leading to that loss of blood flow and the eventual loss of the tooth’s vitality.

Spotting a Dead Tooth

The most apparent and outward sign of a dead tooth is discoloration. While healthy teeth should be a shade of white, if a little bit yellow, a dead tooth will stand out amongst the other teeth as discolored. Dead teeth can be yellow, brown, gray, or black, and that discoloration tends to deepen over time. Additionally, if you’re dealing with a dead tooth, you may feel pain, experience foul breath and/or a bad taste in your mouth, or see swelling around the affected tooth.

If you think you might have a dead tooth, it’s crucial that we tend to the tooth quickly so that the problem doesn’t spread. Make an appointment to come see us here at North Richland Hills Dentistry as soon as you can.

Contact us to schedule an appointment today!

Pros and Cons of Implant-Supported Dentures

If you've lost most or all of your teeth to decay or trauma, you are probably interested in getting dentures to replace them. Dentures have come a long way in recent years and, thanks to implant technology, you no longer have to worry about them fitting awkwardly or shifting around in your mouth. Stabilized dentures can be a great option for people who need dentures, but want to avoid the inconvenience typically associated with them. Here are some things to know about implant-supported dentures.

Advantages of Stabilized Dentures

The most appealing aspect of implant-supported dentures is that they are permanently fitted into your mouth. Small titanium posts are surgically anchored into your jaw, and the denture snaps into place over them, securing them in place. This prevents the fixture from shifting around in your mouth, and helps them feel both secure and comfortable. Since the implants fuse to your jawbone, they help to prevent the bone loss that is typically associated with lost teeth and offer the same support as your natural teeth do.

You'll regain the look and feel of real teeth and never have to worry about the inconvenience of removing your dentures for cleaning and maintenance. For most people, all of these advantages are reason enough to choose stabilized dentures to restore their confidence in their smile.

Considerations Before Getting Implant-Supported Dentures

While there are many advantages to getting implant-supported dentures, they may not be for everybody and there are a few things you should consider before you decide if they are right for you.

Permanent, but Not Indestructible

Even though implants are considered a permanent restoration, they do experience natural wear and tear just like natural teeth. If you take good care of them, they will last many years, but crowns may wear out over time or even break and need to be replaced. This is no different than with natural teeth, but it's good to remember that no dental fixture is completely indestructible.

Surgery & Healing Time

It's important to consider the fact that dental implants require a minor surgical procedure and that there are several steps involved. You'll need to allow your mouth time to heal in between procedures, and the whole process usually involves three or four appointments spread out over several months. You'll complete the process with custom-fitted dentures that look and feel like real teeth, and most people feel that this commitment is well worth having a permanently restored smile.

Not Covered by Insurance

Even though this is normally considered a restorative procedure, your dental implants and dentures may not be covered by your dental insurance. It's always a good idea to check your individual coverage to get an estimate of the out-of-pocket costs and to plan ahead for how you will finance your procedure. However, the permanence and durability of implant-supported dentures make them a worthwhile investment in your oral health and appearance.

North Richland Hills Dentistry offers restorative procedures including partial and full dentures and implant stabilization. We also offer flexible financing options through CareCredit and Compassionate Financing, both of which allow you to make low monthly payments on the entire cost of your procedure. If you'd like to learn more about stabilized dentures and whether or not they are right for you, contact us today to schedule a consultation.