tooth decay Archives - Robert Mitchell DDS Blog

Tooth-Colored Fillings in Dallas, Texas

May 3, 2017

Dental decay can strike a person of any age. If you experience tooth pain or pressure, you may have a cavity. Left untreated, the discomfort and damage will only get worse. Dr. Mitchell esthetically restores form and function to decayed dentition with tooth-colored composite resin fillings.

Dental Restoration Benefits

Because composite resin fillings are not made of metal, we can blend and mix shades to find the perfect color to match your natural teeth. This means that only you and Dr. Mitchell will know you have fillings. Another pro is that the tooth/composite bond actually supports the remaining tooth structure, deterring breakage and insulating against temperature changes. Medium and small composites can last seven to ten years – that’s as long as the tried and true amalgams. Best of all, composite resins allow us to keep more of your natural tooth structure intact than amalgams do. Our office believes in the power of conservative dentistry – the more natural tooth structure you keep, the better teeth you’ll likely have in the future!

At your checkup or new patient exam, Dr. Mitchell can check your existing fillings for wear and scan each of your teeth with our non-invasive DIAGNOdent laser. This modern tool identifies early stage decay before it can be seen or felt. If you need a new filling or want old metal ones replaced, Dr. Mitchell will tint a small amount of composite resin to match your existing smile. Then, he’ll bond the resin into your prepared cavity, restoring your tooth’s appearance and health. Your durable tooth-colored filling won’t warp or change shape, and it is impervious to decay, protecting your smile for years to come.

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Dental Crowns, Inlays & Onlays in Dallas, Texas

August 23, 2016

Creating Beautiful, Durable Smiles with Custom-Made Crowns in Dallas, Texas.

*Actual Patient

A damaged or severely worn tooth can mar your appearance and cause discomfort. Left untreated, the problem will only worsen and could result in an awkwardly broken tooth, acute pain, or a diseased tooth root. Let Dr. Mitchell restore structural integrity to your compromised dentition with a custom crown, inlay, or onlay.

A crown sits snugly atop a compromised tooth to strengthen and protect it. Dr. Mitchell uses all-ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and gold crowns for durable, long-lasting restorations. He’ll consider the location of your tooth and the amount of stress it incurs to determine which material to use. Porcelain crowns look and feel like natural teeth, so they’ll blend seamlessly into your smile.

Typically, we can design, fit, and place your crowns in just a couple of short appointments. The procedure for installing a dental crown normally takes two separate dentist visits. At your first appointment, Dr. Mitchell will examine the tooth to make sure that it can support a crown, then begin shaping the tooth to prepare it for the crown. Alternatively, if the tooth is severely damaged or broken, Dr. Mitchell may need to fill it in to make it large enough to properly receive the crown. After the tooth is prepped to the proper shape, Dr. Mitchell will take an impression of the tooth, as well as those surrounding it, and send it away to a dental lab, so the permanent crown can be made accordingly. By the end of this first visit, your tooth will have a new temporary crown that protects it until the final crown is ready to be permanently placed.

When the permanent crown is ready, you will have your second visit. At this appointment, the temporary crown is removed, Dr. Mitchell will position and fasten the new crown to the tooth with a special permanent adhesive.

Once a crown is placed, you can care for it as you do your natural teeth. Conscientious brushing twice a day and daily flossing will protect the base of your crown from bacterial growth. Be sure to see us at least two times each year for professional cleanings and a preventive exam, too. If you have any questions please call 972-233-1311 we would love to set up a consultation for Dr. Mitchell or one of our knowledgeable staff members to go over the process with you in more detail.

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General Dentistry in Dallas, TX

March 17, 2016

Skilled Dallas Dentist Helping Patients Maintain Healthy Smiles

A strong, healthy smile is something to be treasured. Proper preventive care can keep your teeth and gums looking and feeling great for years to come. As an experienced general dentist, Dr. Mitchell offers a variety of therapies to maximize oral wellness.

For optimal dental wellbeing, Dr. Mitchell recommends regular, six-month checkups. He may suggest products and techniques to optimize your oral homecare routine. He’ll use state-of-the-art tools (such as Velscope) to identify problems like tooth decay and oral cancer. Early diagnosis means timely intervention and treatment, which results in improved oral health. He’ll check your gum tissue for signs of periodontal disease and assess your bite alignment. If you’re an athlete or the parent of one, Dr. Mitchell might suggest a custom mouthguard to prevent sports-related oral injury.

General & Preventive Dentistry Services

Whatever your needs are, you can rely on Dr. Mitchell’s extensive training in the field of general and cosmetic dentistry to give you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. Call today to schedule a Complimentary Consult to discuss your General or Cosmetic Dental Needs. 972-233-1311.

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Valentine’s Candies and Cavities

February 8, 2016

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: brush your teeth, brushing, candy, cavity, cavtities, check up, cleaning, decay, dental cavities, dental decay, enamel, february, floss, flossing, love, teeth cleaning, tooth decay, valentines, valentines candy, valentines day — @ 3:52 pm

dental-teeth-sugar Halloween isn’t the only cavity holiday. Heart shaped boxes of chocolates, candy hearts, peanut butter hearts, and M&Ms are just a few popular candies every Valentine’s Day. These treats have concentrated amounts of sugar. Whenever sugar comes in contact with the bacteria in your mouth, an acid is produced that attacks teeth and can cause cavities.

Each tooth is covered by a hard mineral substance called enamel. The enamel helps to protect your teeth, but because it’s a mineral, it can break down when it makes contact with the acids in your mouth. This is one of many reasons why drinking water is really good for the health of your mouth. It washes over your teeth and gums along with your saliva, helping to combat the acid and buildup of bacteria. Sugars and starches are the main enemies here, because bacteria thrive on them.

Once enough bacteria builds up, it’s going to form into plaque and then tartar, two or more enemies of your enamel. If you fail to take care of your teeth by brushing, flossing and drinking plenty of water, then the tartar and plaque will eventually eat away at the enamel, forming tiny holes that compromise the hard surface. This is what’s known as tooth decay. If enough acid builds up over time, these tiny holes get a little larger until they eventually become cavities.

So what to do this Valentines Day???

Some foods and candies create more problems for your teeth than others, including those that are sticky, dissolve slowly or are sucked, such as lollipops, hard candies, toffee, gum drops, taffy, caramel, peanut brittle, and high-energy sports bars. Make wise candy choices this Valentine’s Day or do indulge in your Valentine’s treat but make sure to maintain good oral health. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice daily, flossing once per day, drinking lots of water and rinsing with an alcohol-free mouthwash are all excellent preventative measures. You can also avoid sugary or starchy foods and, of course, visit your dentist twice a year for regular, professional cleanings. (http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/problems/how-do-cavities-form.htm)

If you need to schedule a cleaning or check-up please do not hesitate and call today (972-233-1311)

❤️❤️HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FROM DR. MITCHELL & STAFF ❤️❤️

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Root Canal Therapy in Dallas, TX

January 18, 2016

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: abscess, Cosmetic Dentist, cosmetic dentist dallas, Cosmetic Dentist Dallas Tx, Cosmetic Dentist in Dallas TX, DALLAS DENTIST, Dallas TX Cosmetic Dentist, Dallas TX Dentist, decay, Dental, dental anxiety, dental fear, healthy teeth, pulp, root canal, sedation dentistry, tooth, tooth decay, toothache — @ 11:24 am

*Actual Patient*

Has your dentist or endodontist told you that you need root canal treatment? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of teeth are treated and saved each year with root canal, or endodontic, treatment. Learn how root canal treatment can relieve your tooth pain and save your smile.

Your teeth contain several layers: the outer protective enamel, a secondary layer of sensitive dentin, and an inner pulp that contains components commonly referred to as the “nerve” of the tooth. Each pulp chamber branches off, forming canals that lead toward the tooth root tip. These infamous root canals provide a means for the tooth to absorb what it needs from the blood and get rid of toxins or other unnecessary materials via the blood stream. A deep cavity, traumatic injury, or tooth fracture can make the canal susceptible to bacterial infection, which can kill the pulp, stimulate increased blood flow, and create pressure within the tooth. This can cause severe tooth pain and may initiate bone degeneration, tooth loss, and even more acute pain. If you see a dentist in the earliest stages of this condition, the tooth may be saved with a root canal. Otherwise, it should be extracted and replaced with a prosthetic.

Will root canal therapy hurt? Not with today’s advanced analgesics and technology. In fact, the entire process can be so comfortable that many patients doze off. Oftentimes, root canal therapy can be completed in a single appointment. We simply clean out the diseased canal, fill it with a biologically-inert substance, seal it from further infection, and you’re on your way. While some patients experience post-procedural soreness or slight tissue inflammation, these are controllable with over-the-counter analgesics. Follow-up care involves thorough home hygiene and regular dental visits for cleanings and check ups.

Before Root Canal After Root Canal

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