A dental implant is an option to replace a missing tooth. In this procedure, a small titanium cylinder is placed into the bone.  The bone is allowed to integrate or grow around the implant for a specific amount of time. Once the implant is stable in the bone and able to handle chewing forces, your dentist will attach a replacement crown on top of the implant.

Implants have become very successful to help replace one or many teeth. Patients really like that implant crowns can be cleaned like their natural teeth and do not have to be removed at night.

There are also smaller implants with special anchors to help stabilize dentures.   The “lower” denture especially benefits from implant stabilization as it tends to move more with chewing and speaking.

The Onset Buffering System is a game-changer in local anesthesia. It has been specially designed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of anesthesia delivery, ensuring a more comfortable experience for our patients. Patients often report feeling less discomfort during the injection process, which means a more pleasant dental visit overall. Additionally, the accelerated onset of anesthesia reduces the waiting time for the anesthetic to take effect, allowing us to proceed with the necessary treatment promptly.

It’s particularly advantageous for patients who are more sensitive to pain or have had difficulty achieving adequate anesthesia in the past. With this advanced technology, we can tailor the anesthesia experience to meet your individual needs, ensuring optimal comfort throughout your dental procedure.

TMJ refers to the joint in our jaws, specifically the temporal-mandibular joint. Problems in this joint may be caused by a misalignment of the teeth, trauma, or painful muscle tension.

Problems in this area can cause:

• Headaches
• Earaches
• Trouble/soreness in opening and closing the mouth
• Clicking or popping of the jaw
• Pain in the jaw muscles
• Soreness in the area, sometimes extending to the face

While there is not a one-size-fits-all treatment for the condition, options may include but are not limited to replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite, and filling gaps between teeth. Sometimes a plastic mouthpiece is recommended to reduce both pain and the damaging effects of clenching or grinding.

Please let us know if you are having any of these symptoms when you visit us.

Laser dentistry is one of the most advanced dental treatments available to Dentists today. At Garden Ridge Center for Dentistry, we are proud to use a Biolase laser- specifically the Waterlase. Waterlase uses a patented technology that combines focused light energy with a stream of water for a highly precise, exceptionally gentle dental experience.

There are a few reasons why a patient needs root canal or endodontic therapy. Often, it is because tooth decay reaches all the way to the nerve of the tooth. Regular cleanings and checkups with x-rays can detect and prevent this process. Another reason a tooth may need root canal therapy is due to trauma which can break a tooth and damage the nerve. Either way, the nerve or pulp becomes infected and cannot heal on its own. It must be treated to prevent pain and infection.

Symptoms that the nerve has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain from biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes, a patient will have no symptoms but the infection is found with an X-ray taken on a routine check-up which underscores the importance of regular dental visits.

The infection must be treated or the tooth must be removed. Root canal therapy for an infected nerve helps save the tooth. Usually, a crown is recommended tooth after root canal therapy.