10 Facts About Dental Implants Part I
Did you know that a single implant-supported dental crown is the most commonly restorative procedure performed? In fact, according to the American College of Prosthodontics, around 2.3 million implant-supported crowns are fabricated every year. With such a large number of Americans optioning for implant-supported crowns, it makes one wonder what the appeal is. Recently, there […]
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2 Types of Dental X-Rays
Dental x-rays are important diagnostic tools general dentists use to evaluate your underlying bone structure, plan for dental implants or extractions, and detect cavities. Part of your semi-annual dental checkup will most likely consist of having dental x-rays performed. Dental x-rays don’t hurt, only take a few minutes to complete, and use extremely low amounts […]
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Teeth Sensitivity To Whitening
Thanks to the efforts of Hollywood there’s nothing Americans love better than a beautiful white smile. Being able to fearlessly whip out your pearly whites and give someone a winning smile can give you an incredible sense of confidence. This obsession with the whitest of smiles has led to an entire industry of whitening products […]
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The Top 5 Preventative Dental Services
Did you know that the field of general dentistry is largely concerned with preventative care? Preventative dental care is any activity that aims to maintain good oral health by preventing cavities, gum disease, or enamel wear. Preventative care minimizes your risk of developing serious dental issues that may require restorative care such as fillings or […]
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Understanding Cavities and How They Affect Your Oral Health
As of 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 31.6% of American adults from the ages of 20-44 and 18.6% of American children ages 5-19 had untreated dental cavities. Out of the various dental issues that can occur, dental cavities are one of the most common dental ailments. In fact, most people […]
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Types of Implants
Having a damaged or missing tooth can be annoying and potentially detrimental to your health. However, dental implants have been helping people regain their smiles for decades through the most advanced technology. Here’s an overview of what dental implants are, what types of implants exist, and how to prepare for a procedure. What are Dental […]
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What is a Crown? Why is a Crown Needed?
When you speak to your dentist about possible treatments for decay and damage to your teeth, you’re likely to hear the term ‘crown’ a lot. Like a crown that sits on the head, a dental crown is placed over your tooth to protect it, often after the decayed tooth has been reshaped to accept it. […]
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Can I Keep My Wisdom Teeth?
Once you’ve made it through your teen years you might believe you’ve had all the teeth come in you’re ever going to get. For over half of all people this isn’t actually the case as wisdom teeth can come as late as your early adult years. Understanding when and how your wisdom teeth can come […]
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How Gum Disease And Heart Disease Are Related
It’s important to remember that the body isn’t compartmentalized into isolated systems, but that your health is the result of multiple parts of your body working in tandem. Continuing research has been revealing just how much your oral health is part of this connection, with recent data showing that an increased risk of heart disease […]
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Am I Candidate For Dentures?
Life without a complete set of teeth can be a real challenge, especially if you like foods that require a decent amount of chewing to enjoy. Dentures are a great way to restore your ability to enjoy delicious foods without having to mush them up or use alternative preparations, and they help to preserve your […]
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When Should I Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
As we enter our 20th year we need to begin being concerned about the presence of wisdom teeth for the first time. Over half of all dental patients experience complications that involve impaction due to wisdom teeth, and have to undergo surgery to have them removed. In some patients who get wisdom teeth there are […]
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When Should My Child See A Dentist?
We don’t often consider our newborns dental health when they first come home, a fact that is unsurprising given that they don’t have any teeth yet! It won’t be long before they get their first tooth, and most parents don’t know that getting them into the dentist as soon as possible is vital to their […]
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Why Professional Dental Cleaning Is Essential To Your Health
A steady routine of traditional oral health care practices including flossing, regular use of mouthwash, and the all-important brushing can go a long way to helping you retain your teeth throughout your whole life. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only key to good oral health, these excellent practices must be combined with regular visits to your […]
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Understanding Gum Disease
It’s not uncommon to hear the phrase “gum diseases like gingivitis” in ads for toothpaste and floss on TV, but have you ever heard them discuss the various types of gum disease? For most patients, gingivitis is the only term they’re aware of, and in many cases, they’re unaware of any other forms existing. The […]
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Clearing Up The Mystery of Dental Implants!
Dental Implants have been touted as a sort of promised land for those who are looking for a way to replace their missing teeth. While they’re currently big news, they’re hardly a new concept, given that Ancient Egyptian mummies have been found with implants made of gold-wire in their jawbones. While Americans under 50 have […]
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How To Prepare For The Dental Implant Procedure
You’ve been hearing about dental implants, and the idea of having a beautiful set of teeth that will return your favorite foods and a confident smile to you is tempting you to take the plunge. It’s understandable that there would be some trepidation, it’s a big step and most people don’t clearly understand what goes […]
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Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Dental anxiety is a common concern among patients, and for those who suffer from it, the idea of being unconscious during the procedure sounds like heaven. Sedation dentistry is used in those situations where the surgery doesn’t qualify for the use of local anesthesia due to its severity, or where the patient has elected to […]
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10 Things You Didn’t Know Your Dentist Was Doing at Your Checkup
Approximately every six months you should visit Southwest Family Dentistry for your regular dental check-up. While these check-ups may seem simple, Dr. Batlle and his team are doing a number of things that you may or may not realize. All these things being done during your dental check up are what makes these semi-annual check […]
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What is a Root Canal?
Two words are capable of striking fear in any dental patient—root canal. The anticipated pain of the procedure and being misinformed about the subject is often the source of dread for many patients. However, excruciatingly painful dental procedures are now a thing of the past. With numerous advancements made in the dental industry and anesthetics […]
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What You Don’t Know About Dental Insurance
Dental insurance can be tricky. There are many things about dental insurance that individuals may not know and this can cause major confusion and financial struggle. Understanding how dental insurance operates is essential in deciding whether or not acquiring dental insurance is the right decision for you. Listed below are some common things that you […]
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Dental Financing Options
It is no secret that dental work can be costly. Depending on the type of procedure you may desire, these costs can range from just over affordable to quite expensive. Sometimes you may be able to put treatment on hold in order to save the desired amount of money. Most times, however, you will need […]
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3 Quick Tips to Improve Your Dental Routine
When it comes to dental health, most of us know that we are supposed to brush our teeth, floss, and visit Southwest Family Dentistry. Although this is common knowledge, many of us still could do more to improve our daily dental routine. Improving your daily dental routine is important because just changing a few small […]
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The cost of not replacing a missing tooth
Many people living in the United States (and the world at large) live with one or more missing teeth and do not seem to care. One of the reasons this is so is because their other teeth are fully functioning and apparently do the work they need. People living with one or more missing teeth assume they are safe. Contrary to such belief, living with your teeth missing may be more harmful than you think.
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Why You Should See Your Dentist Twice a Year
Good oral health starts with a good oral hygiene routine. Brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and getting to your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups. Since you go to your general practitioner for visits once a year, you’re probably wondering why you need to go to the dentist twice a […]
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10 Tips for Better Oral Health
Taking care of your teeth is a lot more than just brushing, flossing, and visiting our office for regular cleanings. In fact there are many tips we share with our patients that they’ve never heard of. These dental hygiene tips make your life easier and help you to enjoy good oral health, as well as […]
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When Not Replacing Your Missing Teeth Can Cause Problems
We understand, going to the dentist is not your favorite thing. There’s a general fear and anxiety of sitting in that chair and waiting for someone to critique you on a habit you should be good at as an adult. Worse is when you know you have a tooth that needs to have something done […]
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Why you should see your dentist twice a year
There’s more to oral health than a consistent oral hygiene regimen. While brushing your teeth and flossing regularly are a central part of being certain that your smile will always shine brightly, seeing your dentist regularly is vital to catching problems before they arise. Gum disease and cavities can be sneaky and insidious, and there […]
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10 Oral Hygiene Tips
Brush Regularly It might seem obvious, but regularly brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is one of the best things you can do for your mouth. Brushing removes the film that develops over your teeth from plaque and bacteria. It also reduces bad breath and helps to prevent decay. When you brush it’s important that you […]
Continue Reading...Oral Sedation for a Truly Relaxing Dental Visit
Dental anxiety is an uncontrollable feeling that manifests in some of our patients. They come to us and discuss the dental treatments they need, yet are unable to overcome dental anxiety well enough to undergo treatment. At Southwest Family Dentistry, we have the perfect solution for those of you who feel nervous or anxious about […]
Continue Reading...Root Canal Therapy is Good for You
Whenever we recommend root canal therapy, we sometimes find that there are patients who are hesitant to agree to this treatment and would rather opt for tooth extraction. We always tell these patients that root canal therapy is actually a better option than extracting a tooth. A root canal removes the infected pulp of a […]
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