Dental Implants:  You’ve heard that term being thrown around and other technical terms such as “abutments” and “implant crowns.”  So what are they REALLY to the average man/woman with no dental background?  This article will explain all of it, in pictures and simple explanations.

The first photo is the “before” photo of two teeth missing on the patients upper left area of the mouth.  She requested implants so that she could have individual teeth, just like the ones she used to have.  So, two 9mm length implants were placed in the area in a matter of an hour.  Yes, an hour.  In 2011 dentistry, new local anesthetics are more effective and so patients walk in and walk out after having implants placed.  No more are the days of major “surgery”, having to take off work for a week, and cutting open the gums just to have an implant placed.  In this case, two little holes were made with a “tissue punch” that is exactly 3.5 mm in circumference and the implants were put in.

Exactly 6 weeks later, these two “abutments” were screwed onto the implants.  Abutments are basically metal components that mimic the shape of a tooth that has been prepared/shaped for a cap (crown).  An impression/mold (the “goopy” stuff) was taken of this and sent off to a lab that makes porcelain implant crowns.

A few weeks later, voila!  Two teeth that were lost have been totally replaced!!  These crowns were cemented in place just like you would a normal crown to a real tooth.  Pretty cool, if you ask me.  To think that in a matter of 8-9 weeks, you could completely replace a lost tooth!  Tooth, root and you can still floss between the implants!  And even better, I think you would agree that these LOOK like natural teeth.

If you’re hesitant or afraid to have implants, don’t be.  In the right hands, this is a walk in the park.  Now certainly, if you have health issues or other factors such as not enough bone in the area you need an implant, or say your sinus is too big and therefore not enough bone, things could be a little more involved.  But on the whole, visit with your doctor.  He/she should be able to answer all your questions and spend a little time with you explaining the procedure and show you some before/after photos, etc.  If your gut tells you you’re not in the right office to have this work done, your gut’s probably right!  Go with someone you’re comfortable with.

If you would like to have a free implant consultation with us, we’d love to meet you and show you what your options are!  Call 817-292-5957 or visit our website for more information www.hulendental.com

If you feel you’re teeth are hopeless, don’t fret!  The before/after photos above should give you hope!  With 2011 dental technology, a mouth is never beyond repair!  However, you HAVE to be in experienced hands.  Not only can it be a very costly procedure, but it is your mouth and health at stake.  Do not just settle on a dentist that you THINK can do it.  If a dentist can do it, you should be free to ask a lot of questions and the dentist should not be offended if you would like to seek a second opinion (after all, they are YOUR teeth and YOUR decision;  this is not a hard sell at a used-car lot!)  Also, they should be able to show you many before/after photos of cases that they have done.

If you would like to know more about our office and cases that we’ve done, there are more of our photos on this blog as well as our website: www.hulendental.com.   Come see us!  We will visit with you in a calm, stress-free atmosphere with no pressure.  Hope to see you soon!  817-292-5957

If you have old crowns and bridges in the front of your mouth, it may be time to brighten things up a bit.  With a some teeth whitening first, and then replacing a some old dental work, you can have that dazzling smile you’ve always wanted!  Don’t delay!  Call us today and schedule a free smile evaluation visit.  817-292-5957  www.hulendental.com

If you’re thinking of having major dental work, do your homework and ask questions.  How many of these cases has your dentist completed?  Do they have before and after photos of their cases?  How do they plan for your case? 

At Stovall & Cheng, DDS, we start your case with a complete assessment that includes digital photos, molds of your teeth, measurements, exam and consultation.  We have photos of our cases and can usually find one that looks a lot like your current situation.  From your assessment appointment, we perform a “mock preparation” in which we prepare (with our handpiece) on models of your teeth and then do a “wax-up” on your models so we know what your case will look like before we even start.  Doesn’t that make sense?  If you’re going to commit to a large amount of work in the front of your mouth, shouldn’t we know what the endpoint will look like before we even start?

Visit our website at www.hulendental.com , as well as the rest of our blogs on this site, to see all of the cases we have completed over the years.   We are currently accepting new patients and look forward to help you achieve a healthier mouth and better looking smile.  From Implants, dentures, bridges, veneers and Invisalign, we can help you.

Delaying treatment only makes it worse and more expensive.  Now is the time!  Call today and at least find out more information about your present problem and then you can make an informed decision on which direction you’d like to go.  Knowledge is power we can provide you with all the information you need to feel comfortable in your decision.

We have an intraoral camera we can use to show you the problem area.  In a matter of seconds, you can actually see your own teeth on the TV screen!  This takes out any “guessing” as to what is really happening and you don’t have to take our word for it when you can see it for yourself.  Come experience our office and get the treatment you deserve!

If the cost of dental treatment worries you, we have many ways to make the cost of treatment fit into your budget.  There is the option of monthly, interest-free payments as well as discounts for paying cash and senior discounts also.  Visit our website at www.hulendental.com and see for yourself why our office should be your next dental home.

The numbness that lasts for hours after a dental appointment…nobody likes it.  It’s just a part of having dental work done, right?  Not anymore.  With OraVerse, the effects of local anesthetic are reversed in about half an hour or less!

Don’t reschedule your appointment anymore in order to plan your day around a dental visit.  Go to that business meeting, meet your client, go out with friends…with OraVerse your anesthesia will have worn off by the time you get to your destination.

Ask us about OraVerse when you come in for your next dental visit.  Call Today! 817-292-5957

If you would classify yourself as “cavity-prone”, here’s some advice on how you can do your part in cavity-prevention:

1) Brush your teeth 3 times a day.  Most people brush their teeth in the morning, have breakfast, lunch, dinner and then brush their teeth before they go to bed.  Think about it, that’s 8+ hours that food, plaque & tartar are sitting on and around your teeth!  So, take an extra toothbrush (you know, the ones your dentist gives you every 6 months) to work and brush right after lunch.  That’ll cut that time in half and give you better breath throughout the day, too.

2)  Cut down on your sugar intake.  It’s OK to have a sweet tooth, but if you’re bathing your teeth in sugar constantly and not removing the plaque off of your teeth, it’s a recipe for more cavities.  Again, brush in the middle of the day and immediately after eating sweets.  Soft Drinks are a big culprit in causing tooth decay.  Sodas are very acidic and most are very high in sugar.  This combination can be primed for causing cavities.

3)  Use supplemental  fluoride.  This can be in the form of an over-the-counter fluoride rinse, a prescription for fluoride gel written by your dentist, or a prescription toothpaste that has a higher fluoride content than regular toothpaste.  Some people just have cavity-prone teeth that they inherit from a parent or other have teeth that didn’t develop well from some interruption during their childhood.  Whatever the case, for some people preventing cavities is a constant uphill battle that never goes away.

I always tell my cavity-prone patients that they have to work twice as hard as my other patients because “those are the cards they were dealt.”  After all, to some extent, all of us have our faults and at least with cavities, you can do something about it.   I’m only 5’4″ tall…would I like to be 6′ tall?  Of course.  But I can’t do anything about the cards I was dealt.

There is a saying: ” You never have a second chance to make a first impression.”  This has never been more true than it is today.  Unfortunately, we live in a vain world in which just about everything revolves around how something or someone looks.

Your smile is the first thing most people notice…in a social environment, during a job interview, in photos, the list goes on and on.  If you’ve always wanted to be able to smile freely and proudly, please visit our website or Facebook page and see for yourself how we can help you.

Call us for a free consultation today!  817-292-5957

Whether you don’t currently have a dentist or are not happy with the care you receive, we’d love to take care of you!  We are an office that puts patient care first!  We are honest, gentle, and provide you with the most up-to-date techniques, equipment and materials available.

A picture says a thousand words…visit any of the blogs listed on our site and you will see that the “proof is in the pudding.”  Our doctors have attended hundreds of hours of continuing education and training courses to become better for our patient’s benefit.  We can handle just about any situation your mouth is in and you won’t be judged for it. 

From replacing missing teeth to making unsightly teeth look like a Hollywood smile, we provide all of your dental needs in our office.   Be sure to click on the “Welcome” button at the top of this page and visit our website.  There you can tour our office, meet the doctors and see more pictures of some of our cases. 

Please call us at 817-292-5957 and schedule an appointment today!

Good oral hygiene may help the whole body, experts believe

(Please see the link below to view the article)

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/living-well/articles/2008/02/14/your-way-to-a-healthy-smile