Wisdom Teeth Extraction Improves Your Oral Health

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Wisdom teeth are an unnecessary set of third molars that typically erupt between the ages of 17 and 21, with ages 13 to the late 20s considered normal. However, not everyone gets wisdom teeth or has all four of them erupt. Whether you have one wisdom tooth break through the gums or all four, it is critical to arrange for oral surgery in Katy TX as soon as possible.

What Are the Benefits of Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Not only is extraction of wisdom teeth uncomfortable, but not having them extracted in a timely fashion can cause numerous issues with your oral health. At Chloe Dental, we prefer to remove wisdom teeth before the root structure of each tooth fully develops. Extraction becomes much more challenging once the root structures are in place.

When wisdom teeth do not have enough room to come in properly, the gum tissue surrounding the non-erupted tooth can become inflamed and infected. Mouth pain, swelling, and chewing and swallowing difficulties are the typical outcomes of leaving the wisdom teeth alone for too long.

Another problem with non-timely removal of wisdom teeth is that they can cause crowding with the other teeth along with extensive damage that requires follow-up treatment. You could even develop cysts in your mouth, which are small fluid-filled sacs that grow on the jawbone. If left untreated, the cysts can destroy a significant amount of jawbone and weaken several non-wisdom teeth.

 

Do You Need Oral Surgery?

Do you have oral pain for which you cannot determine the cause? If so, we encourage you to schedule a consultation for oral surgery in Houston, TX. You will meet with Dr. Chloe Nguyen or Dr. Langley Ho to discuss what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

Crowded Teeth? How to Tell and What to Do

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Crowded teeth can negatively impact the appearance of your smile as well as your oral health and hygiene. If you have crowded teeth, there is something you can do about it. As your dentist in Katy and Houston, TX, the professionals at Chloe Dental can assess the placement of your teeth and help you decide the best course of action.

Signs of Crowded Teeth

Some of the symptoms of crowded teeth can look like symptoms of other problems. If you notice any of the signs below, it’s important to have your teeth examined by a dental professional to decide whether you need braces.

  • Jaw pain or tooth discomfort while biting or chewing
  • Overlapping or crooked teeth
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Difficulty brushing and flossing

What to Do About Crowded Teeth

If you have crowded teeth, then you may need a tooth extraction to make room in your mouth. You may also benefit from braces or clear aligners that can help straighten your teeth once any extra teeth have been removed.

Braces and clear aligners help shift your teeth over time until they are straight. Your dentist can help you decide whether you need a tooth extraction, braces, or aligners to help straighten your teeth. The first step is to visit a dentist who can evaluate your teeth and diagnose the problem. From there, your dentist can discuss your options to help you decide between braces and clear aligners.

Crowded teeth can be fixed. At Chloe Dental, we can help. Do you need clear aligners or braces in Katy and Houston, TX? Call today to make an appointment and learn more about what can be done about your crowded teeth.

My Permanent Tooth Just Fell Out – What Should I Do?

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Have you lost a permanent tooth? If so, you’re having a dental emergency! It’s vitally important for you to see your dentist in Katy and Houston as soon as possible. It’s also important to collect and preserve the tooth as well as possible, to help ensure that the tooth can be saved when you get there. Following the tips below can help.

What to Do When a Permanent Tooth Falls Out

When a permanent tooth falls out, the first thing you should do is find the tooth! When you do, pick it up by the crown – not by the root. Picking it up by the root can damage it.

Rinse the tooth in saliva, sterile saline solution, or in milk. Next, stick the tooth back in your mouth – either in the hole that it came out of (root first), or in the pouch of your cheek. Putting the tooth in your mouth may sound disturbing, but it’s the best environment for your tooth.

Contact your dentist as soon as possible to let them know that you’re having a dental emergency, and you need dental care ASAP. The faster you get to the dentist, the morel likely your dentist will be able to repair the damage.

Find a Dentist That Offers Dental Emergency Care

Not all dentists offer emergency dental care in Katy and Houston TX. Find a dentist that offers dental emergency care to ensure that the dentist you contact will be able to fit you in, even at the last minute. Time is of the essence when you’re missing a permanent tooth, so don’t wait! For more information about how you can take care of your teeth, contact Chloe Dental today.

What is a Root Canal, Exactly? 

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When your dentist in Houston, TX tells you a root canal is needed, you may wonder what this means. A procedure that sounds painful and expensive, a root canal is an important dental procedure to keep your teeth in great shape. As for exactly what it is, here’s what you need to know.

Purpose of a Root Canal

When you have a root canal, your dentist is seeking to save your natural tooth by eliminating bacteria from an infected root canal area of your tooth and preventing reinfection. To do so, infected or inflamed pulp from your tooth is removed, then the inside of your tooth is cleaned and disinfected. Finally, your tooth is filled and sealed, keeping bacteria from reentering.

Is a Root Canal Painful?

Thanks to modern dental technology, getting a root canal in Houston, TX today is much the same as getting a tooth filled. Usually completed in no more than two appointments, it is a relatively painless procedure.

What are the Advantages of Getting a Root Canal?

When your dentist performs a root canal and is able to save your natural tooth, you will reap numerous advantages. These typically include a continued natural appearance of your teeth, normal and painless chewing, normal teeth sensation and biting force, and helping to protect your other teeth from excessive strain or wear.

Do I Really Need a Root Canal?

If you have a cracked tooth that is very sensitive to hot and cold sensations, have a tooth with a deep cavity, or have severe pain when chewing or biting, chances are a root canal is needed.

Since a root canal is relatively pain-free, usually covered by insurance, and will still let you resume your normal tasks shortly after leaving your dentist’s office, don’t delay getting this important procedure if recommended by your dentist.

What are the Risks With Oral Surgery?

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Oral surgery is a tremendous and powerful tool that helps dental patients have good oral health. But it is a form of surgery and in that regard, patients should be aware that there are certain risks involved, albeit small ones. When you elect to have oral surgery in Houston and Katy, TX, your dentist will tell you everything you need to know to be healthy and strong thoughout the treatment.

Anesthesia

The first risk from oral surgery is the anesthesia itself. Since oral surgery is an invasive treatment, you may need to be put under general anesthesia. This carries small inherent risks that your anesthesiologist will explain to you in depth.

Dry Socket

Depending upon the type of oral surgery you get, you may run the risk of developing what’s known as dry socket. This is a condition where the empty tooth socket “dries up” because it has not formed a protective blood clot. The blood clot forms as part of the healing process that enables soft tissue to form over the bone and nerve endings. When that fails to happen, dry socket happens. Dry socket can usually be prevented by following post-operative instructions carefully.

Sinus Issues

If your oral surgery is happening on your upper jaw area, there is a slight risk that you could develop some minor sinus trouble afterward. This is because the sinuses are located very close to the upper wisdom teeth. This is not a common complication, but it does happen in some cases.

Oral surgery is a well-tested and very common treatment that’s performed hundreds of thousands of times all over the world. Most patients and dentists in Houston and Katy, TX agree that the benefits of oral surgery far outweigh the risks.