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4.7 stars | 527 reviews
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4.7 stars | 527 reviews
We welcome your questions and look forward to exceeding your expectations in every way. Here are some of the most common questions we receive. If yours is not listed here, contact us, and we will address it! We look forward to hearing from you.
Dental cleanings are an essential tool for you to protect not only your dental health but also your overall well-being.
During your teeth cleaning, your hygienist will gently remove the plaque buildup from your teeth that is responsible for causing problems like gum disease or tooth decay. You will also be screened for these concerns during your examination to detect them as early as possible, which allows you to treat them promptly and in a less invasive manner.
Time spent during dental cleanings is also a great opportunity to discuss your concerns and your home care routine with your hygienist. They may have recommendations for products like an electric toothbrush or an antibacterial mouth rinse that could help you improve and make the most of your time spent brushing and flossing at home.
Do you have concerns about your teeth or goals for enhancing your smile? Your hygienist is also a great resource if you would like to know about dental procedures that can help you improve or enhance your smile.
Is it time for your next dental cleaning? If so, we encourage you to contact Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics at (346) 435-5305 to schedule your next dental appointment.
Dentures are often recommended for anyone who is missing one or multiple teeth. Your dentist may recommend complete or partial dentures if you are interested in restoring your teeth.
Partial dentures are an excellent option for people who have natural teeth remaining. Partial dentures help prevent your existing teeth from shifting, which often happens if there are gaps in your smile.
By contrast, complete dentures are applicable when all the teeth are missing within the upper or lower jaw and need to be replaced with dental prosthetics. At Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, we construct full dentures when there are no teeth available.
Dentures improve biting, eating, and speech. They also support your facial muscles and contours, preventing facial sagging or aging that can happen when teeth are missing and no longer support the sides of your face.
Dentures are custom-fabricated to blend in with your natural teeth so that few people will even notice a change in your appearance. They play a pivotal role in your smile by filling out your face.
Even with proper care and maintenance, dentures will need to be replaced every five to eight years due to normal wear and tear. If your dentures start to feel loose, do not try to fix the issue yourself. Only a trained dental professional can reline, refit, or replace dentures.
If you are missing one or more teeth, you may be interested in restoring your bite capability and enhancing your appearance. Dentures allow our patients to regain their smiles.
Contact Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics today to go over your tooth replacement options. Together we can determine what the right procedure is for you.
If you suffer from discomfort when you eat, you may benefit from a comprehensive oral exam at Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics. Our dentists help patients improve the health and comfort of their smiles every day.
We use the latest in diagnostic dentistry so that we can help patients address their oral conditions early when they are easier to treat. When you come to our office for a new patient exam, we identify any dental conditions you may have and present them to you at a consultation along with all the options to improve your health. We never pressure you when it comes to your dentistry. Instead, we educate you so that you can make informed choices to support your smile.
If it is the appearance of your smile that you are concerned about, we can help with that, too. We know that having a beautiful smile is important, especially if you are a professional and want to make a good impression or you have an active social life. A confident smile is an asset in any situation.
Porcelain veneers, dental whitening, and smile makeovers are just some of the ways we can help you achieve a beautiful smile that improves your self-esteem.
Teeth whitening is one of the quickest, most economical ways to boost your appearance. One reason professional teeth whitening is so popular is that you can choose the whiteness level you want using safe, high-quality materials. If you’re considering teeth whitening, you can be sure you’ll love the results.
After your visit for a comprehensive dental exam, professional cleaning, or diagnostic x-rays, enjoy a complimentary take-home teeth whitening system as a thank you—available to new patients who are cavity-free!
When you visit your dentist for teeth whitening, you’ll benefit from precision-made bleaching trays, professional-grade gel, and reliable, uniform teeth whitening.
Here’s what else to expect:
Are you interested in whitening your teeth? Please call our dental clinic to learn more about teeth whitening at Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics.
Bruxism, or teeth clenching and grinding, is a common condition that can cause premature wear, broken teeth, jaw pain, clicking and popping jaw joints, and even jaw locking. Not only can bruxism cause pain but it can also make your teeth more sensitive and lead to gum recession.
At Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, we focus on prevention, including preventing damage due to a bruxism habit.
We design custom nightguards to create a barrier between your upper and lower teeth. With this barrier, you can avoid tooth-to-tooth contact all night. Your jaws can exert an enormous amount of force, especially subconsciously, while you sleep.
Our nightguards are superior to the over-the-counter pharmacy brands because they are custom-designed to fit snugly and stay put while you sleep. They are made of hard acrylic that protects your teeth and helps guide your jaw into a comfortable position that discourages teeth grinding and promotes healing. It may even reduce or eliminate headaches.
Your nightguard may need a periodic adjustment to keep it fitting well. Bring it with you to your dental appointment, and we can check it for you.
We look forward to helping you have a better night’s sleep with a custom nightguard.
We understand that traditional brackets and wires do not work for everyone’s lifestyle. That is why we offer Invisalign for patients who want a more discreet orthodontic alternative.
Invisalign uses clear plastic trays that you change out periodically to move your teeth into alignment. We still plan your treatment here in our office and monitor your treatment as you go so that we can make sure you are on track. The only difference is that you will wear removable aligner trays instead of brackets and wires.
Because the trays are removable, it is easier for you to eat the foods you like without restriction and keep your teeth clean. You should wear your trays for at least 22 hours per day, though, in order to stay on track. Invisalign works for many orthodontic conditions and works best on older teens and adults.
Our dentists can determine if Invisalign is an option for you. Some patients may also enjoy the fastest treatment possible with one of our other orthodontic options—Six Month Smiles.
Contact us for a consultation to learn how we can help you achieve a more beautiful smile.
Having a misaligned bite can cause a number of oral health concerns. Because your teeth do not come together correctly, your bite may feel uncomfortable, and it could make chewing painful or cause you to eliminate certain foods from your diet.
A crooked smile can also make you feel embarrassed about the way you look. If you cover your mouth when you smile or you feel that you cannot show your teeth because they are misaligned, it can disrupt your life. At Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, we can help.
We offer a number of orthodontic dentistry options to meet every lifestyle:
Are you interested in starting the process of straightening your teeth? Call our Houston, TX, dental clinic to find out which teeth straightening solution is right for you.
Every child is born with a sweet, precious smile. To parents, it is one of the most beautiful sights to see. We love helping children keep their smiles beautiful through effective pediatric dental care.
Our patients are busy people! We know that many households have working parents who struggle to shuttle kids from one appointment to another, and we want to make it easy for you to get the dental care you need to keep every member of your family healthy. At Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, we have families of our own and treat your children the same way we would want our own kids to be treated.
Our dentists are gentle and great at putting kids at ease. We make each dental appointment a fun, educational experience for your kids. We never push them if they resist treatment; but instead, we work at their pace so that they never feel overwhelmed.
You do not need to take your child to a pediatric dentist to get great dental care. Our team is experienced and skilled at working with kids of all ages. We look forward to welcoming your entire family to our dental office.
Gum disease is prevalent; over half of Americans over the age of 30 are afflicted. If left untreated, it can have devastating effects, including tooth loss. Understanding is half the battle; at Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, patient education allows our patients to make healthy decisions and recognize signs of infection.
Plaque is the leading cause of gum disease; it is a sticky film that consists of food debris and harmful bacteria. The reason we advise patients to brush and floss daily is to prevent plaque from forming, which it is continuously trying to do. When plaque is not removed, it can harm your gums and lead to gum inflammation and disease.
Plaque contains bacteria that produce acids that irritate the gums. This often leads to swelling, bleeding, redness, and other signs of inflammation. After a while, your gums may start separating from your teeth, creating pockets where more bacteria can hide.
When plaque is left to harden, it turns into calculus or tartar. This can typically be avoided through daily brushing and flossing along with routine visits to your dentist. The first stage of periodontal disease is known as gingivitis, and you can usually reverse it with good oral hygiene. Your general dentist may recommend special mouthwash to help kill any bacteria. Once this condition advances, it turns into periodontitis.
Dental bleeding or pain is not normal and is usually an indicator of underlying problems. The good news is that many oral health issues are easily treatable if caught early enough. Contact us at (346) 436-5305 today to schedule your dental cleaning and exam so that we can stay on top of your oral health.
Dental fillings are a way to save a tooth that has a cavity. At Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, we understand that cavities can be painful, which is why we like to treat them as soon as possible.
A cavity is a small hole or fracture that allows bacteria to enter your tooth. Without treatment, a cavity can become abscessed or reach the roots and pulp of your tooth and become infected, which requires a root canal.
Cavities, often caused by eating and drinking foods and beverages with excessive sugar, are common in children but can also happen in adulthood. Improper or infrequent brushing and flossing can also cause cavities.
Dental fillings start with a thorough assessment of the cavity, which usually includes an X-ray. Following that, your dentist will numb the area surrounding the tooth.
When the area is thoroughly numb, your dentist will use a small drill, laser, or other dental instruments to create clean margins around the cavity, removing any decay or bacteria. When the tooth is thoroughly prepared and the margins are clean, it’s time for your filling.
Dental filling materials include:
Today, most filling materials match the hue of your surrounding teeth and are virtually invisible.
If you think you may have a cavity, contact Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics today. Our staff looks forward to serving all of your dental needs.
Dental decay that requires a filling is one of the most preventable conditions we face. With the implementation of fluoride in drinking water, we have been able to seriously reduce dental decay in America.
Fluoridated water is not enough to keep your teeth healthy, though. It requires regular home care, including brushing your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once daily. These steps alone can significantly reduce the instances of decay that you experience.
It is also essential that you have regular dental exams. A skilled hygienist, like the ones that we have at Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, will remove the accumulated tartar, plaque, and bacteria from the places you cannot reach with your toothbrush or dental floss.
Having a healthy diet supports great overall health, including your teeth and gums. Avoiding sugary and starchy snacks, especially close to bedtime, can help you avoid dental decay. Another consideration is what you drink. Soda, energy drinks, and fruit juice all contain decay-causing acids that eat away at the enamel of your teeth.
For patients who have reoccurring decay, we offer dental sealants and fluoride treatments to help protect your smile. Please ask us more if you would like additional assistance protecting your teeth from decay.
This is a very common question and an informative place to start learning about root canals. Many different things can cause the need for root canals; the most common ones are trauma, cracks, large cavities, and infections.
Dental professionals use the term “root canal” as it refers to narrow passageways that form between your pulp chamber to your tooth roots. Often, root canals are needed to save an infected tooth, and emergency root canals treat the pain and discomfort that often herald their coming.
Our teeth are simultaneously hard and fragile. They are tough enough to crack open shells and tear through meat. But without good oral hygiene and proper care, they are susceptible to inflammation and infection.
If your pulp chamber (the hollow part of your tooth) becomes infected, your dentist will need to remove the infected pulp to save the tooth and prevent the infection from spreading.
Your other alternative to stopping the infection from spreading, and to end the pain, is to have the entire tooth extracted. At Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, we always try to save the tooth if it is a possibility. Root canal treatments are a routine procedure at our Houston dental office, and the success rate is very high.
Saving your tooth allows you to avoid problems that can occur after a tooth is extracted, such as teeth shifting position, difficulty biting down, and loss of jawbone.
The myth of a painful root canal is just that—a myth. Root canals actually relieve the pain and pressure that brings patients in for emergency root canals. The actual procedure is no more painful than getting a filling.
At Bear Creek Dentistry & Orthodontics, we understand how frightening the thought of a root canal can be, but we are here to make the process gentle and comfortable. If you are suffering from tooth pain, we may be able to save your tooth.