How Composite Fillings Come to the Rescue

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How much do you know about the dental filling we suggest for you when you develop a cavity? Do you immediately feel hesitant to schedule your next appointment? Have you heard us mention the word “composite” but you aren’t quite sure what that means? While nobody feels overjoyed to experience tooth decay, we encourage you to learn more about the benefits of composite fillings. Immediately addressing your cavity with this solution, which is considered both cosmetic and restorative, will lead you quickly back toward excellent oral health as well as a restored appearance. Learn more about how white fillings can come to the rescue for a positive feeling about this service.

Fillings Protect Your Oral Health

This is why we consider composite fillings a restorative treatment. When you suffer from a cavity, your tooth tissue has decayed, leaving your tooth vulnerable to bacterial infection. You may experience heightened sensitivity and your tooth becomes more likely to break. During a filling, we will numb your tooth and surrounding tissues. We will then remove the decayed tissue, clean out the opening, and fill it with composite.

Composite Is An Incredible Material

Made out of synthetic resin, composite offers a variety of wonderful benefits. We can shape composite into any shape we desire, so it easily fills an opening within your tooth, whether you suffer from a small or large cavity. Because it bonds directly to your tooth tissue – which amalgam, also known as metal, does not – you can expect long-term wear and a reduced chance of tooth fractures. Filling your tooth with this material also helps promote long-term structural integrity because we will need to remove only a small portion of its tissue in preparation.

White Fillings Are Beautiful

We call them white fillings or “tooth-colored fillings” because composite is also color customizable, making this a wonderful cosmetic solution as well. We will match the color of your filling to the surrounding tooth tissue for a beautiful, undetectable finish.

ABOUT YOUR MANSFIELD DENTISTS:

Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris of Mansfield Dental Associates rely upon their years of experience, training, and cutting-edge technology to offer patients expert dental care at each and every visit. They listen to each patient’s concerns and offer gentle, informative guidance about future treatments. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call (817) 473-6227. Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris proudly treat patients from Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, Midlothian and neighboring areas.

filed under: Dental Fillings, Restorative Dentistry

Veneers 101: Answers to Common Questions

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In your search for a way to dramatically improve the appearance of your smile, you may have come across the many benefits of porcelain veneers. But how much do you know about this treatment? You know that you love the way a veneer-treated smile looks, but if a friend asks about the details, do you have answers? Do you know whether you qualify as a candidate? While we hope you will bring up your questions during your next visit, so we can begin guiding you toward your most beautiful smile, we realize you may have some pressing questions right now. Take a look at the following questions and answers for a bit more insight into this truly effective cosmetic treatment:

Common Questions and Answers About Veneers

Question: What are veneers?

Answer: Porcelain veneers are shells crafted to look like a natural tooth, which fit permanently over the visible portions of your teeth to improve your smile’s appearance.

Question: What are they made out of?

Answers: Veneers are made out of extremely thin, translucent layers of porcelain.

Question: Will they look natural?

Answer: Yes. Similar to the way that your teeth are made up of many translucent tissue layers, these ceramic shells are engineered to create the same appearance for a natural finish.

Question: How long with the treatment take?

Answer: You will visit us twice. During your first visit, we will remove a very minimal portion of your tooth’s outermost layer, called enamel, for a wonderful fit with your porcelain veneers. We will also take impressions. During your follow-up visit, we will bond the veneers to your teeth and your makeover will be complete.

ABOUT YOUR MANSFIELD DENTISTS:

Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris of Mansfield Dental Associates rely upon their years of experience, training, and cutting-edge technology to offer patients expert dental care at each and every visit. They listen to each patient’s concerns and offer gentle, informative guidance about future treatments. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call (817) 473-6227. Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris proudly treat patients from Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, Midlothian and neighboring areas.

 

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers

Wonderful Times on a Winter Walk

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Whether you over-indulged over the holidays and are beginning to feel like you need to get your blood pumping again – or if you happen to have a natural penchant for the outdoors during every season – we invite you to come along on a winter walk. Throw on your coat and mittens, tell your friends and family members to bundle themselves up, and enjoy some fresh air with this community event.

What Is It?

This winter walk is an annual event that takes place every January. Community members gather to walk the trail that extends from Walnut Creek Linear Park to Town Park. Even more exciting? At the end of your journey you will find some fun things to do at a family-friendly health fair.

Where Is It?

The walk begins at Walnut Creek Linear Park in Mansfield, Texas.

When Is It?

Meet up for this event during the following:

  • Saturday January 24, 2015
  • Times: 9:00-11:00am

Who Can I Contact?

Do you have questions about this event? We encourage you to contact Parks & Recreation at 817-473-1943 with your questions.

ABOUT YOUR MANSFIELD DENTISTS:

Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris of Mansfield Dental Associates rely upon their years of experience, training, and cutting-edge technology to offer patients expert dental care at each and every visit. They listen to each patient’s concerns and offer gentle, informative guidance about future treatments. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call (817) 473-6227. Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris proudly treat patients from Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, Midlothian and neighboring areas.

filed under: Community Events, Family Dentistry

A Healthier Smile: One Resolution that’s Easy to Keep!

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2015 is finally here and, if you’re like 45% of people in the United States, you made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, get organized, pick up a new hobby, or find love. However, the Journal of Clinical Psychology reports that only about 8% of people who make New Year’s resolutions actually end up achieving them.

Taking better care of your teeth is a great step to take n the New Year, and your chances of success are higher because living a smile-healthy lifestyle is simple, cheap, and easy to do. Follow our three step guide to enjoying better oral health this year.  (more…)

filed under: Dental Hygiene, Patient Education

Sleep Apnea: A True-or-False Quiz

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Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea? Do you suffer from strange daily symptoms of a health problem you cannot seem to pinpoint, like exhaustion and a sore throat in the morning? We can often improve this sleep disorder with effective, noninvasive sleep apnea treatment. Wondering if this solution might improve your daily comfort and your ability to sleep soundly through the night? Test your knowledge with the quiz that follows to find out:

Sleep Apnea Quiz

  1. True or False: If you suffer from sleep apnea, your throat tissues collapse, blocking your air passages and causing you to wake gasping or choking for air.
  2. True or False: One of the major side effects of sleep apnea is exhaustion, which can make it dangerous to drive your car.
  3. True or False: Occasional pauses in breathing during the night sounds scary but it does not really affect your overall health.
  4. True or False: Your significant other probably won’t notice the sleep apnea events.
  5. True or False: We offer noninvasive sleep apnea treatment with oral appliance therapy. You will wear a custom-fitted oral device like a mouth guard to realign your jaws and keep your air passages open while you sleep.

Quiz Answers

  1. True. This is the experience sleep apnea sufferers deal with up to hundreds of times each night.
  2. True. You will likely find that you experience severe fatigue, particularly after several nights of interrupted sleep. Driving when you feel exhausted puts yourself and others at danger.
  3. False. Depriving your brain of oxygen and causing a major disturbance to your sleep schedule can negatively affect your health. In addition to daily exhaustion, you may become at an increased risk for problems like high blood pressure or heart disease.
  4. False. In many cases, patients are only aware of their sleep disorder because a significant other witnesses the waking events. They happen so quickly that you may fall back to sleep and remember nothing of the experience in the morning.
  5. True. With this simple, drug-free approach, you may find that you can breathe comfortably through the night, while enjoying the daily benefits of a full night of sleep.

ABOUT YOUR MANSFIELD DENTISTS:

Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris of Mansfield Dental Associates rely upon their years of experience, training, and cutting-edge technology to offer patients expert dental care at each and every visit. They listen to each patient’s concerns and offer gentle, informative guidance about future treatments. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call 817-473-6227. Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris proudly treat patients from Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, Midlothian and neighboring areas.

filed under: General Dentistry, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea

Avoid these Tooth Staining Food Enhancements

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Do you want a more youthful and vibrant appearance? Teeth whitening can help. It’s no wonder teeth whitening has become one of the most highly requested cosmetic dental procedures available.    , know how important it is to ensure safe and effective professional teeth whitening for optimal results. Professional in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments are available and will produce maximum results to refresh and invigorate your amazing smile. After you make such an investment in your pearly whites, you may want to avoid consuming certain sauces if you want to prolong your results, however.

Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is the perfect salty compliment to rice. Researchers in Japan long ago identified what we in the United States now consider the fifth (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, General Dentistry

Does Alcohol Consumption Affect your Dental Health?

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Alcoholic beverages are a common way to celebrate the holiday season. Are a fan of wine, beer, or cocktails (or perhaps all of the above)? If you have ever wondered how your adult beverage of choice could be affecting your dental health, we can enlighten you with a fun true-or-false quiz on the ways in which alcohol can impact your gums and teeth.

Questions

Q1. True or false – Only 50 percent of people who abuse alcohol have moderate to severe gum disease, and some degree of decay.

Q2. True or false – Oral cancer has no reported relationship to alcohol consumption.

Q3. True or false – Dry mouth is a side effect of alcohol consumption. It can also contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, General Dentistry

Questions about Cosmetic Dentistry? We’ve Got Answers!

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The name might seem to imply that it’s all about the looks, but cosmetic dentistry is about so much more than simply looking good. Cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers, and even composite fillings can make you look younger, more attractive, more successful, and can even be the edge you need in a competitive work environment. Best of all, improving the appearance of your smile can make you feel like smiling more, which in turn will help you enjoy a healthier, happier outlook on life. Today, Mansfield cosmetic dentists, Dr. Blair Jones and Dr. Seth Harris, answer some of the most frequently asked questions they field from patients.    (more…)

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Teeth whitening

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Do Some Foods Strengthen Teeth?

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While your whole body is a marvel, your teeth and other oral structures are especially interesting. Not only are they the strongest and most-used parts of your body, but under the right circumstances, they can also be the most vulnerable. Keeping your teeth clean by brushing and flossing them twice a day (at least) helps, but they require more than daily scrubbing to stay strong and healthy, like an adequate supply of minerals and nutrients. Fortunately, most of the foods that strengthen and sustain your teeth are found in a typical, well-balanced diet. The trick is to make sure that the healthy foods outweigh the substances that could prove harmful to your dental health.

How to Feed Your Teeth Properly

  • Eat calcium and phosphate—Green vegetables, lean meats (like chicken, beef, and turkey), and most dairy products contain a wealth of calcium and phosphate, both of which are vital to your teeth’s wellbeing. The enamel, or outer layer, of your teeth is almost entirely comprised of mineral crystals, many of which must be obtained from your diet.
  • Take care with sugar and starches—You might be familiar with the warning against sugar causing cavities, but starches and other carbohydrates are equally as dangerous. Oral bacteria, found in dental plaque, consume these nutrients and convert them into acids that destroy tooth enamel, making tooth decay and cavities possible.
  • Drink water more often—It isn’t just good for your body. Water is a natural defense against oral bacteria and plaque buildup, and neutralizes the acids that these bacteria produce. Drinking enough of it also helps you maintain a healthy flow of saliva, which is made mostly of water and helps periodically rinse your mouth throughout the day.

ABOUT YOUR MANSFIELD DENTISTS:

Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris of Mansfield Dental Associates rely upon their years of experience, training, and cutting-edge technology to offer patients expert dental care at each and every visit. They listen to each patient’s concerns and offer gentle, informative guidance about future treatments. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call (817) 473-6227. Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris proudly treat patients from Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, Midlothian and neighboring areas.

filed under: Dental Health, Nutrition, Patient Education

Quiz: What is Root Canal Therapy?

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What comes to mind when you hear the words “root canal”? Thanks to rumor and misinformation, many people have a poor idea of what this safe and comfortable procedure actually involves. In reality, root canal therapy is vital for protecting the health and integrity of your smile in the event of an infection or dental abscess.

(more…)

filed under: Root Canals