Invisalign has become incredibly popular among orthodontic patients, and it’s easy to see why. Clear aligners are discreet, convenient to clean, and don’t come with any dietary restrictions. One feature of traditional braces is that they can have an effect on how people speak, and many orthodontic patients wonder if Invisalign is the same way. If you’re curious, here’s what you need to know about how Invisalign may affect speech. How Common Are Speech Impediments with Invisalign? Fortunately, having any problem speaking with your Invisalign is fairly rare, because your aligners are made of a ..read more

One of the coolest things about modern dentistry is the way in which dentists are able to flawlessly combine art with science to craft extraordinary restorative solutions. Dental crowns are just one example of this; not only must your dentist come up with a way to fix your compromised tooth, but they also must make sure it looks natural and is the correct color. Keep reading to learn a little more about how they’re able to do this! Why Are Teeth Different Colors? Technically speaking, teeth don’t have a “color”—they have a shade, which includes hue, chroma, and value. Hue is the color that we ..read more

In the past, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns were a popular solution for damaged or decayed teeth. While they were certainly effective, patients may notice a black line forming near the gums out of nowhere. Unfortunately, these dark lines are unsightly and can ruin a natural-looking appearance. If you find yourself experiencing this issue, you may have several lingering questions in mind. Continue reading to learn what causes a black line around a dental crown and what your dentist can do to help! What Causes a Black Line Around a Dental Crown? A black line forming around a dental crown can b ..read more

Are you about to have a tooth extraction due to decay, injury, or another oral health issue? This is never your dentist’s first choice, but sometimes an extraction is necessary to preserve the health of the rest of your teeth. The good news is that you won’t need to go the rest of your life with a gap in your smile. There are several different tooth replacement options out there, with a preferred method being dental implants. But how long do you need to wait after your tooth extraction to get one? Read on to find out. How Long Do You Have to Wait for Your Dental Implant Surgery? The amount of ..read more

If you are getting missing teeth replaced with dental implants in the near future, you have a lot to look forward to. You have chosen the best tooth replacement option available by far – nothing else replaces the missing tooth’s root as well as the visible crown. There are a few things you can do to prepare in advance of your dental implant surgery. Keep reading to find out what they are so you can rock your recovery and be on your way to reaping all the benefits of dental implants. #1 Stock Your Fridge After dental implant placement, you will likely experience the side effects that are commo ..read more

Root canal therapy has a bad reputation of being horribly painful, but thankfully, this isn’t the case today. With modern anesthetics and technology, having a root canal is typically no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed. However, you may feel some soreness for a few days following the procedure. Continue reading to learn more about root canal therapy, what recovery looks like, and when you should see your dentist. How Does Root Canal Therapy Work? During root canal therapy, your dentist will start by administering a local anesthetic to make sure that you’re comfortable throughou ..read more

For most people, dentistry is downright frightening! Dental terms like root canal, deep cleanings, implant screws, dental plates, dental splints, etc. send chills down the spine of a large segment of the population. Movies with horrible dental scenes, like Marathon Man, make these fears worse! Because of the negative concepts, the dental profession is easy to pick on and make fun of. In the middle of September 2021, a YouTube video about dentistry was released by Cracked, that already has almost half a million views. The title of the video is “If Dentists Were Honest”. It is dark, very deceitf ..read more

By John Hackbarth , DDS You may be wondering why a dentist is writing about acid reflux.  The reason is that the acids in reflux disease are bad for your teeth.  Dental decay is caused by bacteria that create acids as part of their metabolism and these acids leach the minerals out of your teeth creating cavities that the bacteria can invade. Likewise Stomach acid from reflux will leach the minerals out of your teeth and give bacteria a space to invade you teeth. The more times you have reflux the worse this problem can become. Not only can you have decay, but you can have general ero ..read more

You’re out with your friends at Gus’ – home to the best steaks in Texas City, according to most locals. You start chowing down on the chicken wings before the house specialty filet mignon arrives and, uh oh, your porcelain veneer fell off! What’s your next move?! Veneers can be a great option to fix your dental woes, as they can address chips, cracks, gaps between teeth, minor misalignments, or discoloration. Nothing in life is perfect, however, and the day may come when your veneer falls off. If it does, you’ll want to understand the root of the problem and what to do next! Reasons Why Your ..read more

Few people are born with naturally straight smiles. Alignment and bite issues are common and can range in complexity. Thankfully, you’re fortunate because you only have minimal alignment concerns, but it’s still easy to feel insecure about the imperfections. Nowadays, you have more options than ever to fix gaps and slightly tilted or overlapping teeth, which is why 1 in every 5 orthodontic patients is over the age of 18. However, you don’t want to spend months wearing braces. Despite advancements to shorten treatment times, most orthodontic plans take anywhere from 12 to 24 months. What if you ..read more