General Dentistry
General dentistry really describes itself. It’s dentistry, but in general. More explanatory, it covers every typical problem within the realm of dental care. Our general dentistry patients in the northwest Houston area typically require dental procedures like dental cleanings, dental fillings, dental crowns, and tooth extractions.
At Nova Dental Care, we don’t think it is any surprise when people don’t want to go to the dentist. There is an unfortunate connotation that comes with going to the dentist. This connotation is primarily based on the dentistry of early America. You know, wooden teeth and what not.
Even the famous founder of the Hanna Barbera cartoons, Joseph Barbera, had a difficult time convincing himself to go to the dentist. “Faced with the choice of enduring a bad toothache or going to the dentist, we generally tried to ride out the bad tooth,” he said.
We don’t advise anyone ride out a bad tooth. That would be torture (though pretty self-inflicted). Let us take care of whatever ails your teeth, whether it is a cavity, toothache, chipped tooth, or bothersome wisdom teeth. We promise we will conduct the procedure with your peace of mind as the top priority.
Plaque buildup is a sure way to encounter cavities and gum disease. Plaque creates a bacteria that can eat away at your enamel, creating an easy pathway to damage your teeth. Just think this: dental cleanings breakdown the buildup so your teeth are always on the up-and-up rather than the downlow (say that 15 times fast).
Brushing twice per day and flossing daily are pivotal actions to protect your teeth. Even the patients who diligently do this still need dental cleanings every six months. Along with removing plaque buildup, we also polish the teeth and remove bacteria in the mouth.
Keeping cavities away is a seriously difficult task. We get it. We understand. This is why we encourage our patients to come in every six months so we can keep an eye on those potential cavities. If one breaks through like a beacon of darkness in the light, we can address it accordingly.
Our dentists clean out the cavity and cover the exposed area with dental filling. This preserves the tooth to keep it strong and durable.
Instead of having to deal with cavities, how about keeping them from ever producing? We think that’s a brilliant idea. Dental sealants are placed on the molars to protect the enamel. It acts as a pre-enamel.
Dental sealants don’t last the lifetime of the patient. They typically last about two years before needing to be reapplied. Applying dental sealants not only protects the teeth, but also helps our patients save financially.
Sometimes patients take longer than they should to get their teeth evaluated and therefore cavities remain untreated and spread further across the tooth and deeper toward the root. When this happens, our general dentist removes the cavity by shaving away the infected areas. If too much is required to be shaved in order to save the tooth, then a dental crown is required.
A dental crown is a cap that is made specifically for that area in the mouth. The tooth cap matches its surrounding teeth so it fits perfectly. This is a long term solution and will protect what remains of the original tooth.
Did you know that millions of people in the US are missing all of their teeth? There are even more people who are missing at least one tooth. This is why we offer dentures and dental bridges.
At our Northwest Houston dental office, our primary goal is to ensure that you have a smile you are proud of. Dentures and bridges continue to provide many of our patients with full smiles, which enable them to smile freely and confidently. Before placing these dental prosthetics, we ensure that they match the existing teeth so that your smile appears completely natural.
Dental implants have become one of the most important dental advancements. It provides patients with new teeth that have a near 100% success rate and are made to last the lifetime of the patient.
The reason why this procedure is so successful is because the implant is made of titanium, which is an extremely durable material. The bone in the jaw adopts the titanium as part of itself therefore securing it long term. The tooth is made of porcelain and resembles that exact texture and look of an actual tooth. The dental implant is highly recommended for those who suffer from missing a tooth.
The ole root canal always feels like a buzzword for patients. They think the worst, but actually, developments in medical science has really simplified the process and made it painless. We are certain to deaden the entire area so the patient doesn’t feel anything during the procedure.
The root canal restores the original tooth rather than extracting it or replacing it with a dental implant. At Nova Dental Care, our primary objective is to save the original teeth whenever possible.
Sometimes teeth can’t be saved. Sadly, we can’t always be there to demand our patients be more stringent about their daily oral health routines. Besides, we never demand. We just make relatively strong suggestions.
When teeth can’t be saved, they have to be extracted. We hate to see those teeth go, but sometimes it’s the only option. When teeth are extracted, we can fill the gap with dental implants or bridges. The teeth most commonly extracted are wisdom teeth, but those don’t have to be replaced.