What Is Your Tooth Enamel Made Of?

Posted May 19, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Did you know that the protective layer around your teeth, called enamel, is the strongest substance that your body produces? In fact, healthy tooth enamel is stronger than any other substance on earth except for diamonds. Nevertheless, your enamel isn’t indestructible. Without proper care and maintenance, your tooth enamel can lose its incredible resilience and fall victim to tooth decay or damage. Your Grand Prairie dentist, Dr. Quinn Smith, explores the strength and vulnerability of human tooth enamel and how you can help protect yours from danger.

The Formation of Tooth Enamel

There are many similarities between the structures of your bones and teeth; for instance, both are comprised largely of calcium and phosphate mineral crystals. Specialized proteins shape and form strands from these minerals, and in the case of tooth enamel, these strands are stretched thousands of times longer and stronger than those of bone. Tooth enamel remainsstrong by absorbing essential minerals from your teeth (remineralization), but when oral bacteria-produced acid attacks, it can weaken your enamel and deplete your teeth’s mineral supply (demineralization).

Keeping Enamel Strong

Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day helps control the population of acid producing oral bacteria, limiting the threat that these germs pose to your tooth enamel. If Dr. Smith notices that your enamel suffers from excessive demineralization during your dental checkup, he may recommend fluoride treatment to fortify and strengthen your tooth enamel. We’ll also work with you to develop a more effective dental hygiene routine to reduce your risk of developing tooth decay.

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, restorative, and family dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

Are You Contemplating OTC Teeth Whitening?

Posted May 15, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Although not all stained teeth are unhealthy teeth, the changes in tooth color can significantly detract from your smile’s visual appeal. Teeth whitening is a procedure that lightens teeth and helps remove stains and discoloration. Whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures that Dr. Smith performs to greatly improve how your teeth look. Yet, many people choose, or seriously consider choosing, an over-the-counter whitening product, mistakenly believing that the results will be the same. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case, and rather than a brighter smile, you may end up with damaged, sensitive teeth that still exhibit the stains OTC teeth whitening couldn’t address.

Can Teeth Whitening Damage Your Teeth?

If you are considering whitening or bleaching your teeth, it may be in your best interest to discuss the possible risks with Dr. Smith, especially if you plan on doing this procedure over-the-counter (OTC). A few risks that could arise from careless, unprofessional teeth whitening include tooth sensitivity and damage to the roots of your teeth. Such products contain chemicals that, although weaker than the whitening products your dentist uses, can still damage the outer layer of your teeth, leaving them sensitive and vulnerable to tooth decay and damage. Because OTC products tend to be weaker than professional whitening, their unsatisfactory results can tempt you to overuse the solution and damage your teeth.

Whiten Your Teeth Without Harm

Rather than relying on chemicals to keep your smile bright, Dr. Smith recommends a few healthier ways to prolong your smile’s pearly-white visage. Crunchy vegetables, like raw celery and carrots, along with crispy fruits, like raw apples, and pears, consist of fibrous textures that help clean and polish your teeth without damaging the enamel around them. Baking soda and lemon juice can be mixed together into a paste that works as both a cleaning and a bleaching agent. The baking soda scrubs away at any surface stains, while the citric acid in the lemon juice can have a mild bleaching effect. Dr. Smith warns, however, to take care with lemon juice, as the acidity can also wear down tooth enamel if not used carefully.

About Your Grand Prairie Cosmetic Dentist:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

TMJ Disorder and the Quality of Your Life

Posted May 13, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Dental discomfort, such as a toothache, can have a significant influence on more than just your immediate dental health. When severe enough, the pain can affect your daily tranquility and overall quality of life. Besides aching teeth, dental discomfort might also encompass sore, painful jaw joints, along with trouble fully opening and closing your jaw. Known as TMJ disorder, the jaw dysfunction can often generate other symptoms, as well, including severe headaches and chronic tinnitus (pain and ringing in the ears). Though not everyone automatically associates headaches with their dental health, your Grand Prairie dentist, Dr. Quinn Smith, urges you to seek a professional TMJ assessmentif you’ve been unable to find relief for your persistent aches and pains.

The Dominant Trigeminal Nerve

Like any sensation, pain is sent as signals through your nerves to your brain, where the disturbance is registered and brought to your attention. On both sides of your jaw, the trigeminal nerves travel through your TMJs and continue branching out to innervate the majority of your head, neck, and facial structures. When your jaw’s joints and muscles suffer damage and inflammation, they can aggravate the trigeminal nerves, leading to the wide variety of craniofacial aches and pains associated with TMJ disorder.

How to Treat Your Jaw Dysfunction

In most cases, TMJ disorder stems from excessive pressure on your jaw’s joints and muscles, and can result from consistent teeth grinding in the midst of elevated stress; an uneven bite, such as crooked teeth, that hinders your mouth’s balance; or a direct blow to the mouth and jaw that forces the joints out of alignment. Treating TMJ disorder depends on the nature andextent of the issue. Your treatment may include a mouthguard and splint to reposition the jaws more comfortably, or orthodontic treatment to correct malocclusion (crooked teeth) and restore the proper balance to your bite.

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:

What is Bruxing?

Posted May 9, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Bruxism is defined by the Merriam-Webster online dictionary as, the habit of unconsciously gritting or grinding the teeth especially in situations of stress or during sleep. It’s derived from the Greek word brychein meaning “to gnash teeth.” Bruxism can be done consciously or unconsciously, and can be mild or excessive. Usually, mild bruxing will not result in problems, but excessive bruxing can. Your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist, Dr. Quinn Smith, can evaluate your teeth for signs of bruxism, and discuss your need for treatment.

What Leads to Bruxing

Bruxing may be the result of stress, tension, anger, anxiety, or frustration. It has been speculated that it may be associated with certain personality types, such as hyperactive, competitive, or aggressive personalities. It may also be generated by missing teeth, malocclusion (incorrect bite), diseases like Parkinson’s or Huntington’s, and medications such as certain antidepressants.

To determine if you are a bruxer, take the following true or false quiz:

Your jaw muscles are tight, sore, or tired: T or F
You experience pain in your face, ears, or jaws: T or F
Your teeth are sensitive, worn, chipped, flattened, or becoming shorter: T or F
Your partner complains that you grind in your sleep: T or F
You experience sore gums: T or F
You wake up with headaches: T or F
You notice a level of hearing loss: T or F

The above are indications of bruxing. Teeth are strong and meant to last a lifetime if cared for properly. However, if you brux in your sleep and are unaware, you may not realize your condition until complications develop, such as serious tooth damage and/or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Therefore, knowing the signs and symptoms, and attending routine visits to Dr. Quinn can prevent your condition from worsening. Dr. Quinn may opt to treat your bruxing with a mouth guard or splint. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Quinn if you’re aware that you brux, or if you are experiencing mouth, jaw, ear, or face pain, or if someone notices that you are grinding in your sleep.

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a respected and experienced general, restorative, and family dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work he performs. Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

How Spring Allergies Affect Teeth

Posted May 6, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Budding trees and colorful flowers make spring come alive, but, for seasonal allergy sufferers, allergies reawaken as well.

While people commonly think of symptoms like sneezing and watery eyes, your allergies could be the root cause of your dental pain as well. Sinus problems often manifest as tooth pain with the beginning of pollen season.

Allergic Rhinitis – The Reason for the Sneezing This Season

This common condition affects roughly 20 percent of the population. Simply put, it’s an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, Eustachian tubes, middle ear, sinuses, and throat. All the usual symptoms come out, including:

Sneezing
Itchy eyes, nose, ears, or palate
Runny nose
Congestion

But dental pain, especially of the upper or lower back teeth, also may indicate a spring allergy. Ask yourself these questions if you think your tooth pain and allergies may be related:

Does standing on your toes and powerfully dropping your heels cause your teeth to hurt?
Does walking down stairs hurt?
If you change the position of head, tilting it back and forth, does it hurt your teeth?

How to Alleviate Allergy-Induced tooth pain?

Start with the basics. Take an antihistamine plus ibuprofen for a day to see if it helps. If you have congestion as well, add a decongestant to the combo.

Allergies stress out your immune system, so look for ways to boost it with proper nutrition. Look for foods that deliver stress-fighting antioxidants without increasing your mucus levels, such as leafy green, blueberries and other fruits and vegetables.

Stay hydrated to flush your system of foreign irritants, thin out mucus, and support sinus drainage. Bacteria flourish when your mouth is dry, so this also helps keep your mouth clean. Remember, alcohol and caffeinated beverages actually dehydrate you, so stick to water and non-sugary drinks.

Some people have great success with Neti, or sinus, pots, a natural remedy that involves flushing salt water through your sinuses. For the best chance of success, use Himalayan salt, consider the purest source with the most vital minerals.

About Us:

Grand Prairie dentist Dr. Quinn J. Smith received hi
s undergraduate degree from Boise State University in Boise, Idaho and went on to attend and graduate from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Louisville, Ky. Dr. Smith considers Pecan Tree Dental his home away from home, and his patients and staff his extended family. He strives to put each patient at ease with his sincere, friendly chair-side manner and honest treatment approach.Visit Pecan Tree Dental at 775 W. Westchester Pkwy, Suite 101, in Grand Prairie, TX, 75052 or call 972-262-5111.

What Does Your Toothache Mean?

Posted April 22, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Are you experiencing a toothache? Do you know why you have a toothache? Have you been examined by a dentist? Discomfort and pain from a toothache could lead to a variety of oral conditions. A toothache can vary from moderate discomfort to sever pain. Also, the intensity of pain could indicate the level of invasive treatment needed to correct the condition. The pain will not dissipate over time, and the proactive action is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith in Grand Prairie, TX for oral diagnosis and treatment.

How Your Teeth Are Structured

First Layer:

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. It’s strength derives from the tightly packed calcium and phosphate crystals, creating a compound called calcium-phosphate. Once developed, enamel is not considered a live tissue. The enamel protects the second layer of the tooth called the dentin.

Second Layer:

The dentin is a softer substance similar to bone. It is compressible and sensitive. Miniature tubules connect the dentin to the nerve inside the tooth core called the pulp. Dentin is a live tissue, unlike enamel.

Third Layer:

The tooth core (pulp chamber) is the housing for nerves and blood vessels. Nutrients are supplied to the teeth through the pulp. The nerves and blood vessels are connected to the surrounding soft tissues at the roots tip.

How Infection Affects Your Teeth

Most commonly, oral infection appears in two different forms. The first is tooth decay, and the second is gum disease.

The presence of tooth decay causes sensitivity due to the erosion of teeth. Bacterial plaque feed on sugar and starches and produced acid, demineralizing, or leeching the minerals, from your teeth, potentially resulting in cavities. The ongoing process of demineralization can lead to cavities that, left untreated, may extend from the enamel into the tooth’s core.

Gum disease (periodontal disease) causes the deterioration of gums. Infection eats away the bond between teeth and gums, working its way down the tooth instead of through the tooth. Receding gums, bleeding, and pus are all symptoms of gum disease; However, symptoms rarely show in the early stages. Gum disease affects 80% of people and is the leading cause of tooth loss in US adults.

Dr. Smith and the team at Pecan Tree Dental advise you to schedule an appointment if your toothache is a consistent pain for more than a few days and if the pain becomes unbearable, affecting your daily life.

About Your Grand Prairie Dentist

Dr. Quinn Smith and our team at Pecan Tree Dental are committed to serve you above all expectations. Call and schedule an appointment today if your toothache persists for more than a few days: (972) 262-5111

Implant Dentures: Securing Your Smile

Posted April 21, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Do you wear dentures dentures? Do your dentures slip or feel loose? How often do you remove them, or find yourself putting them back in? Dr. Quinn Smith offers a way to secure your dentures permanently with the support of dental implants. If you are searching for an alternative to your standard dentures, implant denturesmay be a viable option to restoring your smile. The process of securing your dentures involves integrating implants into your jawbone, attaching abutments to the implants, and then securing your dentures to the abutments once your jawbone has fully healed. Although the entire procedure can take multiple visits to complete, Dr. Smith is confident you will enjoy the results and benefits of implant-secured dentures.

How Are the Dentures Secured?

Integration:

Surgically inserting dental implants into your jaw bone is the first step of rebuilding your smile. If your jawbone is healthy and strong enough, a series of titanium implants, shaped similar to your teeth’s roots, will be placed into your bone.

However, if there are any concerns with the integrity of your jaw bone, Dr. Smith may suggest bone grafting, which borrows bone from another source in your body, or from a donor source, to increase the strength and density of your jaw bone.

Once the integrity of your jaw bone is strong enough to support your dental implants, Dr. Smith will insert the prosthetic teeth roots.

After the implants are inserted, your jawbone will require 4-6 months to heal and properly fuse to the titanium implants. During this time, temporary teeth can be worn over the implant sites until healing/fusion is complete.

Abutment:

Once the jawbone has bonded with the titanium cylinder, Dr. Smith will attach an abutment, an added extension, to the implant, which is the second step of this procedure. The abutment is the small connective unit that protrudes above the gum line and allows Dr. Smith to attach your dentures to your implants.

Dentures:

After your implants are inserted, your jawbone has healed, and the abutments are secured in place, Dr. Smith will adjust your custom-made dentures to ensure the optimal fit, and then secure them to the implants’connective abutments. of denture slippage.

Benefits of Implant Dentures

When your dentures are secured by implants, instead of the frequent application of adhesives, they are more stable and more comfortable than standard dentures.

Your chewing and biting function will feel more natural than standard dentures

Implant dentures replace lost teeth roots, which helps preserve your jawbone’s integrity in the long run. Standard dentures do not replace the missing roots, and jaw bone resorption (deterioration) can occur from the lack of root stimulation when you bite and chew.

With improved stability and security, you can eat a wider variety of foods than you could with your standard dentures. .

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST

A Guide to Dental Implant Surgery

Posted April 20, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Dental implants are small, titanium roots that can be surgically inserted into your jawbone, creating a veritable root foundation for your dental crown, bridge, or denture. If you’ve lost one or more teeth to damage or disease, then Dr. Smith may recommend dental implants as a lifelike and long-lasting tooth replacement option. As with any surgery, you feel slightly anxious about undergoing the outpatient surgery, but knowing what to expect before and after will help ease your mind, and your apprehension, about the procedure. Grand Prairie dentist, Dr. Quinn Smith, takes our patients’ dental and overall well-being very seriously, and will walk you through to ensure you fully understand the entire process.

Steps to Dental Implant Surgery and Restoration

• If you’ve still retained the tooth and it needs to be replaced, then Dr. Smith will extract the tooth and prepare the surrounding tissues and jawbone for surgery

• According to the precise measurements and surgery guide he creates for your smile, Dr. Smith will carefully insert the titanium post into your jawbone.

• Following the surgery, you may experience swelling, discomfort, or minor bleeding at the implant site, which should abate after a few days. If discomfort continues, Dr. Smith will thoroughly examine your mouth and the implant site to ensure that you are healing well.

• After the implant is inserted, healing may take 4-6 months, during which time your jawbone will fuse to the implant’s titanium surface (a process known as osseointegration).

• After this connection has successfully formed between the implant and the bone, Dr. Smith can attach abutment to the top of it, which will protrude slightly from the gum line to secure the implant’s restoration.

• When the abutments are secured and your jawbone has fully healed, Dr. Smith can place your lifelike dental crown on top of the implant’s connective abutment, creating a root-and-crown replica of the tooth you lost.

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE COSMETIC DENTIST:

What Can Your Cosmetic Dentist Do for You?

Posted April 11, 2014 by Dr. Smith

Even perfectly healthy teeth can seem otherwise due to common cosmetic blemishes, like teeth stains. When you’re not as meticulous as you should be about cleaning your teeth, stains can become more apparent, and might often indicate an underlying tooth infection. By focusing on the aesthetic aspects of your smile, your Grand Prairie cosmetic dentist can help you erase cosmetic blemishes so that your smile’s health and beauty are apparent.

Your Choice of Smile Enhancements

Whether you wish to change the color, size, shape, or alignment of your teeth, Dr. Quinn Smith can customize a smile makeover plan designed to fit your specific needs. Some of the most common cosmetic treatments we offer and the issues they can address include;
Professional Teeth Whitening
Teeth stains are the most common smile complaint among adults, and can appear even if you diligently brush and floss your teeth every day. Professional teeth whitening can erase stubborn teeth stains, allowing your teeth’s natural beauty to shine through. Depending on your preferences, Dr. Smith may recommend in-office whitening, which can be completed during a single visit, or a custom-made take-home kit that allows you whiten your teeth on your own time.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is another name for the application of tooth-colored composite resin; a mixture of acrylic polymers and ceramic particles that closely mimics your natural tooth’s color and appearance. Composite resin can conceal severe stains that don’t respond to teeth whitening, and help improve teeth with chipped and jagged edges. Dental bonding can also be employed as an alternative to metal fillings, providing discreet and more effective restorations for cavity-infected teeth. Since it can be bonded to your tooth’s structure, resin creates a more effective seal against oral bacteria, reducing the risk of tooth decay infecting your tooth again.
Porcelain Veneers
When teeth whitening and dental bonding don’t suffice, Dr. Smith may recommend veneers made from lifelike dental porcelain. Veneers are wafer-thin shells that are hand-crafted to the exact specifications of each tooth, and the porcelain is tinted and layered to mimic the color and shine of natural, healthy teeth. By covering the front surfaces of your teeth, porcelain veneers can address a wide range of cosmetic issues, and may be used for one or several teeth at a time.

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE COSMETIC DENTIST:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, restorative, and cosmetic dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

Why a Dentist is Important to Your Family

Posted April 8, 2014 by Dr. Smith

An important factor in teaching your children to take goodcare of their dental health is taking them to visit the dentist. Like their parents, children over the age of three should attend regular dental checkups and cleanings at least once every six months as part of a good dental hygiene routine. If children develop cavities, or require orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth, then they’ll need to visit the dentist more often to restore their good dental health. What sets a family dentist apart from a run-of-the-mill general dentist is his ability to successfully address the issues specific to each member of your family, regardless of their age and specific dental needs.

Keep Your Smiles Clean, at Home and at the Office

You’ve been brushing and flossing your teeth all on your own for most of your life, and you teach your children to do the same based on the same principles you’ve learned. These principles have remained largely unchanged since you were a child, but with modern dentistry’s advancing technology, more effective methods exist of keeping your family’s smiles clean and healthy. Besides thoroughly cleaning your teeth at your dental checkups, our caring and compassionate hygienists will also work with you and your family to optimize your home hygiene’s effectiveness.

Provide More than Routine Dentistry

Patients who have a strong apprehension about undergoing dental treatment (dental phobia), or who need an especially complex restorative treatment (like dental implants) require more consideration than others. As a family dentist, Dr. Quinn understands that dentistry can induce anxiety in some patients; but he also knows that receiving treatment in a prompt fashion is often vital to a procedure’s success. To reduce anxiety and help patients receive the care they need, Dr. Quinn offers a variety of sedation dentistry techniques, including oral sedation, nitrous oxide, and in rare cases, intravenous (IV) sedation by a licensed anesthesiologist.

The Formation of Tooth Enamel

Keeping Enamel Strong

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:

Can Teeth Whitening Damage Your Teeth?

Whiten Your Teeth Without Harm

About Your Grand Prairie Cosmetic Dentist:

The Dominant Trigeminal Nerve

How to Treat Your Jaw Dysfunction

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:

What Leads to Bruxing

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:

Allergic Rhinitis – The Reason for the Sneezing This Season

How to Alleviate Allergy-Induced tooth pain?

About Us:

How Are the Dentures Secured?

Benefits of Implant Dentures

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST

Steps to Dental Implant Surgery and Restoration

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE COSMETIC DENTIST:

Your Choice of Smile Enhancements

ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE COSMETIC DENTIST:

Keep Your Smiles Clean, at Home and at the Office

Provide More than Routine Dentistry

About Your Grand Prairie Family Dentist:

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