Posts Tagged ‘cosmetic dental’

Does My Dallas Dentist Treat Bad Breath?

Friday, May 13th, 2011

Cure Bad Breath In the metroplex When my the Dallas dental clients ask me if mouthwash cures bad breath, I tell them that treating bad breath with a mouthwash is like drenching yourself with cologne instead of taking a shower. Mouthwash is only a temporary mask for odor caused by poor oral hygiene, tongue bacteria, or digestive problems.

The best-selling mouthwashes in the Dallas area have a significant amount of alcohol, which can even exacerbate bad breath by drying out the mouth. Some bacteria grows even faster in a dry environment.

To eliminate bad breath, you need to find the cause. To get rid of hidden bacteria multiplying between teeth, pay more attention to thorough flossing and brushing.

A haphazard thirty-second brushing won’t prevent halitosis (or cavities). Try to brush for at least three minutes. It may seem like overkill if you have been a speed-brusher but remember that there is a lot of area to cover on multiple planes.

Devise a system to brush every reachable surface of every tooth. Then floss carefully around every tooth, pulling the floss down into the space at the gumline on both sides. Brush your gums, sides of mouth, palate, and tongue, also.  This will prevent gum disease.

Schedule a deep dental cleaning at Travis Walk Dental Care with the best hygienist in the the Dallas area and request a refresher (no pun intended) course on brushing and flossing.

If your tongue is the culprit, you might want to start using a tongue scraper. Tongue scraping has become quite popular in the metroplex, especially among the college crowd.

A tongue scraper is a cleaning tool that works like a squeegee to scrape bacteria and food particles off the surface of the tongue.

I am Dr. Miranda of Travis Walk Dental Care. At Travis Walk Dental Care, we treat many Dallas cosmetic dental patients with bad breath. There is no reason to feel embarrassed. (Leaving bad breath untreated can be more embarrassing.)

Schedule an oral exam and halitosis consultation by calling 214-522-4330. At Travis Walk Dental Care, our specialty is cosmetic dentistry and we also provide dental crowns. Thanks for visiting our blog.

Do Whitestrips Work?

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Do Whitestrips Work in Dallas? If you have visited the toothpaste aisle at your Dallas Wal-Mart, you have probably noticed dozens of products that claim to whiten your teeth. A few years ago, the only over-the-counter tooth whitening options in Dallas were whitening toothpastes and Crest Whitestrips. Now there is a wide variety of products at every drugstore counter in the Dallas area.

Whitening Rinses
Dallas whitening rinses are similar to mouthwashes. They kill bacteria, freshen breath and may help remove plaque. Whitening rinses, however, contain tooth-whitening ingredients not found in mouthwashes. Manufacturers advise taking a mouthful of the rinse and letting it slosh around on your teeth for one minute twice a day. Though this method is simple, many users never notice a lightening of their teeth. This is probably because the rinse does not touch your teeth long enough to truly whiten them.

Whitening Strips
The whitening strips you can buy in Dallas grocery stores have a couple of drawbacks. Though they contain a bleaching agent, it is much less potent than those used in Fort Worth dental offices. Another problem is that they do not whiten between teeth because the strips only touch the front surface. Though it is possible to remove stains, it can take months to see any whitening. By that point, you have probably spent more money than you would have if you’d have chosen the professional system at your Dallas tooth whitening dental clinic.

Teeth Whitening Gels
Whitening gels are painted onto teeth with a small brush. One problem with whitening gels is that they only stick to dry teeth. If any saliva gets on the teeth during treatment, the gel is more likely to slide off.

If you are serious about dramatically whitening your teeth, the safest, quickest, and most affordable system is at your Dallas dental office.  We offer Zoom whitening which will whitening your teeth in just one visit to our office.

Travis Walk Dental Care is located at 4514 Travis Street, Suite 117, Dallas, TX. Our phone number is 214-522-4330. You can find more information on our Dallas cosmetic dental website online at http://www.rusmiling.com/pages/about.htm.

Beware Of Hidden Sugar

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

preventative dentistry in Mid-cities We advise our Dallas cosmetic dental clients at Travis Walk Dental Care to watch their sugar intake to prevent cavities and other health problems such as gum disease.

If you are trying to unsweeten your diet, you are probably skipping the usual suspects: candy, soda, and baked treats. But not all sugar is as obvious as the frosting on a piece of chocolate cake or the powdery stuff in pixie stix.

Here are some foods found in Dallas grocery stores and the metroplex school cafeterias with a surprisingly high sugar content:

  • Ketchup
  • Low Fat versions of snack foods (Manufacturers often replace fat with sugar.)
  • Salad Dressing
  • Breads, buns, rolls
  • Spaghetti Sauce
  • Protein Bars
  • Granola
  • Canned soup
  • Peanut Butter
  • Yogurt
  • Fast food meals (Hamburgers, fries, sandwiches, and salads are often loaded with sugar, not to mention the dessert items.)
  • Antacids
  • Cough drops
  • Fruit smoothies (Even a small serving has a whopping amount of sugar.)

Reading the fine print on labels is a must. The following terms are all types of sugar:

raw sugar, cane sugar, glucose, lactose, galactose, fructose, dextrose, honey, sorghum, molasses, cane sugar, confectioner’s sugar, crystallized cane juice, invert sugar, maltodextrin (or dextrin), maple syrup, concentrated fruit juices, evaporated cane juice (what kind of cane do you think we are talking about?)

Do the math: when shopping at Dallas markets or health food stores, carefully decipher food labels before you buy. Four grams of sugar equals one teaspoon. Add up all the grams of every type of sugar listed and divide by four to truly understand how much sugar an item contains.

At Travis Walk Dental Care, we advocate and practice preventative care for lifelong dental health. For more information on how your diet affects your dental health, contact us at 214-522-4330.  Ask about our cosmetic dentistry services such as dental implants and teeth whitening.

We are located at 4514 Travis Street, Suite 117, Dallas, TX.

Is a Perfect Smile Possible In Dallas?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Mid-cities Cosmetic Dentistry Are you considering a smile makeover in the the metroplex area? Are you skeptical of promises of a ‘perfect smile’ a ‘celebrity smile’ or ‘a dazzling, youthful smile’? Let’s talk about the most popular Dallas cosmetic dental procedures and the results that can be expected.

Composite Veneers
The application of porcelain veneers at Travis Walk Dental Care can remedy a multitude of aesthetic dental problems and is often a better cosmetic dental solution for candidates in the the metroplex area than dental bonding. Veneers can correct tooth chips, tooth cracks, minor tooth misalignment, tooth discoloration, unattractive tooth shape, and disproportionate tooth size. Can a porcelain veneer create a perfect tooth? While a veneer cannot fix a decayed tooth, it can turn an unsightly tooth into an aesthetically perfect tooth.

Tooth Whitening
Dallas tooth whitening is a non-invasive cosmetic dental treatment that dramatically improves a smile. However, some Dallas tooth whitening dentists will guarantee fantastic results for any patient that desires a whiter smile. At Travis Walk Dental Care in Dallas we only recommend tooth whitening for clients that are good candidates for the process. If you have all-natural teeth that are dull or stained, tooth whitening will brighten your smile. If you have several crowns in the front of your mouth, or gums that have receded, conventional tooth-whitening may not improve your smile.

Call 214-522-4330 to schedule a tooth-whitening consultation.

Tooth-Colored Fillings
If you have a mouth full of metal fillings, you may be interested in tooth-colored fillings. To get an idea of how the inside of your mouth would look without metal, have someone without any fillings open their mouth. Do you remember when your mouth looked like that? Would you like to bring your smile back to its pre-filling appearance? It is possible with tooth-colored fillings at Travis Walk Dental Care.

These are just a few of the cosmetic dental solutions that create perfect smiles for our Dallas clients. You can see a complete list of our services at www.rusmiling.com.

Dental Implants In Dallas

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Cosmetic Dentistry The best permanent tooth replacement treatment available to Dallas people who are missing teeth are dental implants.

A dental implant is a metal (ideally titanium) rod implanted into the bone to replace the missing root. The crown and supporting structure are securely and permanently attached to the rod. Titanium is amazingly strong and extremely well tolerated by the human body. There are very few instances of rejection. In fact, most Dallas implant dentists are not familiar with any such cases.

Dental implants offer a long-term solution to tooth loss. Are you a good candidate for tooth implant surgery?

Because the metal rod is anchored into the jaw bone, it is essential that you have enough healthy bone at the implant site. Drs. Miranda and Lepard can determine if you do.

Age is rarely a factor. Dental implants have proved to be successful for Dallas people of all ages. Drs. Miranda and Lepard provides comprehensive cosmetic dental care for every member of the family.

There are a few medical issues that may affect your eligibility for implants. These include diabetes, osteoporosis, radiation therapy for cancer, parathyroid disorders, bone disorders and leukemia. The presence of one or more of these conditions does not necessarily mean an implant cannot work for you; discuss any health issues with Drs. Miranda and Lepard during your implant dentistry consultation.

Travis Walk Dental Care is located at 4514 Travis Street, Suite 117, in Dallas, TX. Call 214-522-4330 to schedule an implant consultation.

Full Mouth Reconstruction in Dallas

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

Ft. Worth Dental Implants Dallas dental techniques and materials have advanced to a point where total and near-total mouth reconstruction is possible right here in the Dallas area.

Unlike conventional removable dentures, extensive mouth reconstruction involves strong, functional and aesthetically pleasing teeth with roots permanently anchored into the jaw bone.

You have probably heard around Dallas about dental implants; the tooth replacement option that is, in most cases, the best possible replacement for a missing tooth. Dental implants have been used in Dallas for many years to replace one or two missing teeth. However, they can also provide a structure for crowns, bridges, and anchored dentures that replace nearly every tooth in the mouth!

Every Dallas smile makeover patient requires a somewhat unique combination of cosmetic dental procedures, but let’s talk about a hypothetical case involving several restorations:

‘Linda’ was a 52 year-old Dallas patient with a mouthful of problems. She was missing most of her back teeth on both her upper and lower arch. Four of her front teeth were chipped and her gums had eroded revealing the metal bases of two old crowns.

To restore a beautiful, strong and youthful-looking smile, she would receive dental implants to anchor partial dentures for her upper and lower back teeth. After soft tissue grafts, her front teeth would receive a combination of porcelain crowns and veneers.

The result? A stunning smile, renewed confidence and no more slipping dentures!

  • Travis Walk Dental Care
  • www.rusmiling.com
  • 214-522-4330
  • Ask us about porcelain veneers

Preventing Facial Injuries

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Dallas Sports Dentistry Facial injuries occur all too often in the Dallas area. the metroplex Little Leaguers get hit by inside pitches, Ft. Worth construction workers suffer falls and other accidents at the worksite, and Texas motorists sustain injuries in collisions every single day. Accidents at home can also result in serious injury to the face.

Serious facial injuries can affect the victim’s ability to eat, breathe, and speak. Because of the essential physical processes at risk, a person who has suffered a facial injury should receive medical care as soon as possible. Injuries to the mouth are treated by general dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

At Travis Walk Dental Care, we strongly advocate the use of protective equipment for every type of sport, whether it is a team sport or individual activity. Call us at 214-522-4330 for mouthguard recommendations regarding your (or your child’s) specific sport.

Likewise, the Dallas workplace injury rate can be reduced with increased use of appropriate protective equipment and adherence to safety procedures. With respect to Dallas motor vehicle injuries, the following instructions bear repetition: Wear your seatbelt and don’t send or read text messages while driving!

If you have suffered a recent injury to your face, mouth or jaw, schedule a cosmetic dental consultation with Drs. Miranda and Lepard of Travis Walk Dental Care. If you are having dental problems (functional or aesthetic) due to an untreated past injury, we can also develop an effective treatment plan.  With cosmetic dentistry procedures we can help with teeth straightening or replacing missing teeth.

Our office is located at 4514 Travis Street, Suite 117, in Dallas, TX.

Drs. Miranda and Lepard.

Tooth Whitening Dentistry In Dallas

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

Tooth Whitening Dentistry In Dallas

Tooth whitening has really taken off in Dallas. It has become a popular dental procedure and can provide excellent results if done properly.

There are a lot of options when it comes to tooth whitening. You can choose from a selection of over-the-counter options that you can get at your local pharmacy, or can go to a professional to get a complete tooth whitening solution.

It is a good idea to consult with your dentist before a tooth whitening, regardless of whether you choose to use an over-the-counter product. Your dentist will be able to help you understand the results you can expect, and can help recommend a product that will work for you.

There are many variables when it comes to tooth whitening. The color of your teeth at the beginning of your treatment will make a difference for your ending result. Different tooth whitening treatments will each produce a different result. Your Dallas dentist has experience with tooth coloration and the types of treatments available.

In many cases, your Dallas dentist will be able to provide you with a tooth whitening solution that you can take home with you. In some cases, your Dallas dentist may recommend a professional Zoom whitening treatment that is done at the dentist’s office.

Professional tooth whitening at your cosmetic dental office can produce dramatic results in a single treatment, and is often done over a few treatments.

Tooth whitening is less expensive than it was in the earlier days of tooth whitening technology. Today, tooth whitening treatments are very affordable, and don’t take the time they used to.

If you are interested in a tooth whitening consultation in the Dallas area, please call Travis Walk Dental Care and make an appointment to see me. We will be happy to give you a check up, assess your tooth color, and recommend tooth whitening treatments that may be right for you.

-Drs. Miranda and Lepard, dentist

Tooth Decay in Dallas?

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

Dallas Teeth Whitening At Travis Walk Dental Care, we restore decayed teeth to create smiles that are both healthy and beautiful. Recent advances in both techniques and materials have made the ‘impossible’ not only possible, but affordable for everyone in Dallas as well.

Drs. Miranda and Lepard have been restoring teeth since 1991. Ongoing training is essential for staying on the cutting edge of the cosmetic dentistry industry.

Decay is the most common Dallas dental problem and the second most common disease in the nation (number one is the common cold). If you have one or more teeth with decay, it’s time to take care of them.

Fillings, inlays, onlays and dental crowns are used to restore teeth for our Dallas cosmetic dental patients. Even the most basic procedure – filling a cavity – has evolved. There are several types of new materials available including porcelain and composite resin. Each has specific strengths and aesthetic considerations. Dallas patients who replace silver amalgam with tooth-colored fillings love getting the metal out of their smile.

Inlays and onlays are more extensive restorations. There are two types: direct or indirect. Direct inlays and onlays are made in your the metroplex cosmetic dental office on the spot and applied in one visit. Indirect inlays and onlays are fabricated in a the metroplex dental lab. They usually require a second visit but the results are well worth the extra trip.

When a Dallas client has a tooth that cannot be restored with an inlay or an onlay, a natural-looking dental crown is the answer. At Travis Walk Dental Care, we create dental crowns that blend in perfectly with the rest of your teeth. Let us show you some photos of patients who have received smile makeovers – you will not see any “Chiclet” crowns that stick out like a sore thumb. In fact, you won’t be able to tell which of our Dallas cosmetic dental patients have crowns.

Travis Walk Dental Care is located at 4514 Travis Street, Suite 117, in Dallas, TX.  Drs. Miranda and Lepard are currently accepting new patients. Call 214-522-4330 to schedule an aesthetic dental consultation.