Are Dental Implants Safe?

Dental implants are used worldwide to address the problem of missing adult teeth. Since they were first invented, they have become the gold standard for replacing missing teeth, and the procedure is done in countless dental facilities around the globe. Still, if you have little experience with dental implants, you may be a bit wary about this solution. You may even be wondering if dental implants in Houston, TX are safe.

What Are They Made Of?

Dental implants are made of three components. The actual implant is made of titanium. This is the only part of the dental implant that is embedded in the jawbone. Titanium is used because it’s an inert metal. Inert means that it won’t mingle or interfere with your body in any way. It stays exactly as it is, with no reaction to your bone or tissue. Titanium is the metal that’s used in other kinds of implants, like hip replacements, arm bone implants and more.

Safety

The success rates for dental implants range from 95% to 98%. Even if a dental implant fails for some reason, all that’s needed is to remove the implant and try again. No one gets sick or suffers fatal consequences from dental implants. Furthermore, the procedure itself has been refined over decades, and advancements in technology and techniques have further improved its safety and effectiveness.

Quality Dentist

The success rate of dental implants is increased when you choose a quality dentist like Chloe Dental. We have highly-trained staff in addition to our dental professionals. You’re in good hands when you get dental implants at Chloe Dental!

If you have more questions regarding this procedure, we hope you will contact your dentist in Houston, TX to set up an appointment. Soon, you can have your problem with missing teeth completely resolved!

2 Signs You Can Benefit from Braces Without Braces

When you have crooked or misaligned teeth, getting them straightened can help improve how you chew and talk. Braces without braces can help with this. These clear aligners fit over the teeth and gently move the teeth back into place. As your dentist in Katy and Houston TX, the professionals at Chloe Dental can help you decide if braces without braces are right for you. Below are two signs that you may be able to benefit from braces without braces.

1. Your teeth are crooked.

If your teeth overlap one another, don’t line up properly when you smile, or if you have a hard time pronouncing certain words because of the alignment of your teeth, braces without braces may be able to fix the problem.

Braces without braces primarily benefit patients with mild to moderate tooth alignment problems. Your dentist will let you know if you’re a good candidate for this dental tool.

2. You don’t want braces.

While braces are a very effective tool for correcting mild to severe tooth alignment problems, braces can have some downsides. They can impact the appearance of your smile, and they can also be tough to keep clean. If you don’t want these downsides, then braces without braces might be a preferred option for you.

Want Braces Without Braces? Make An Appointment At Chloe Dental

The dentists at Chloe Dental can help you decide if braces without braces are right for you. To find out if you’re a good candidate for braces without braces in Katy and Houston TX, call us today to make an appointment.

How to Prepare for Your Oral Surgery

Whether you need wisdom teeth removal or need an implant, you will need the services of a Houston or Katy oral surgeon. Once you have found the right provider, you need to prepare yourself mentally and physically for your procedure. Here are some tips from the team at Chloe Dental.

Learn Your Needs

Talk to your oral surgeon well before your surgery to know what you need to do to prepare. Then, follow all instructions. This is the best thing you can do to prepare for your surgery.

Get a Ride

Many types of oral surgery require general anesthesia. If yours does, you will need someone to drive you home after the procedure. Even for procedures done under local anesthesia, you may want to have a ride in case you have pain or complications.

Dress the Part

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and something that makes it easy to access your arms for your IV. Even if you aren’t going under, your nurse may take vitals, and a short-sleeved shirt makes that easier and more accurate.

Be on Time

Try to arrive at the surgery center 20 minutes before your procedure. There is often last-minute paperwork to fill out, and that will help you settle in and get started on time. Running late will add to your stress and make the entire day less productive. Getting there early also allows you to ask any lingering questions about your procedure.

At Chloe Dental, our team is here to make your oral surgery as comfortable and convenient as possible. If you have any questions or need to schedule a procedure, reach out to our dentists in Katy and Houston today for help. You can also conveniently schedule your appointment online.

5 Qualities to Look For In a Dentist

Choosing a new dentist can be difficult! Knowing which qualities to look for can make maintaining your teeth much easier. When choosing a dentist in Katy and Houston TX, it’s important to consider their availability, experience, good reviews, patient care, and whether they accept your dental insurance. Here’s what you need to know as you consider dental professionals in the Katy and Houston area.

1. Availability

Not all dentists have availability for new patients. You can find out whether a dental office accepts new patients by giving them a call.

2. Experience

Experience matters. An experienced dentist will have strategies for helping patients stay comfortable during their dental exams. Experience also helps dentists improve their patient outcomes. You can check a dentist’s experience by looking at their website.

3. Good Reviews

Good dentists tend to get good reviews from satisfied patients. You can find reviews of each dental provider online, or by talking to previously satisfied patients. At Chloe Dental, you can even see testimonials from our satisfied patients by looking at our website.

4. Good Patient Care

Good dentists offer good patient care. They take steps to help patients have a good experience when they come for dental care. For example, good dentists streamline the dental exam experience to ensure it’s fast and efficient for the patient. They also tailor the patient’s treatment plan to their diagnosis, and treat their patients with respect.

5. Accepts Your Dental Insurance

If you have dental insurance, it’s important to ensure that your dentist accepts that type of insurance. Call the dentist before your dental exam in Katy and Houston, TX to learn whether they accept your insurance.

Do you need to see the dentist for a dental exam? Call Chloe Dental today.

The Benefits of 3D Dental Scans

Chloe Dental is pleased to provide patients with the most technologically advanced dental care solutions, right down to the X-rays we take. Instead of the flat, old-fashioned 2D X-rays from the past, we use 3D dental scans that provide far more information about your dental health, in a much more comfortable setting. Here’s how this benefits you as a patient:

Quicker and More Comfortable

The older X-ray technology required dental hygienists to place sharp, uncomfortable bite plates back into your mouth—sometimes several times over if the X-ray didn’t work right the first time. Today, dental imaging at Chloe Dental in Houston, Texas is easier, quicker, and more comfortable. We steady your chin on a platform, you hold the handles, stand still, and bite one plate easily in the front of your mouth. Once you are in position, the 3D dental image machine swerves quickly around your head. The result is a clear, detailed, 3D image of your entire mouth and jaw, all in one sweep.

Fast, Accurate, In-Depth Oral Health Data

The resulting digital 3D image gives us a wider, clearer, deeper view of your teeth, both inside and out. We can see into your jaw bone, including the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Not only does it help us find even the smallest cavities, but it also helps us get a clear view of your orthodontic situation. In children, we can see how adult teeth develop before they erupt. We can also detect TMJ problems proactively. 3D dental imaging also helps us perform precisely accurate root canals, wisdom teeth removals, and other necessary oral surgeries.

Less Radiation Exposure

Because 3D dental imaging is faster than the old 2D X-rays, patients are exposed to far less radiation than before. Less radiation, better data. It’s a big win for our patients!

3D Dental Imaging at Chloe Dental in Katy and Houston, Texas

Here at Chloe Dental, all of our patients benefit from how we use the latest technology to provide dental, endodontic, and orthodontic care for the whole family. Schedule an appointment today and see how comfortable and helpful our 3D dental X-rays are.

What to do if a Tooth Falls Out

It’s natural to panic a little bit if your adult tooth falls out. Teeth fall out for several reasons, including mouth trauma due to sports injuries or vehicular accidents, periodontal disease, nutritional deficiencies, and more. But the first thing to do if a tooth falls out is to try to remain calm. Your dentist in Houston, TX might be able to re-implant the tooth. Even if they can’t, there are restorative dental treatments available.

Find the Tooth

Try your best to find the tooth. If you can locate it, you can bring it to the dentist’s office with you. Once you find it, avoid handling it too much. There may be connective tissue attached that is delicate.

Handling the Tooth

If the tooth is dirty, you can place it inside a bowl with contact lens saline solution, distilled water or even milk. Gently swish it around, then lay it on a clean cloth. Don’t rinse it under the tap, because it’s too easy to lose your grip and have the tooth fall down the drain.

Contain the Tooth

Gently place it inside a damp clean cloth or a plastic bag with distilled water or milk. Then, for extra security, put the bag inside a jar. This will help to ensure that the tooth is safe while you get yourself to a dentist.

Contact Your Dentist

Get on the phone with your dentist’s office and let them know you’re on your way. This will give them time to make room for your visit in their schedule.

Restorative Treatments

Your dentist has a number of treatments available. If they can’t re-implant the tooth, you could get a bridge, a denture, or a dental implant.

No matter how bad you think it is, your dentist can help. Contact us today about emergency dental services in Houston, TX.

3 Tips to Prepare for Oral Surgery

If you need oral surgery, even if you’ve had it before, the whole process can be a little intimidating. Preparing not only puts you in the right frame of mind but also reduces the risks and complications of the surgical procedure. We’ll look at a few steps that you can take to make everything go a little more smoothly.

1. Ask the Doctor

Your dentist or oral surgeon in Katy, TX, will give you a lot of information before the big day. Of course, no matter how much they tell you, you’ll probably still have questions later on. Getting the full run-down of the treatment may take more than just a single information session, so don’t be afraid to schedule some extra time on the books.

2. Follow Directions

Whether you need to fast for at least 12 hours, a ride, or a container to carry dental appliances, make sure that you know what’s expected of you and give yourself enough time to get your ducks in a row. It may sound obvious, but plenty of people make a mistake that inevitably ends in a rescheduled surgery. This doesn’t just set you back. It can cause the condition to get worse in the interim.

3. Find the Right Surgical Team in Katy, TX

An oral surgeon needs to have more training than a regular dentist in Katy, TX. In addition to credentials, they’ll also need a bedside manner to help you get through each surgery step. From the initial consultation to the final recovery stages, oral surgery can be difficult for people to commit to. If you’re looking for a team that’s helped their patients successfully tackle the road ahead, count on the staff at Chloe Dental to get you through it.

What Are Crowded Teeth? 

When your mouth doesn’t have enough room for your teeth, we call this condition “crowded teeth.” Crowded teeth are a problem that needs correction from your dentist in Katy and Houston, TX. Depending on the severity and other factors, your dentist may recommend orthodontic interventions like braces or clear aligners.

Why Crowded Teeth Are a Problem

Crowded teeth are a problem because teeth that have no room to grow straight will grow crooked instead. Teeth may also grow on top of each other, making cleaning them very difficult. People who cannot floss and brush their teeth appropriately may be at higher risk for cavities and other oral health problems.

What You Can Do About Crowded Teeth

If you have crowded teeth, your dentist may take various steps to correct the problem. Sometimes, teeth with no room in the mouth are extracted to make space for other teeth.

Your dentist may also recommend braces or clear aligners. Braces are tools that attach brackets to the teeth. These brackets are then connected by wires and rubber bands that slowly apply pressure to force the teeth into the correct position.

Clear aligners are similar to braces in that they use pressure to move the teeth into the correct position, but clear aligners are worn over the teeth and can easily be removed by the wearer.

Have Crowded Teeth? Get Help

Crowded teeth can impact your smile and make some people self-conscious about how they look. Crowded teeth are also bad for your oral hygiene. You can get this problem corrected with clear aligners or braces in Katy and Houston, TX. Call Chloe Dental today to make an appointment and learn more.

Protecting Your Teeth From Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are one of the most common reasons cited for the need foremergency dental services in Houston, TX. When you have a dental emergency, you should contact your dentist at Chloe Dental right away. When you call and explain what’s happened to our friendly dental staff, we can advise you on the best next steps. Of course, being proactive and avoiding the injury is the best thing. Here are some tips on protecting your teeth from sports injuries.

Wear a Mouth Guard

A properly fitted mouthguard is one of the most effective ways to protect your teeth during sports activities. Mouth guards act as a cushion, absorbing the impact of blows to the face and reducing the risk of dental injuries. There are three main types of mouthguards: stock, boil-and-bite, and custom-fitted mouthguards. Custom-fitted mouth guards, made by a dentist, offer the best fit and protection.

Play in Well-lit Areas

Sports injuries often occur at home in non-professional settings. Often, play begins in daylight and continues into nightfall. When darkness descends, be sure to turn on outdoor spotlights, driveway lights, and any other lighting that may be available. This helps to prevent stray street hockey sticks and other equipment from hitting players in the mouth.

Protect Younger Players

It’s great to involve younger players in sports. But if larger players are present, the play may be too aggressive for youngsters to keep up with. Be sure to take a protective stance toward younger players, siblings, and neighbors’ children. They may not know enough about the game not to stand too close behind a softball hitter, for instance.

Even with these tips, sports injuries will happen. The best you can do is have the number of yourdentist in Houston, TX, on hand to call when you need us. We’re here to help with all of your emergency dental needs!

Jaw Pain on One Side: What’s Causing It?

Jaw pain on one side can be annoying, particularly if you can’t point out a reason for it. We’ll look at the possible reasons why you might want to see adentist in Houston, TX, to learn more about the root cause.

1. Sinus Issues
When your sinuses become inflamed, they pressure your cheeks. The more pressure, the more likely you are to feel in your jaw as well. Sinusitis is most often associated with a cold, but you can develop it with allergies or other conditions. If your jaw pain is also accompanied by mucus, congestion, and fatigue, you may find your jaw pain clears up once your sinuses do.

2. Dental Disorders
Teeth and gum issues can manifest as jaw pain. If you’re having problems on one side, it may be due to an infected tooth or gum disease. Jaw pain can also be caused by misaligned teeth or clenching or grinding while awake or asleep. A dentist may recommend anything from a root canal to a laser gum treatment as a way to relieve the pain.

3. TMJ
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) links your skull and jaw. If it’s misaligned or otherwise damaged, you can start to feel tenderness or pain when opening your mouth or chewing your food. If an earache also accompanies the jaw pain, this is one of the biggest indicators of TMJ.

See a Dentist in Katy, TX
If you’re havingjaw pain in Katy, TX, a dentist can begin to rule out the causes so you can identify what’s really happening behind your skin. Chloe Dental has locations in Houston and Katy to help patients get the right diagnosis.