Regular Dental Cleaning Keeping You Healthy in the Woodlands

Some people only schedule their hygiene or dental cleaning visits once a year or even once every other year. They feel that they can take care of their teeth themselves, keeping them clean with regular brushing and flossing. The truth is that much of what is happening to your teeth doesn’t happen on the chewing surfaces but between your teeth and at the edge of and below your gums. This means that no matter how well you brush your chewing surfaces or floss, the bacteria of plaque and tartar could still be building up – and that build up of bacteria gets in your blood stream, causing all kinds of problems – even if you do not have active gum disease. If you do, things get a lot more serious.

Gum disease, as I have mentioned before, can lead to strokes, heart attacks, premature babies, diabetic complications, inflammatory disease, even certain kinds of cancers – and the list is growing!

Another important reason to come in for your cleaning more than once a year is that we can keep an eye out for early signs of oral cancer, decay and other oral health issues. If no one is looking, it is hard to catch small problems before they turn into big ones.

Of course, one of the nicest and most immediate benefits of regular cleanings is how great your teeth look and feel directly after a cleaning. Cleaning makes teeth positively lickable! To schedule your cleaning and check-up, call me, Dr. Shirley Cagle, at 281.681.9442 or read more about oral hygiene and the benefits of regular dental cleanings at http://www.shirleycagledds.com/dental-health-the-woodlands/oral-hygiene.asp

Artful Dental Bonding for a Gorgeous Woodlands Smile

Do you have some minor chips or cracks in your teeth? Are your teeth discolored or stained and can’t be whitened effectively? Do you have cavities at your gum line?  I have found that when dental bonding is done properly, it can be a great solution for repairing and covering all kinds of cosmetic and restorative issues.  I have even used it to effectively close gaps and lengthen short teeth for folks who don’t want porcelain veneers. Best of all, it can be completed in one office visit so you don’t have to wait for a laboratory to create your restoration.

The secret to beautiful and strong cosmetic dental bonding is in the new bonding materials and techniques. The newest resins are stronger and more stain resistant, and while they won’t resist stains and breakage as well as porcelain, these resins are pretty impressive.

I also use layering and shading techniques to make a much more translucent and naturally shaded tooth surface. To me, it is an artistic process, similar to sculpting, and I really enjoy the challenge of mimicking nature. I am a perfectionist so I don’t quit until it looks just right. Most patients tell me that they have a hard time distinguishing the teeth I have bonded from the surrounding natural teeth!

For more information about the benefits of dental bonding visit my website www.shirleycagledds.com or give me, Dr. Shirley Cagle, a call at 281.681.9442.

Repairing, Correcting and Strengthening Woodland’s Smiles With Porcelain Dental Crowns

So many patients come to me with old metal fillings under which their teeth are simply decaying or crumbing away. The very fillings that were supposed to repair and protect their teeth have caused them to crack and break, or have shifted and allowed bacteria to enter and cause further damage. I usually recommend that these teeth be repaired and restored with a porcelain crown.

Porcelain crowns make such great restorations because they cover the entire tooth with an attractive and strong ceramic material that not only looks and feels like a natural tooth, it also seals and strengthens your tooth, blocking harmful bacteria. A crown can even save and hold together a cracked tooth and protect your tooth after a root canal.

Most of the crowns I place are made of pure porcelain so there is no unnaturally dark line at your gums. This porcelain material is also created with natural layers and translucency to mimic a tooth’s natural appearance. I just don’t think you need to have a restoration that makes you look older or less appealing – all my restorations are made to look beautiful as well as support your teeth.

If your teeth hurt or you notice that they are looking dark under your old filling, please come see me. If you would like more information about porcelain dental crowns, call me at 281.681.9442 or visit my website, www.shirleycagledds.com.

Healthier Smiles in Woodlands Texas With Periodontal Treatments for Both Gums and Body

Your gums might seems small and insignificant but if they become infected, the infection could make you very sick! Gum disease has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, diabetic concerns, pregnancy complications, joint replacement issues, immune system disorders, obesity and even cancer. It’s clear that diagnosing and treating periodontal disease early is crucial for continued health. I encourage at least twice-yearly check-ups to measure gum pockets and check for infection. Regular cleanings are also tremendously important especially if you  smoke, have diabetes, suffer from stress, clench or grind your teeth, take certain medications or suffer from poor nutrition. If we do discover signs of gum disease, we can treat you with our gentle and  effective periodontal protocol. For more information, call me, Dr. Shirley Cagle, at 281.681.9442 or visit my website, www.shirleycagledds.com.

White Teeth for a Confident Smile

You have a job interview coming up and you want to feel a little more confident. You are getting married this summer and you want your smile to shine in all your photographs. Your high school reunion is scheduled and you want to show all those jocks that used to ignore you exactly what they missed. Whatever your reason for wanting a whiter smile – even just a mid-week pick-me-up– you can have it quickly, easily and comfortably with Zoom2 in office tooth whitening. In about an hour, your teeth can be up to nine shades whiter than when you came into the office. Talk about instant gratification! For more information about one-visit Zoom2 tooth whitening, call me, Dr. Shirley Cagle, at 281.681.9442 or visit my website, www.shirleycagledds.com.