Periodontal Treatment in The Woodlands. More Than Caring for Your Teeth and Gums. Taking Care of Your Health.

Regular visits to your dentist in The Woodlands for check-ups and cleanings do more than keep your teeth and gums healthy. Those visits may also save your life. Why? Because they protect you from periodontal (gum) disease.

It’s common knowledge that periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss. But studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Periodontology report that periodontal disease can also lead to an increased risk of:

• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Certain Cancers (including pancreatic cancer)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Difficulty controlling blood sugar levels in diabetes
• Premature Birth
• Low Birth-Weight Babies
• and more

With more than 85 percent of people in the United States with some level of periodontal disease, chances are you have it. Check for the following symptoms: swollen gums, gums that bleed when you brush or floss, loose teeth, receding gum line and halitosis. But sometimes there aren't any symptoms at all.

The good news is that periodontal disease is treatable, and in many cases, reversible. With dental technology and advanced periodontal therapy, including ultrasonic scalers, dental lasers and antibiotics, gum treatment is more gentle, comfortable and effective than ever before.

It’s easy to keep your gums, teeth and your health in good shape. Simply visit my dental practice in The Woodlands for regular check-ups and cleanings. Brush and floss daily at home and use an oral irrigator. You’ll be smiling and feeling good!

Need a Dentist in The Woodlands? Find the One That’s Right for You.

There was a time when all you had to do to choose a dentist in The Woodlands was to open the Yellow Pages, pick one, and call.

Not anymore!

Today, to choose the right dentist for your needs, you have to do a little research. Why? These days, dentists and dentistry are widely varied. Even general dentists offer different treatments.

Thankfully, most of the information you seek is waiting on the Internet. But before any of the searching starts, you need to start by interviewing yourself! Only then will you get a clear picture of the dentistry you’re looking for.

Ask yourself:

What kind of dentist do I need?

• A family dentist that offers comprehensive care in one location?
• A dentist that focuses on restorative dental care, like filling, bridges, crowns, dentures, etc. for the more mature patient?
• A dentist that offers more specialized care like cosmetic dentistry? Endodontics? Periodontics?  Orthodontics, TMJ treatment, etc?
• A dentist that complements care with comfort, from sedation to patient amenities?

What do I expect from my care?

• To maintain my oral health?
• To restore my mouth to health? Do I have broken teeth? Do I want to replace missing teeth?
• Do enhance the appearance of my smile?
• To restore more than oral health, but also relieve painful TMJ symptoms or sleep apnea?

What do I want in dental care?

• The use of advanced technology?
• A comprehensive range of treatment available in one location?
• Convenient hours or location?
• Dental insurance participation?
• Financing?

Once you know what kind of dentist you’re looking for, search online for someone who meets your criteria. For example, if you want cosmetic dentistry, search: cosmetic dentist The Woodlands. Your search should give you a number of results. Once you find one you like, do some research on that dentist. (Most dentists have websites that have all the information you need. You can also read online patient reviews.)

Does that dentist have specialized training and experience in the area of care you need? Does he or she participate in continuing education?  Does the dentist show photos of his or her patients and describe the treatment they received? Does the dentist offer any patient testimonials that you can read? There’s no better way to get the “feel” for a dentist than to hear what his or her patients have to say.

Finally, call the office and ask specific questions about the dentist and the care offered. If you feel confident and comfortable, schedule a visit. You’ve done your homework and you’re well on your way to getting the care you need and deserve!

Artistic Dental Bonding in Woodlands Texas

Are your teeth chipped or gapped? Do you have stains that whitening just won’t touch? Do you think you could use some dental veneers but worry about the commitment they might require? Dental bonding might be just the procedure you have been looking for. You would be surprised at the difference this simple and painless procedure can make in your smile. But it is important to remember that dental bonding is performed directly on your teeth so you want to find a dentist that has something of an artistic eye and sensibility. This is very important to the bonding outcome, because if the material is not correctly balanced for color or matched to your shade and texture, it will look odd and unnatural. I use the highest quality bonding material and have been trained in bonding techniques to make sure your smile looks and feels natural and that your bonding lasts as long as possible. Remember though, that bonding material is not as strong as porcelain veneers so you need to be careful not to use your teeth as tools and to avoid stains. For more information about cosmetic dental bonding, or to schedule a visit, call me, Shirley Cagle, at my Woodlands, Texas office at 281.681.9442 or visit www.shirleycagledds.com.

Protecting Woodlands’ Smiles with Sealants

 Your kids just light up your life when they smile, don’t they? Those smiles are precious and you want to do everything you can to keep them healthy, safe and strong. That’s why I recommend dental sealants for all of my young patients. They coat the chewing surfaces of kids’ teeth, sealing them and acting as a barrier against bacteria and acids. This is especially important for kids who have deep grooves in their teeth but it can benefit any child. Kids love to eat candy, drink juice and chew gum and dental sealants help keep the sugary snacks they love so much from staying in the vulnerable cracks and crevices where they can do so much damage. It is a very simple procedure and only takes a few minutes. We just brush on the sealant and your child’s smile is ready to go! For more information about pediatric dental sealants or to schedule a visit for your child, call me, Shirley Cagle, at my Woodlands, Texas office at 281.681.9442 or visit www.shirleycagledds.com.

Make Regular Dental Cleanings Part of your Woodlands New Year’s Resolutions

Everyone is busy gearing up for a new year. Here at our office we have been working on our New Year’s resolution lists too. What’s on yours? More exercise? More time to relax? A new hobby? Whatever is on your list already, we’d like to suggest that you add more regular dental hygiene visits. Even if you don’t have a lot of plaque buildup between cleanings and you take great care of your teeth, you still have a certain amount of biofilm on your teeth. And that biofilm needs to be disrupted with regularity to prevent gum disease and other health problems. Now more than ever, science is discovering clear and direct links between oral health and whole body health. Take care of yourself just a little better in 2012 by scheduling a hygiene visit at our Woodlands office. Your body will thank you! For more information about our hygiene protocol or to schedule a visit,  call me,  Shirley Cagle, at my Woodlands, Texas office at 281.681.9442 or visit www.shirleycagledds.com.

Happy Holidays to the Woodlands

We love the holiday season. It is such a festive, sparkling time filled with hope, joy and warmth. We don’t think there could be a better time to say thank you for being a part of our daily lives and for trusting us with your family’s precious smiles. You are the reason we practice dentistry and why we make sure we stay up-to-date on all the latest techniques and dental breakthroughs. It is also why we go out of our way to keep you really relaxed and comfortable when you are with us. If you have a scheduled dental visit with us, we will be thrilled to wish you a happy holiday season and a bright and promising new year. If not, we will have to be satisfied with this message as a way to say how much we value you as a patient and tell you how happy we are that we can be a part of your life and your smile.

With wishes for peace, joy and all the things that make this season magical,

Dr. Shirley Cagle

 281.681.9442

www.shirleycagledds.com.

Relaxation Dentistry with Nitrous Oxide in the Woodlands

Are you nervous about dental visits? Do you have a hard time sitting still in a dental chair? We have a great solution that can help you feel better and relax completely during any dental treatment – nitrousoxide sedation dentistry! I’m sure you have heard of it before. The common name for nitrous oxide is “Laughing Gas.” This amusing name refers to the slightly euphoric feeling that the gas produces. Laughing Gas is so gentle that it is sometimes even used on children. Because the effects are instant, you don’t have to wait for the medication to kick in before your dental appointment. And after your appointment, we administer some pure oxygen and the effects reverse very quickly, allowing you to drive or return to work. If you wonder what it feels like, ask us for a "5 minute trial" at your next appointment. This will help you know whether nitrous oxide relaxationdentistry is a good solution for you. For more information about the benefits of nitrous oxide sedation, call me, Dr. Shirley Cagle, at my Woodlands, Texas office at 281.681.9442 or visit www.shirleycagledds.com to read more.