Dental Conditions - Houston, TX

Impacted teeth are those that haven’t erupted fully through the gums. They can occur with stubborn baby teeth, wisdom teeth, and sometimes permanent adult teeth. There are various reasons why adult teeth can have a difficult time erupting. Among the most common reasons are a higher-than-normal number of teeth in the mouth, obstructive growths, and overcrowding from surrounding teeth. Impacted teeth can cause several problems for the patient starting at an early age.

If these teeth cannot come in fully, the child may have difficulty eating normally, as well as pain and tooth misalignment. In many other cases, symptoms may not appear until an X-ray presents the issue. We can offer a few options to resolve impacted teeth, including working with an orthodontist to guide the tooth to the proper placement. In the case of wisdom teeth, we often recommend extraction.

Commonly known as “wisdom teeth,” third molars typically emerge during the late teenage years or early 20s and can potentially cause various oral health problems. Almost 90% of people have had at least one impacted wisdom tooth, indicating insufficient space for the teeth to erupt into a normal position. Their location in the very back of the mouth makes them hard to clean and, therefore, more prone to decay, infection, gum disease, pain, and even the development of cysts or tumors in the surrounding tissues!

They can also throw neighboring healthy teeth out of alignment. Often, wisdom teeth are located close to nerves, sinus cavities, and other teeth, so you must have a skilled expert remove them if they become impacted. As board-certified dentists, we’re exceptionally qualified to remove your wisdom teeth while maintaining comfort and safety.

Teeth can become broken or infected for several reasons, including trauma and decay. Bacterial buildup due to poor dental hygiene is often the cause of dental infections. Sometimes repairs, medications, or a combination of both enable our doctors to save your tooth. In such cases, we thoroughly evaluate your teeth to determine the treatment that best suits your issue. When extensive damage or decay, some teeth cannot be rehabilitated through treatment. Though we do our utmost to preserve your natural teeth, extraction may be our only option.

The extraction process for most teeth is pretty straightforward. After making you comfortable with anesthesia, we gently grip the tooth with forceps and carefully pull it loose from the socket. Once removed, unless it’s a wisdom tooth, it should be replaced to restore the function and esthetics of your smile and protect your jaw from deterioration. Dental implants are the best overall tooth replacement option, not just in function and aesthetics but also for long-lasting performance.

Missing teeth can limit your ability to eat, speak, and smile comfortably, and they may have more profound implications beyond simple chewing function and smile esthetics. Teeth rely on each other for support. When one is missing, the teeth on either side of the gap can shift out of alignment, eventually requiring orthodontic treatment. Further, the absence of tooth roots in the jawbone can cause the jawbone to begin receding, leading to further tooth loss and giving your face an unhealthy, sunken, and even prematurely aged appearance!

Dental implants, recognized as today’s “gold standard” for tooth replacement, can prevent you from experiencing any of those issues. Suppose you follow a tooth extraction or trauma-related tooth loss with dental implant placement. In that case, you can continue eating the foods you love, speak and smile without embarrassment, and even significantly boost your self-confidence. All this can be yours since nothing looks more authentic or lasts longer than our dental implants in Houston, TX. Even if you’ve already begun to suffer bone loss, our board-certified oral surgeons can reverse it through bone grafting before placing your dental implants.

Your jawbone relies on the stimulation of tooth roots and the regular sensation of chewing to keep it healthy. The bone can deteriorate with tooth loss unless those missing teeth are replaced quickly. This bone loss has many short-term and long-term consequences. You can lose more teeth through a “domino effect” of tooth loss. Your facial features can sink, and an aged, unhealthy look can replace your distinctive appearance you won’t want or even recognize.

Treating loose dentures typically involves adjustments and enhancements to improve their fit and function. Denture adhesive can provide temporary relief by enhancing stability, but a more permanent solution often requires professional intervention. We may adjust the dentures’ fit by adding or reshaping the acrylic base or changing the clasps for better retention.

In some cases, denture relining or rebasing may be necessary to ensure a snug fit against the gums. For individuals experiencing severe looseness or discomfort, implant-supported dentures offer a long-term solution by anchoring the dentures securely to dental implants in the jawbone.

Our skilled oral surgeons correct overbites and underbites through orthognathic surgery, which involves repositioning the jaws for better alignment and function. This surgical procedure can help improve bite function, facial symmetry, and oral health. We utilize advanced imaging and surgical techniques to ensure precise jaw adjustments, resulting in a balanced and comfortable bite. Post-surgery, patients typically experience improved chewing, speech, and a boost in confidence due to enhanced aesthetics.

Our oral surgeons treat sleep apnea by offering surgical solutions like maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), which repositions the jaw to open the airway and improve breathing during sleep. This procedure is ideal for patients who haven’t responded well to CPAP or oral appliances. By addressing the root cause of airway obstruction, the surgery helps reduce or eliminate sleep apnea symptoms, such as snoring and daytime fatigue. Our team uses the latest technology to ensure a safe, effective procedure, assisting patients to achieve better sleep and overall health.

Our oral surgeons are highly trained in treating facial trauma, providing expert care for injuries such as fractures of the jaw, cheekbones, and eye sockets. We use advanced surgical techniques to realign bones, restore function, and ensure proper healing while minimizing scarring.

Whether the injury is due to an accident, sports injury, or other trauma, we offer personalized treatment plans to address facial reconstruction’s functional and aesthetic aspects. Our goal is to help patients recover quickly and regain their confidence with a restored natural appearance.

When treating failing dental implants, our team identifies the underlying cause, which can range from infection to insufficient bone support. Once the issue is diagnosed, we develop a personalized treatment plan to restore implant health and stability.

This may involve addressing the health of surrounding tissue, improving bone structure, or adjusting the implant placement. Our focus is always on achieving long-term success, ensuring patients regain full function and comfort with their implants.

We specialize in treating jaw pain and TMJ symptoms by offering various non-surgical and surgical solutions tailored to each patient’s needs. Our treatments may include therapies like Botox injections to relax tense muscles, oral appliances to realign the jaw, and lifestyle modifications to reduce strain.

For more severe cases, we provide advanced diagnostics to determine if surgical intervention is necessary for long-term relief. Our goal is to alleviate pain, restore function, and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from TMJ disorders.