Checkups and cleanings
A regular checkup and cleaning help prevent problems with your teeth, your gums and your jawbone, and they catch problems early, before they need more involved treatment. At your visit, Dr. Guiste looks at where your teeth and gums stand today and talks with you about what it will take to keep them healthy.
If you are in pain today
If you are in pain or have broken a tooth, call us right away at (936) 327-2151 and tell us what happened. For what to do before you get here, or if we are closed, see dental emergencies.
Preventive care at home
- Brush at least twice a day, for two minutes or longer each time, to clear away plaque and bits of food stuck to your teeth. Most people rush through those two minutes.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste.
- Reach every side of every tooth, inside and outside.
- Brush your tongue too. It helps keep your breath fresh.
- Clean between your teeth with floss once a day.
Sealants
A sealant is a thin plastic coating we paint onto the tops of your teeth. It smooths over the rough edges, pits and grooves that teeth naturally have, and it protects those spots from decay and cavities.
We place sealants mostly on back teeth, which are often uneven and hard to reach even if you brush well. We place more of them for children, and we place them for adults too.
Tooth-colored fillings
We repair decay and cracks with composite fillings, a tooth-colored mix of plastic and glass. Composite also works for cosmetic repairs: it can cover a stain or reshape a tooth that is chipped or uneven. Some cracks need more than a filling; if yours runs deeper, ask us about cracked tooth repair.
Root canals
Inside every tooth is the pulp, the soft tissue that holds its nerves. When decay and bacteria go untreated long enough, they reach the pulp, and an infection there often hurts a lot. Because it happens inside the tooth, you may not see any damage. You may feel pain instead, or notice bleeding, swelling or bad breath.
A root canal repairs and saves the tooth so it does not have to come out. We numb the tooth first, so you should feel little to no pain during treatment, and the tooth may feel sensitive for a few days afterward. Treatment usually takes one or two visits, and then the tooth gets a regular filling or a crown.
Tooth extractions
Sometimes a tooth needs to come out because of disease, crowding or damage. We numb the area around the tooth first, and then Dr. Guiste removes it. A little bleeding afterward is normal: a blood clot forms where the root was, and that clot is the start of healing.
If you feel nervous about having a tooth out, ask us about nitrous oxide and oral sedation.
Night guards for grinding
If you grind your teeth in your sleep, a night guard covers them and protects them from the damage grinding can do. It works the way a sports mouth guard does. Guards range from ready-made ones and boil-and-bite guards you shape at home to guards custom fitted to your teeth and jaw. Ask us which one suits you.
Sports mouth guards
A mouth guard protects your teeth and mouth while you play, and it softens the blow if you are hit in the jaw. We offer different types of mouth guards for different activities, from low-impact sports to high-impact ones, so tell us what you play.
Jaw pain and TMJ treatment
Your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, works as a sliding hinge between your jawbone and your skull. When the joint is inflamed, it can cause pain along your jaw and make moving your jaw painful. We treat TMJ problems to relieve that pain.
Jaw pain does not always mean a TMJ problem. When it comes with headaches, trouble chewing, or pain in your face, jaw or ear, those are common signs of one, and it is worth letting us take a look.
Oral cancer screenings
Oral cancer can be fatal, and it is easier to treat the earlier it is found, so we offer oral cancer screenings. Between visits, watch for:
- white or red patches or sores inside your mouth, including on your tongue or the floor of your mouth
- trouble swallowing
- bleeding in your mouth
- swelling in your face or neck
If you notice any of these, call us and tell us what you see.
Teeth whitening
Coffee, wine and other foods and drinks stain teeth over time. Whitening lightens the shade of your teeth. It is a fairly simple, quick treatment, and you can repeat it from time to time to keep the shade you want. For veneers, bonding and other changes to how your teeth look, ask about cosmetic dentistry.
