Restorative Dentistry – Dallas Cosmetic and Restorative Dentist

Are Sensitive Teeth More Painful During The Winter?

kevinpottsdds — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 00:36:40 +0000

With our first “Arctic Blast” set to hit Dallas-Ft.Worth later this week, we wanted to suggest some ways to avoid extra tooth sensitivity this winter season. Cold winter air and hot or cold drinks can trigger toothache and misery, but there are many things you can do to treat teeth that are sensitive.

Even though some tooth sensitivity can be temporary, it’s best to visit your dentist as soon as you experience any discomfort, as they will be able to tell you whether your tooth pain is the result of a cavity or an exposed root, or whether it’s simply due to worn tooth enamel. You may not need to do anything more than switch to a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth for a few weeks, but in the event that the tooth sensitivity is being caused by an infection, a cracked tooth or decay, it’s always good to find out sooner rather than later.

The Cause of Tooth Sensitivity

To help you avoid tooth sensitivity and dental pain this winter, we have put together a handy list of common causes and solutions to avoid extra sensitivity.

Receding Gum Lines. Your gums protect the roots of your teeth, if they start to recede you will likely experience some pain when drinking hot or cold beverages, or even when breathing frigid winter air.
Aggressive Brushing. Brushing aggressively can hurt teeth more than it helps them. Brushing roughly breaks down the enamel coating on your teeth and makes them more sensitive to the elements.
Grinding Your Teeth. Many people grind their teeth in their sleep. Grinding your teeth is another common cause of enamel break down. When enamel weakens, sensitivity is inevitable.
Loose Cavities or Fillings. Sometimes teeth feel sensitive because a cavity or a loose filling has exposed a nerve. If the nerve of a tooth is exposed, things like hot or cold drinks and sticky foods, can get down in the tooth and send shooting pain throughout the mouth. You want to make sure that you are visiting Dr. Pott’s regularly so that we can help you avoid any unnecessary pain.

Stop The Pain! Here are some suggestions.

There are lots of simple ways to help relieve some of that nagging tooth pain. We can discuss your options and suggest some at-home solutions:

Use a Soft Toothbrush. This is an easy one. Get a soft-bristled toothbrush and try brushing very gently for two minutes twice a day. It may not feel like much, but you will be doing your teeth a huge favor.
Floss. Add flossing to your daily tooth care routine. Flossing stimulates your gums and help prevent them from receding.
Use Fluoride. You can opt to have it added as part of your regular dental cleaning, but you can also buy a bottle and just brush it onto your teeth after you have finished your regular brushing.
Use Mouthwash. You can also try a mouthwash that contains fluoride. Simply rinse your mouth with it 2-3 times a day to build up a protective coating on your teeth. We have a variety of mouthwashes specifically designed for your unique dental care needs.
Use Different Toothpaste. Some people’s teeth are just more sensitive to regular toothpaste. Try using a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth like Sensodyne. We’d be happy to suggest a toothpaste that is right for you.
Wear a Night Guard. If you grind your teeth, a custom made night guard will protect your teeth during your sleep.
Keep Your Teeth Warm. When you’re out in the cold air, you need to take care of yourself. You know the importance of protecting your hair and skin from the sun, and you protect the rest of your body from the cold. Do the same for your teeth. Wear a scarf over your mouth when you are outdoors and breath through your nose. This will help warm the air you are breathing and keep the cold air from getting to your teeth and causing microscopic cracks.
Avoid Acidic Beverages. If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, try cutting out acidic and sugary food and drinks from your diet as these can all trigger pain, as well as cause tooth decay. This goes for wine, fizzy drinks and yogurt too. Acid softens tooth enamel so it’s best not to brush your teeth straight after drinking something acidic. You’re better off drinking a glass of milk or water to balance the acid levels in your mouth, and if you do decide to drink something that’s acidic make sure you use a straw, as this will keep the liquid away from your teeth.

Tooth sensitivity shouldn’t mean misery over the winter break. Just remember to contact us at the first sign of discomfort.

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Use It or Lose It! Dental Insurance Benefits

kevinpottsdds — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 17:54:00 +0000

We’re approaching that time of the year again- “use it or lose it!” Each year, many patients lose out on benefits through their dental insurance provider, simply because time has slipped away. We know life gets busy and before you know it, another year has come and gone and you have not seen your dentist. Don’t forget to take advantage of your remaining dental insurance benefits before the end of the year! Call our office today at 214-368-1121 to schedule an appointment!

Many dental insurance plans are just sitting there with benefits unused and poised to go to waste as soon as the clock strikes midnight on December 31. In fact, dental insurance companies count on making millions of dollars off of patients who never use their insurance benefits, because unbeknownst to the consumers, many of these plans provide coverage up to a certain dollar amount annually. We can help you understand your benefits and what expires at the end of the year.

Insurance companies certainly aren’t going to alert you of unused benefits, and most patients are too busy to study how much remains on their policies. If you are unsure of what unused insurance benefits you have remaining in 2016 and are in need of treatment or preventive care, don’t hesitate to call us and we can help you understand your benefits. We are here to help you secure the insurance coverage available to you on every dental procedure you schedule. This time of year is an excellent time to take care of any hygiene visits or dental treatments that you might have been putting off.

Hear about Dr. Potts’ approach to dental treatment plans.

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Defining Restorative Dentistry – In Kevin’s Words

kevinpottsdds — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 13:29:26 +0000

What is Restorative Dentistry?

According to WebMD, restorative dentistry is defined as:

Tooth restorations are the various ways your dentist can replace missing teeth or repair missing parts of the tooth structure. Tooth structure can be missing due to decay, deterioration of a previously placed restoration, or fracture of a tooth.

I have a simple definition of restorative dentistry and it’s this:

Restorative dentistry allows us to turn back the clock and give you the smile you once had, more often with much improved function and appearance. There are a variety of options that we specialize in at my Dallas dental office, including:

Natural Looking – Tooth Colored Fillings

Tooth colored fillings can be used to replace of extensive amalgam (metal) or composite fillings. The enamel-like material looks and feels more like your real teeth and helps restore teeth to their original strength. Because it is metal free, it has a more natural look and feel, and can help preserve healthy, natural tooth structure. As with most fillings, replacement fillings can be completed within one visit.

CEREC Dental Crowns (Same Day Crowns)

We know your time is valuable. That’s why we’ve invested in CEREC digital technology that allows for a faster experience when you need crowns or large fillings. CEREC is a revolutionary way to restore damaged teeth in a single visit. With the options to create simple fillings to full crowns to veneers, CEREC delivers the results you need right here in our office, usually within a single appointment. Making your teeth beautiful, and stronger than before.

Hear more from our patients about how CEREC same day crowns has changed their dental experience. See our patient testimonials.

Dental Bridges and Dentures

Dental bridges can help you achieve a natural looking smile after losing one or more teeth. Traditional dental bridges consist of a porcelain replacement tooth and two porcelain crowns. To keep the replacement tooth firmly in place, the two porcelain crowns are placed over the teeth directly adjoining the space where the replacement tooth will be placed. After the crowns are in place, the porcelain replacement tooth is set in its proper location and attached to – or “bridged” between – each of the crowns.

In addition to traditional dental bridges, we also offer implant-supported dental bridges. This type of bridge is supported by dental implants, which have been placed surgically within the jaw. Implant-supported dental bridges are much stronger than traditional bridges. They are permanent and left in all day and night.

Dental Implants

For many generations, removable dentures and fixed bridges were the only options for replacing teeth lost as a result decay, injury or gum disease. Dental implants offer a more comfortable and natural looking alternative. With dental implants, you can go about your life without having to pay any more consideration to your dental implant or implants than you would your natural teeth. Dental implants do not irritate the gums nor interfere with chewing, taste or speech. Unlike removable dentures, dental implants allow you to chew any and all types of foods.

Every patient of ours has their own unique individual goals. As a dentist, my main priority is getting you to your dental goals in the most comfortable way possible. We have many options, including new technologies that dramatically change the patient experience~for the better. Maybe you’ve never experienced a modern approach with your past or current dentist, and we’d love to show you the variety of treatment options we have available.

Contact us today by calling 214-268-1121 or Book An Appointment to explore a variety of restorative dental options with Dr. Potts.

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Same Day Dental Crowns – Popular Choice For Dallas Professionals

kevinpottsdds — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 02:57:10 +0000

More and more time has become something with an increasing value. Phrases like “there just aren’t enough hours in the day” and “where does the time go?” are extremely commonplace in today’s fast paced society. As your dentist, I want to make sure your visits are as convenient, comfortable and productive as possible. Everything we do revolves around delivering the best possible patient experience. With the advances in available dental technology, I’m constantly on the lookout for the technologies that make sense for you, the patient.

Because we know your time is valuable, we invested in CEREC digital technology and have been performing one visit dental crown restorations for several years. Cerec in-house crowns allow for a faster experience when you need posterior crowns placed or restored. CEREC is a revolutionary way to restore damaged teeth in a single visit. CEREC delivers the results you need right here in our office, without the need for messy, uncomfortable impressions or multiple visits. Making your teeth beautiful, stronger than before, and saving you valuable time.

Hear what some of our patients have to say:

For more Patient Testimonials, Visit our Testimonials Page.

Compare Cerec Dental Crowns to other options:

	CEREC	AMALGAM	COMPOSITE	PORCELAIN FUSED TO METAL	LAB-FABRICATED CERAMIC
SINGLE VISIT	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO
NO IMPRESSION MATERIALS	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO
NO TEMPORARY	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO
METAL FREE	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES
LOOKS & FEELS LIKE REAL TEETH	YES	NO	NO	MAYBE	MAYBE
ESTHETIC	YES	NO	YES	MAYBE	YES
SAVES NATURAL TOOTH STRUCTURE	YES	NO	NO	NO	MAYBE
RESTORES TO ORIGINAL STRENGTH	YES	NO	NO	MAYBE	MAYBE
PERMANENT SOLUTION	YES	MAYBE	NO	YES	YES

In the course of one visit, we can diagnose and prepare your damaged tooth, create an optical impression of the tooth, and use CEREC to design and mill a precision restoration, which is then permanently bonded to your tooth. No metal, impressions, discomfort or the need for additional appointments.

There’s no reason to put up with failing or broken crowns. Contact Us today to schedule your consultation.

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Preserve, Prevent and Protect. Dental Care For Retirement.

kevinpottsdds — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 00:04:40 +0000

My wife Linda and I talk about work quite often, she’s an Optometrist. She often works in retirement communities and patients love to see her. She once told me that she could have a line full of patients and when mealtime hit, the line would completely disperse. Nothing gets in the way of mealtime! As we are all trying to live longer and stay young while aging, I can’t help but hope that my patients and I will all be enjoying good food among friends, well into retirement.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

This saying is so very true, especially when it comes to your oral health. Growing up, you probably heard many times to brush your teeth before bed and if you are a parent, those familiar words have probably crossed your lips more than once. After all, it’s true, brushing, flossing and annual cleanings all play a role in prolonging a youthful smile.

There are many ways to keep your teeth and oral health performing at it’s best, well into retirement. The best way to prevent any future decay or problems is to see your dentist regularly. There are many screenings, cleanings and treatments we can provide to help prolong the life of your natural teeth, gums and the underlying bone structure. If you have any pain or discomfort, it’s best to have us take a look and provide treatment early.

With modern technology, there’s no need to suffer through tooth or jaw pain, and you shouldn’t just accept missing or broken teeth. Many times, people will let their back teeth fail, because they are unseen–the forgotten teeth. Our back teeth are the ones that work the hardest to chew and grind our food. Crown restorations, bridges & dental implants can help to restore any tooth structure that might be damaged or heading that way–and a dental guard can go a long way to protect your restorations and natural teeth. If the back teeth are allowed to fail, the front teeth will all have to work harder and that can lead to wear and tear on the teeth that people see the most. A well rounded approach to your oral health, taking care of the whole mouth and your health–not just the front teeth–is where we see the best results with bigger smiles from our patients.

If you’d like to talk with Dr. Potts about restoring your smile or a loved ones, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

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