In our Houston dental office, we take pride in adhering to the highest standards for infection control. We scrub our hands before and after each appointment, and always We wear masks and protective eyewear. All instruments are sterilized with an autoclave. Our handpieces are always heat sterilized between patients. We use disposable supplies. We use […]

Silver amalgam and composite resin are the two most common materials used to restore teeth damaged by decay. There are situations where one material is preferable over the other, and similarly, there are disadvantages to both of these filling materials. Additionally, there are some health experts who question the safety of amalgam fillings and say […]

Everything wears out, and your silver fillings are no exception. They have to endure an incredible amount of biting force each day, and as they age, their appearance and function degrade. Over time, amalgam fillings often absorb moisture, causing them to swell and break away from the tooth. When this happens, your tooth is no […]

Everything wears out eventually, and white plastic fillings are no exception. As white fillings in front teeth age, they absorb moisture, swell, and begin to leak. This filling has lost its seal and no longer fully protects the tooth from cavities. When they’re small like this, it’s easy to replace them with new plastic fillings. […]

The diagnosis of periodontal disease and cavities are two important parts of a dental examination. How we diagnose periodontal disease Since you may have periodontal disease without experiencing any symptoms, we perform a thorough examination using X-rays and a periodontal probe. Healthy gums fit tight against the teeth and have no pockets. When the bone […]

Disclosing tablets are made of a harmless vegetable dye that stains plaque bright red. You can purchase these tablets at any convenience stores like Kroger and Walmart. The main cause of cavities and periodontal disease is the accumulation of plaque. Plaque is the sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth. […]

The treatment recommendation for a dental cavity is based primarily on the diagnostic classification of the stages of the disease progression. The main criteria are: carious lesions without pulpal involvement (these lesions are normally small and do not have any pain symptom); and carious lesions with pulpal involvement (these lesions are normally large and cause […]

Dental fillings do not last forever. When they reach the end of their expected lifespan, it’s time to consider some treatment alternatives. Usually it’s best to switch to a crown. Unlike a filling, a crown covers and protects a damaged tooth and can stop it from breaking. The filling needs a strong remaining tooth walls […]

It takes two appointments to restore your tooth with a crown. That’s because a crown is custom-crafted in a dental laboratory to precisely fit your tooth. To make the entire process comfortable for you, the first thing your dentist will do is make the affected area thoroughly numb. Then any decay is removed with the […]

We can usually restore small cavities with fillings. However, when a large portion of your tooth has been damaged by decay, we’ll need to remove a significant amount of the tooth in order to remove all the decay. When a tooth loses much of its natural structure, it also loses much of its support and […]

Panoramic radiograph is a 2-D  xray examination of the entire dentition.  The image includes both upper and lower jaw and all the teeth.  It provides about 40 percent less radiation than taking the individual bitewings and periapical xrays for the entire mouth.  It would provides more diagnostic information such as the jaw bone, the mandibular […]

Root canal treatment and subsequent tooth restoration in our dental office usually involves three steps. First, your Houston dentist removes the infection to promote healing. Next, he places a post to strengthen the tooth. Finally, he crowns the tooth to protect it. Our Houston dentist, Dr. Minh Nguyen, wants the entire procedure to be comfortable […]

After root canal treatment, the tooth is weak and brittle. It is weak because the center of the tooth was removed to get at the infected nerve; only the sides of the tooth are left for support. And it is more brittle because the nerve and blood supply are gone. This tooth was not crowned […]

After a lot of tooth structure has been lost, your alternatives are limited. You can delay treatment, have the tooth extracted, try another filling or have a crown put on the tooth. Whether tooth structure has been lost due to breakage or cavities, if treatment is delayed, the problem just gets worse. If the tooth […]

Gold is the traditional material of choice for making the crown of the back tooth. Compared to other dental materials, gold has the best marginal adaptation to the edges of the tooth preparation. Since it is a high noble metal, it does not rust or corrode. It requires least reduction of tooth material in preparation […]

When it’s wet and rainy outside it’s always a good idea to wear a raincoat. When your Houston dentist works on your teeth, he will sometimes use a special kind of a “tooth raincoat” called a rubber dam. A rubber dam is made out of a stretchy, rubbery material. To put a rubber dam on […]