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 […]

Bite wing x-rays are the most common x-rays taken in our Laser Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. Our Houston dentist uses them to:   ·  find cavities between the teeth ·  see tartar on the roots ·  find worn-out fillings ·  locate receding bone levels from periodontal disease A small packet of x-ray film is placed […]

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 […]

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 […]

When the nerve of a tooth becomes infected, your Houston dentist may recommend a root canal treatment in order to save the tooth. How do you know if you have an infected tooth? Some of the signs are heat and cold sensitivity, swelling and pain, or a bad taste in your mouth. Or, you may […]

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 […]

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 […]

Abscess make up of about 2% of all dental problems around the root tips of the teeth. This oral infection is divided into two forms. The primary (neoteric) form involves the inflammation of the pulp and has little no significant change that can be seen on the dental x-rays. They also named by our Houston […]

The causes and the course of the disease Nonpyogenic soft tissue odontogenic infections, cellutitis, either are caused by nonpyogenic bacteria or related to pre-pyogenic or post-pyogenic infections. That is, the causative bacteria may be non-pyogenic or the infection has not reached the pus-forming or pus-pulling stage. Intraorally, the odontogenic infection may be originated in one […]

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 […]

Dry socket is an infection in your tooth socket after a tooth is extracted. The condition usually develops when a blood clot fails to form in the socket, or if the blood clot comes loose. Dry socket occurs in approximately 5 percent of all tooth extractions. Normally, the blood clot that forms after a tooth […]

Each time your dentist examines your teeth, she also checks your mouth for signs of oral cancer. As part of your routine homecare, you should do the same. Pay particular attention to sores in the mouth that don’t heal quickly (within two weeks) or that bleed easily. Check the floor of your mouth, the front […]

Dr. Nguyen often uses a dental microscope to exam the tooth.  Then the xray as well as different test can be ordered as needed. If you have tooth pain, you can use the chart below to give you some idea as to what the source of the pain might be. Bear in mind, though, that […]

We all know that we need to brush and floss every day. Proper brushing removes plaque, food debris, and bacteria from our teeth. Improper brushing, though, can be destructive, damaging the very teeth and gums that we’re trying to keep healthy.   What causes toothbrush abrasion? Toothbrush abrasion is caused by improper brushing. As strange […]

Dr. Nguyen uses the computer-guided splint to place implants in our office.  The splint are fabricated by combining the icat cone-beam CT images with the scan of the patient dentition.