Patient Info

Comprehensive Family Dental does not use silver amalgam fillings. The American Dental Association still supports the use of this material, however, we believe the tooth-colored materials are functionally more advantageous, even aside from the lack of mercury exposure.

For one thing, most people do not realize that silver is not bonded to the tooth. In most cases, it stays in the tooth because the hole that it fills is larger at the bottom than at the top. That means that healthy tooth structure is removed just to keep the silver in place, hence a larger filling usually. The tooth-colored composite bonds to the tooth in any shape, we are therefore able to keep the preparation much smaller which is healthier for the tooth.

As a family dentist in Victoria, TX, I get lots of questions from concerned parents about the loud grinding of their child’s teeth, usually while sleeping. This can cause visible flattening of the tops of the teeth in some cases. Unlike an adult, we cannot make them a bite splint since they are growing and their palate is expanding.

One of the more common, yet not widely known, causes of this childhood tooth grinding is constriction of the airway. If the tonsils and/or adenoids are very swollen, it narrows the passage that air has to flow into the lungs. The easiest sign to look for is the child sleeping with their mouth open or mouth breathing while awake.

We are designed to breathe through our nose while sleeping. In that position, the tongue rests in the roof of the mouth. In a child, this helps to naturally expand the palate and all the teeth in the arch. If they are breathing through the mouth, there is a tendency for some children to grind their teeth in some sort of response to the mouth breathing. The teeth can also become more crowded. It is important that this is addressed early on if suspected. Usually, treatment or dental service will involve allergy testing and sometimes tonsil removal by an ENT.

Although some dental sealants and fillings will contain BPA (bisphenol-A) or materials that break down to BPA, our filling materials do not. We have verified with the manufacturers of our filling materials that none of our filling or sealant materials will release any BPA into our dental patients’ mouths.

At Comprehensive Family Dental, we will accept and file any dental insurance that will allow us to do so for our patients. There are numerous different types of dental insurance that all have different guidelines. If you live in Victoria, the best way to find out is to call us and speak to one of our front desk coordinators and they can do a complimentary dental insurance benefits evaluation.

At Comprehensive Family Dental, our professional opinion is that yes, fluoride is safe and very beneficial. The professional strength fluoride that we administer to patients is about 10 times more potent than anything patients get in toothpaste.

The particular kind of fluoride that we use has ACP (amorphous calcium phosphate) as an ingredient and is currently the only one on the market to do so. This ingredient can be thought of like liquid tooth structure. It is the building blocks of our tooth enamel. It can help reverse shallow cavities and decrease tooth sensitivity.

For more information regarding fluoride and fluoridation, visit the American Dental Association’s Fluoride and Fluoridation Website at http://www.ada.org/goto/fluoride.

Call it bad breath or halitosis, it’s an unpleasant condition that is cause for embarrassment. Some people with bad breath aren’t even aware there is a problem. If you are concerned about bad breath, see your dentist. If we determine that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath.

At Comprehensive Family Dental, we can help identify the cause and, if it is due to an oral condition, develop a dental service or treatment plan to help eliminate it. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup.

Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue, and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

What you eat affects the air you exhale – such as the foods you eat like garlic and onions, which can contribute to breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing, and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily.

Bad breath can also be caused by Xerostomia or dry mouth. This occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. Suffer from dry mouth symptoms and we may prescribe an artificial saliva, suggest using sugarless candy that contains xylitol, or increasing your fluid intake.

Bad breath may be caused by a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.

Dieters may develop bad breath from infrequent eating.

Let your dentist know if you’ve had any surgery or illness since your last appointment. Brush twice a day to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your tongue too, especially the very back part toward your throat. Once or twice a day use floss or an inter-dental cleaner to clean between teeth.

Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. We may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse. A fluoride mouth rinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay.

Flossing is important. According to studies, it has been stated that it could possibly add up to 2 years to a life. Oftentimes when people floss, they may not be getting the full benefit because of dental technique.

In life, we are exposed to radiation from various sources, such as airplane travel, minerals in the soil, and appliances in our homes (microwaves and television screens).

• Source Estimated Exposure (mSv*)
• Man Made Dental X-rays Bitewing radiographs Full-mouth series 0.0380.150
• Medical X-rays
• Lower gastrointestinal tract radiography
• Upper gastrointestinal tract radiography
• Chest radiograph 4.0602.4400.080
• Natural Cosmic (Outer Space) Radiation Average radiation from outer space In Denver, CO (per year) 0.510
• Earth and Atmospheric Radiation Average radiation in the U.S. from Natural sources (per year) 3.000

Source: Adapted from Frederiksen NL. X-Rays: What is the Risk? Texas Dental Journal. 1995;112(2):68-72.

*A millisievert (mSV) is a unit of measure that allows for some comparison between radiation sources that expose the entire body (such as natural background radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the body.

Many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be seen by the naked eye when your dentist examines your mouth.

An X-ray examination may reveal:

• small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing restorations (fillings)
• infections in the bone
• periodontal (gum) disease
• abscesses or cysts
• developmental abnormalities
• some types of tumors

Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage can save money, time and unnecessary discomfort. Detection of damage to oral structures is not visible during a regular dental service or exam. If you have a hidden tumor, X-rays may even help save your life.

How often X-rays should be taken depends on the patient’s individual dental health needs. Your dentist will review your history, examine your mouth and then decide whether you need radiographs and what type.

It is important to recognize that just as each dental patient is different, the scheduling of X-ray exams must be individualized for each patient. If you are a new patient, the dentist may recommend radiographs to determine the present status of the hidden areas of your mouth and to help analyze changes for the future. If you have had recent X-rays at your previous dentist, our dentists may ask you to have those radiographs forwarded.

Children may need X-rays more often than adults, because their teeth and jaws are still developing and their teeth are more likely to be affected by tooth decay.

When X-rays pass through your mouth during a dental service exam, more X-rays are absorbed by the denser parts (such as teeth and bone), than by the soft tissues (such as cheeks and gums). These rays then strike the film to give us a glimpse of the mouth, creating an image called a radiograph.

Teeth appear lighter because fewer X-rays penetrate to reach the film. Because of more X-ray penetration – infections, tooth decay, gum disease, including changes in the bone and ligaments holding teeth in place will appear darker. Depending on the type of material used for the restoration, dental restorations (fillings, crowns) may appear lighter or darker.

These radiographs allow the dentist to safely and accurately detect hidden abnormalities.