Good oral health extends beyond your teeth. It is imperative to properly care for your gums, as well. At My West Mount Houston Dentists, we offer a range of treatments to restore your gums to optimal health.

Symptoms of Gum Disease
Healthy gums are firm, elastic and light pink in color. If your gums are not, or if you experience any of the symptoms below, you should schedule an appointment with a gum specialist at My West Mount Houston Dentists. Signs of gum disease include:

Swollen, Red Gums  Bleeding after Flossing or Brushing

Mild to Severe Pain When Eating  Pus or Discharge

Loose Teeth  Receding Gum Line

Common Periodontal Ailments
There are 2 main types of gum disease, gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. Gingivitis occurs when bacteria builds up between the tooth and the surrounding gums. The symptoms are usually mild, including swelling, redness and bleeding. Treatment includes improved flossing and brushing habits. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to a more advanced, harmful gum disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis occurs when bacteria builds up, infecting the gum tissue. Over time, the infection travels deeper, damaging the bone that supports your teeth and gums. There are many forms of periodontitis, though the following are the most common:

 Aggressive Periodontitis: Rapid deterioration of gums and bone; afflicts young patients
 Chronic Periodontitis: Persistent inflammation and plaque build-up; most common form

At My West Mount Houston Dentists, we use dental crowns on a variety of patients to correct and restore teeth that have been damaged. A dental crown is restorative material that encircles the tooth, covering it completely to improve functionality and appearance.

When Is It Necessary?
We recommend crowns when a tooth is:

Weakened from Decay or Cracking  Severely Chipped, Broken or Worn Down  In Need of Support after a Large Filling  Misshapen or Discolored

Missing and in Need of a Structure to Hold a  Dental Bridge in Place  Replaced with a Dental Implant

Types of Materials Used
Our dentists have decades of experience restoring teeth with permanent dental crowns. They can be made from a wide range of materials, including:

Porcelain and Metal: Natural color for less  money than porcelain or ceramic options  Synthetic Resin: Least expensive material,  though more prone to small fractures

Ceramic: Ideal for crowns on front teeth  Porcelain: Excellent color match  Metal: Extremely durable, best for molars

Permanent & Temporary 
We offer permanent and temporary crowns, depending on your needs. Our permanent crowns are sent to be made at a state-of-the-art laboratory. We create temporary crowns with acrylic or stainless steel in our office. Typically, we only use a temporary crown when a patient is waiting for a permanent crown to be made.

Have a toothache? You may have a cavity that needs to be filled. It is important get to the dentist immediately, as waiting may worsen the tooth decay. In some cases of extensive decay, a filling may not be sufficient to correct the damage and you may need a crown or a root canal. At My West Mount Houston Dentists, we have a team of experienced general dentists to remedy cavities with composite fillings.

What is a Composite Filling?
When tooth decay has damaged a tooth, a dentist must remove the decay and then restore it to its normal shape and function with a filling. A variety of types of fillings have been popular over the years, but we prefer the natural look and durability of composite fillings. They are made with a synthetic resin in a custom color to match your natural tooth color.

Our Filling Process
An experienced dentist will apply the composite material in layers. The synthetic resin is directly applied to the tooth and then hardened with a special light treatment. Layer after layer is applied until the tooth is built up to its natural size. Next, the dentist will shape and polish the composite. This prevents staining and premature wear. The entire process usually only takes about 30 minutes, depending on the size and location of the tooth.

Are you missing some or all of your teeth? Would you like to replace them, but are unable to afford dental implants? My West Mount Houston Dentists offers custom denture services to help restore functionality and aesthetics. Dentures are a dental prosthetic device constructed to replace missing teeth.

Custom Dentures
At My West Mount Houston Dentists, we have experience making dentures for both the mandibular (lower) arch and the maxillary (upper) arch. We offer two different types of dentures:

 Partial: Ideal for patients missing a few teeth in the same area
 Full: For patients missing all of their teeth, a full set is necessary to regain functionality

How They're Made
Our team has years of experience fitting patients for custom dentures. We've found that dentures are only as good as their fit, so we strive to make all of the necessary adjustments in advance to make sure that our patients get the most out of this restorative prosthetic.

 Impressions and Measurement: Analysis of jaw structure to determine size
 Models: Multiple wax and plastic casts are made and tested for shape, color and fit
 Final Cast: Premium-resin is used to cast the finished product
 Fitting and Adjustments: Any alterations will be made to ensure comfort

Are you missing a tooth? Dental implants offer a permanent solution. They provide a stable foundation for natural-looking replacement teeth that function, look and feel like real teeth.

Implant Procedure
The entire restoration process takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months. This is because the procedure has 2 separate parts. First, we'll place the implant post in your jaw bone. The post heals, fusing with your bone to become whole. The recommended healing time after implantation can take anywhere from 12 to 24 weeks. Throughout the healing period, you'll wear a temporary crown over the post. After the implant has healed, an My West Mount Houston Dentists professional will place a custom-made permanent crown over the implant, leaving you with a beautiful, natural-looking new tooth!

Advantages
There are many reasons why dental implants are superior to tooth-replacement alternatives dentures, including:

 Natural Appearance: Color and shape will be precisely matched to surrounding teeth
 Clear Speech: Ill-fitting dentures can cause slurred speech, but an implant stays in place
 Enhanced Comfort: Permanence increases comfort and flossing ability for healthy gums
 Eat Anything: No need to worry about an implant falling out when eating sticky foods
 Increased Self-Esteem: Correcting flaws restores your confidence
 Better Oral Health: No need to grind down surrounding teeth (like with a bridge)
 Strength and Stability: Will last a lifetime with proper care

Veneers

Are you unhappy with your smile?

At My West Mount Houston Dentists, we often use porcelain veneers to create a bright and healthy smile. Dental veneers are made of thin, tooth-colored porcelain. They adhere to the tooth surface, improving its aesthetic appearance. Our cosmetic dentists can apply multiple veneers during 1 appointment. Many patients opt to get them on all teeth that are visible when smiling, which is usually 8 or 12 teeth.

Perfect Your Smile
Our experienced cosmetic dentists recommend porcelain veneers to correct the following imperfections:

Understanding the Procedure

Dental veneers typically require 3 visits for completion. The first is a consultation with the cosmetic dentist to determine the specifics of the procedure. The second and third visits are when we make and apply the porcelain veneers. Each veneer is custom-made in a dental lab. Before they can be applied, we must file some enamel from the tooth surface, usually .5 millimeter. Then, the veneer is adhered with a cement bond and hardened with a special light. The light activates chemicals in the cement to quickly cure and harden. Finally, we'll clean and polish the veneer and you can admire your new smile!

What Is an Inlay?
A dental inlay is a tooth restoration in which a solid substance, usually porcelain or gold, is affixed with cement to fill a tooth cavity.

What Is an Onlay?
A dental onlay is the same as an inlay, except that it is used on teeth with cusps, the sharp biting surface on canine teeth and premolars. Onlays extend to replace a cusp after damage caused by decay. Similarly, a dental crown is an onlay that covers the tooth entirely.

Custom Made Just for You
Both inlays and onlays are considered to be an indirect restoration because they are custom fabricated in a lab. The lab creates inlays and onlays based on an impression taken by your dentist to ensure the best possible fit.

Advantages of Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and onlays are widely known in the dental field as the gold standard filling method for optimal oral health. Although they can cost up to 10 times the price of composite fillings, the benefits make them the best choice available. Some of the benefits of inlays and onlays include: 

Resists Occlusal Forces  Protects from Recurring Tooth Decay  Precisely Fabricated

Has Ideal Contours for Gum Tissue Health  Easier to Clean

Are your teeth crooked or do you have an overbite or under bite? If so, you may be a candidate for orthodontics. At My West Mount Houston Dentists, we have knowledgeable and experienced orthodontists who will work with you one-on-one to develop a treatment plan to perfect your smile.

Warning Signs There are a number of reasons why people seek the aid of an orthodontist to correct their smile. Below are some common indicators of when it may be time to schedule an orthodontic evaluation: • Misplaced or Crowded Teeth • Retruding or Protruding Jaw • Problems Biting or Chewing • Late or Premature Loss of Baby Teeth • Habitual Teeth Grinding or Clenching • Breathing Predominantly through the Mouth • Speech Issues • Oral Habits Like Thumb-Sucking • Abnormal Tooth Alignment • Facial Asymmetry or Imbalance   Protruding Teeth Orthodontic Evaluation Exam If you have one or more of the aforementioned warning signs, we recommend scheduling an appointment with an orthodontist at My West Mount Houston Dentists, for an orthodontic evaluation. This is a quick and easy visit, in which we'll review the following:  Thorough Functional, Oral and Facial Examination and Evaluation  Facial and Intraoral Photographs  Cephalometric and Panoramic X-Rays  Take Impressions to Create Models of Teeth and Bite

Call today to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation in Houston. We welcome patients throughout the Houston 
metropolitan area.

Are you afraid of going to the dentist? Dental phobia is a common fear that prevents people from receiving the routine dental care they need to maintain optimal oral health. To prevent oral hygiene neglect, My West Mount Houston Dentists offers sedation dentistry for patients with dental phobia.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is a process in which a dentist administers sedatives to a patient to induce a relaxed and calm state in order to perform dental examinations and treatment. Common sedatives used:

Sedation Techniques
We use one of the following techniques to administer sedatives:

 Oral: Patients are given pills to ingest before their dental visit; most common technique
 Intravenous: Sedatives are delivered by injection or inhalation

Advantages of Sedation Dentistry
One of the main benefits of sedation dentistry is that it affords necessary oral care and treatment to patients without sacrificing their comfort. Our patients often feel as though their procedure lasted minutes, when in fact, it took hours to perform. This is an excellent option for dental-phobic patients who need extensive restoration or a complex procedure like a smile makeover. There's no reason not to care for your smile with sedation dentistry!

Endodontics is a dental specialty that deals exclusively with the root of the tooth, the root's surrounding tissue and the tooth pulp. Tooth pulp is the connective tissue and odontoblasts at the center of the tooth. Odontoblasts are specialized cells that produce dentin, a calcified tissue, which is one of the four major components of teeth.

Nothing is Better Than Natural Teeth
Natural teeth are better than any implants or other advanced dental prosthesis, which is why the endodontists at My West Mount Houston Dentists go to extreme measures to save your teeth. Before having a tooth extracted, you should always consult an endodontist to make sure that extraction is your only option. Our endodontic team has decades of experience saving teeth; you can trust our judgment to help determine which options will yield the best results for your overall oral health.

Common Endodontic Procedures
 Root Canal Therapy: Removal of decay, bacteria and tooth pulp
 Endodontic Retreatment: A root canal on a tooth that previously had root-canal therapy
 Restoration of Cracked Teeth: With a root canal, crown or post stabilization
 Treatment of Dental Trauma: Repairing damage after severe fracture
 Endodontic Surgery: Necessary measures to save a tooth in distress

Teeth Whitening

Are you ready to upgrade your smile? Achieve a brighter smile with laser whitening! At My West Mount Houston Dentists, we offer Zoom laser whitening treatment to help banish stains and discoloration so you can get the pearly white smile you've always wanted. 

What is Zoom?
Zoom is an in-office laser-whitening procedure. First, we apply a hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching gel. The gel is light-activated, so next, we shine a specialized light on your teeth to trigger the bleaching agent in the gel to penetrate the surface enamel. This process takes about 15 minutes. We recommend completing 3 consecutive treatments to achieve the maximum results. The entire treatment process is quick and easy. You'll have a noticeably whiter smile in about an hour.

Benefits of Zoom
A main advantage of this procedure is that it yields dramatic results in a short amount of time. Whitening trays and other at-home treatments can take weeks to deliver the same results that Zoom delivers in one hour. Our Zoom patients' teeth lighten up to 8 shades after just 1 procedure. Additionally, this treatment is designed with our patients' comfort in mind. Our goal is to ensure your relaxation during the procedure.