Frenectomy Performed with a Laser

Lip tie and tongue tie can cause severe problems in babies and continued difficulties in adulthood. To free the lips and tongue, a frenectomy is needed to allow the frenulum to heal with more range. Here at our Del Rio, TX dental practice, Cadena Dentistry, we are trained and skilled at performing frenectomies.

The frenectomy is performed by using a laser to detach the shortened or tightened frenulum. Using a laser provides less discomfort than a scalpel or scissors and a faster healing time.  There are also no stitches needed afterward. Often, only a local anesthetic is needed to numb the area. The procedure is performed in less than fifteen minutes. When the frenulum heals, it will have with more range.

When a tightened or shortened frenulum causes the lips or tongue limited motion, this causes immediate difficulties for babies nursing. They are unable to latch correctly and suffer from the consequences. Babies who have difficulty latching often do not gain enough weight. The mothers also suffer with blockage and injury to their milk ducts. Later on in life, as a child or an adult, lip tie and tongue tie can affect the ability to speak, eat, keep good oral health, and other activities.

A short or tight frenulum can cause major difficulties in life, but it doesn’t have to last forever. To learn more about frenectomy, call Cadena Dentistry of Del Rio, TX at (830) 775-3322 or visit our website, www.cadenadentistry.com. 

Full and Partial Dentures at Cadena Dentistry

Dentures are a great option for those who need to replace their teeth, but want a removable option. Here at Cadena Dentistry, of Del Rio, TX we offer our patients with missing teeth full and partial dentures.

Full dentures are a brand-new set of teeth. The teeth are created by taking measurements of your mouth and finding a natural fit. They are made to be the best and most natural looking smile for each individual patient. For full dentures, we can provide both conventional and immediate. The benefit to immediate dentures is that there is no time spent without teeth. However, if extractions were made to place them, a future visit will be required to re-fit the dentures. As the gums heal, they can shrink and change shape. For conventional dentures, we wait a few months for your gums to heal before we fit the dentures.

Here at Cadena Dentistry, we also provide partial dentures. Partial dentures are sort of like bridges, in that they use other teeth to stabilize the dentures. However, unlike bridges, partial dentures are removable.

Dentures are to be taken care of like regular teeth. They need to be brushed before taken out of your mouth to remove plaque, just like normal teeth. When they are not in use, store the dentures in room temperature water.

To find out if dentures are right for you, schedule a consultation at Cadena Dentistry of Del Rio, TX by calling us at (830) 775-3322 or visiting our website, www.cadenadentistry.com. 

Dental Crowns to Restore and Protect

Restoring a weak tooth prevents further damage, infection, and pain. It also improves the aesthetic look of your smile. To repair teeth weakened by damage or decay, we offer dental crowns in our Del Rio, TX dental practice, Cadena Dentistry.

When a tooth is fractured or decayed, this can allow bacteria to reach the inside of the tooth and affect the dental pulp. Being the nerve center of the tooth, when the dental pulp becomes infected it can be quite painful. To clear the infection a root canal is needed, and often a crown will be placed to ensure it does not continue to happen. When a tooth is weak, why not protect it from the start and avoid the pain? A dental crown is like a cap that goes over your tooth restoring its strength. It will also improve the look of your smile.

Dental crowns can be made of gold, porcelain fused to metal, or full porcelain. The options with porcelain are made to look just like your natural teeth, so you won’t be able to tell there is a crown. The crowns are made in a dental laboratory and cemented onto the tooth that has been reshaped to fit it.

If you are looking to protect a tooth or improve the look of your smile, schedule a consultation with us a Cadena Dentistry of Del Rio, TX to see if a dental crown can work for you. To schedule an appointment, call us at (830) 775-3322 or visit our website, www.cadenadentistry.com. 

Dental Bonding to Fix Cracks, Gaps, and Whiten

A chip in your tooth or a discolored smile can plummet confidence. This is why Cadena Dentistry here in Del Rio, TX offers dental bonding as a fast, affordable, and natural looking fix.

Dental bonding is the process of shaping a tooth-colored composite resin to fill in cracks, gaps, or misshapen teeth. It can also be used for long-lasting whitening and brightening. The composite resin is the same material dentists use to fill in cavities. It is a durable material and when taken good care of, it can last for over ten years.

The process of applying bonding first starts with lightly etching the teeth. The very small grooves created aid a strong bond for the resin and the tooth. The tooth-colored resin is then matched to your natural tooth color, or brighter if you are whitening. Your dentist will smooth the resin over your tooth and shape it to make the desired improvement. An ultraviolet light is then used to harden the material.

Taking care of dental bonding is simple and just like taking care of normal teeth. Brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and regular cleanings and exams by your dentist will ensure that the bonding looks good for a long time.

If you have gaps, cracks, or would like long-lasting whitening, schedule a consultation here at Cadena Dentistry of Del Rio, TX. Find out if dental bonding is right for you. To schedule, call us at (830) 775-3322 or visit our website, www.cadenadentistry.com.