Whitening and Bleaching

Whitening and Bleaching

If you are not happy with the staining or discoloration of your teeth, our dentist Dr. Louis Cadena has a variety of options for you. Instead of just providing our patients with one type of whitening and bleaching, we have several options available to our patients. This includes using the tray whitening system, a deep bleaching tray whitening product (KoR whitening), and ZOOM! chairside whitening.

 

The first whitening product offered in our Del Rio, TX dental practice is the tray whitening system. With this product, we use impressions of the patient’s teeth to create custom, reusable whitening trays. They are filled with whitening gel and placed over the teeth in the office, followed by home treatment over several days.

 

Another tray whitening product we have is a newer product called KoR whitening. KoR whitening also uses custom trays, except the result is permanent with most of our patients. Patients wear the trays and use the whitening gel only at night while they sleep for about two weeks. This permanently bleaches their teeth.

 

Finally, we provide in-office whitening through ZOOM!, which combines a strong whitening gel and a low intensity lamp. This whitening is all done chairside and is complete in about an hour.

Call Cadena Dentistry at 830-775-3322 to book your appointment for any of these whitening and bleaching options.

Clear Braces

Clear Braces

Here at Cadena Dentistry, we want our patients to have a choice in orthodontic care, which is why we offer clear braces. As opposed to traditional braces that have shiny metal brackets and wires, clear braces are made using ceramic brackets, and are virtually translucent. They sit on each tooth just like with regular braces, but are far less conspicuous. Most people don’t know a patient is wearing braces until they are up close. The wires between the brackets are still necessary, but not as noticeable.

 

Patients receive the following benefits by choosing clear braces:

• The ceramic brackets are designed to not stain the teeth.
• They are mostly invisible and less conspicuous to others
• Patients wearing clear braces have more confidence with orthodontic treatment
• Adults have the advantage of not being embarrassed by having braces

Clear braces are used more often on upper teeth than lower teeth since they are slightly larger than metal brackets used in traditional braces. They are ideal for patients with gaps or alignment issues mostly on their upper set of teeth.

 

Visit Dr. Louis Cadena in Del Rio, TX to learn more about clear braces.

Traditional Braces

Traditional Braces

Here at Cadena Dentistry, we offer our patients a variety of orthodontic treatment options, including traditional braces. These are a common type of braces, and can be the most effective. They are also great for many types of orthodontic conditions, whether it is a large gap between the teeth, a severe overbite, a crossbite, or a combination of different teeth alignment issues. Not everyone is a candidate for other types of orthodontic treatments we provide here in our dental practice, which is why traditional braces are often the go-to treatment.

 

Traditional braces consist of metal brackets adhered to the teeth, thin metal wire called archwire extending between each bracket, and rubber band elastic; the latter of which is used for tightening the braces between appointments. Between these three components, the teeth gradually shift to their desired place in about 2-4 years on average.

 

After completing the process of wearing traditional braces, we encourage patients to wear a retainer at night for about a year or longer, as it helps their teeth remain in their new position.

 

If you or your child is in need of corrective orthodontic treatment, call our Del Rio dentist Dr. Louis Cadena at 830-775-3322 to ask about traditional braces.

Extraction Site Preservation

Extraction site preservation is the term used for planning ahead and involves what will be done once a tooth has been extracted. If a front tooth or molar is removed, it leaves the teeth susceptible to shifting. This happens when the jawbone begins degenerating due to the loss of the tooth and root, where it changes shape during the healing process. As this happens, other nearby teeth begin shifting and can cause misalignment and bite problems. Dr. Louis Cadena makes sure to prevent this complication through extraction site preservation.

 

Here is a brief overview of how extraction site preservation works:

 

1. Dr. Cadena informs the patient of the problem with their extraction site.

2. He goes over their options, such as a bridge, partial denture or dental implant.

3. Planning begins for the replacement treatment even before the extraction is completed.

4. As soon as the tooth is removed and begins healing, the dentist prepares the preservation of the extraction site.

 

By following these simple steps, our patients preserve their extraction site so they avoid complications as a result of the missing tooth. This is not necessary when wisdom teeth are removed because they are located in the very back of the mouth.

 

Call Cadena Dentistry at 830-775-3322 to schedule an appointment for an extraction site preservation

TMJ

TMJ disorders cause considerable pain and discomfort to our patients, which is why our dentist Dr. Louis Cadena provides treatment for TMJ. The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is located between the temporal bone in the skull and the lower part of the jaw, called the mandible. It is the joint responsible for letting patients chew and speak, and open or close their mouth. If a patient struggles from a TMJ disorder, or TMD, it can cause pain and discomfort in a variety of ways.

 

Symptoms of TMJ include pain when opening the mouth, headaches or ear pain, teeth grinding and clenching at night, hearing popping or clicking sounds when opening the mouth, or having a jaw that gets stuck while the mouth is opened or closed.

 

Treatments for TMJ, such as medications for the pain, night guards, and oral appliances, help treat the side effects and provide relief for the jaw. Surgery is also available in more severe cases.

By calling Cadena Dentistry at 830-775-3322 today, you have the opportunity to start experiencing relief from your TMJ disorder.

Protective Mouth Guards

Protective mouth guards are offered here in our Cadena Dentistry dental practice as a way to protect our patients from damage to their teeth. Athletes and children are in special need of mouth guards while playing contact sports, because this puts them at great risk for dental damage. This can be very costly and frustrating when they are having to repair their teeth. Sports like football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, hockey and soccer all require the players to wear protective mouth guards.

At Cadena Dentistry, we encourage patients to get protective mouth guards for the following benefits:

• They are custom-made, so they fit comfortably.
• Are long-lasting.
• Prevent chipped and broken teeth.
• Prevent permanent nerve damage.
• Prevent loss of teeth.
• Save money from expensive dental procedures.

While there are mouth guards sold in sports supply stores, they are factory made and don’t fit most people. With protective mouth guards made by Dr. Louis Cadena, they are custom made based on impressions of the patient’s teeth, so they fit perfectly and are meant to last. Visit us in Del Rio, TX to get your custom mouth guards.

Night Guards

If you find yourself waking up in the morning with headache, teeth or jaw pain, it might be due to a condition called bruxism. Otherwise known as teeth grinding, bruxism is caused by involuntary grinding of your teeth at night while you sleep. Since you’re sleeping, it isn’t possible to prevent it, except by wearing night guards provided by us here at Cadena Dentistry.

 

Night guards are custom made to fit around the teeth, so they don’t get in the way of proper sleep. The night guard keeps the top and bottom teeth separated by the barrier, in order to prevent clenching and grinding of our patient’s teeth. It is not only an excellent way to prevent the pain patients feel when waking up, but to protect the enamel and structure of their teeth. Consistent grinding starts to wear away at the enamel, weakening the tooth structure.

 

Teeth grinding can also be very noisy and prevent their spouse from sleeping properly. Night guards can take a little getting used to, but before too long, our patients hardly notice them. If you have noticed that you are grinding your teeth, visit Dr. Louis Cadena in Del Rio, TX to discuss the benefits of night guards.