Canine Exposure

Canine teeth are important for eating. They are meant to grasp food and tear into it. When canine teeth are impacted, they affect the way you eat, the aesthetic appearance of your smile and they can harm other teeth. Cadena Dentistry here in Del Rio, TX performs canine exposure so that an impacted canine can grow in normally.

When a canine tooth is impacted, that means it cannot emerge fully because it is trapped within the jaw bone or surrounding tissue. Canine teeth are one of the most common teeth to become impacted. When the canine teeth do not fully emerge, they can erode other teeth and may cause them damage. In addition, some impacted canines have caused cysts to grow over the site, which need to be removed for the health and function of your mouth. Even if the tooth is not causing any problems, leaving a baby tooth or a gap there can often diminish the perfect smile so many desire.

To allow the tooth to grow in properly, your dentist will make an incision in the gums where the canine is stuck. This allows a clear path for the tooth to grow through. A dental brace will also be attached to the tooth to guide it down into the right position.

Impacted canines do not have to cause you trouble or affect your smile. If you suspect impacted canines, come into our Del Rio, TX dentistry for a consultation. To schedule, call Cadena Dentistry at (830) 775-3322 or visit our website, www.cadenadentistry.com. 

White Fillings

When teeth become decayed, they're often in need of a filling. Nowadays, most patients don’t want to have fillings that are obvious to others when talking, smiling or laughing. Here at Cadena Dentistry in Del Rio, TX we provide composite resin fillings, which are also known as white fillings.

 

These fillings are the same color as the patient’s tooth, so they aren’t obvious to anyone else. White fillings not only helps the patient protect their tooth from further decay, but feel more confident when they smile knowing no one knows it’s there.

 

White fillings have many benefits to patients that make them a great dental filling option:

• They are the same white color of the tooth being filled.
• White fillings can be blended to be any shade, regardless of the color of the tooth.
• They are not significantly more expensive than other fillings.
• White fillings are just as efficient in protecting teeth as alternatives.

It takes slightly longer for the process of white fillings than metal fillings because white fillings are blended to match our patient’s tooth. Otherwise, they look and feel like any other filling, allowing the patient to fill a cavity and protect their tooth from more serious problems. If you have a cavity and are in need of a filling, call us today at 830-775-3322 to see if you are a candidate for white fillings.

Extractions

Extractions are needed for multiple reasons: to avoid getting a root canal, to remove wisdom teeth that are pushing against other teeth, or to remove an impacted and infected tooth. Here at Radiance Dental, we provide extractions for patients that need to get a tooth removed. It is not a difficult process and is done under anesthesia, so no pain is experienced. We do ask that patients have a ride home following the anesthesia, as it is not safe for them to drive.

 

After the extractions are completed by Dr. Louis Cadena, it is important that patients follow these tips:

 

1. Only eat soft foods for the first few days following the surgery, such as yogurt, pudding and mashed potatoes.

2. Don’t use a straw when drinking liquids.

3. Avoid chewing on the side of the mouth where the tooth was extracted.

4. Avoid smoking cigarettes, as the sucking motion can pull the blood clot.

5. Call our office if excessive pain or bleeding is experienced.

 

You may notice some minor bleeding at the extraction site, which is temporary. An ice pack works wonders for any lingering pain.

Single Tooth Anesthesia

At Cadena Dentistry, we realize that some of our patients can become stressed or anxious at the sight of a needle or syringe and that many more hate the numbness of anesthesia. Sometimes this anxiety can be severe enough to prevent patients from seeking out necessary dental procedures. Because we value our patients’ oral health and dental experience above all else, we have chosen to use the Single Tooth Anesthesia (STA) system. With one injection, this system can safely and painlessly administer anesthesia for a single tooth.

The STA system allows for an even-flow of anesthetic in a very comfortable manner. Eliminating the sting of a syringe that come from a surge of fluid into a confined tissue area, the wand adjusts the flow of the anesthetic to be as comfortable as possible. With this method, our dentists are also able to minimize the unnecessary numbness of the tongue, cheek and face and only anesthetize a single tooth, which means that a patient can often eat immediately after a procedure and is less likely to cause lip and mouth trauma from bites he or she doesn’t feel.

STA can be used for many dental procedures, from fillings to root canal therapy. To receive dental care from a dentist who cares about your comfort and experience, schedule an appointment with Dr. Louis Cadena or Dr. Valerie Cadena Vargas at our office in Del Rio, TX. Just call 830-775-3322. For more information, visit www.cadenadentistry.com.