Xylitol Dental Benefits

If you are prone to cavities but refuse to put down the sweet treats, our staff at Cadena Dentistry recommends incorporating some xylitol into your diet. Xylitol is a naturally occurring alcohol found in most plant material, including many fruits and vegetables. It tastes sweet but, unlike table sugar, it is not converted in the mouth to acids that cause tooth decay. If you have no desire to change your diet don’t worry, xylitol can conveniently be delivered to your teeth via chewing gum, tablets, or even candy.

In addition to reducing the development of cavities, xylitol also reduces plaque formation and increases salivary flow to aid in the repair of damaged tooth enamel. It also provides one-third fewer calories than sugar and may be useful as a sugar alternative for people with diabetes. So next time you’re strolling through the candy aisle at a convenience store, you may want to look for a label that mentions this sugar substitute.

If you have questions about xylitol and the dental benefits it provides, please give us a call. To learn about our services that we provide at the practice, visit www.cadenadentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Cadena Dentistry in Del Rio, TX, call 830-775-3322.

Bone Grafting

In some cases, our patients do not have the proper amount of bone mass in their jaw to allow for the placement of dental implants. However, thanks to recent developments in bone grafting, people who would not have qualified a few years ago can now receive dental implants. In Del Rio, TX office, Dr. Louis Cadena, Dr. Valerie Cadena Vargas and Dr. Jerome Gibson perform bone grafting to increase the amount of bone in his patients’ jaw to allow for future implants.

 

There are several bone grafting techniques, but they can all be grouped into two types. The first type of bone grafting is the most extensive type and is performed only by an oral surgeon. Always done as a surgery separate from dental implant placement, this first type of grafting makes large changes to the shape and size of the dental ridge for the sake of implants, which are usually not implanted until several months later.

 

The second type of bone grafting is usually performed if the jaw has enough bone for implant placement but not enough to completely cover the sides of the implant. These grafts are usually small and performed when dental implants are placed.

 

Whether you need bone grafting or not, if you’re looking to receive dental implants, we can make it happen. To schedule an appointment, call our office in Del Rio, TX at (830) 775-3322. For more information, visit www.cadenadentistry.com.

Veneers vs. Crown

Veneers and crowns are both reliable restorative solutions that protect the structure of a tooth while refinishing its surface to create a strong, reliable and beautiful smile esthetic. However, veneers and crowns have many differences with regard to their purpose, placement and function.

 

Veneers: Veneers are most frequently used as a cosmetic smile solution. They can be used use refinish the surface of a tooth and correct teeth that are too narrow or short, and cover-up stains, small chips and cracks. While a single veneer can be used to refinish an individual tooth, multiple veneers are most often used to refinish the most visible teeth and provide a smile makeover that’s fully customized and idealized. Like crowns, veneers are comprised of a thin porcelain shells that are fabricated from an impression of the existing tooth site. Veneers are usually much thinner than crowns, but the existing tooth structure will need to be slightly modified for permanent bonding and placement.

 

Crowns: Crowns may be used for cosmetic purposes, but they’re most frequently used to restore the surface of a tooth due to a fracture, severe chip, deep cavity, or following a root canal or other procedure that calls for the modification of the tooth.  Like veneers, crowns are custom fabricated to perfectly restore the appearance of a tooth, in addition to protecting its structure.  Crowns are frequently created from porcelain or ceramic, but they may also be formed from gold, porcelain fused to metal or other material.