SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN’T RESIST! It’s SO cheesy and saucy—right out of the oven! You dive in and take your first bite… Uh oh! Too soon! You’ve got “pizza burn!” Pizza Isn’t The Only Culprit You’ve probably burned your mouth before on coffee, soup, and other scorching hot foods. Soon afterward, you may have noticed… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Patient Education
What Do I Do About My Child’s Thumb Sucking?
If you are like many parents, you may be concerned that your child is still sucking his/her thumb. Remember, though, thumb sucking is a normal part of a child’s development. As children approach four years of age, however, you might have to help them break the habit. Dr. Steven Van Wicklen can help you figure… Read more »
Advice from Your Emergency Dentist
By definition, emergencies are sudden, urgent, and usually unexpected. While most dental emergencies live up to that standard, some can be the advanced results of a pre-existing condition. For instance, a sudden, severe toothache can indicate a recent traumatic injury, or it can develop because a cavity is exposing the nerves in your tooth. Whenever… Read more »
Invisalign—It’s About More than Looks
Are your teeth crooked, but you’re not keen on the idea of wearing metal braces for a couple of years to correct them? Straightening your smile is about more than vanity. Crooked teeth can throw your bite off balance, leading to a host of dental problems, including excessively worn teeth and TMJ disorder (a dysfunction… Read more »
The Importance of Dental Implants
For most patients who’ve lost one or more teeth, Dr. Van Wicklen often recommends replacing lost teeth with an appropriate number of dental implants. The titanium root devices are surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace the roots of your missing teeth, and can be used to restore your smile whether you’ve lost one, several,… Read more »
What is a Cavity, Exactly?
You may hear a lot of talk about cavities, especially when you visit your dentist. As the most common chronic disease among children and adults alike, cavities are familiar even to many patients who’ve never had one. If you’ve already suffered a cavity in one of your permanent teeth, you can protect your other teeth… Read more »
Cure Bad Breath Before Valentine’s Day
Sometimes, bad breath is the result of respiratory or gastrointestinal problem. Sometimes, it’s due to a health condition, like diabetes. Usually, however, bad breath persists because poor hygiene has allowed bacteria to overwhelm your mouth and release volatile sulfur compounds that taint your breath as it passes through your mouth. If your bad breath doesn’t… Read more »
Cosmetic Dentist Discusses Smiles
Whether you know it or not, your smile is a major influence upon your emotional state and your life. Smiling releases “feel good” chemicals into the brain including endorphins and the anti-depressant serotonin. What, then, will happen if you are embarrassed by your teeth? Chances are that you will be reluctant to smile, and consequently,… Read more »
How Long Does a Dental Crown Last? Austin Dentist Answers
Dental restorations, including crowns, are not meant to last a lifetime.While many patients have reported having their crowns for 15 years without any trouble, others might need a replacement crown much sooner. Many factors can cause crowns to fail. Thankfully, replacing a crown is common and quite easy. Factors that Attribute to Crown Failure
Austin, TX Dentist Discusses One-Visit Dental Crowns
In the past, manufacturing dental crowns required the use of a ceramics lab; yet, with the help of CEREC technology, neither the patient nor the doctor needs to wait for dental restorations. It’s now possible to create one-visit dental crownswith an in-office milling machine. To explain how CEREC technology works to create one-visit dental crowns,… Read more »