4502 Riverstone Blvd., #501, Missouri City, TX 77459 Have questions about our dental care in Missouri City, Texas? Check out some common questions and answers from our dentist and team below! If you have any further questions, we would love to hear from you! Contact Subtle Smiles at 281-491-3626 today and set up an appointment with Dr. Martin Youngs today.
Why do I need X-rays at my routine visits?
It is our standard of care to have yearly X-rays; it is the only way we can complete an accurate evaluation. A full set of X-rays is recommended every one to three years to survey all areas below the gums and a basic set yearly to check for cavities between teeth that may have come about within the last year. Cavities are not always visible to the naked eye.
Should I get an implant or a bridge?
An implant is the closest replacement to a lost natural tooth. They have better stability and success rates. Adjacent teeth would not have to be involved in this treatment option. A bridge involves the adjacent teeth, which will have to be ground down to retain the bridge to replace one tooth. If one of the natural teeth are compromised in the bridge, then the whole bridge will be affected.
Why do I need to take another X-rays? Didn’t you already take one a couple weeks ago?
We do require you to take X-rays with every visit if a problem persists. We might find a significant difference from your last visit.
How long does anesthetic last?
Usually anesthetic lasts about one to two hours after treatment is finished. It is ultimately up to how a patient processes the anesthetic. Every patient is different.
How long before I can eat after a fluoride treatment?
With a fluoride rinse, you should wait 30 minutes to eat, drink or rinse. With the fluoride varnish, you can eat right away, but no brushing for eight hours.
What is the benefit of fluoride varnish versus a rinse?
The rinse will only coat teeth for one minute while you rinse, which is a great benefit, but it is ideal to use varnish as it stays longer and continues to benefit teeth with vitamins for a longer period of time.
Why can’t I have a standard cleaning?
Regular cleaning, or prophylaxis, involves cleaning tooth surfaces above the gums. A diagnosis of periodontal or gum disease involves the presence of pockets or spaces under the gumline, and a deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, is required to remove plaque, calculus or buildup from under the gums. Periodontal maintenance would maintain the health of gums and pockets after a deep cleaning.
Why does my insurance not pay for my tooth colored filling?
Insurance pays for what is functional and sometimes not what is diagnosed or recommended. For example, some insurance plans have the option to pay the downgraded benefit of a silver filling as they consider a tooth color filling “cosmetic.”