Occlusal disorder results from a bite misalignment that leads to worn down teeth and other serious health problems. However, there is a viable solution to these problems.

That solution is a Tekscan® analysis from qualified Houston Tekscan dentists. If you decide to receive this analysis, your misaligned bite can be diagnosed and remedied.

What is a Tekscan Analysis?

Check out the video below to see Dr. Hedge performing a Tekscan Analysis on one of his patients:

The analysis, also known as a T-Scan® occlusal analysis, is a new innovation in dental technology that will allow a dentist to effectively detect occlusal disorder, and design a customized treatment plan to give you a clinical bite adjustment.

A T-Scan works in the following ways:

• You will bite down on a thin sensor.
• This sensor will analyze your bite, providing our dentist with a bite force measurement.
• Based on this measurement, our dentist will be able to design an individualized treatment plan to remedy your occlusal disorder.

How Can a Tekscan Analysis Improve My Health?

It is important to remember that occlusal disorder is a serious condition that should be treated as soon as possible. This is because occlusal disorder can cause the following problems:

• Damage to restorations, such as crowns and bridges
• Teeth fractures
• Receding of the gums
• Loose teeth
• Pain in your mouth
• Grinding of your teeth at night
• Severe headaches
• Sensitive teeth

There are several ways to know if you are at risk for occlusal disorder. These symptoms
include:

• Headaches
• Stiffness in your jaw
• Sensitive teeth
• Neck pain
• Back pain

If you have the aforementioned problems, you may be at risk for this disorder. However, our trained Tekscan dentists, Dr. Tom Hedge and Dr. Kathy Frazar, can provide you with effective treatment to ensure that your dental health can be improved, and you can alleviate all of these symptoms.

T-Scan Treatment at The Houston Dentists

If you’re in need of T-Scan occlusal analysis treatment in Houston, Dr. Tom Hedge and Dr. Kathy Frazar would love to help you. They can provide you with comprehensive treatment that will be both easy and effective.

For a complimentary consultation about occlusal disorder and T-Scan treatment, call The Houston Dentists today at 713-701-1783.

Severe snoring problems can cause significant inconveniences, however, a more serious condition can have more drastic consequences. This condition is sleep apnea. At The Houston Dentists, our sleep apnea treatment dentists want to show you the dangers of sleep apnea, and the importance of sleep apnea treatment.

Additionally, we believe that this condition deserves the very best treatment options at an affordable rate. That’s why we offer a low, affordable co-pay for sleep apnea treatment with SOMNOmed® for those that qualify.

What’s The Difference Between Sleep Apnea and Common Snoring?

Many people equate sleep apnea with common snoring, however, there is a distinct difference between the two. Common snoring is the result of a partial blockage of the airway, making it difficult for you to breath as you sleep.

Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is a result of a complete blockage of the airway. This is also referred to as obstructive sleep apnea. As opposed to common snoring, sleep apnea denies your body essential oxygen. Therefore, sleep apnea is more than just an inconvenience, and should be treated with a dental snoring appliance from our Houston dentists.

Sleep apnea actually poses several threats to your health, some of which can have deadly consequences.

Health Problems That Result From Sleep Apnea

There are a plethora of problems which result from sleep apnea, therefore illuminating how essential it is for you to seek sleep apnea treatment from your Houston sleep apnea dentist.

Sleep apnea poses the following health risks:

• Morning headaches
• Heartburn
• Dry mouth
• Impaired concentration
• Irritability
• Depression
• Irregular heartbeat
• High blood pressure
• Impotence
• Stroke
• Heart attacks

Therefore, you can see how sleep apnea can have drastically negative effects on your health, and you can understand why it is absolutely essential that you seek sleep apnea therapy.

How Can Sleep Apnea Be Treated?

Despite the fact that sleep apnea is such a deadly condition, there are viable treatment options available. Here at The Houston Dentists, our dentists use only the latest technology in sleep apnea treatment. We use the SOMNOmed sleep apnea treatment appliance.

How Does the SOMNOmed Dental Snoring Treatment Appliance Work?

SOMNOmed is an innovative new device that can gently relieve your sleep apnea problems. It doesn’t require invasive procedures, and it can help you get a good night’s rest, while also preventing serious health problems associated with sleep apnea.

The SOMNOmed sleep apnea dental appliance works by:

• Advancing the lower jaw forward
• Using upper and lower dental plates, with a unique patented fin-coupling mechanism to open up your airway

This gentle mechanism can completely change your life by relieving your snoring problems, while also preventing you from having any serious health complications.

But is SOMNOmed Sleep Apnea Treatment Affordable?

At The Houston Dentists, our Houston sleep apnea doctors believe that all of our patients are entitled to a great bill of health. We want each and every one of our patients to experience relief from their problems without having to drain their wallets.

This is why we offer an affordable co-pay to persons who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and who also have health insurance. If you have health insurance and have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, we offer a low co-pay of only $650.

If you’re ready to experience affordable SOMNOmed sleep apnea treatment call our dentists in Houston today for a complimentary consultation at 713-701-1783.

Many patients who come to our cosmetic dentistry office tell us that they don’t like their smile, and they want to change their smile imperfections as soon as possible. This is a common comment that patients make about their own smile, and when we hear this, we reassure them that we are here to help!

When patients say they dislike their smile, we will ask which aspects they don’t like, and find out how they picture their dream smile to look like.

Based on that answer, we will discuss several cosmetic dentistry treatment options, such as dental veneers. Many patients wonder why they should choose dental veneers, so we’re here to tell you about the veneers procedure and veneers benefits!

Porcelain veneers: The art of dentistry

Drs. Frazar and Hedge absolutely love creating gorgeous, healthy smiles for each and every one of their patients. Whether that entails the use of dental veneers or the teeth whitening treatment option, Drs. Frazar and Hedge are dedicated to creating the smile of your dreams.

When we perform the veneers procedure:

• We create what is called a “wax-up” on models of patients teeth. This process ensures that we get the teeth in the proper proportion and size for each patient. A diagnostic wax-up also serves the purpose as a blueprint for the temporary veneers and the final veneers.
  
• The wax-up stage is what we consider the “art” in the science of dentistry since we use our artistic skill-set to customize your temporary veneers, which gives them a natural look.

The importance of precision in the creation of porcelain veneers

Dr. Frazar & Dr. Hedge both set high standards for themselves throughout each and every veneers case. When we do so, we are more determined to create the natural-looking smile you crave so that you can enjoy your brand new smile for many years to come.

Your snoring problems may stem from obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that affects numerous Americans, and can often lead to serious health problems.

If you have sleep apnea, it is important to get a diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible. That’s why The Houston Dentists have some of the top-notch snoring treatment doctors Houston has to offer.

The Facts About Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea and excessive snoring are separate conditions that often go hand-in-hand. Snoring stems from a partial blockage of your airway, such as a falling of the tongue. In this case, your airway is only partially obstructed. Undoubtedly, this can lead to discomfort and fatigue, not to mention annoying your partner.

However, sleep apnea is more serious. In cases of sleep apnea, your airway becomes completely obstructed. This, undoubtedly, leads to snoring. However, it also denies your body essential oxygen while you sleep. This can lead to chronic sleepiness, fatigue, and a plethora of other medical conditions.

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

There are several indicators that you may have sleep apnea. These indicators can manifest themselves both during the day and at night. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye out for these symptoms so you can get medical attention from obstructive sleep apnea treatment providers in Houston.

The daytime symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Yawning all day
• Excessive sleepiness
• Lack of focus

These are just the symptoms that manifest themselves during the day. There are also other nighttime symptoms, which are even clearer indicators that you have sleep apnea.

The nighttime symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Sleep restlessness
• Drooling
• Choking
• Gasping
• Sweating
• Witnessed apneas

If you have these symptoms, you should seek help from obstructive sleep apnea doctors in Houston because there are serious health risks associated with this particular condition.

The Health Risks Associated With Sleep Apnea

As aforementioned, sleep apnea has serious medical consequences. Sleep apnea is more than an inconvenience. It is a condition that can lead to serious medical complications, some of which are life-threatening.

The Serious Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

• Irregular heartbeat
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Impotence
• Morning headaches
• Dry mouth
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Heartburn
• Depression
• Impaired concentration
• Decreased libido
• Irritability

Thus, the risks associated with sleep apnea can be life-threatening, and they can bear heavier consequences than just chronic sleepiness. Even if it’s as simple as the fact that you can’t stop yawning, you should still seek treatment.

Treating Sleep Apnea

Treating sleep apnea is much simpler than you might think. It is easily remedied if you seek help from top-notch obstructive sleep apnea providers in Houston.

Dr. Tom Hedge and Dr. Kathy Frazar are top-notch doctors to help with snoring problems, in addition to treating sleep apnea.

One of the treatment options available to persons with both snoring problems and sleep apnea is the SomnoDent® MAS. The SomnoDent MAS is the latest in sleep apnea treatment technology, and it can completely alleviate your snoring problems, while eliminating your risk for more serious health complications.

This form of obstructive sleep apnea treatment works in the following ways:

• It advances the lower jaw forward.
• It is a custom-made dental appliance, specifically specialized to fit your mouth.
• It uses a fin-coupling device to relieve both sleep apnea and snoring.

This device is worn while you sleep, and will make you get a good night’s rest, while avoiding serious health problems.

Finding Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment in Houston

If you’re searching for sleep apnea treatment doctors in Houston, you need the sleep apnea doctors at The Houston Dentists. Dr. Tom Hedge and Dr. Kathy Frazar can provide you with top-of-the-line sleep apnea solutions to keep you happy, healthy, and rested.

They are also comprehensive cosmetic dentists who can meet a variety of your cosmetic dental needs. In addition to specializing in sleep apnea treatment, these doctors also practice general and cosmetic dentistry.

If you’re looking for the snoring doctors Houston trusts, you need sleep apnea treatment from The Houston Dentists. Call The Houston Dentists today for a complimentary consultation about sleep apnea at 713.701.1783.

Our high-quality Houston dentists are dedicated to ensuring that your smile is top-notch, so let Dr. Hedge and Dr. Frazar show you the benefits of All-on-4 implants.

What Are All-on-4 Implants?

All-on-4 implants are a new innovation in implant technology, which will add versatility to your denture and implants options. This particular procedure is best fitted for persons who are seeking full upper or lower restorations, in addition to persons who already have dentures.

All-on-4 implants work in the following ways:

• Four implants are used in the back of the teeth
• The implants are angulated to take advantage of existing bone
• The patient then receives these four implants in addition to a set of new teeth

The All-on-4 Dental Implant Procedure

Many people are curious as to how extensive the all on four dentures procedure is. Like most oral surgery procedures, the implants procedure is invasive. The All-on-4 implants procedure incorporates the insertion of these four implants in one appointment.

Before your implants appointment, your Houston All-on-4 implants dentist will provide you with an initial evaluation from an oral surgeon and a periodontist. This initial evaluation may be composed of CAT scans, X-rays, impressions, or photos. After this consultation, you will be scheduled for oral surgery with one of our all on four dental implants dentists.

The procedure itself will involve the insertion of the four implants, in addition to brand new teeth. The main benefit of this procedure is that you will be able to walk out of the office with a shining new smile immediately after your oral surgery.

You will still see your Houston All-on-4 implants dentist for check-ups over the coming months in order to ensure that your implants have successfully fused with the bone, and that your gums are healed.

If you’re worried about oral surgery, you shouldn’t be. Our providers of All-on-4 dental implants in Houston will provide you with only the highest quality sedation dentistry to relieve your dental anxiety.

The Benefits of All on Four Implants

There are several advantages to getting all on 4 dentures. These advantages include:

• The ability to completely restore your upper or lower teeth
• Getting new replacement teeth in just one appointment, instead of having to wait months to get your implants procedure finished
• These dentures are fixed, non-removable replacement teeth
• The all-on-4 implants procedure does not involve bone grafts
• All on four dental implants give you beautiful, natural-looking teeth. No one will ever know that you have implants

If you’re looking for some of the best providers of all on four implants Houston has to offer, you need Dr. Tom Hedge and Dr. Kathy Frazar at The Houston Dentists. Not only
do these Houston All-on-4 implants dentists offer high-quality treatment, they also have a resident periodontist on staff to ensure that your implants procedure goes smoothly.

All-on-4 Dental Implants in Houston from The Houston Dentists

If you’re looking for providers of some of the best all on four implants Houston has to offer, choose Dr. Tom Hedge and Dr. Kathy Frazar at The Houston Dentists. Call us today for a complimentary consultation at 713-701-1783.

At The Houston Dentists, we realize the importance of keeping our environment clean and green, which is why we practice eco-friendly dentistry. Our Houston cosmetic dentists use only the latest technology to keep our practice “green.”

How Do Dental Practices Harm the Environment?

Surprisingly, many dental practices significantly contribute to pollution. In the dental industry, several factors play into serious pollution and environmental risks. These hazards largely stem from needless waste. Some of the many wasted materials and contributions to environmental pollution include:

• 3.7 tons of mercury waste each year
• 28 million liters of toxic x-ray fixer wasted each year
• 1.7 billion sterilization pouches are thrown away each year
• Many dental practices waste billions of gallons of water each year

Thus, the facts are surprising. Careless dental practices result in significant pollution, which, in turn, harms our environment. At The Houston Dentists, we certainly do not want to be part of the problem. Our green dental practice in Houston strives to not only reduce these problems, but also to make progressive steps to curb environmental hazards produced by the dental industry.

Eco-Friendly Dentistry in Houston

At The Houston Dentists, we have taken several steps to reduce waste, and therefore help to keep our environment clean. Thus, we have created one of the first practices with eco-friendly dentists in Houston. We have learned several strategies from leading researchers in environmental conservation efforts that have allowed our practice to reduce its waste.

These new eco-friendly dental strategies include:

• A digital transition throughout our entire office
• Replacing traditional x-ray techniques with digital imaging, thereby eliminating needless radiation exposure and lead waste
• Our digital transition has led to a 70 to 90% decrease in lead waste and exposure to toxic elements

Thus, both our patients and the environment do not experience a significant exposure to harmful lead and radiation, increasing both the health of our clients and the health of our planet.

In addition, our dentists are making a significant effort to reduce the exorbitant amount of yearly wasted water. The measures we have taken in order to save water are extensive, so our new innovations in water conservation have allowed our practice to make a significant contribution to environmental protection.

The Facts on Wasted Water in Dentistry

• Traditional vacuum systems waste an average of 360 gallons of water per day.
• At The Houston Dentists, we utilize a “dry vacuum,” a system which saves billions of gallons of water per year.

Digital Communication in Eco-Friendly Dentistry

At The Houston Dentists, we have also made a significant effort to reduce our use of disposable supplies through online communication, which not only helps keep Houston green, but also offers more convenience for our patients.

Choose Our Eco-Friendly Dentists

If you’re looking for high-quality, eco-friendly dentists in Houston, choose our cosmetic dentists Dr. Tom Hedge and Dr. Kathy Frazar at The Houston Dentists. Not only do we offer top-notch, eco-friendly dental services, we also pride ourselves on putting our patients’ comfort and needs first. For a complimentary consultation about our green dental practice in Houston, call The Houston Dentists today at 713-701-1783.

As such, The Houston Dentists are here to present facts and details critical to your baby’s dental care as he or she gets older.

Caring for your baby’s dental care at an early age

If you’ve recently gave birth to a baby boy or a baby girl, you have come to the right place to get informed regarding the oral health of your baby.

Even though he or she does not have teeth yet, you must understand the impact of bacteria (that is present in their saliva) and its link to early childhood caries (ECC).

• Actually, a recent study conducted at the University of Illinois confirms this specific linkage, which is critical to safe and responsible baby care.
• It is very important to start caring for your child’s oral care at an early age to prevent future cavities.

What is early childhood caries (ECC)?

Do you know that, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cavities are the most common disease affecting children throughout the United States? Well, ECC is commonly known as tooth decay, or a cavity, formed by many different types of bacteria contained in saliva. Actually, researchers from the University of Illinois learned that infant’s saliva has many diverse forms of bacteria, which presents the need for further research into infant oral bacteria and its critical link to childhood ECC.

This study’s lead researcher, Kelly Swanson, concluded that 40 percent of children have dental cavities by the time he or she reaches kindergarten. That’s an alarming statistic. Even more astounding is the fact that, those populations in a low socioeconomic class, whose mothers have minimal education, and who consume a high-
sugar diet are 32 times more likely to contract the ECC disease.

• One reason why this study is so unique is because it focused on infants before
  their teeth erupted, whereas most studies on ECC focus on kindergarten- and preschool-age children. What most parents don’t realize is the fact that once kids reach these ages, many already have cavities.
• They also concluded that the “window of infectivity” occurs at a much younger age than originally suspected, which means babies younger than 19 to 33 months of age are susceptible to ECC.

How to care for your child’s oral care

Now that you know some important statistics and facts about ECC (childhood cavities), you might be wondering how to prevent cavities from forming. Well, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, it is recommended to:

• Minimize snacks and drinks that have a high level of sugar content and fermentable sugars
• If your baby does not have teeth yet, wipe his or her gums

These child oral care tips help to prevent future cavities for your son or daughter.

Find out more about your child’s oral hygiene habits

Here at The Houston Dentists, we do not want you and your family to be part of the alarming statistics aforementioned. Dr. Frazar and Dr. Hedge care about their patients, first and foremost, and they love creating healthy, beautiful smiles on a daily basis.

Commonly misdiagnosed condition

Do you know that mouth breathing can be very dangerous to your dental health, as well as your overall health?

As a matter of fact, mouth breathing is commonly misdiagnosed by doctors and dentists.

Consequences of being a consistent mouth breather

Breathing through your mouth on a consistent basis can have detrimental consequences, such as:

• Neck aches
• Ear problems
• Head aches
• Crooked teeth
• Collapased bites (bite problems)
• Dizziness
• Vertigo

When you breath through your mouth consistently as a child, you can be more susceptible to experiencing these negative consequnces as you grow older. Therefore, they indicate some signs to be aware of throughout your childhood and adult life.

How does mouth breathing cause all of these symptoms?

The aforementioned consequences transpire because of how the tongue is positioned when a person or a child breathes through his or her mouth. For instance, your tongue is supposed to rest on the roof of your mouth.

However, for a mouth breather, his or her tongue moves down and forward, which means that the tongue will mold the teeth and bone into the wrong position, thus causing teeth and bite problems.

Symptoms of mouth breathers

When you bring your son or daughter to our office for a checkup appointment, we can also evaluate his or her teeth and gums to determine if any of the following mouth breathing symptoms exist:

• Crooked teeth
• The upper and lower jaw do not come together uniformely
• The roof of his or her mouth is very high and V-shaped, as opposed to the normal U-shape
• Enlarged tonsils
• The front teeth will often not meet together
• The upper jaw tends to be small

Furthermore, you may see symptoms and signs on his or her face, such as:

• Underdeveloped bones in the mid face, lower jaw, and chin area
• Discolored, dark circles under his or her eyes
• Multiple ear infections, night grinders, restless sleep, or draining of the eustachian tubes

Take preventive measures against its symptoms

To prevent severe, harmful effects of mouth breathing, it is paramount to get your son or daughter checked by the time he or she turns nine years old.

This is the critical stage to combat further damage. After the age of nine, it tends to be more difficult for the bone to remold itself into the right position.

Come see The Houston Dentists today

If you have a child who consistently breathes through his or her mouth, you can come see our Houston dentists, Dr. Frazar and Dr. Hedge, to discuss this condition, as well as potential treatment options. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive, effective treatment options so that you and your family can enjoy your healthy mouth for many years to come.

Are you curious to see what’s new at The Houston Dentists dental office? If so, come visit us today! You can see, first-hand, the beautiful new office we designed, along with our new, informative, attractive-looking website we implemented, as well.

We made all of these changes with our patient in mind so that we can offer you the best of the best when it comes to dental treatments and patient care.

Gorgeous, dramatic office remodeling!

When you step foot through our front doors, you will see all of the beautiful, dramatic remodeling we just performed throughout our entire office. We strive to surround you with comforting amenities and a beautiful office environment so you can feel at home and at peace when you come in for your dental appointment.

Comfortable, elegant executive dentistry suite for patients!

With our remodeling plans, we kept our patient’s comfort and usability in mind. For instance, we designed a brand new executive dentistry suite so that our patients who are busy professionals can remain productive and focused when they come in for dental appointments.

Come see us today! 

So if you want to discover all of the brilliant, beautiful changes we made, we invite you to come to the office, and to browse our brand new dental website!

We look forward to seeing you!

No matter which situation you find yourself in, reading some of the top reasons not to pierce your tongue will benefit you or a loved one!

Top reasons NOT to pierce your tongue

1. The need for gum surgery- Several patients have to seek additional dental help from a periodontist in order to fix the extensive damage done to his or her gums caused by a tongue barbell piercing.
2. Can cause teeth to chip or break- Wearing a barbell tongue piercing can cause your teeth to chip or break. When this happens, you will have to get it fixed with a filling or a dental crown until the problem stops.
3. The barbell can go down the wrong way- If the barbell ever comes unscrewed, there’s a chance you might swallow it; thereby heightening the chance of it getting lodged in your throat or lungs, or even causing internal tears to your intestines.
4. Long-lasting nerve pain- There is evidence that tongue piercing can cause severe, long-lasting pain and discomfort. Is a pierced tongue really worth excruciating, long-lasting pain?
5. Chance of contracting HIV or hepatitis- If you do not choose a piercing clinic that uses fully sterilized instruments, there’s no doubt that you are increasing your chances of contracting HIV or hepatitis.
6. Chance of infection and/or death- Since your mouth is moist, it is often a breeding ground for bacteria. When you have your tongue pierced, you are increasing your chances of contracting an infection that can sometimes lead to death. Actually, your tongue consists of several blood vessels that can easily spread these deadly infections to your brain and other parts of your body.
7. Potential to lose a significant amount of blood- During the process of getting your tongue pierced, there is a significant chance of rupturing the blood vessels located in your tongue. If this happens, it can cause significant blood loss, and you’d have to have the vessel closed surgically at the hospital. Furthermore, there is a chance that the person piercing your tongue can hit a nerve, producing extensive damage.

To pierce or not to pierce

As you can see, there are several dangers associated with getting your tongue pierced. As a teenager, you might be thinking that it will make you more cool, or you want to annoy your parents because you know they’ll hate it, or you want to get your tongue pierced because everyone else is.

Hopefully all of those reasons will fall by the wayside after reading this article!

If you are thinking about piercing your lip instead of your tongue, this can also increase your chances of needing gum surgery, and carries several other risks as mentioned above.

If you still want to decorate your mouth and stand out in the crowd, you can opt for tooth jewelry! That’s the safest route!

Consult with our professional dentists

If you or someone you know has been wondering whether or not to pierce your tongue, hopefully you’ve learned a lot about the reasons to not pierce your tongue! Overall, our Houston cosmetic dentists, Dr. Hedge and Dr. Frazar, want you to be healthy and to make smart decisions regarding your dental care.

If you have any questions about our services or expertise, we encourage you to call us today to schedule your consultation appointment!