Bridges

Missing teeth wreak havoc on your mouth over time.  Gaps in the teeth can cause problems with eating and speech, and when a tooth is missing long enough the jaw bone is vulnerable and the structure becomes compromised. At Greenville Family Dentistry, we install permanent bridges that replace missing teeth and still look natural.

Permanent bridges use healthy teeth on either side of a missing tooth to anchor a replacement in the appropriate location.  The replacement tooth is held in place by caps on the teeth on either side.  This can typically be accomplished in two visits.  First, an impression of the area is taken so that a dental laboratory can create a bridge that will fit perfectly.  While your new bridge is being fabricated, we can provide a temporary bridge for you to wear.  On your second visit, the bridge will be cemented into place.  With proper care bridges can last a lifetime, but can be replaced if needed.

To learn more about bridges and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

What Is Bone Grafting?

A bone graft might sound like a more intense procedure than a typical dental appointment, but bone grafting has become a routine procedure to help bodies heal.  The bone graft dentists perform is to the jaw bone in order to strengthen the future site of an implant. Dr. Christopher Emuedue can advise when this procedure is necessary. Bone grafting consists of harvesting bone material from a healthy part of a patient’s body, and transferring it to a site that needs reinforcement. This gives the injured or deficient bone a replacement and encourages growth of new material around the site. There are synthetic options for bone grafts, but a dental graft is usually obtained from a different spot in the patient’s own mouth.

When a patient needs a dental implant to replace a lost or damaged tooth, their jaw bone needs to be strong enough to receive the implant. A jaw bone can weaken over time if tooth loss or gum disease has left a certain portion of the jaw vulnerable, and this is when a dentist would perform a bone graft.  The healing process can often take several months, and your jaw is monitored by your dentist until it heals enough to handle the placement of an implant.

Dr. Christopher Emuedue operates Greenville Family Dentistry at 7215 I-30, Suite B, Greenville, Texas, 75402. To schedule an appointment, call 903-455-6701 or visit GreenvilleFamilyDentistryTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

Is the Dental Implant Procedure Painful?

If you are receiving dental implants in the near future, Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry doesn’t want you to be frightened, he wants you to be informed on what to expect. Pain is a common concern among individuals who are considering dental implants and we want you to know that while some discomfort is expected, it shouldn’t be your primary concern.

As with any major dental procedure, or surgery in general, some discomfort is to be expected during the recovery process since it is a surgery that typically involves removing teeth, cutting gums, drilling into the jawbone and inserting a titanium post. The procedure itself is not painful since it is performed with either general or local anesthesia to completely numb your mouth. If you’re anxious about the discomfort during the procedure and being aware of drilling noises and forces being applied to your mouth, please ask us about our sedation options.

If you have further questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Types of Dental Implants

A dental implant is actually a replacement for the root or roots of a tooth. Like tooth roots, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and are not visible once surgically placed. They are used to secure crowns, bridgework or dentures by a variety of means. Dental implants are permanent and look and feel like real teeth. There are two different types of dental implants: endosteal and subperiosteal. At Greenville Family Dentistry, Dr. Christopher Emuedue can perform the entire implant process over a course of two months.

Endosteal (in the bone) is the most commonly used type of implant. The various types include screws, cylinders or blades, surgically placed into the jawbone. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures. Subperiosteal (on the bone) implants are placed on top of the jawbone under the gum tissue. However, subperiosteal implants are no longer in use today because of their poor long-term results in comparison to endosteal implants.  

If you're experiencing discomfort in a tooth, don't ignore it; schedule a consultation to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about dental implants, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701. 

Rotary Endodontics

If you’ve had a root canal performed to save an infected tooth, it probably didn’t occur to you to ask what type of tools your dentist was using. However, if your dentist used the old, manual method of removing infection, the procedure may have been nerve racking. That’s why our team here at Greenville Family Dentistry uses rotary endodontics technology for root canals.

 

Proving a smoother, more comfortable experience during root canals, rotary endodontics technology allows Dr. Emuedue to remove the infected pulp in the inner root canal more quickly, more smoothly and with less chance of complications. Rotary endodontics utilizes electric instruments, rather than the traditional, stainless steel files. The electric hand tool is made of nickel titanium and is much more flexible than stainless steel, which means that it can be inserted into the curved root canal without damaging the passageway.

 

We prefer to use rotary endodontics at our practice because it is smoother, more consistent and quicker than the traditional method. In addition, the tools are much quieter, without the grinding noise that other tools produce, which will help to put you at ease during the procedure. This is why both our patients and we prefer this technology. While the manual method works adequately at saving teeth during root canals, rotary endodontics tools are much less scary and easier to use.

Veneers

If there are aspects of your teeth that you’re unhappy with, you don’t have to live with them. Veneers are an effective method for reshaping and redesigning your entire smile in Greenville, TX. Whether your teeth have gaps, persistent stains, cracks, chips or other issues, these thin, ceramic or porcelain shells can cover the existing tooth structure in your mouth to give you a smile you will be proud to show off.

 

Having veneers placed usually only takes two to three visits to our office. During the first visit, you will be able to discuss the shape and look of the smile you want to accomplish with Dr. Christopher Emuedue, and then he will prepare your teeth. Once the enamel has been prepared, an impression will be taken of your mouth so that the veneers can be designed and fabricated to fit over your existing teeth.

 

Your second visit will be after your veneers have been completed, a process that can take up to two weeks. The veneers will then be bonded to your teeth to create an attractive smile that both looks good and feels natural. With proper home care and regular cleanings at Greenville Family Dentistry you can enjoy your new smile for 5 to 10 years, after which they should be replaced.

To schedule an appointment, call (903) 455-6701. For more information, visitwww.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com.

Periodontal Treatment

Caring for your teeth is an essential part of maintaining good oral health, but your gums also play an important role in your health, and proper care is crucial. Gum disease can be a serious detriment to your oral and health and overall wellness, and Dr. Christopher Emuedue provides the regular periodontal care checkups you need to maintain peak health and prevent gum disease at Greenville Family Dentistry.

 

With periodontal disease responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis. Periodontis can destroy your gum tissue and lead to tooth loss. Periodontis can even result in a loss of bone mass in your jaw bone, and hearth disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

 

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, so come to our office for periodontal cleanings and treatment. We will make sure your gums are well cared for. Call 903-455-6700 to schedule an appointment. For more information about our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. 

Dental Implants

Dental Implants

At Greenville Family Dentistry we can help you achieve an attractive and complete smile with dental implants. Whether you’re already missing teeth due to decay, disease or injury or are in need of an extraction, dental implants are a long-lasting solution for filling the gaps in your smile.  

 

The implant process takes between three to six months to complete and starts with the installation of a titanium screw in your jaw bone, which will serve as your replacement tooth root. It will be placed in your jaw through an incision in your gums where the replacement tooth will be. Then the gums are sutured, and the jaw bone is left to heal around the implant for three to six months. This healing process is called osseointegration, and during this time, you will receive a temporary crown so that you may eat, speak and smile normally.

 

Once your implant has healed, Dr. Christopher Emuedue will install the abutment on top of the implant. This will serve as the foundation for your permanent crown, which is custom made for your smile. Once the crown is fixed in place, you will be able to enjoy a smile that both looks and feels natural.

 

If you are currently considering options for replacing teeth in your smile, schedule an appointment with our office in Greenville, TX by calling 903-455-6701. For more information on the practice, visitwww.GreenvilleFamilyDentistryTX.com. 

Preventative Dentistry

Have you ever heard the adage “Prevention is the best medicine.”? The same can be said when it comes to your oral health, as preventative dentistry is the most sensible, efficient and cost effective means of avoiding serious and expensive periodontal health problems.  Here at Greenville Family Dentistry, we’d much rather see you for preventative dental care-- including regular exams, cleanings and health screenings-- than we would for a complex and invasive procedure to correct a problem that could have been avoided.

While routine dental care is an essential part of preventative dentistry, your at-home oral care practices play a major role in prevention of gum disease, infection and other issues. At our practice, we work with you to help you take the right steps towards excellent oral health and proper preventative dental care.

For more information on the preventative dentistry services we provide here at Greenville Family Dentistry, please view our new website and contact us directly.

Night Guards

Night guards are one of those simple solutions that go a long way when it comes to protecting your teeth and avoiding the uncomfortable effects of bruxism.  We provide custom night guards to many of our patients here at Greenville Family Dentistry.  For those of you who experience headaches and migraines, TMJ, jaw pain, teeth clenching and grinding, a night guard can help minimize these issues and prevent bigger problems, including tooth chipping and cracking, enamel damage and jaw misalignment.

Night guards work by absorbing the force and stress that’s often exerted by the jaw muscles and results in unconscious teeth grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism. Night guards are comfortable and discreet, and for many patients, highly effective in preventing headaches, jaw discomfort and tooth damage that often occurs if bruxism is left untreated.

If you think you may be affected by bruxism, if you regularly experience headaches and migraines, or if you notice any indications that you’re grinding your teeth at night or during the day, contact us here at Greenville Family Dentistry to determine if a custom night guard can work for you.

Wisdom Teeth

Did you know that it’s possible to be born without wisdom teeth? While certainly possible, it is rather rare; so for the rest of us, we often need our wisdom teeth to be removed.  If you aren’t experiencing pain from your wisdom teeth or they appear to be emerging without issue you may wonder if it’s worthwhile to undergo a procedure to remove them, but in most cases, it’s sensible and necessary as a preventative measure.

When wisdom teeth are not addressed and removed if necessary, they can create a number of issues.  They may erupt crooked or only partially. They may become impacted and affect the gum, jaw bone and surrounding teeth.  They may continue to cause pain and tooth sensitivity.  They may even create conditions in which cyst and tumors can easily develop.

Since the procedure for removing wisdom teeth is typically straightforward and involves minimal and manageable discomfort, it’s a case of being better safe than sorry. If you are in need of wisdom tooth removal or an exam to address any erupted wisdom teeth, we invite you to visit us here at Greenville Family Dentistry. You can learn more about wisdom teeth and their removal right on our website. 

Pediatric Dentistry

Giving a young smile a good start is so important. Here at Greenville Family Dentistry, our pediatric patients are given crucial dental care, as well as the education and tools they need to help them care for their own oral health.  We work hard to make kids comfortable and enthused when visiting us for checkups, cleanings and all pediatric dental procedures.

The pediatric dentistry services we provide are meant to help kids defend against tooth decay, which can be especially prominent among toddlers and school aged kids.  We also provide comprehensive pediatric dentistry evaluations to address any issues that are easier to take care of as a child’s smile develops. 

To learn more about our pediatric dentistry services here at Greenville Family Dentistry and to arrange an appointment for your child, please contact us directly.