Austin Dentistry Blog

If you were not born with a perfect smile and are unhappy with the way your teeth look, then you may have sought out cosmetic dentistry procedures including porcelain veneers. As one of many cosmetic dentistry procedures for Austin patients to consider, porcelain veneers are an option that can fix a variety of flaws including discoloration, chips, cracks, severe stains, gaps, crooked teeth, and other issues with your teeth.

Sometimes porcelain veneers can fail by cracking or popping off of your teeth. This can happen when you grind your teeth at night or from bad chewing habits such as chewing ice or eating hard foods like corn nuts. They can also fail due to a poor bite, improper tooth preparation, or a bonding failure. Therefore, the following steps need to be taken in order to make sure that your veneers are a success:

The first step in the process is to find an Austin dentist who is skilled in the area of porcelain veneers. The right dentist can make all the difference because they will make sure that contamination does not occur during the procedure that can lead to other problems down the road including chronic inflammation. Your dentist should also be able to take a proper impression of your teeth, pour a flawless model, and use the proper bonding techniques when applying your veneers. If the proper impressions are not taken, then your veneers will not fit properly and you could end up looking worst than you did before with bulky looking veneers or even the appearance of bucked teeth. Also, improper bonding can cause your veneers to pop off or fracture.

The second step is to make sure that your dentist uses a good dental lab that has impeccable communication skills with your dentist. The lab is where your new porcelain veneers will be created and the last thing you want are veneers that are the wrong color, length, or shape because there was a mishap in communication.

The third step is to make sure that porcelain veneers are even the right choice for you, especially if you have problems with grinding your teeth at night. If that is the case, than additional steps will be necessary. Your dentist might fit you with a mouthguard to help prevent your veneers from cracking or popping off completely due to nightly grinding habits. Or your dentist might suggest a whole different direction for you that may include either dental implants or porcelain crowns because they are not as fragile as Veneers, and might be a better choice all together.

No matter what your cosmetic dental needs are, Austin Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Matthews is highly trained in the installation of porcelain veneers and he can help you decide if they are the best option for you. His office also offers dental bonding, tooth whitening, crowns, and dental implants. Call today or make an appointment online for a free consultation with Dr. Matthews and his skilled staff. They are here to help you look your best!

If you have dentures, you know that they can make you look older than you really are. Traditional or economy dentures typically make a face look droopy, sunken in, and even more wrinkled than it really is. However, Dan Matthews now offers a new state of the art technology for making dentures, Facelift Dentures at his Austin office. Facelift Dentures can help make you look up to 20 years younger because they fit properly, offer superior facial support, and therefore enhance your appearance giving you a facelift without going under the knife.

Facelift Dentures are the most customized dentures on the market because they are created through the advanced techniques in the field of neuromuscular dentistry. Using advanced dental technology that creates a 3-D image of the mouth, Facelift Dentures are designed to improve the vertical height of the face and allow for your lips to lay properly against your teeth.

Facelift Dentures are more expensive than economy dentures, but they are worth the investment because they are built specifically for you and therefore will fit more comfortably and function properly. With Facelift Dentures, you are able to eat normally again because your dentures fit tightly and stay in place when you chew your food. They are as close as possible to having real teeth! Plus, think of all the money you will save on denture glue and paste.

So if you are tired of always trying to keep your dentures in place with glues and pastes, tired of looking older than you are, and tired of having painful and sore gums from improperly fitting dentures, then Facelift Dentures might be the right choice for you.
Austin Cosmetic dentist Dr. Dan Matthews is now offering Facelift Dentures. Call his Austin dental office today or make an appointment online if you or a loved one are interested in benefiting from this wonderful new technology in dentures!

This past Sunday, millions of Americans turned on their television sets to watch Super Bowl XLVI, and many of us looked with envy upon all of the lucky fans who filled the seats at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Among those fortunate enough to be there in person was Dr. Gerald Maher, the official dentist for the New England Patriots.

Considering that this year’s Super Bowl was only one of four that has even been played in a cold-weather city, Maher stated in an article in the Patriot Ledger that he was not crazy about the location.  He much rather preferred attending Super Bowl’s held in warmer climates.  However, as the Patriot’s on-call dentist, he did not have a choice to sit this game out.

Maher, who practices dentistry in Marshfield, MA, flew out to Indianapolis to be onsite in case of any dental concerns or dental emergencies within the team.  Should he need an actual dental office to perform his work on one of the Patriot’s players, the team dentist of the Indianapolis Colt’s would have allowed him to use his office.  The NFL has a deal that a visiting team’s dentist can use the opposing team dentist’s local office during away games if needed.

Dr. Maher is not only famous for being the official dentist of the Patriots, but he is also known for the invention of a patented custom-fit mouthguard he developed several decades ago called the Maher Mouth Guard.  Every player on the New England Patriots wears one, and other individual NFL players have also been known to wear one.

Mouthguards in general help protect players on the playing field; however, custom-fit mouth guards are not exclusive to Dr. Maher.  If you are an athlete of any sort and live in the Austin area, Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Dan Matthew’s can fit you with a neuromuscular mouth guard in Austin to help protect your teeth, correct a misaligned bite, and even enhance your overall athletic performance.

Because an imbalanced bite can affect your athletic performance, Dr. Matthew’s mouthguard can help realign your bite and help you obtain more strength and speed, a higher level of endurance, more range of motion and agility, a faster recovery time, and improved balance.  Call his Austin dental office today or make an appointment online to find out more about the neuromuscular mouthguard.

Has your spouse or partner complained about your snoring?   Do you sometimes fall asleep easily during the day?  Have you ever awoken in the middle of the night choking and gasping for air?  These are just a few of the signs that you might suffer from sleep apnea.  In the past, the only way to get a diagnosis and sleep apnea treatment in Austin was with an inconvenient, uncomfortable and costly in-lab sleep study, however; a new in-home sleep diagnostic test is now available to the public.

Watermark Medical has recently developed the Apnea Risk Evaluation System, better known as ARES, which allows patients the option of an in-home sleep study. ARES is a comfortable wireless device that fits snugly on your forehead while you sleep at home in your own bed.  It is simple to use with voice alerts that let you know it is on properly, and it can be worn in any sleep position. In most cases, ARES is only needed for one night’s sleep to obtain the data needed for diagnosis. Once that data is collected and reviewed by a trained certified sleep technologist, your doctor can then interpret the data and recommend the proper treatment for your sleep apnea.

One of the best parts of ARES is that it is covered by both Medicare and Medicaid, and also by most major medical plans.   Overall the cost of an ARES test is approximately ten percent lower than the cost of an in-lab sleep study, and because you are in your own bed, the ARES device records a better profile of your breathing throughout the night.

If you are worried that you might suffer from sleep apnea and are interested in an in-home sleep study using ARES, contact Austin Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Dan Matthews and make an appointment today.  He and his trained staff can set you up with the ARES device and get you started on the path to a better night’s rest.

What if there was a machine that could help determine how long you can live? Seems like a long shot, right? Well, there is in fact a machine on the market that can help determine the amount of antioxidants in your system, and researchers have found that the amount of antioxidants maintained within the body are directly proportional to your potential lifespan.

The BioPhotonic Scanner available through the PharmanexMD Antioxidant Scanner Program, which was recently featured on an episode of the popular Dr. Oz television show, is a cutting-edge antioxidant scanner with the technology to measure the level of antioxidants in the body’s tissue through the use of an LED light. It is painless and the results are instant! Just like the entire audience on that day’s episode of the Dr Oz show, you too can know within seconds what your nutritional levels are, and therefore take the proper steps to improve upon them if necessary.

So what exactly are antioxidants? They are simply the nutrients and enzymes (vitamins, minerals, and proteins) that your body needs to function properly and ward off disease. In fact, research indicates that people with a low level of antioxidants have an increased risk of several chronic diseases including: coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, cataracts, and the big one – cancer.

Additionally, due to the link between low levels of antioxidants and periodontal disease, the results of a BioPhotonic Scanner test can help your Austin dentist keep his eye on your oral health and recommend the proper nutrient supplements necessary to restore your health. This is especially important if you are getting dental implants because low levels of antioxidants can indicate a longer healing time.

If you are interested in discovering your antioxidant levels with the BioPhotonic Scanner, contact the office of Austin cosmetic dentist Dr. Dan Matthews to schedule an appointment today. His office of trained staff can help get you back on the right track to higher antioxidant levels and an overall healthier you.

The beginning of the New Year is an exciting time for football fans.  One can’t help but be glued to the television set when the best of the best teams take on each other in the playoffs, and with the playoffs currently in full force, each game is a thrilling must-see for any fanatic.

However, it can also be a disappointing time for fans whose favorite teams have made it this far in season, but then lose a game to another team.  Take for instance the Green Bay Packers.  Due to their recent loss to the New York Giants, they are no longer in the running for the Super Bowl, and the loss bumped the Giants up into a final four spot along with the San Francisco 49ers, the New England Patriots, and the Baltimore Ravens.  One of those four teams will now go on to be the Super Bowl LXVI Champion.

A Packer’s fan who is certain to be disappointed with the recent loss is Jason Wied, the team’s former vice-president of administration and general counsel.  Unfortunately, Wied resigned from his position with the team early this month due to an addiction he developed to an herbal remedy he used to treat his sleep apnea and insomnia.

Wied’s 11-year run with the Packers also included the additional duties of overseeing the team’s administrative operations, community outreach, public relations and security departments.  He entered a treatment center for his addiction back in November of last year, but resigned from the Packers in order to allow time for the changes he needed to make in his life due to his addiction.  He is still a fan and shareholder of the team, and stated that he and his family will continue to cheer on the Packers.

Like Jason Wied, do you also suffer from untreated or mistreated sleep apnea and excessive sleepiness while at work?  Diagnosis of sleep apnea can be done with an overnight sleep study, but once you have your diagnosis, a proven sleep apnea treatment like Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT), available from Dr. Dan Matthews at his Austin dental office can help get you back on track.

Studies in the past have indicated that an estimated 80 percent of men and 90 percent of women with moderate to severe sleep apnea go undiagnosed and that work productivity dropped due to employees with untreated sleep apnea.  Don’t let sleep apnea and improper treatment wreck your life and career.  Seek a diagnosis, and then seek a proper treatment that will work for you. Austin cosmetic dentist Dr. Dan Matthews can set you up with the proper treatment you need.  Call his office today or schedule an appointment online

It’s no secret that Americans spend all sorts of money each year on cosmetic dentistry to achieve the perfect smile.  However, the Japanese have adopted another point of view when it comes to straight teeth.

According to an article in The New York Times, there is a new trend sweeping across Japan where girls with nice straight teeth are seeking out cosmetic dentistry to actually make their teeth look crooked and crowed.  In America, we call this the “snaggletooth” look, but in Japan the trend has been dubbed as Yaeba, which translates to “double teeth.”

The reason given to support this new trend is a desire to obtain a more “imperfect” look.  It is thought that if a girl’s looks are not perfect, then she appears to be a more endearing and approachable, therefore having a greater appeal to Japanese men.

In order to achieve Yaeba teeth, Japanese dentists have developed a way to cosmetically alter the mouth through the use of artificial teeth called Tsuke-yaeba, or stick-on crooked teeth.  They are applied to the natural teeth with non-permanent glue and color-matched to the patient’s real teeth.  They cost approximately $390 American dollars.

There is little known about any long-term consequences or side effects from the stick-on teeth, but one seemingly disgruntled Japanese orthodontist claims that teeth naturally have holes in them in order to breathe, and that covering them is a bad idea.

Looking at this growing foreign trend through the eyes of an American, where straight teeth are desirable, it is possible that Yaeba teeth are just another example of humans not being satisfied with what they were born with and seeking out modern day measures to correct this.  It is also possible that this trend it is just a bazaar way to attract the opposite sex.

From a purely subjective aesthetic viewpoint, Yaeba teeth are a new option in cosmetic dentistry on the same level as asking a dentist to install a gold grill, diamonds, or even vampire fangs in teeth.  All of which have been successfully performed in the past!

As with most fads, Yaeba teeth will probably fade away within the next year or so. There is probably a slim chance it will ever catch on in the United States where the desire for perfect straight teeth is still going strong.  Therefore, if you are looking for trusted, professional, and natural cosmetic dentistry in Austin, Dr. Dan Matthews is your go-to cosmetic dentist.  His Austin dental office offers: tooth whitening, dental bonding, porcelain veneers, smile makeovers, white fillings, dental implants, Invisalign and others.

New Years is often a time when many of us decide to make a fresh start for the betterment of our health and ourselves. We make all kinds of resolutions to eat better, get more exercise and sleep, lose weight, and live a healthier lifestyle.  With the holidays behind us, along with all of the holiday foods that temp us, we head off on the right foot for at least the month of January.  However, most of us tend to fall back into our old ways before spring, and then start all over again the next year with the same resolutions.

With the New Year ahead, the one resolution dentists would love to hear from their patients is the resolution to take better care of their oral health.  What you might not know is that along with diet and exercise, staying healthy also requires keeping up with your mouth’s health because your mouth is actually an indicator to your body’s overall health.

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, studies have shown that there is a direct link to inflammation in your mouth and inflammation in your body. In fact, your oral health could indicate other problems located elsewhere within your body including your brain, heart, pancreas, and if you are a woman, even your reproductive tract.

The state of your oral health can affect, may be affected by, or can even contribute to various other heath issues.  Some of these include: diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, immune disorders, hormone imbalances, Alzheimer’s disease, and Osteoporosis.  Because these issues present themselves in the gums, teeth, and tongue, your dentist can see the early signs of them just by examining your teeth, and once spotted, can direct you to see your primary care provider.

Additional issues your dentist can see include: signs of HIV/AIDS, drug use such as methamphetamine addictions, and eating disorders.  All of which are life threatening if not treated quickly and properly.

Make it your New Year’s resolution to maintain good oral health by brushing twice per day, flossing once per day, and visiting your dentist twice in the year 2012.  If you do not have a dentist, or are just not sure where to go, call or schedule an appointment online with Austin cosmetic dentist Dr. Dan Matthews. He and his highly trained staff can get you back on track to a more healthy lifestyle this year.  Don’t delay! It’s the best thing you can do for your body!

It’s late and you have to get up early for work tomorrow, but there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done.  So you stay up way past your bedtime, and you pay for it the next day. Meanwhile, you try to compensate for your lack of sleep by hitting the coffee pot several times throughout the day.  This is a scenario that is all too familiar for most Americans; however, even going to bed early and getting a recommended seven to eight hours of rest each night (as an adult) is not always going to guarantee that you perform your best the next day if you suffer from sleep apnea.

Take for instance former Oakland Raider rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell.  He was the number one overall pick for the NFL draft in 2007, and seemed to be in the height of his career.  However, as the season progressed, Russell had a hard time staying awake during team meetings.  After being prompted by his quarterback coach to see a doctor about his sleep issues, Russell was finally diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Russell had an incredible college football career at LSU, but his career with the Oakland Raiders has been described as “a disaster” that cost the Raiders 39 million dollars, and prompted a cap on rookie salaries. Russell blames his shortcomings partially on his sleep apnea, but also partially on his teammates and coach, Tom Cable.  Overall, he has spent the past few years trying to stay out of the limelight, but recent reports state that he is trying to play for the Professional Indoor Football League’s Louisiana Swashbucklers.  I guess we will have to wait and see if Russell can redeem his football career.  Hopefully he is undergoing sleep apnea treatment, like those offered by Austin Dentist, Dr, Dan Matthews.

Even though Russell was not staying out all night and going to bed at a decent hour, with sleep apnea, the concern leans more upon the quality of sleep you get and not the quantity.  A lack of quality rest due to sleep apnea can lead to various symptoms including sleeplessness, lack of concentration, depression, irritability, memory and learning difficulties, and falling asleep while at work, on the phone, or even while behind the wheel. 

Overall, asleep apnea happens when the muscles in the throat relax, and with the help of gravity, causes the tongue to fall back and block your airways.  This blockage then temporally suspends your breathing throughout the night causing a depletion of oxygen in the entire body.  This is very dangerous because without oxygen, the cells in our bodies cannot regenerate, and will eventually degrade, leading to all sorts of other problems, including falling asleep at work the next day.

Studies performed at the Center of Snoring and CPAP found that 90 percent of people who snore also suffered from sleep apnea.  So if you are falling asleep at work, like Russell was, or have been told that you snore, it would be in your best interest to get checked out for sleep apnea and seek treatment.  Dr. Dan Matthews, a cosmetic dentist in Austin, can set you up with the proper sleep apnea treatment you need for your pre-diagnosed sleep apnea disorder.  Call his office today, or schedule an appointment online.