Reality Bites Dental | 210.399.5951

| GENERAL DENTISTRY

A visit to the dentist’s office isn’t just about checking for cavities anymore.
There have been incredible advancements in dental treatment options and our team is dedicated to your dental health. We are committed to offering the best dental care possible for your entire family, in a compassionate, relaxed atmosphere.
Our team is committed to the highest standards of dental care and to ensuring that every patient leaves our office with a bright and healthy smile. We pride ourselves in offering a variety of dental care services that you need on a regular basis and we are able to provide you with excellent dental care whether it is an emergency or a routine appointment.

Comprehensive Exams
We like to catch things early! In order to maintain the best oral health possible, regular, comprehensive dental exams are a necessity. The American Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist at least twice a year. Regular exams are vital to assess possible problems such as gum disease, oral cancer, cavity development, and replacing worn out dental work such as metal fillings and discolored crowns. Catching problems early on will prevent bigger problems from developing down the line, which will end up saving you time and money.

Regular Cleanings
Did you know that the amount of plaque in your mouth actually doubles every month? That means that if you are even one month late for your cleaning, there will be twice as much plaque!
Reasons to get regular professional cleanings

Prevent gum disease and tooth loss
Maintain good physical health

Eliminate bad breath
Have a brighter, whiter smile

Good home care habits must be supplemented with dental cleaning at least every six months. Our team provides gentle hygiene exams and cleanings to specifically detect, deter, and prevent gum disease. Your oral health and understanding is always our chief concern when discussing treatment recommendations.

Pediatric Dentistry
Kids need to see the dentist too! Our team more than welcomes our child patients over the age of 6. Family owned and operated, our caring staff understands the special concerns both parents and children have when it comes to going to the dentist.

LET OUR FAMILY TREAT YOUR FAMILY AND KEEP EVERYONE'S MOUTH HEALTHY.

Periodontal Treatment
Plaque is your mouth’s greatest enemy. It’s made of millions of bacteria that colonize your mouth every 24 hours. The plaque bacteria release acid which not only decays teeth, but also irritates the gums. Failure to regularly remove it can ultimately lead to gum disease. As the plaque and bacteria remain on the teeth above and below the gumline, it calcifies into calculus. Calculus acts like barnacle on a ship... It must be scraped off regularly by a professional. If it’s not removed, it slowly begins to destroy the gum tissue and deepen the gum pockets around your teeth. Deeper pockets make it more difficult to clean. Left untreated, the bone that supports the teeth is also damaged.

If the disease is caught in the early stages of gingivitis, and no damage has been done, one to two regular cleanings will be recommended. You will also be given instructions on improving your daily oral hygiene habits and having regular dental cleanings.
If the disease has progressed to more advanced stages, a special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) will be recommended. Tartar, plaque, and toxins are removed from above and below the gum line (scaling) and rough spots on root surfaces are made smooth (planing). This helps the gums heal and the pockets to shrink. Medications, special medicated mouth rinses, and an electric tooth brush may be recommended to help control infection and healing.
If the pockets do not heal after scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery may be needed to reduce pocket depths and make the teeth easier to clean. If this does become the case, we will work diligently.

Root Canal
Each tooth has tissue containing nerve fibers that run through the center of the root of your tooth, which are called “root canals.” When this tissue dies as a result of a deep cavity, infection or trauma, root canal therapy is needed. Without treatment, pain gradually worsens and the tooth can abscess and cause swelling. Root canal therapy is used to remove the dead tissue from the tooth. After numbing the area, the tooth is isolated, dead tissue removed, the tooth is sterilized and a filling material is placed inside of it. The tooth is then built back up and prepared for a crown.

Root canals are among the greatest patient fears. There is plenty of stigma and history behind the apprehension, but thanks to advances in dental technology, our team is able to provide you the care you deserve. Your comfort and health will always be the goal of treatment.

REFERRAL ASSISTANCE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION REGARDING THE BEST TREATMENT FOR YOU AND YOUR TOOTH.

Extractions
Despite our best efforts to save a tooth, sometimes pulling out the tooth is the only alternative.
Extractions may indicated due to

Trauma
Substantial decay
Gum Disease

Badly cracked or broken teeth
Failing dental health

Teeth live in harmony with one another to function. Losing a tooth does have repercussions long term which will be discussed with you before treatment. With today’s advances in dentistry, however, there are multiple options to replace missing teeth to prevent future health problems.

Implants
Dental implants are the new standard to restore missing teeth using a technique that anchors an “implant” to your bone. A tooth-like prosthetic is then attached to the implant. The result is a highly effective replacement for missing teeth that can restore your smile and provide a more natural feeling when you are biting or chewing. All implants are performed in our office.

Bridges
A dental bridge is a non-removable appliance used in certain circumstances to replace missing teeth. There are many different bridge types, but the “traditional bridge” is the most popular. Made of porcelain fused to metal, the bridge consists of two crowns that fit over the two anchoring teeth (abutments) adjacent to the tooth to be replaced. An artificial tooth (pontic) is attached between the two crowns to “bridge” the space and fill the gap created by the missing tooth.

Reasons for a fixed bridge:

Fill space of missing teeth.
Maintain facial shape.
Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.

Restore chewing and speaking ability.
Restore your smile.
Upgrade from a removable partial denture to a permanent dental appliance.

Dental bridges are highly durable, however they may need replacement or need to be re-cemented due to normal wear. The process involved in making a bridge is very similar to single tooth crowns, but involves more time and planning according to the number of teeth involved. As always, your comfort and expectations are the highest priority when considering this treatment option.

Full Dentures and Partial Dentures
A denture is a removable dental appliance replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and may even enhance your smile.
The process does take a series of appointments of which you will be involved in certain decision making. Our goal again is to meet and exceed your expectations keeping your oral health and confidence in mind.

Botox
We are proud to announce that we now offer Trigger Point Therapy (Botox®) for TMD/TMJ.
Botox® injections take 10-20 minutes to administer, depending on what amount is required. This non-surgical procedure will not cause impairment, and there is no need for a designated driver.

Botox may help treat the following TMJ disorder symptoms: