The Miracle of a Smile

Sarah's smile and Katie's smile

Dr. Tim Gardner and Dr. Jacob Burch have been so incredibly touched by the smiles of their daughters that they have decided to give the same joy to someone in need.

This year will mark the 2nd annual Sarah’s smile and Katie’s smile donation, which is named after the doctors’ daughters. Each doctor will choose one patient to do an Extreme Smile Makeover on at no charge.

Dr. Gardner, Dr. Burch and team are currently searching for residents of Montgomery County who are financially less fortunate and in need of dental services. The doctors would like to have residents nominate upstanding members of the community to receive an Extreme Smile Makeover.

If you know someone who is deserving of this gift please let us know by following the submission instructions below.

ONLY submissions recieved via e-mail will be considered. Submissions should be submitted to smilenominations@gmail.com.

Please include the following information in your e-mail:

Nominee's name, phone number, e-mail address and date of birth

Nominator's name, phone number and e-mail address

Dental concerns

A video or essay detailing the nominee's story and why he/she is deserving


The application deadline is June 15, 2013. The recipients will be contacted by July, 1. 2013.

Inquires only accepted via e-mail to smilenominations@gmail.com.

3 Reasons to Visit us Sooner, Rather than Later

Most of us think that taking care of our teeth is about having a great smile and avoiding the discomfort of a toothache. Having a great smile and avoiding toothaches are valid and important reasons for maintaining a good oral health program, there are three other equally strong reasons to consider.

First, dental health is part of your overall health. Second, choosing good dental care is a wise investment of your time and financial resources.

Finally, your emotional well-being is influenced by how you think and feel about yourself. Your smile is a big part of your self image. Let's examine each of these areas more thoroughly.

Good Physical Health Equals Good Dental Health

It is easy to forget that your teeth, gums, and mouth are essential parts of your physical body. Periodontal disease, bone and gum loss, and infections all affect the overall picture of your physical health. The ability to chew your food well helps digestion and reduces stress on the gastrointestinal system.

Like any physical system, each part of the body plays a role in the overall health of the system; taking care of your teeth and gums is a part of an intentional plan for physical health. In collaboration with your dentistry team, you can create a dental plan that will contribute to your overall health plan.

A Good Dental Plan is a Wise Investment

There are two important resources that you use and allocate in your everyday life: your time and your money. When it comes to your dental care, they are closely related.

The time you take everyday to invest in your dental health is also an investment in your financial health. When treatment is necessary, dentistry is also an investment in your financial future. Proper treatment today prevents more costly complications and uncomfortable problems tomorrow.

For those who seek to maintain their dental health for life, it is a wise investment to get the most value from the knowledge and skills your dentist and good dental care offers you.

Good Dental Health Equals Emotional Well-Being

How you feel and think about yourself is an important part of your emotional well-being, and a pleasant smile plays a big role in this. In addition, when you take an active role in caring for yourself, it also contributes to your overall sense of competence in managing your life and maintaining a positive lifestyle. The habit of good dental care and regular hygiene examinations reinforces taking positive steps for yourself in other areas of your life.

Smile because good dental care can provide you with innovative and effective ways to create and maintain a pleasant smile that you feel good about. When it comes to feeling good about yourself and your smile, dentistry offers many exciting and effective options.

 

For more information on how Dr. Gardner and Dr. Burch can help in multiple areas of your life visit us at www.conroesmilemakeover.com 

Even when tiny...tooth cracks need attention

Every tooth fracture needs prompt treatment. No chip or crack is insignificant.

Unfortunately, some cracks are too small to be seen, even by a trained eye. Sometimes the culprit is a hairline crack in what looks like a healthy tooth. You may not be aware of the damage until pain fills your mouth. You may not even be sure which tooth is causing you trouble.

Chips and cracks cannot be safely ignored. Untreated, tooth fractures grow larger and longer, inviting bacteria and tooth decay. Cracks in teeth also darken and age your smile. Taking that "stitch in time" before your mouth unravels will save you pain, time and expense.

Most cracks are superficial, involving only part of the crown, maybe a bit of the root structure. With fast and effective direct bonding, we can stop a small fracture from growing ugly.

What's more, 90 percent of all cracks need nothing more than an uncomplicated treatment like tooth-colored fillings, porcelain laminated veneers, or crowns. Don't put it off until that little crack becomes one of the ten percent that need serious measures. If you chip or crack a tooth, call us today for an appointment.

Taking that "stitch in time" before your mouth unravels will save you pain, time and expense.

If you have questions or concerns regarding cracked teeth, please don't hesitate to call us at 936-539-3636 or email us at drtimgardner@consolidated.net today.

If you have any friends or family members who you feel could use our services, please don't hesitate to have them call us. We'll be sure to take good care of them.

The Scoop on Baby Teeth

Have you wondered whether your child is normal in eruption or losing of baby teeth? The following will give a good guide on what's normal and expected during a child's younger years.

The chart below shows when a child's primary teeth (also called baby teeth or deciduous teeth) should erupt and shed. Eruption times vary from child to child.

TThe first teeth begin to break through the gums at about 6 months of age. Usually, the first two teeth to erupt are the two  two bottom front teeth.

 

Next, the top four front teeth emerge. After that, other teeth slowly begin to fill in, usually in pairs -- one each side of the upper or lower jaw -- until all 20 teeth (10 in the upper jaw and 10 in the lower jaw) have come in by the time the child is 2 ½ to 3 years old.

Primary Teeth Development Chart
Upper Teeth	When tooth emerges	When tooth falls out
Central incisor	8 to 12 months	6 to 7 years
Lateral incisor	9 to 13 months	7 to 8 years
Canine (cuspid)	16 to 22 months	10 to 12 years
First molar	13 to 19 months	9 to 11 years
Second molar	25 to 33 months	10 to 12 years
Lower Teeth
Second molar	23 to 31 months	10 to 12 years
First molar	14 to 18 months	9 to 11 years
Canine (cuspid)	17 to 23 months	9 to 12 years
Lateral incisor	10 to 16 months	7 to 8 years
Central incisor	6 to 10 months	6 to 7 years

Other primary tooth eruption facts:

• A general rule of thumb is that for every 6 months of life, approximately 4 teeth will erupt.
• Girls generally precede boys in tooth eruption.
• Lower teeth usually erupt before upper teeth.
• Teeth in both jaws usually erupt in pairs -- one on the right and one on the left.
• Primary teeth are smaller in size and whiter in color than the permanent teeth that will follow.
• By the time a child is 2 to 3 years of age, all primary teeth should have erupted.

Shortly after age 4, the jaw and facial bones of the child begin to grow, creating spaces between the primary teeth. This is a perfectly natural growth process that provides the necessary space for the larger permanent teeth to emerge. Between the ages of 6 and 12, a mixture of both primary teeth and permanent teeth reside in the mouth.

Why Is it Important to Care for Baby Teeth?

While it's true that baby teeth are only in the mouth a short period of time, they play a vital role. Baby teeth:

• Reserve space for their permanent counterparts
• Give the face its normal appearance.
• Aid in the development of clear speech.
• Help attain good nutrition (missing or decayed teeth make it difficult to chew, causing children to reject foods)
• Help give a healthy start to the permanent teeth (decay and infection in baby teeth can cause damage to the permanent teeth developing beneath them)