Our Docs know what's up!

Dr. Timothy Gardner has earned the designation of Fellow

from LVI Global (LVI).

To be considered an LVI Fellow a doctor must participate in the LVI CORE curriculum, which includes a minimum of 278 continuing education hours of training in advanced aesthetics and neuromuscular sciences. They must also successfully complete the comprehensive examination to reflect an understanding of the clinical skills and principles taught in this series.

Only 271 dentists nationwide have earned LVI’s prestigious title of Fellow, one of which being Dr. Tim Gardner.

This accomplishment means a lot for our patients. Dr. Gardner is trained on not only recognizing, but treating chronic headaches, neck and shoulder pain, jaw pain, TMJ problems, etc. Resolving such issues help patients live a better, longer, more meaning full life free from chronic pain.

Dr. Gardner has set himself apart by choosing the path of lifelong learning and undergoing elective, continuous training at LVI. He has exemplified a desire to maintain the best clinical ability in order to offer a high level of aesthetic neuromuscular dentistry. This dedication distinguishes Dr. Gardner by proving his dedication to quality of care and a desire to master complex procedures in order to provide the best comprehensive care for his dental patients.

For more information on Dr. Gardner's accomplishments please visit www.drtimgardner.com

For more information on how neuromuscular dentistry can change your life visit www.lviglobal.com

Is education just what the doc ordered??

This year marks the 3^rd annual Timothy E. Gardner, D.D.S. scholarship award. The $500 scholarship was eligible to graduating seniors attending local high schools who are attending college in the fall of 2012.

Dr. Gardner and Dr. Burch presented the scholarships personally at each high schools’ senior awards nights held on May 21 and 22, 2012 . The winners were Landon Van Alstyne and Ryan Durham, Conroe High school; Jonathan Sanderson, Montgomery High School; Rhea Lobo, The Woodlands High School; and Sara Rene Adamik and Evelyn Gomez, Willis High School.

Each year they present at least 4 scholarships to local area high schools. Our selection is based on academic performance, extra curricular activity and willingness to serve others. We are pleased to see that rising generation gives them hope for the future.

Applicants were required to fill out a scholarship form which included their GPA, class rank, extracurricular activities, volunteer hours, etc., as well as two short answer essay questions.

We are also desiring to give a full tuition scholarship, for any state school in Texas, to a student who has lost a parent in military conflict. Fortunately no one found themselves in that circumstance this year, but please let us know if you know of anyone in the future.

Education is something we're very passionate about and we look forward to helping others achieve their educational dreams in the future.

For more information on scholarship opportunities and Dr. Gardner please check out our webstie at www.drtimgardner.com

We gave them something to SMILE about!

Dr. Tim Gardner’s 4^th Annual Dentistry from the Heart event Saturday, May 19, 2012, proved to be a success. More than $24,000 worth of free dentistry was performed on the underprivileged of Montgomery County.

            Volunteers included Dr. Jacob Burch (associate of Dr. Gardner), Dr. Logan Wood, Mandy Hutchins, RDH and all of Dr. Gardner’s hygienists and staff. Lunch was provided by Rancho Grande and other donations were provided by Premier Wedding and Party Rentals and Concrete Contractors Supply of Texas.

            The event proved to be very rewarding for volunteers and patients alike. Registration began at 7:30 and patients were seen on a first come, first served basis. Procedures done free of charge included cleaning, extractions and fillings. Staff and volunteers thank patients for their patience and understanding throughout the day.

Dentistry from the Heart (DFTH) is a national non-profit organization with a simple mission: making people smile. DFTH was created to aid those in need, including the growing population of under-insured Americans.

            For more information please visit www.drtimgardner.com

A Clear Alternative to Braces

We’re proud to offer the Invisalign...
The Clear Alternative to Braces

What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a virtually invisible solution, so you can smile confidently both during and after treatment. Using a series of clear, removable aligners, Invisalign gradually moves your teeth toward the smile you’ve always wanted. And, almost no one will know you’re wearing them unless you tell them.

Invisalign is comfortable to wear and easy to live with. You visit our office ever month or two to check your progression and get new aligners. Average treatment time is about a year. Because aligners are removable, you can continue to eat your favorite foods. And you can brush and floss normally to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Invisalign is able to treat a wide range of cases, ranging from crowding, spacing, overbites and underbites.

If you’re not convinced keep in mind the hygienic benefits of straighter teeth:
-Healthier Gums. Properly aligned teeth can help gums fit more tightly around them, which may lead to better periodontal health.
-Easier cleanings. With maintenance of good oral hygiene, the chances of having plaque retention, tooth decay or gum disease can be reduced.
- Decreased risk of abnormal wear. Properly aligned teeth can be less stressful on the supporting bone jaw joints.

If Invisalign sounds like something that you’d like to try, give us a call at 936-539-3636 or request an appointment online at www.conroesmilemakeover.com.

We’d love to get you in for a complimentary consultation to see how Invisalign can help you!

Education...just what the Dr ordered!!

We're proud to announce that we're accepting applications for our 4th Annual Timothy E. Gardner, DDS Scholarship Award.

The $500 scholarship is eligible to graduating high school seniors attending Conroe, Willis, Montgomery and The Woodlands High Schools, who are attending college in the fall of 2013. One senior from each school will receive the award at their high school's senior awards night.

Participants are required to fill out an application which includes their grade point average, class rank, extracurricular activities, volunteers hours, as well as two short answer questions.

If interested students are asked to contact their school guidance counselor or e-mail us at drtimgardner@consolidated.net. All applications should be turned in through the applicant's high school.

We hope to be writing YOU a check soon!

For more information on our practice check us out online at www.drtimgardner.com

Don't get the wrong Impression

If you hate going to the dentist because of the goop and goo we put in your mouth to make the perfect crown you're going to absolutely love this (and hopefully us!)

We're proud to announce a new, wonderful addition to our office. No, not someone who can take magical impressions; we're talking about DIGITAL impressions! Your eyes haven't fooled you, it's the truth. No more gagging and uncomfortable trays; we've found the perfect solution for YOU!

With our new iTero machine, we're able to take "impressions" with a portable computer with a camera attached. We simply take pictures of the necessary teeth, send the images off to a lab and the pictures are turned into models.


The digital impressions are more accurate than the traditional impressions and much less of a hassle for our awesome patients.

What's not to love? If this sounds like something that would make your life easier, please give us a call. We'd love to see you soon! 936-539-3636

As always, for more information on the services we're proud to offer visit our website at www.drtimgardner.com.

For more information on the iTero machine and how it can benefit you please visit http://www.cadentinc.com/itero/itero.php?section=patient

Could you be our next team member??

We're looking to add a couple people to our team. Please see details below and follow the application instructions. Please DO NOT call our office regarding employment opportunities.

Dental Assistant

Experience in the dental field and with four handed dentistry is required. We’re looking for someone who is accountable, responsible, energetic, eager to learn, a team player, has excellent communication skills and an overall positive attitude. A person in this position must be able to set up rooms, greet and seat patients, assist the doctor in a variety of procedures, check out patients, set up recare/follow-up appointments and break down and sterilize rooms quickly and efficiently.

If this sounds like something you could excel at please call 888-612-2392 for more details. (You will not be speaking to a live person.)

Front Desk

We’re looking for someone who is accountable, responsible, energetic, eager to learn, a team player, has excellent communication skills and an overall positive attitude. A person in this position must be able to multitask, welcome and check out patients, stay organized, follow through on tasks and learn quickly.

If this sounds like something you could excel at please call 888-612-2392 for more details. (You will not be speaking to a live person.)

As always check out our website to learn more about us www.drtimgardner.com

The Hidden Danger of Snoring and Sleep Apnea

The more we learn the more we've realized that our greatest desire is to help the children of our practice. Children should not snore! If your child is snoring please bring him/her in for an evaluation. The sooner the better.

If a young child habitually mouth-breathes or exhibits any of these indications, it is especially important to have them evaluated as these conditions have a significant negative impact on development and form of oral, as well as facial, structures. It is also interesting to note that studies have shown that sleep disordered breathing is common among children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

If you are an adult and experiencing any of the following symptoms please give our office a call to schedule and evaluation:

-Snoring
-Fatigue
-Waking up tired
-Weight Gain
-Dry mouth/throat
-Sleepiness
-Difficulty concentrating
-Irritability

We know how debilitating sleep apnea can be; from chronic fatigue to heart attacks and strokes. In adults all we can do is manage the disease, but in children we can practically cure it by allowing the airway and mouth to develop correctly.


What is sleep apnea?
Apnea means to stop breathing. Sleep apnea refers to a condition wherein you stop breathing during sleep. Most of us know someone who snores during sleep. You may also know someone who has commented that their partner has stopped breathing during sleep for seemingly long periods-long enough to be frightening. While snoring is often made the subject of jokes or teasing, it could be an indication of a serious health problem. The severity and danger associated with sleep apnea range from snoring that irritates your partner to life-threatening medial conditions.

What are some options for treating sleep apnea?
In some cases, surgery to remove obstructions or to stiffen the flabby throat tissue may be recommended for treatment. For cases of severe sleep apnea, a CPAP is often the first choice for treatment. This means wearing a mask while sleeping that is connected to a small device that maintains a positive air pressure, pushing air into your lungs. However, although painless and effective, some patients and their partners do not tolerate sleeping with the CPAP machine very well. In those cases, and in many moderate cases, oral appliances, which are available in our office, are often a good choice.

What is the our role in treatment?
Dr. Gardner can make custom fitted oral appliances that are worn over the teeth at night to prevent the jaw from falling back during sleep, keeping the airway open. There are many designs of such appliances, and we'll help find the best one for your situation.

If you or someone you know exhibits any of the symptoms listed, be sure to bring it to our attention. We can provide further information about this potentially serious condition. You could save a life!

www.drtimgardner.com

Good Oral Hygiene Leads to Great Kisses

You're probably fully aware of the connection between the health your mouth and the quality of your kisses. Still, a little reminder never hurt. Here's the skinny on getting and giving smooches without embarrassment.

1. Kick the smoking habit. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the smoking lecture. Not only do tobacco products taste awful to your partner, but they put you at greater risk for oral cancer and periodontal (gum) disease. Why put so much effort into knocking your sweetheart's socks off if you aren't going to be around to pick them up? If you don't kick the habit for your partner, do it for yourself!

2. Don't chew gum. The best kisses are spur of the moment, so it's best to be prepared for them. Besides, sugary gum can lead to cavities. If you must chew gum choose a sugar-free variety.

3. Brush and floss daily. Nothing leaves an impression like bad breath, but it's not the kind of attention you want. Besides, healthy white teeth will help you build confidence in your smile. Brushing your teeth and gums is a good start, but take it a step further and floss each night. You'll dislodge food particles and remove odor-causing, not to mention tissue- and tooth-destroying, bacteria. If you don't have your toothbrush handy after you eat, at least rinse your mouth out with warm water. There are also a number of handy little dental products available for great breath on the go.

Take good care of your partner by caring for yourself. If you find that your gums are exceptionally tender or swollen, or if you have habitually bad breath please give us a call at 936-539-3636 to schedule an appointment. These could be symptoms of a more serious problem!

For more information on healthy gums and fresh breath check out our website
www.drtimgardner.com

We're Here for YOU!

Most people have probably been in this unfortunate situation: something, whether it be the plumbing, A/C, water, etc., goes haywire right after closing time for the business that can help. It’s simply not a fun or convenient place to be!

We never want our patients, or any other doctors’ patients for that matter, hurting through a weekend or evening. Besides being painful, a toothache can be indicative of an infection. And as you know infections are never good!

To ensure our patients, new and existing alike, are never put in a compromising dental situation we answer our phones 24/7 and happily see emergency patients on weekends and evenings. You can rest assured that our phones will be answered by a team member and not an answering service. We love helping people and take our job as dental professionals very seriously.

Although we never want to meet you or a loved one under emergency circumstances, please keep us in mind should the need arise.

Also remember that regular check-ups can practically eliminate emergency situations. If you're looking to establish a new dentist, look no further. We're always accepting new patients and would love to make you apart of our dental family.

Check us out online at www.drtimgardner.com or call 936-539-3636 for more information.

A new kind of dental appointment....

As dental professionals, we know that not everyone is our biggest fan. We could get down in the dumps about how some dread seeing us, but instead we have decided to do something that makes dental appointments easier for the more apprehensive patients.

What could it be?

IV Sedation!

Dr. Burch is one of the few dentists in the Houston area qualified to IV sedate patients in-office.

Wait, what is IV Sedation?

Unlike hospital sedation, IV sedation allows the patient to be in what some refer to as a “twilight sleep.” Although most patients do not remember much of the procedure and felt as if they were sleeping, the patient is able to respond to commands and control reflexes like breathing and swallowing.

IV sedation is not only a great option for anxious patients, but also for patients who would like to get a lot of work done at once. Being under sedation makes the appointment feel a lot shorter, making it a breeze to do a large amount of dental work in one sitting.

For more information check out www.conroesmilemakeover.com or give us a call at 936-539-3636.

Night time habits...

We try our best to talk with all of our patients about those "crazy little things at night."

What do we mean?
We've found that the majority of decay can be traced back to night time habits.

Think about this:
During the day the average person swallows more than 1,000 times. You can imagine that at this rate whatever a person is eating or drinking is neutralized by saliva pretty quickly.
At night when a person prepares for bed, their body starts preparing for sleep. Everything starts slowing down - including salivation. Normally a person only swallows 10-20 times during sleep!
This means that whatever a person eats or drinks right before, after or during this time sits in the mouth, mainly the cheeks, causing cavities to form on the teeth.

What do you do?
We recommend that all of our patients enjoy their dinner, dessert and whatever they want to drink with dinner and then stick to water. This gives the body time to restore proper PH levels in the mouth.

But that's just the first part!
We also encourage our patients to floss and brush really well before bed. This means brushing the inside of the cheeks, the tongue and palate.

Just these few little changes and you could be well on you way to living a cavity-free life!