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)

$500 Off Invisalign

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

If you've ever wondered how you can straighten your teeth without braces, now is the time to take advantage of this limited time spring special:

$500 OFF INVISALIGN

Offer Expires: 05/20/2013

*Some Restrictions Apply

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 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 Doctor 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

Spreading Smiles - Dentistry From The Heart

Dr. Tim Gardner’s 5^th Annual Dentistry from the Heart event Saturday, March 2, 2013, proved to be a success. More than $54,000 worth of free dentistry was performed on more than 120 underprivileged residents of Montgomery County.

Registration began at 7:30 a.m. and patients were seen on a first come, first serve basis. Procedures done free of charge included cleanings, fillings and extractions. Their mission was to treat infections and get patients out of pain.

Volunteers included Dr. Tim Garder, Dr. Jacob Burch (associate of Dr. Gardner), Dr. Logan Wood, Dr. Jess Legg, Tenille Fritsche, RDH, Lauren Eustace, RDH, and Veronica Wesbrook, RDH, and all of Dr. Gardner’s staff. Donations were provided by McKenzie’s Barbeque, Patterson Dental and Concrete Contractors Supply of Texas.

The event proved to be very rewarding for volunteers and patients alike. 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.

Dentistry can Improve Your Love Life

A Dentist can improve your Love Life

Here's how:

1. Kiss Bad Breath Goodbye

One of the main reasons people get out the habit of passionate kissing is chronic bad breath. If one person has a smelly mouth, the other is not going to want to spend much time in a lip lock. The most common reason for bad breath is gum disease.  The good news? Gum disease is very treatable, and a dental exam might be your best bet to get your love life back on track.



2. Cuddle More: Relieve Your Chronic Pain

People who are in chronic pain from any source are not likely to feel romantic. Some chronic pain issues are frequent migraine or tension headaches and also tempromandibular joint or muscle pain (TMJ). Many of these headaches and virtually all TMJ issues are caused directly or worsened by bruxism. Bruxism is intense clenching or grinding the teeth while sleeping. Many people who clench their teeth will get headaches. People who tend to grind their teeth are more likely to get TMJ issues, but most people do a combination of clenching and grinding. Drug-free, Food and Drug Administration-approved, and proven effective treatments are available and fabricated by trained dentists like us!



3.Sleep Better and Stop Your Snoring

Does your spouse's snoring prevent you from sleeping well, or has it even forced you into different bedrooms? A great way to reduce or eliminate snoring for many people is with a dentist fabricated appliance. The device holds the lower jaw slightly forward. This opens the space between the back of the tongue and the back of the throat allowing the air to flow much more smoothly and quietly.

If you or your spouse is a loud snorer who seems to stop breathing for a few seconds periodically during the night, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a possibility. This is a serious condition which reduces quality of life. If you suspect OSA, talk to us about a sleep study and other treatments.

You may not have considered it before, but here at Conroe Comprehensive Dental Center, 

we offer these services! 

For more information please visit us online at www.conroesmilemakeover.com 

Be Sweet to your Sweetie!

We love these alternatives to sweets

Roses are red. Violets are blue.

These alternative treats are sure to satisfy you.

This Valentine's Day serve up something special for your sweeties!

1. Heart-shaped pancakes: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter and whole grain pancake mix to whip up a breakfast (or dinner!) everyone in your family will love. And, no arrows necessary. Take that, Cupid.

2. Fruit kabobs: Give the apple of your eye a kabob loaded with grapes, cherries and strawberries. Serve with some low-fat yogurt or pink cream cheese. Volia! They'll go bananas over it.

3. Nuts: Give them crunchy treats this year. After all, you're nuts about them anyway, so why not feed them healthy snacks?

4. Stickers: What better way to say, "I'm stuck on you!" than to give your kids a bag of stickers instead of a bag of candy.

5. Lip balm: Pucker up and read my lips, Valentine! Moisturize those smackers and get ready for some healthy eating this Valentine's Day. Your teeth will love you for it!!


For more information on keeping your pearly whites healthy visit us online at www.conroesmilemakeover.com

Dentistry From The Heart

Dr. Tim Gardner and Dr. Jacob Burch, of Conroe, armed with staff and volunteers, are out to change lives by offering free dentistry to the underprivileged of Montgomery County, as they host the latest event in conjunction with Dentistry from the Heart (DFTH).

The 5^th Annual event will treat those, residing in Montgomery County, who truly need, but cannot afford dentistry. The procedures done free of charge include extractions, simple fillings and cleanings.

Last year staff and volunteers gave more than $24,000 worth of free dentistry to the underprivileged of Montgomery County. They hope to see an increase in numbers this year. 

“Now more than ever I know there are people out there who need my services but have no means to afford them; whether they are out of a job or just having a hard time,” Gardner said. “This Dentistry from the Heart event is my way of giving back to the community and being there for the people who are in need of dental work.”

The event will take place Saturday, March 2, 2012, at the office of Timothy E. Gardner, D.D.S., at 2210 North Frazier, Suite 120 in Conroe. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. Patients will be seen on a first come, first serve basis. Patients are asked to bring ID or other paperwork proving their residence in Montgomery County.  Dr. Gardner, his staff and volunteers will treat as many patients as possible by 5 p.m.

Please contact Dr. Gardner’s office at 936-539-3636 with any questions or concerns or visit them online at www.drtimgardner.com.

Dentistry From The Heart

Dr. Tim Gardner, armed with staff and volunteers, is out to change lives by offering free dentistry to the underprivileged of Montgomery County, as he hosts the latest event in conjunction with Dentistry from the Heart (DFTH).

The 5^th Annual event will treat those, residing in Montgomery County, who truly need, but cannot afford dentistry. The procedures done free of charge include extractions, simple fillings and cleanings.

Last year staff and volunteers gave more than $24,000 worth of free dentistry to the underprivileged of Montgomery County. They hope to see an increase in numbers this year. 

“Now more than ever I know there are people out there who need my services but have no means to afford them; whether they are out of a job or just having a hard time,” Gardner said. “This Dentistry from the Heart event is my way of giving back to the community and being there for the people who are in need of dental work.”

The event will take place Saturday, March 2, 2013, at the office of Timothy E. Gardner, D.D.S., at 2210 North Frazier, Suite 120 in Conroe. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. Patients will be seen on a first come, first serve basis. Patients are asked to bring ID or other paperwork proving their residence in Montgomery County.  Dr. Gardner, his staff and volunteers will treat as many patients as possible by 5 p.m.

Please contact Dr. Gardner’s office at 936-539-3636 with any questions or concerns or visit them online at www.drtimgardner.com.

 

What a pain in the neck!

It's more than pain, it's affecting my life! 

According to the American Dental Association, more than fifteen percent of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain. Some common symptoms include pain in or around the ear, tenderness of the jaw, clicking or popping noises when opening the mouth, or even headaches and neck aches.

Two joints and several jaw muscles make it possible to open and close the mouth. They work together when you chew, speak, and swallow. These structures include muscles and ligaments, as well as the jaw bone, the mandible (lower jaw) with two joints, the TMJ's.

Diagnosis And Treatment

A dentist can help identify the source of the pain with a thorough exam and appropriate X-rays. Most often we find that the pain is related to the facial muscles, the jaw or temporomandibular joint, located in the front of the ear. Treatments for this pain can range from adjustments to teeth, orthodontics, restorations, etc. 

As a fellow of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute (LVI), Dr. Gardner has received extensive training on causes and treatments of chronic head, neck and jaw pain. 

If you or a loved one are experiencing these types of symptoms please give us a call to set up a consultation. 

Dentistry can change your life...for the BETTER!

For more information on how we can improve not only your smile, but the quality of your life, visit us online at www.drtimgardner.com 

Dental Braces ---- How Early?

How Early Should Children Get Orthodontic Evaluations?

A simple guideline we use is that children should be examined at the time their permanent teeth are beginning to come in. However, every child is different, and the best starting time for orthodontic treatment depends on the type of problem and how severe it is. So the answer really is: "It depends."

If your child requires treatment, early intervention can make a real difference. We see the best results with treatments that would be impossible once your child's face and jaw have completely developed.

Also, when started early, completion of treatment at a later age is much easier.

What happens during an initial orthodontic exam?

During an initial examination, your dentist will evaluate your child's facial growth, spacing between teeth, crowding, extra or missing teeth. And they will look for habits like tongue-thrusting and thumb-sucking that may hinder normal growth and development. These problems can change tooth alignment as well as alter facial appearance.

In order to determine your specific needs, the dentist will completely evaluate your mouth. This will likely include:

• Impressions of your teeth, from which models are made
• Photographs of your teeth, face, and smile
• X-rays of your head and teeth
• Your medical health history and dental health history

Your dentist will then carefully evaluate your specific needs and provide you with a treatment plan for correction. Following the recommended plan is important for proper correction. If your child doesn't require any early treatment, most dentists will schedule periodic follow-up exams while the permanent teeth are coming in and the face and jaws continue to grow.

Orthodontic treatment can bring your child's teeth, lips and face into harmony. And we all know that a pleasing appearance and beautiful smile give children - and adults - a big advantage in life.

If you have questions regarding braces, please call our office at 936-539-3636 or email us at drtimgardner@consolidated.net today.

Interested in other dental services? Check us out online at www.conroesmilemakeover.com

12 Reasons to Visit the Dentist This Holiday Season

1. Spotting Decay
Sometimes there is decay in your teeth that only your dentist can spot and remove.

2. Avoid Losing Teeth
Avoiding your dentist will do more than cause decay, over time it could cause you to lose teeth.

3. Gum Disease
Although gum disease is most common in the elderly, it can start developing early. It is good have a dentist check for gum disease frequently.

4. Oral Cancer
Your dentist will be able to recognize any warning signs that might point to oral cancer.

5. Wisdom Teeth
If your wisdom teeth are starting to show, the sooner you go in to the dentist the better. Everyone's different, and you should not take risks with your dental health.

6. Prevent Emergencies
Waking up in the night with a dental emergency is never fun. Seeing the dentist regularly can prevent this from ever happening to you.

7. Overall Health
Your dental health has been proven to affect the rest of your health. Gum disease can lead to strokes, heart disease, and even cancer.

8. Periodontal Pockets
Caused by gum disease, periodontal pockets are important warning signs only your dentist can evaluate.

9. Cleaning
Even if you have the healthiest teeth and eat right, no one can clean your teeth like your dentist. A routine cleaning will prevent cavities and other dental illnesses.

10. Better Breath
All types of things cause bad breath, only your dentist can tell you if it is dental related.

11. Maximize Dental Benefits

Most dental plans renew in January, so use your benefits before you lose your benefits!

12. Hear about the latest and greatest

Our staff is trained to help you make the best decisions regarding your oral health. We know the most effective products and will base our recommendations on your unique needs.

 

Don't have a dentist that you know and trust? We'd love to help!

Please give us a call to set up a reservation! 936-539-3636

or visit us online at www.conroesmilemakeover.com