San Marcos Gentle Dental Blog

Getting your teeth straightened isn’t something just for teenagers anymore.  Many adults just like you who have felt uncomfortable with their smiles now have straight, healthy teeth.  You can, too!  If you weren’t able to get your teeth straightened when you were younger, now is the time to find out more about Invisalign-the clear alternative to metal braces and wires.

Treatment with Invisalign is quick and easy.  With Invisalign, you don’t wear metal braces.  Instead, your teeth are straightened by wearing a series of clear plastic aligners.  The aligners are so inconspicuous that most people won’t be able to tell you’re wearing them.  You’ll wear each set of clear aligners for about two weeks at a time, while your teeth move little by little toward the smile you’ve always wanted.  The aligners are worn all the time, except when you’re eating, drinking anything but water, brushing, and flossing.  Because the aligners are removable, you can eat all your favorite foods.

We can’t tell you exactly how long your treatment will take.  But, on average, Invisalign treatment takes about one year.  The cost of treatment is similar in cost to traditional braces.  In addition, if you have orthodontic coverage, Invisalign is often covered to the same extent as traditional braces.  Dr. Donnelly also offers a variety of affordable payment plans.  Our office will be happy to work with you on all of the insurance and financial details.  Dr. Donnelly even offers free Invisalign consultations for all interested patients.

Be one of the many patients Dr. Donnelly has treated who are enjoying their new smiles.  Call Dr. Donnelly’s office today at 512-396-5225 for a free consultation.  Don’t hold back-straight teeth are now within your reach.

One of the fastest ways to cool off in the summer is to enjoy ice cream, popsicles, or other frozen treats.  But if “you scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream,” the scream may be from an immediate, intense headache, which sometimes is called a “brain freeze.”  The sudden temperature change may irritate the nerves in the roof of your mouth.  These nerves may begin to have spasms, which in turn cause the blood vessels in your brain to dilate rapidly.  The result is an unmistakable, fierce headache.  There are several ways to help alleviate a brain freeze: pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth, slowly sipping lukewarm water, laying your head to the side.  Of course, the best way to avoid a brain freeze is to enjoy your frosty treats more slowly.

Gelato, Sorbet, Sherbet…..what’s the difference?

Gelato originated in Italy and typically includes milk and sugar.  It tends to have a more intense flavor and melts faster than ice cream because it has a denser consistency.  Authentic gelato is made with a forced-air freezer, which is different than a standard ice cream machine.

Sorbet also originated in Italy.  Typically its base is fresh fruit and doesn’t use milk.  Sorbets often are used to cleanse the palate between courses of a meal.

Sherbet can be described as a frozen dessert somewhere between sorbet and ice cream.  It often contains milk, but has a lower milkfat content than ice cream.

Creating a delicious frozen dessert is limited only by your imagination.  Enjoy!!

The change of season can prompt a whole new set of issues such as the first glimpse of ashen skin, blue veins, callused feet, and unexpected hairs.  These can make you feel as though your body is thoroughly unprepared for the summer or winter season.  Your skin is forced to go from being dry after the cooler months to dealing with hot humid conditions which suddenly increase oiliness and acne. 

The right treatments can alleviate many of these skin concerns.  The two keys are moisturizing and things that make the skin glow, such as exfoliation, say many skin experts.  Using a moisturizing body cleanser on a clean washcloth and a light exfoliate is a great start.  Do not apply heavy cream lotions-any light lotion that contains glycolic, alpha hydroxyl, or fruit acid will quickly restore vibrancy to dead looking skin.  For a more intense exfoliation many dermatology offices offer the microdermabrasion treatment Vibraderm; it was shown in a company-sponsored study to remove over 75% of the skin’s outermost layer on those areas in less than ten minutes.

About half of all women suffer from the condition that can resemble goose bumps on the arms that appear white or red.  This is caused by extra skin cells that build up around individual hair follicles, giving you a bumpy texture and a polka-dotted appearance.  A daily moisturizer containing urea, glycolic, or lactic acid can soften the bumps.  Just be sure not to over scrub the area which can cause extra redness and inflammation.  For instant improvement, apply a shimmery cream to refract light.

Many people often find skin around the elbows and knees has faded to gray.  The skin in these areas is some of the driest on our bodies, so it can take on a cracked, whitish, or grayish appearance-especially on olive or darker skin.  The best fix is a potent daily moisturizing cream, such as AmLactin or Salex (by prescription), or even petroleum jelly on the elbows and knees once a week before bed.  A neat trick is even trimming the toes off a tube sock, and shimmy it up the arm so the Vaseline stays in contact with you skin instead of wiping off on your sheets.

High heels and pinched shoes may contribute to calluses by causing friction, but many times they can be alleviated by slipping in a thin insert such as a Foot Petals Tip Toes, a cushion that supports the ball of the foot and is small enough even for open-toe-shoes.  To remove existing calluses, take a shower or bath so that skin is soft and pliable, then buff feet with a foot file, a pumice stone, or a pad pre-moistened with a cleanser that has callus remover on it.  Follow with a cream containing urea, which eats away at and loosens up the dead skin cells, and makes the skin really smooth and hydrated.

If you’re anxious about your dental appointments, you’re not alone.  According to the Academy of General Dentistry, 25 million Americans do not visit their dentist simply because they’re afraid.  Studies also have shown women are more likely then men to experience dental anxiety.  We want to help you to feel comfortable in the dental chair.  There are a few things you can do to reduce your stress:

*Schedule an appointment for a time you’re more likely to be relaxed.  For example, first thing in the morning might be better than in the middle of a busy day.

*Eat high protein foods before your appointment to help calm you down (be sure to brush and floss after your meal!)  don’t have caffeine or sugar right before your appointment, as they can increase your heart rate.

*Bring something that will be soothing for you or your child such as an iPod to listen to music or a stuffed animal for a child.

We want to create an atmosphere of trust, so please don’t hesitate to tell us what makes you nervous.  Understanding the source of your anxiety may make it easier to find a solution to help you relax.  Dr. Donnelly also offers sedation dentistry which can help even the most apprehensive patient relax through their appointment with ease. 

Modern dental techniques have come a long way to help ensure you’re comfortable and that procedures are relatively pain-free.

Here are some fun facts to think about while sitting in the dental chair at your next appointment.

*Before dental chairs were invented in the 1700s, patients often had to sit on the floor with their head braced between their dentist’s knees during dental procedures.  Aren’t you glad we no longer do that?!

*During the 1800s, offices didn’t always have electricity, so dental chairs were placed near windows for better lighting (a practice we often continue today, even with electricity).

*Although reclining chairs were first created in the 1830s, by the mid-20th century, they had become increasingly sleek and high-tech.  For example, a jet-set dental chair was placed in a replica of a space ship at the 1962 World’s Fair!  Sometimes these fashionable dental chairs were salmon pink or powder blue, keeping with the styles of the times.

*Today, one of the latest innovations developed in Japan is a dental chair with a built-in CD player-no need for a headset!

Summertime is perfect for going to the beach, swimming, and lounging by the pool, but summer fun also presents potential hazards for your teeth.  Here are some tips to recognize, prevent, and deal with problems and  injuries which may occur.

In order to protect people from water-borne illnesses, most pools are carefully treated with chlorine, bromide, and other chemicals.  Too much of these chemicals can actually stain your teeth a yellowish-brown color or erode the enamel on your teeth.  People who swim more than six hours a week are particularly vulnerable to the brown-colored tarter that builds up on teeth.  Sometimes referred to as “swimmers’ calculus,” it’s evident in as many as 58% of the children and teenagers who are active participants in swimming programs.

To avoid the effects of too much exposure to chlorine and other chemicals: limit your time in the pool, try to shower and brush after swimming, avoid getting pool water in your mouth, and let us know if you notice any change in the color of your teeth or if they feel rough.

Swimming pools and waterslides are sources of fun and relaxation; unfortunately they’re also sources of injuries.  According to The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2/3 of all waterslide injuries result in chipped or cracked teeth.  Remind your family to walk not run around the pool, and to avoid horseplay or diving into shallow water.  We hope everyone enjoys their summer safely and by following these tips to maintain your beautiful smile.