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General Dentistry in The Woodlands

All You Need For Smile Health

We all know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And when it comes to your smile, that is especially true! Taking a proactive approach not only saves your teeth, it saves time, money, and potential health problems as well! That’s why all of our general dental care is focused so strongly on prevention.

Our early detection can discover and allow us to stop problems like gum disease, infection, and even oral cancer earlier than you ever imagined possible, while our preventive methods can help protect your teeth from erosion, breakage, or decay. Isn’t your smile worth it?

It’s important to keep track of what is happening with your oral health. That’s why we encourage our patients to have a comprehensive oral examination with Dr. Cagle. Each examination begins with a discussion of your dental and medical history, an opportunity for us to get acquainted, and for you to voice any new or existing concerns. The examination includes a set of digital x-rays to minimize radiation exposure, a TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorders) assessment, a periodontal examination to evaluate the health of your gums, an oral cancer screening, an evaluation of your bite, and an evaluation of each tooth and existing restorations.

According to research conducted by the American Cancer Society, more than 39,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year. More than 7,500 of these cases result in the death of the patient. The good news is that oral cancer can easily be diagnosed with an annual oral cancer exam and effectively treated when caught in its earliest stages.

Dental x-rays are incredibly important when it comes to assessing, tracking, and protecting your oral health. X-rays provide a baseline for your teeth and jaws against which dental health professionals may compare your current situation. Dr. Cagle offers both digital and panoramic x-rays. Panoramic imaging provides a picture of your whole jaw and sinuses. Digital x-rays protect patients from exposure to radiation and offer a clearer view of your health.

Regular cleanings make your smile shine! They can also reduce your risk for periodontal disease (often called gum disease), which, if left untreated, can progressively advance to tooth loss. Because adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum disease than any other cause, periodontal disease should be taken very seriously.

The truth is, healthy gums are the first step to complete oral health. Taking care of any present periodontal problems is often how we begin dental treatment with our new patients.

Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. If we find signs of gum disease in your mouth, there are a number of different options for treatment, depending on the progression and severity of your case. For more advanced cases, we offer Oraqix, an anesthetic for use in periodontal therapy, and ARESTIN, a topical antibiotic that can reverse the effects of gum disease.

Long considered mainly for children, fluoride treatments have been proven tremendously beneficial for adults as well. Fluoride stops the progress of newly formed cavities. Adult root caries can also be greatly reduced through these treatments.

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque, bacteria, and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay.

There are a number of different types of mouthguards. The more common varieties are sports guards — good for any active adult or child, especially those involved in competitive sports—and bite guards to help prevent grinding during rest. In addition, Dr. Cagle can provide custom occlusal guards for splint therapy, one of the ways to treat TMJ, and snore guards which help prevent snoring by holding your mouth in a specific position. Click here to visit our TMJ Dentistry page to learn more.

Sedation dentistry is an excellent option for anyone who suffers from dental anxiety or phobia, has difficulty getting numb, hates the tastes, smells, and shots associated with the dental office; has a strong gag reflex or has highly sensitive teeth. It is also ideal for patients who wish to have multiple procedures completed in one visit without discomfort or for older patients who have difficulty sitting for longer periods of time.

A prescription sedative is available prior to treatment. If you are taking advantage of sedation treatment, it is important to have someone drive you to and from the appointment. You will arrive completely relaxed and be kept extremely comfortable throughout your visit. We also offer nitrous oxide sedation, which has an immediate effect and can be safely administered in incremental doses, as needed, throughout the dental procedure. This type of oral sedation has been found to be highly effective for patients with a severe gag reflex.

While snoring can be the first noticeable symptom of sleep apnea, it is so much more than snoring. During episodes of obstructive sleep apnea, patients’ airways become obstructed while they sleep which can cause them to snore loudly or even to stop breathing while they try to rest. Some of the symptoms to look for are:

● Snoring
● Nightly gasping or choking
● Extreme daytime sleepiness
● Chronic fatigue
● Morning headache
● Irritability
● Impaired memory and judgment
● Mood disturbance

If you’re worried that you or a loved one are suffering from sleep apnea, give us a call.

We prescribe TAP appliances which work by the same principle as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, by holding the bottom jaw slightly forward to keep the throat from closing while lying down. Our TAP appliances are custom fitted and adjustable for maximum comfort and effectiveness.

We provide same-day emergency care for those moments when you just have to see a dentist. When you experience a dental emergency during business hours, call our office immediately. We employ an answering service after hours, so you don’t have to worry about getting in touch with us.

Did you know that Dr. Cagle can actually take pictures of the inside of your mouth using a tiny camera? This camera is called an intraoral camera and is a tremendous asset to diagnosis and treatment. On the monitors in our treatment rooms, we can display the images we capture, show you exactly what we see, and explain your options.



Call Today to Schedule an Appointment!
281-681-9442

Shirley E. Cagle, DDS in The Woodlands
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