FAQs

Sensitive teeth often come from the fact that your gums have slightly receded. This recession of the gum line allows the underlying dentin to show through which allows water and food easier access to the sensitive nerve. To manage this, there are a number of toothpastes, gels and even some dental procedures that can be applied. Speak to Dr. Landry and our dental team in more detail if you have very sensitive teeth to discover ways we may be able to help.

Great teeth and gum care start at home, and cannot be achieved only through our professional efforts at hygiene visits. Brushing and flossing on a daily basis at home is the best way to take care of your teeth and gums on a continual basis. By keeping to a daily oral health routine, and following your personalized professional dental care intervals with Landry Family Dentistry, the risks of gingivitis and tooth decay are minimized and greater oral and systemic health can be enjoyed throughout your lifetime.

Gingivitis is a condition caused when bacteria surrounds the teeth and enters the gingival tissue pockets. The gums can become irritated, inflamed and often bleed. In order to prevent the condition from worsening, regular hygiene visits at Landry Family Dentistry are highly recommended. During your visit, our Hygiene team will teach you the proper flossing techniques and Oral Hygiene protocol for Home Care that will help prevent the Periodontal Disease.

Periodontal Disease is a silent disease that begins with little or no symptoms. Oftentimes a patient is unaware of the presence of periodontal disease until a thorough dental exam, digital radiographs, and periodontal measurements diagnose the condition. Periodontal Disease is caused by bacteria that surrounds the teeth and enters the gums, destroying the gingival tissue and causing the bone to recede. The initial and reversible condition is known as “Gingivitis,” which is inflammation causing irritation and bleeding gums. If not properly treated before or during the gingivitis stage, the condition worsens into bone loss and is known as “Periodontitis” or “Periodontal Disease.” Dr. Landry and our dental hygiene team are committed to helping our patients maintain optimal oral health through education, prevention, and therapy as well as encourage thorough home care between dental visits. Noticeable symptoms of periodontitis include:

  • Bad Breath
  • Gum Recession and Bone Loss
  • Gum Sensitivity to Acidic Foods
  • Periodontal Abscesses
  • Tooth Pain
  • Tooth Mobility and Eventual Tooth Loss

Periodontal Disease is a chronic condition that needs immediate attention to minimize continued bone loss and reduce risks for detrimental systemic health effects. These systemic health correlations include cardiovascular, diabetes, autoimmune, and reproductive harm only to name a few. Customized individual treatment at Landry Family Dentistry will be discussed in order to slow or stop periodontal disease bone loss progression. These treatment options may include a series of Periodontal Therapy Cleanings, Root Planing & Scaling, prescription Irrigations and rinses, local antibiotics to fight the bacteria in the individual gum pockets next to a tooth, and possibly combined therapy with co-management with a Periodontist for Laser Therapy (LANAP) for advanced periodontitis cases. More frequent dental visits at Landry Family Dentistry, usually every 3 months, will be important due to the importance of keeping the deeper pockets between the tooth and gingival tissue healthy. And home care will be key in maintaining oral health between these more frequent dental visits.

There are several ways Dr. Joseph Landry II and our team can serve you in enhancing your smile. With our advanced technology, skill, and techniques, we are happy to discuss your ideas and wishes and help you create and enjoy the smile you hope to achieve. Some of the smile enhancement procedures we may discuss for your customized treatment plan may include:

  • Teeth Whitening
  • Invisalign Clear Aligners
  • Bonding
  • Dental Implants
  • Porcelain Veneers
  • Porcelain Crowns
  • Porcelain Bridges
  • Partials or Dentures

Teeth Whitening is a cost effective and safe procedure to create a beautiful, healthy smile. Following a comprehensive exam and hygiene cleaning, Dr. Landry and our dental team will be able to confirm if you are a candidate for professional teeth whitening and explain your customized options. Teeth naturally darken over time due to the natural aging process, food and drink selection, and other habits like smoking or tobacco chewing. Professional teeth whitening can help maintain your brightest smile, and Dr. Landry and team can assist you with your personal fountain of youth with teeth whitening solutions to maintain a youthful shade over the years.

Bonding is dental procedure used to fill gaps in front teeth and to change a tooth’s color. The immediate results are amazing. Within a few hours, you will have a great smile! Bonding, like Teeth Whitening, may change color and darken or stain over time due to drink and food selections, as well as tobacco habits. It is important to maintain a customized professional dental care interval with Dr. Landry and our team in order to support your best long term results and esthetics.

Porcelain Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that bond directly to your natural teeth. This entire procedure can take as few as two visits. Veneers change the size, shape and color of a patient’s teeth. This procedure is used to repair fractured teeth, teeth darkened by age or medication, or a crooked smile. Many times, patients ask for Porcelain Veneers to simply feel and look younger with a straighter, whiter smile! Dr. Landry and our team are happy to discuss if you would be a candidate for esthetic porcelain veneers.

A Dental Implant is a “man-made” replacement for a missing tooth. Made from titanium, this screw-like object is gently inserted under the gum and directly into the upper or lower jaw bone. Like most dental procedures, this is performed while comfortably numb. After a period of a few months depending on the patient’s bone quality and healing abilities, the Dental Implant and the bone fuse together. This creates an anchor for the new tooth replacement. Following this healing osseointegration, a custom implant abutment and custom implant crown are attached to the dental implant. Dr. Landry and our dental team use cutting edge CBCT 3D dental radiology imaging to design and plan for ideal placement of the dental implant, with our state-of-the-art training and implant knowledge to create an optimal result for you.

  • Dental Implants look and function like your natural tooth.
  • Dental Implants are a long term solution for missing teeth.
  • Dental Implants are maintained by routine hygiene visits with our dental team at Landry Family Dentistry.
  • Dental Implants decrease the possibility of bone loss, periodontal disease, tooth movement, and further tooth loss.
  • With routine professional and at home care, Dental Implants replace the need for a Removable Full or Partial Denture.
  • Dental Implants focus only on the tooth or teeth that are missing rather than a traditional bridge, which would involve the two or more adjacent teeth.

With major advancements in Dentistry and Dental Implants, most people are candidates for Dental Implants. There may be exceptions due to chronic illness, heart disease, and severe osteoporosis. What does the Dental Implant procedure Involve at Landry Family Dentistry?

The Dental Implant procedure may take 3 – 4 visits. The first visit at Landry Family Dentistry is using our state-of-the-art technology to precisely plan and customize the dental implant procedure, including 3D CBCT digital radiograph and digital intraoral scan of the future implant site.

The next visit is to place the Dental Implant. A local anesthetic is comfortably applied to the area, similar to other dental procedures. Dr. Landry will then make a minor incision in the gingival tissue and gently place the sterile implant into the jaw bone. The area may or may not have an esthetic temporary tooth replacement during the healing phase while the bone is integrating to the implant surface, a process called osseointegration.

Depending on the bone quality and quantity, and patient healing abilities, approximately 6-12 months of healing time will be given. Following implant stability and healing, a genuine custom implant abutment (Dr. Landry never uses stock or generic abutments) and esthetic custom implant crown will be fabricated and attached into the sturdy implant to complete the tooth replacement. Routine dental visits with Dr. Landry and our team, as well as attention to healthy oral hygiene habits at home, will be key to maintain the longevity and functionality of the dental implant to be enjoyed for years to come. Dental Implants are the closest solution we have in modern dentistry to getting your natural God-given tooth back. Our team at Landry Family Dentistry is happy to discuss Dental Implants with you, and customize a plan tailored to your specific dental goals.