Digital X-rays Benefit Patients

The field of dentistry is constantly evolving and our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry are keeping up with the changes by utilizing digital X-rays in the office. Digital X-rays take less time than film X-rays and have better quality viewing options for the doctor and the patient. In addition to these benefits, digital X-rays also use 70% less radiation than traditional film X-rays.

Digital X-rays provide less discomfort, detect problems sooner, and offer less time in the dental chair for the patient. Additional patient advantages include avoidance of chemical processing errors, which means that our doctors will be able to take a closer look at the teeth and surrounding structures with astounding accuracy. Additionally, with digital X-ray equipment, X-ray images are instantly stored and ready to view on the computer so you and the doctor can take a closer look at what’s going on in your mouth.

If you have questions or concerns about advancements in dental technology, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry here in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.

Dental Implants

Patients who have missing teeth are at risk for more than just aesthetic issues. Their adjacent teeth may start shifting, they can experience rapid bone loss, and if multiple teeth are missing, it might cause their cheeks to look shrunken in.

 

To mitigate these risks, here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we offer dental implants for patients who want to replace their teeth permanently. While there are other options in dentures and fixed bridges, dental implants are the most permanent option available.

 

There are many reasons a tooth might have been lost or needs to be extracted. Tooth decay, congenital defects, trauma, injury, or advanced gum disease may all play a role in the causal factors of missing teeth. But with dental implants, our patients have the opportunity for a stable, secure and natural-looking alternative. The implant includes a titanium metal post implanted into the jawbone, where the bone gradually heals and grows around the post. This holds it in place and is healed in about three months. Then, the abutment and crown are placed over the top, which look just like a natural tooth.

Intraoral Camera

Correct patient diagnosis and treatment is the most important function of an effective, state-of-the-art dental practice. The intraoral camera is the latest in a long line of technologically advanced equipment that has been introduced to the dental field in recent years. It delivers incredibly sharp, clear images that enhance our dentist’s ability to properly diagnose and treat patients.

 

The innovative imaging software that accompanies the intraoral camera is perfect for viewing the nooks and crannies missed by X-rays. While the camera snaps crystal-clear images throughout the mouth, the software allows the doctors to manipulate the image to see different angles and zoom in on an otherwise static image. The camera also takes videos that can be streamed to a bedside monitor. Patients are able to view their procedure in real-time. Our dentists here at Garrison Family Dentistry are able to clearly explain what the problem is and how they can best treat it together.

 

When our team utilizes the intraoral camera, they are able to reach places that an X-ray cannot. While X-rays are extremely effective for locating cavities and decay, the doctors are able to see things they would never be able to see through the use of the intraoral camera. Although a traditional visual inspection of the teeth may have sufficed in the past, technology has made it possible for dentists and patients to reap many more benefits from each health exam.

 

For more information on the intraoral camera or any of our services, please call Garrison Family Dentistry at 816-532-8706 or visitwww.garrisondentistry.com.

Preventative Dentistry

We’ve all heard the expression, “prevention is the best medicine” when it comes to your overall health, but the same can be said when it comes to your oral health. Preventative dentistry is the most sensible, efficient and cost effective means of avoiding serious and expensive periodontal health problems.  Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we’d much rather see you for preventative dental care-- including regular exams, cleanings and health screenings-- than we would for a complex and invasive procedure to correct a problem that could have been avoided.

 

While routine dental care is an essential part of preventative dentistry, your at-home oral care practices play a major role in prevention of gum disease, infection and other issues. At our practice, we work with you to help you take the right steps towards excellent oral health and proper preventative dental care.

 

For more information on the preventative dentistry services we provide here at Garrison Family Dentistry, please view our websitewww.garrisondentistry.com to contact us directly.

Bonding and White Filling

When accidental damage affects your smile, you want to opt for the most cosmetically appealing dental solution.  Whether you are looking to correct a chipped tooth or you need to fill a cavity, we offer cosmetically appealing restorative services at Garrison Family Dentistry.  Bonding and white fillings have helped many of our patients restore the health and beauty of their smiles.

 

Bonding is used to restore structural damage like chipped, cracked, or fractured teeth.  It can even correct gaps created by teeth that are too narrow or short.  This affordable, beautiful solution fixes damaged teeth for a realistic look.

 

White fillings have replaced traditional metal amalgam fillings at our practice. Unlike dark, metal fillings, white fillings blend in with your natural tooth color.  You can improve your oral health and correct tooth decay without affecting the aesthetic appearance of your smile.

 

If you are ready to fix your damaged tooth and restore the beauty of your smile, contact our practice and learn about how our bonding and white filling services can help.

Nitrous Oxide

Dental anxiety is a common occurrence among our patients, which is why we offer nitrous oxide. This helps patients take the edge off while getting dental procedures, whether it is a root canal, root planing and scaling, or an extraction.

 

Nitrous oxide is also referred to as laughing gas and given by having a mask placed over the patient’s nose and mouth so they can inhale the gas. The patient is monitored by Dr. Matthew Garrison the entire time.

 

There are many benefits to choosing nitrous oxide as a way for dental sedation, such as the following:

• It wears off quickly, so you can still drive yourself home.
• It is a safe and effective form of sedation.
• The level of sedation can be controlled by the dentist, increasing or decreasing the gas.
• Patients resume normal activities immediately after their dental appointment.
• Sensations experienced with nitrous oxide include relaxation, euphoria, and relief from anxiety and tension.

You can contact us at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO by calling 816-532-8778 or by visiting us online at www.garrisondentistry.com for more information.

Proper Oral Hygiene

Proper dental hygiene is important for overall health, oral preventative care, and to decrease the amount of cleanings and procedures dentists need to perform during bi-annual check-ups. At Garrison Family Dentistry, we make sure our patients understand the importance of maintaining dental hygiene and its effects on their oral health.

 

Dental hygiene always starts at home, by gently brushing and flossing the teeth twice a day. This keeps the teeth clean, removes tartar buildup that can lead to cavities or infection, and keeps the teeth looking white. It also helps freshen the breath and reduce the risk of gum disease. Remember to replace your toothbrush every three months, or when the bristles become frayed. Good oral hygiene also includes limiting your intake of sugary foods and beverages that can prove harmful to your teeth.

 

Dr. Matthew Garrison and the rest of our team at Garrison Family Dentistry recommend dental check-ups every six months to keep the teeth clean. While dental hygiene requires regular brushing and flossing, a professional cleaning twice a year will provide even more preventative measures. This also gives us a chance to look for any potential problems, like finding a cavity that needs filled or seeing an erupting wisdom tooth that might need an extraction. Visit our dental practice today in Del Rio, TX, to learn more about proper dental hygiene.

Dental Bridges

Having a missing tooth or several missing teeth together not only makes it difficult to chew properly, but it can also be embarrassing. Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we believe in giving you a smile that makes you feel confident. Dental bridges allow us to do that by filling in the gaps with an artificial tooth that looks natural with the rest of your teeth

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The dental bridge lets you fill in missing spaces in your mouth with artificial teeth, as an alternative to getting an implant. The bridge created a crown for the two adjacent teeth and has an artificial tooth where you are missing one. It creates a bridge that doesn’t look obvious to anyone else and offers you a beautiful smile.

 

There are many benefits to getting bridges, including being able to speak and chew properly, improving the shape of your face, preventing your teeth from shifting as a result of the missing tooth or teeth, and filling in gaps.

 

Call us today at (816) 532-8778 to schedule an appointment for your new bridge. 

Digital X-Rays

Digital radiography is one of the most technologically advanced products available to the medical field today. While traditional systems are effective, there are many features of digital X-ray machines that help create a better overall image of your mouth. Not many dentists have taken advantage of this technology and are still utilizing traditional radiography technology.  We have recently implemented this technology into Garrison Family Dentistry, located in order to provide a better level of care to our patients.

 

Traditional X-ray systems are being surpassed by digital radiography technology. While this old technology was very effective for a number of years, it is slowly becoming nonexistent in the medical field. Digital X-Ray technology has many benefits:

• Safety – this technology is much safer for patients because they emit roughly 80 percent less radiation than traditional systems
• “Going Green” – instant imaging removes the need for harmful chemicals that are used to develop images
• High Quality – the images Dr. Garrison receives from this technology are much higher quality, allowing him diagnose previously unseen issues

While the radiation given off from the older systems is not necessarily dangerous, it is always risky to expose someone to radiation. Digital radiography has become a great resource for patients who want an effective X-ray without the negative effects that could come from radiation exposure.

 

Since Dr. Matthew Garrison doesn’t have to take time to develop images, your procedure time is considerably shorter. In addition, thanks to the improved, higher quality images provided by digital X-rays, Dr. Garrison is able to diagnose patients more effectively. Early detection is the best way for you to avoid potentially invasive, costly dental procedures that wouldn’t have been necessary if the symptoms were found earlier.