Breckinridge Dental & Orthodontics Blog

Legend has it that the term “wisdom teeth” is in reference to the age that they emerge, which is between 17 and 25. Today, it is a rite of passage that gives patients an excuse to fill up on ice cream while catching up on all their favorite movies. However, undergoing the procedure can do more than just make your stomach and soul happy; it can play an instrumental role in your oral health. However, many patients wonder if they actually need to get them removed, especially if they have no negative symptoms. Fortunately, an orthodontist is here to share whether you need to undergo wisdom teeth extractions.

Nearly every growing smile goes through some sort of braces treatment. Similarly, having wisdom teeth removed is a common childhood dental procedure. However, each plays a significant role in your child’s developing smile and bite alignment. Which of these traditional rites of passage for young adults should come first? Read on as your local orthodontist explains everything you need to know about the proper timing of wisdom tooth extractions in Richardson.

Due to the nature of their practice, dentists have always maintained high standards of sanitation and infection control. Just like many other sicknesses, COVID-19 is transmitted when infected particles come in contact with a person’s mouth, nose, or eyes. To keep you, their staff, and the community safe, your Richardson dentist will be guarding these vulnerable areas with even more personal protective equipment (PPE) than before. Here are four important items they’ll be wearing at your next dental appointment to keep their dental office safe, clean, and germ-free

To keep you safe while you receive dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic, your dentist has implemented several additional steps to their usual infection control procedures. One important new dental safety protocol is the use of more personal protective equipment (PPE). The next time you visit your Richardson dentist, you may notice a new addition to their work wardrobe: a face shield. Find out why this piece of PPE may become the new normal at your dentist’s practice.

While you’re self-isolating, staying on top of your hygiene routine is an important way to not let your wellbeing slide to the backburner during the chaos of the COVID-19 crisis. Since your dentist will be postponing all elective procedures, it’s especially important to look after your oral health until they open back up and you can schedule your checkup and cleaning. Read on for five dental hygiene tips to protect your oral health while you’re self-isolating.

Did you know that celebrating National Nutrition Month every March can help improve your smile? It’s true! Everyone knows that eating too much sugar will give you cavities. However, swapping those empty calories for certain smile-friendly snacks can strengthen your gums, rebuild your teeth, and boost your oral health! Add these healthy foods to your daily diet this month and set yourself up for a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles!

February is American Heart Association Month, a nationally-recognized time of the year dedicated to learning about how the health of your heart is connected to other parts of your body. Over the last decade, several studies have been released that established a strong connection between gum disease and heart disease. Read on to learn how you can protect your overall wellbeing by defending your gums from the effects of harmful oral bacteria accumulation.

Tooth enamel is one of the most vital components of your mouth because it helps preserve your teeth and prevent cavities and infections. While many people know that it’s one of the strongest and hardest substances in the human body, researchers only recently discovered another secret that your tooth enamel has been keeping. Even though enamel is known to be powerless against acidic substances, for many people, it still manages to preserve their teeth for a lifetime. How is that possible? Read on to learn what provides our enamel with the ability to function and stay intact despite oral adversity.

Trying to stay cavity-free during the holidays isn’t always easy. Considered to be one of the most sugar-filled times of the year, all the delectable treats can make it hard to say “no.” While you may be telling yourself that the diet starts after the new year, you shouldn’t wait to take care of your oral health until then. If you want to keep your dentist happy and spend more of your time with family and friends and not in the dentist’s chair, here are 4 things you can do to keep your smile happy and healthy throughout the holidays.

If you were to learn that each year, more than 160 million people with private dental insurance lose more than $900 in unused dental benefits, would you believe it? When you calculate all of that wasted money, it totals more than $152 billion! Since most people would agree that is a lot of money, why not find out how you can maximize your dental insurance benefits to keep from being one of the millions who watch their money disappear at the end of the year.