Dentistry Blog

For those over the age of 20, it's extremely common to have ugly old fillings that tarnish the beauty of what should look like natural teeth. We see many patients who want to have their old fillings replaced with more natural looking fillings. Sometimes our patients aren't even aware of why their fillings look black. Why Do My Old Silver Fillings Look Black? The silver (amalgam) fillings that were used for many years contained a mixture of metal alloy containing, silver, tin, copper and mercury. As with many metals that are exposed to a wet environment they will begin to break down and oxidize, often times turning black. Why Replace [...]

A gummy smile usually comes from either an overgrowth of gum tissue or that some teeth are shorter making the other teeth show more gum tissue. Either way, many people feel uncomfortable with their gummy smile. Dr. Pickett, our cosmetic dentist in Keller, TX can augment your smile to reduce the gummy appearance when you smile and help boost that confidence. Take a look at what Dr. Pickett can do to fix your gummy smile and then visit with our very own cosmetic dentist in Keller, TX. Gum Lift – Show More of Your Teeth Gum disease is one of the top causes of gum overgrowth and inflammation, which can make teeth appear shorter [...]

If you have a single chipped, cracked, or discolored tooth, there's a quick cosmetic dentistry solution call tooth bonding that can most likely help you maintain your confidence in your smile without costing as much as a tooth implant or other more in-depth procedure Tooth bonding is a procedure where we apply a tooth-colored composite resin to one or more of your teeth to repair the cracked, chipped, or discolored tooth/teeth. We usually only recommend this for individual teeth, because it lasts for about 10 years, and if it needs to be applied to multiple teeth, there may be a better, more permanent solution. Tooth bonding is a less complicated procedure to correct the [...]

Periodontal disease (the destruction of gum tissue and bone that hold our teeth in place) is one of the most widespread diseases within the United States and yet gets hardly any media attention and yet can affect your overall health including your heart. With more than 64 million people in the United States that currently have periodontal disease, the dangers to the health of these Americans can be severe. Periodontal disease is not only the number one reason people lose teeth; it can also affect the health of your body! So, what is Periodontal Disease? Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, and in its earliest stages, it’s called gingivitis. It begins with plaque buildup between the teeth and the [...]

Many people seek orthodontic treatment for their crooked teeth. But, what about crowded teeth? Crowded teeth are a symptom of your teeth running out of space within your mouth, causing them to press on each other from different sides. Because of the effects of crowded teeth, it's better to treat crowded teeth earlier when the teeth first begin to lose spacing rather than waiting until adulthood. It's possible that if left untreated, crooked and pressured teeth can force other teeth to move in front of or behind other teeth. This can lead to many other problems. Why Fix Teeth Crowding? Teeth crowding isn't simply a cosmetic dentistry problem. It can lead to long term [...]

When patients come to our Keller, TX dental office asking about their crooked teeth, what made them that way, and if we can fix them so that they'll be straight and look "normal" we always want to assure our patients that in almost all cases we've seen worse and can make any teeth appear perfect. Just because you have crooked teeth, doesn't mean you were born that way, nor does it necessarily mean there is an external cause. If you're looking to find out why your teeth in particular are crooked in order to find the right solution, take heart that we can make your smile, as near perfect as humanly possible so that you can have the confidence [...]

At your Keller, TX dentist, Dr. Pickett removes decayed portions of teeth due to cavities and then must fill those holes with dental fillings. While filling material can vary, the most common filling options are the composite filling or amalgam filling. Of the most common fillings we use today at Pickett Family Dental is the composite dental fillings that have a much more natural appearance. A composite filling is notably called a tooth colored filling, since the material used in the filling once placed can be matched to the same shade and color of your tooth. If the cavity isn't severe, we typically recommend this type of filling. However, if more of the tooth has to be removed during [...]

At Pickett Family Dental we see patients that come in for their appointment complaining of chalky teeth, grainy teeth, or rough teeth. If you have noticed these signs, you may have a serious health condition called hypomineralization. Hypomineralisation is the technical term for chalky teeth. Typically, hypomineralization occurs when the tooth enamel on the molars is lacking the proper minerals and starts to feel chalky. Some signs of hypomineralization are obvious, while others are more difficult to detect. In fact, they might not even be noticeable until there’s a bigger dental issue. 1-in-6 children currently have hypomineralization and most parents are unaware. Symptoms of Hypomineralization Thin tooth enamel can lead to a wide range [...]

At Pickett Family Dental in Keller, TX we receive phone calls from worried patients when a tooth filling fell out. We always recommend that patients go directly to the dental office. Are you wondering what you should do if your tooth filling falls out? First thing to keep in mind is to relax and stay calm. Fillings can fall out and it's not uncommon, although it can be quite surprising. If it happens while eating and you feel something hard that shouldn't be there, just be sure not to accidentally swallow it whether it is a resin composite, gold filling, silver filling, or composite filling. Now that you're past the scary part, the next step is simple: Call the [...]