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Finding a new dentist office in Grand Prairie, Texas, should seem easy, especially if you know there are a lot of offices in your area. However, not all dentists are created equal. When you start your journey to choosing a new dentist, there are important skills and knowledge they should have to ensure you are receiving the best care for your smile. 

So what do you need to look for when identifying the difference between a good dentist and a “great” one? Continue reading and we will go over what important questions to ask when evaluating a dentist and take note of the different things the office offers to ensure you are comfortable during your stay there. Before we learn how to find the best dental practice for you, it’s important to go over why it’s so important to your smile.

WHY DOES IT MATTER

Remember when we said that not all dentists are created equal? If a dentist doesn’t have the knowledge or skill needed to treat you, you could be putting yourself at risk of having low-quality dental work. This can be detrimental to not only your smile but your overall health. Dental issues can go undetected if the dentist you choose isn’t using the most updated technology available. With a great dentist, you will feel comfortable during every visit knowing your oral health is in good hands. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

When choosing the best family dentist in Grand Prairie, Texas, you want to ensure they offer services that fit any dental needs that may occur and are covered by your insurance. From general dentistry to cosmetic dentistry, you should expect to have all your basic dental requirements met with patient-centered care and high-quality skill. Choose a dentist that is committed to helping you keep your natural smile and do everything they can to maximize your dental health. A trip to the dentist can be a pleasant experience when you know you are receiving the best in oral care.

GOOD TO GREAT

Every dentist receives a basic dental education while in dental school. However, you should choose a dentist who stays up to date on the latest dental technology and dental skills. This type of dentist will ensure you are receiving the best possible care. When you call or visit the office, ask about the dentist’s education and how many years of experience they have. Another question to consider is if the dentist was selected for a general practice residency program out of dental school. Only dentists who graduated at the top of their class are considered for residency programs and are usually focused on areas such as implants, cosmetic restorations, or sedation dentistry. 

WHY THE SMILE LOUNGE IS RIGHT FOR YOU

The Smile Lounge was created with the patient in mind. Dr. Daniels and our entire team help to ensure each patient receives personalized dental care and exceptional treatment in a patient-first atmosphere. Providing the best patient experience is our primary goal. Sit and relax in our lounge or in your private dental suite where you can access a variety of amenities through our comfort menu, such as wireless Bluetooth headphones for online streaming of your favorite music, movies, tv shows, blankets and warm, scented towels. 

Whether you have a dental emergency or you are scheduling your regular teeth cleaning, we offer flexible appointment times to fit virtually any work schedule. Appointments can be made through our convenient online scheduling system. The office provides paperless solutions where you can upload all insurance information, fill out medical history and other necessary forms online. We believe everyone should have access to quality dental care and we try to make that affordable through our various payment options.
The Smile Lounge is here to provide nearly all of your dental needs, with the latest dental technology. Whether your dental needs are cleanings, fillings, crowns, implants or teeth whitening, we will take care of you. The Smile Lounge works with most PPO insurances and also has an in-office dental savings plan for those who do not have dental insurance. If you are looking for your new Grand Prairie Dentist, The Smile Lounge is your best choice!

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There’s good reason why your dentist may ask you to reveal your current medication list. Not only does your dentist need to have an accurate picture of your overall health, but many medications can have side effects that impact your teeth and gums. Here are some top oral health concerns that may be caused by your daily medications:

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is very often caused by medications. In fact, there are over 400 different medications, including antihistamines, decongestants and high blood pressure pills that can lead to a chronically dry mouth. Not only does dry mouth make it difficult to swallow and speak, but your dental health may be in danger too. We need adequate saliva production to ward off tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease. Saliva rinses away bacteria and food debris after you eat as well as neutralizes harmful acids inside your mouths.

Bleeding Gums

It is not uncommon for physicians to prescribe anti-coagulants to help prevent stroke and heart attack. Unfortunately, these medications can prevent the blood from clotting in other areas of your body – including your gum tissues. If you are on an anti-coagulant, make sure you tell your dentist, as they need to be prepared for bleeding gums during cleanings as well as take extra precautions to control bleeding if you are scheduled to have a more invasive dental procedure.

Oral Thrush

Whether it is antibiotics or corticosteroids, there are medications that may be necessary for you to take but may also suppress the immune system. When it comes to your oral health, this can result in an overgrowth of yeast. The white lesions that may develop on your inner checks, tongue or gums are caused from a condition called “oral thrush.” Oral thrush needs prompt treatment but can be remedied by an antifungal prescription that restores proper balance to your mouth.

At The Smile Lounge, we are keenly aware of the connection between your mouth and body. In doing so, we recognize the impact that many medications can have on your oral health. Please keep us informed about any new medications or supplements you may be taking so that we can protect your smile best.

Posted on Behalf of The Smile Lounge

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We can hardly believe it – it’s been on full year since The Smile Lounge began passionately treating patients of the Grand Prairie and Fort Worth communities. This is a milestone worth celebrating with the ones that have supported our growing dental family.

On Saturday September 4th, The Smile Lounge is hosting a First Year Anniversary Celebration. The event will take place at our 3050 W Camp Wisdom Road office from 10am to 2pm. We invite you to join us for food, music, giveaways and lots of fun!

If you are new to our office, you’ll enjoy getting to know our friendly dental team members and experiencing the comfortable atmosphere of our modern office. The Smile Lounge is a state-of-the-art dental practice that offers a full menu of general, restorative and cosmetic dental treatments for patients of all ages. We welcome the opportunity to tell you more about how we can care for you and your family. Pampering your smile is what we do best!

The Smile Lounge is a proud member of the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and we look forward to hosting this event for the dedicated community we serve. Please find a more detailed First Year Celebration Invitation on Facebook and let us know if you plan to attend. We hope to see you on September 4th!

Posted on behalf of The Smile Lounge

Close Up Of Biracial Man Show White Healthy Teeth

Soft drinks have been around for about 100 years. They taste good, they provide a refreshing way to quench your thirst, and they pair really well with pizza, hamburgers, and popcorn. However, as delicious as they taste, they can be linked to numerous health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Did you know that soft drinks can wreak havoc on your smile, too?

Soda, coke, pop, soft drinks – however you say it, they are all highly acidic and sugary beverages. Every time you take a sip of a soft drink, the oral bacteria inside your mouth feed on the sugars. As bacteria “feed,” they create acids. Combined with the acidic content that soft drinks already contain, you essentially give your mouth an acid bath with every drink. The acids in soft drinks can linger on your teeth for around 20 minutes. With repeated sips and frequent indulgence in soft drinks, the tooth enamel becomes weakened and leads to cavities and tooth decay.

Well, what about diet sodas? They can’t be as bad since they don’t contain sugar, right? Wrong. Even though diet soft drinks do not contain sugar, they still contain multiple acids and low pH values. The risk of dental erosion and tooth decay remain just as high by drinking diet sodas as it does by drinking regular soft drinks.

Prevent Damage with One Single Beverage

The best way to prevent damage to your teeth and smile is to stop drinking soft drinks and other sugary beverages and replace them with water. Water is the most abundant resource on planet Earth. It contains no harmful ingredients, no calories, and it provides benefits to your entire body. It is recommended that people drink their weight in ounces of water every day. Therefore, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should make it your goal to drink 150 ounces of water each day.

If you do choose to indulge in a sugary beverage, you need to make a habit of rinsing your mouth with water after you finish drinking. Rinsing with water will help wash away much of the sugary particles and acids that remain on your teeth.

At The Smile Lounge, we want to partner with you in your oral health. Making water your beverage of choice will benefit your smile, weight, skin, and overall health. Contact us today to learn more.

Posted on Behalf of The Smile Lounge

woman showing teeth

If you are an allergy sufferer, then you know that allergy season can be miserable for many reasons. While plants, trees, and flowers may be beautiful as they bloom out and cover the world in color, they also release pollen into the air that can make your allergies overwhelming. As beautiful as spring is, for allergy sufferers, it is often best enjoyed from inside.

The most miserable symptoms of allergy season include nasal congestion, postnasal drip, sneezing, a sore throat, and itchy, watery eyes. Many people would tell you that suffering from allergies is worse than having the flu because it can last for weeks or even months at a time.

Combating allergies is rough stuff, we know. To further compound the misery of allergy seasons, there is a specific way that allergies can take their toll on your oral health. Dry mouth, a condition in which the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist, affects many allergy sufferers. More than just uncomfortable, dry mouth is caused by breathing in and out through your mouth and can lead to severe oral health complications.

As strange as it sounds, saliva is one of the most important components of oral health. Not only is a moist mouth comfortable, but it also helps to protect your mouth against tooth decay, gum disease, and mouth infections. You see, inside every human mouth, millions of oral bacteria thrive off of the food particles left behind after you eat. Saliva helps to rinse these particles and the damaging bacteria away so that they do not remain inside your mouth and adhere to your teeth.

If you suffer from allergies, pay attention to the symptoms of dry mouth:

  • A dry, sticky feeling inside your mouth
  • Frequent thirst
  • A dry throat
  • Hoarseness
  • Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
  • Sore throat
  • Dry, raw tongue
  • Cracked lips

Most allergy medications contain antihistamines to help dry up the excess mucus being created by your irritated sinuses. As helpful as these medicines are, they can produce dry mouth as a side effect. It is imperative that you drink at least eight 8-oz glasses of water per day to keep your mouth and entire body well hydrated.

Contact The Smile Lounge if dry mouth is bothering you. We will help protect your smile.

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A Broken Molar is a Dental Emergency

When it comes to eating, your molars do a lot of work. The back teeth were specifically designed with rough surfaces to help break down foods to make them easily swallowed and digested. Yet, with so much usage, the molars are susceptible to cracking and breaking.

The molars absorb most of the force when you chew. Chewing hard types of foods like pretzels, hard candies, and ice can lead to a crack in the tooth enamel. Grinding and clenching the teeth can also crack the molars. In these instances, you may not know precisely when it happens because a crack in a tooth is not always painful. However, if a crack leads to a broken tooth, there will typically be intense pain and sensitivity while eating or drinking hot or cold foods or putting any pressure on the tooth.

A broken molar will not heal on its own. You need to seek immediate care from your dentist as a broken tooth is a dental emergency. If a broken tooth is not treated quickly, not only will you suffer from extreme pain, but your tooth will be vulnerable to decay. Bacteria are present inside the mouth by the millions, and if they reach the inner layers of a tooth, they can cause irreversible damage. It is also an incredibly serious condition because damage to one tooth leaves the neighboring teeth susceptible to decay and damage.

If you experience a sudden, sharp pain or an injury to a tooth that results in a break, take these steps:

  1. If any piece of the tooth breaks off, find it and place it in a small cup with milk or your own saliva.
  2. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area of the affected tooth.
  3. Call your dentist right away!
  4. Place a cold compress on the outside of your mouth to help reduce swelling.
  5. If you are in extreme pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help control your pain.
  6. Don’t panic.

These simple steps can help save your smile. Knowing what to do in an emergency before an emergency happens can help you deal with the problem with greater confidence.

At The Smile Lounge, we are dedicated to providing the best dental care services to all our patients. If you experience a broken molar, cracked tooth, or any other oral damage, please contact our practice immediately!

Posted on Behalf of The Smile Lounge

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Taking care of your oral and overall health must be a priority. Knowing when you need to call your dentist is important. Practicing good oral hygiene habits help to prevent tooth decay, cavities, and many other issues. Cavities are one of the most common issues patients face, and about 30 percent of Americans have untreated dental cavities. Leaving a cavity untreated can destroy your teeth leading to tooth loss, infection, and other more serious conditions.
It is helpful for patients to understand what a cavity is, and also know what symptoms to look out for if you think you may have a cavity.

What is a Cavity?

A cavity is when bacteria or food build up and form plaque on your teeth. The bacteria eat away at the enamel on your teeth and cause decay. Good oral hygiene habits are so important, and brushing and flossing can help you get rid of the plaque build up to prevent cavities from developing. Once the cavity is formed there is a small hole in your tooth, and if left untreated the cavity can destroy your tooth or develop an infection.

What Are the Signs of a Cavity?

There are signs you can look out for that may indicate you have a cavity. If you experience any of these signs we encourage you to contact our office, and our staff will get you in as soon as possible. Our team always works to keep our patient’s teeth and mouth healthy and pain free.

• Sensitivity to hot and cold that lingers and does not go away
• Sensitivity to sweet foods or drinks
• A toothache that is on or around one or more teeth
• Pain when you bite down or pain during eating
• Discoloration, white spots, or staining on a tooth
• A small hole or mark on your tooth

Need to Contact Our Office?

Knowing these signs can help you decide if you need to contact a dentist. We always tell patients to never hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help, and a cavity should never be left untreated.
If you think you may have a cavity and need to schedule an appointment, contact our office and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you!