Hello! I’m Isabella Mejia, DMD, of The Plano Dentist in Plano. Thanks for visiting my dental blog. The topic of today’s post is malocclusion–literally–”bad bite.” Malocclusion Affects Many People Edward Angle, a pioneer in modern orthodontics invented the term malocclusion. Malocclusion is fairly common in the population as a whole but, fortunately, in most cases,…
Uncategorized
What If My Dental Insurance Doesn’t Cover Dental Implants?

For years, the dental industry has been advocating implants as the preferable tooth restoration option in most circumstances. But many dental insurers don’t cover implants. The dental insurance industry seems to be stuck in 1970. For example, many insurers will cover dental bridges. Clearly, dental insurance providers rarely make coverage decisions based on what is…
Cavity Fighting Chewing Gum?

I’m Isabella Mejia DMD of The Plano Dentist in Plano. My patients often ask me if chewing xylitol gum is an effective substitute for tooth brushing and regular dental exams. Before I answer that question, let me tell you a little bit about xylitol: Xylitol is a natural sweetener that was first discovered in birch…
Still Have Your Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth usually come in between ages 16 and 24. Wisdom teeth are not always troublesome, but it is important to learn as early as possible whether your wisdom teeth are coming in sideways or otherwise impacting your other teeth. Checking your wisdom teeth is a simple and painless process, and can save you trouble…
A Missing Tooth Can Lead to Bone Loss

Today’s article focuses on missing teeth and bone health. Our teeth have many vital functions. We need them to chew our food, talk, and smile. But have you ever considered their role in holding up your face? When we lose teeth, the bone around the site of the extraction begins to shrink. This, in turn,…
Been A While Since You’ve Visited A Dentist?

We are The Plano Dentist, located at 3115 W Parker Rd Ste C538 in Plano. If you are looking for an experienced family dentist, we invite you to come in for a consultation. Nervous? You Are Not Alone The very idea of visiting a dentist holds a negative connotation for many men and women. If…
Overlapping Teeth Can Be Corrected for a Beautiful Smile

At The Plano Dentist, we provide advanced cosmetic dentistry. That means we correct all types of smile imperfections. Overlapping teeth are fairly common. And while many individuals don’t mind a slight overlap, others feel self-conscious and would like it corrected. What causes teeth to overlap? Genetics or thumbsucking as a toddler can result in overlapping…
Beware Of Hidden Sugar

We counsel our dental patients at The Plano Dentist to watch their sugar intake to prohibit cavities and other health issues. If you are trying to de-sugar your diet, you are probably skipping the usual suspects: candy, soda, and baked treats. But not all sugar is as recognizable as the frosting on a piece of…
Periodontal Disease Is Linked To Systemic Diseases

What do your gums do? The soft tissue in your mouth, like skin, has a key job. It safeguards the roots of your teeth. It also provides a barrier for the connective tissues and ligaments that hold your teeth in their sockets. Plus the alveolar bone in which your teeth are anchored. What is gum…
How Do You Measure Dental Success?

How do you measure “dental success?” A check-up with no cavities? A perfect smile? A crown that looks as natural as the surrounding teeth? It could mean all those things and many more. For a child, dental success could be defined as a childhood free of cavities, learning daily dental hygiene practices, and gaining an…