Imperial Dental Center provides cosmetic and restorative dentistry in Sugar Land, TX, and sees patients from Missouri City, Richmond, Stafford and across Fort Bend County. Our office is on Highway 6 in the 77478 area. Dr. Dragana Angelova will walk you through the options that suit your teeth, your goals and your timeline, from a single veneer or crown through to rebuilding a full arch.
Cosmetic Dentist in Sugar Land, TX
Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry
Filings
At Imperial Dental Center, we strive to provide you with the latest in dental materials serving the Houston area, especially Fort Bend County. The composite resin fillings (also known as “white colored fillings”) are made out of resin with small ceramic particles and is usually cured with special light. Latest technology shade guides are used to choose the color of your filling when selecting the most appropriate material.
Crowns, bridges
When teeth are severely decayed, or when teeth can no longer be restored with fillings, crowns are necessary to restore the complete tooth surface. In cases of missing teeth, sometimes the gap between the teeth can be ‘bridged” with a dental bridge. Dr. Angelova uses only the highest quality materials and top laboratories nationwide for her restorative cases. Crowns and bridges are permanently cemented only upon your specific approval of the color, shape and appearance and a final radiograph that ensures absolute perfect fit.
Veneers
Veneers are made out of porcelain and are essentially very thin shell that is custom made for you and bonded to the front surface of your teeth. Porcelain veneers are used to replace lost tooth structure, to improve esthetic appearance of color or shape of certain teeth, to close gaps between teeth, and other reasons. Not everyone is a candidate for veneers but we would love to discuss any viable treatment option with you.
Dental implants, crowns and bridges
Dental implants are designed and manufactured with the latest technology available to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are made of titanium or other compatible materials that allow your body to heal around them. At Imperial Dental Center’s Sugar Land office, we use only high quality implant systems and laboratories. They are similar to posts that are placed in your jaw bone, followed by an artificial crown or bridge which is then attached to the implant. Most of the time and in most patients, the dental implant option is very predictable treatment option to replace missing teeth. Sometimes, severe general health issues can complicate this treatment so it is best to discuss all of your options with the dentist first. In general, there are three major phases in getting a fully functional tooth replacement with a dental implant prosthesis:
- First, the dentist places the dental implant surgically into the jaw bone.Sometimes, additional radiographs or three-dimensional scans are necessary to determine if there is enough bone to support the dental implant. In cases where there is not enough bone, bone augmentation techniques are used in order to build up more bone necessary for the placement of the dental implant.
- Healing of the bone around the dental implant is needed in order to achieve integration of the implant within the jaw bone. This process, called “osseointegration” is necessary in order to achieve future stability of the implant. Placement of the final tooth/teeth is the most expected and exciting part of this process. As part of the process, a new tooth or bridge will be customized to the dental implant(s). This process involves taking precise impressions and customized lab work and it may take some time to finalize.
Dentures, including latest technology materials
In some patients, removable restorations, like dentures are warranted. Dentures are designed to replace few or many missing teeth and are usually taken out of the mouth for regular cleanings and maintenance. Some dentures have acrylic base, some have a noble metal base and there are also new technology dentures that are made of softer and more patient friendly materials.
Digital Dentistry
Our new Intra-Oral Scanner (IOS) is used to accurately capture digital impressions for crowns, bridges and implant crowns. The digital impressions are fast and more comfortable than the previous methods. No more messy and uncomfortable trays.
Root Canals
Root canals are performed when the tissue inside your tooth becomes diseased and inflamed as a result of decay or for other reasons. The tissue inside your tooth, also called the dental pulp contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue and sometimes needs to be removed to relieve you from pain and ensure longevity of the tooth in question. The procedure is called root canal therapy and can be performed by your general dentist or a specialist, called an endodontist. Dr. Angelova is well versed in all sorts of root canal treatment and uses rotary instruments for root canal treatment.
In certain cases, if the tooth in question is anatomically not favorable for treatment, Dr. Angelova will refer you for treatment to an endodontist as a root canal dentist. We have several professional endodontists that help us serve our mutual patients in the best possible way. All of the endodontist we refer to are exceptionally trained and Dr. Angelova personally follows up on all of the cases, as review reports from the endodontist are standard protocol for our collaborative specialist offices.
Simple and Surgical Extractions
Surgical extractions and preservation of the tooth socket with bone grafting are done typically when future dental implant surgery is planned for the particular area, or to simply ensure most natural healing outcome, in terms of esthetics and functionality. The teeth are carefully removed with special surgical instruments and the procedure is performed as atraumatically as possible, aimed in preserving the surrounding bone and tissues. The empty space (socket) is filled with specially selected substitutes for bone, called bone grafts. The bone grafts are typically from human, bovine, equine, or synthetic origin. At the end of the procedure, a special membrane is sometimes used to cover the bone graft and contain it, as well as some suture material.
Teeth Whitening
Sometimes called ‘teeth bleaching”, the teeth whitening procedure is non-invasive, simple procedure done to change the color of your natural tooth enamel, which in turn can vastly improve the esthetic appearance of your teeth. This procedure can be done at our Sugar Land, TX facility, followed by a teeth-whitening kit for home use. Still, these procedures are not always permanent and results may vary, especially if you drink a lot of tea, coffee or if you are a smoker. Dr. Angelova will be happy to discuss all options and help you choose the best course of action, to fit your individual needs and expectations.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a specific orthodontic treatment design to help move teeth in your mouth into the desired position. This treatment is indicated in specific cases and Dr. Angelova will discuss your own individual case to determine if you are a good candidate for this particular treatment. Some cases are referred to the orthodontist, a specialist.
Sealants for prevention of decay
In some cases, sealants are used for prevention of decay. Sealants are thin layers of special material that adheres to the chewing surface of your back teeth and helps prevent decay. They can be used in children and adults and are proven to reduce the risk of decay by about 80% in back teeth (molars), according to the American Dental Association.
Custom produced night guards
Night guards are custom produced to fit your mouth. Sometimes, deep and hard bite forces and the wear on the teeth can be tremendous, as well as the pressure on our muscles and jaw joints. In such cases, a night guard may be recommended to help alleviate the problem. The night guards are made of special plastic material and are with the durability and structure that can sustain the strong bite forces, at the same time relieving the stress on the teeth.
• Note: For more information on specific dental procedures, please visit: The American Dental Association Website www.ADA.org and WebMD at www.WebMD.com.
Cosmetic dentistry in Sugar Land: common questions
What does a cosmetic dentist in Sugar Land treat?
Cosmetic dentistry covers the work that changes how your teeth look: porcelain veneers, tooth colored fillings, crowns and bridges, teeth whitening, and clear aligners such as Invisalign. At Imperial Dental Center these are handled in the same office as your general care, so there is no separate referral needed to get started.
What is the difference between cosmetic and restorative dentistry?
Restorative work rebuilds teeth that are damaged, decayed or missing, using fillings, crowns, bridges, implants or dentures. Cosmetic work changes the appearance of teeth that are already sound. Most treatment plans involve both, because a crown or an implant has to look right as well as function properly.
Am I a candidate for porcelain veneers?
Veneers are thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of your teeth, used to correct shape, spacing, chips and discoloration that whitening cannot reach. They need healthy underlying tooth structure and healthy gums, so Dr. Angelova checks both before recommending them. Where decay or gum disease is present, that is treated first.
What does full mouth reconstruction involve?
Full mouth reconstruction means rebuilding the upper and lower teeth together rather than treating one tooth at a time. Depending on what is there to work with it can combine crowns, bridges, implants, dentures and gum treatment, staged across several visits. The first step is an exam and imaging, so you can see the sequence and the timeline before anything begins.
How long do veneers, crowns and implants last?
With good home care and regular checkups, porcelain veneers and crowns commonly last many years, and dental implants are designed as a long term replacement because the jaw bone heals around the titanium post. Grinding, clenching and gum disease shorten the life of all three, which is why a night guard is sometimes part of the plan.