How Root Canals Help Save your Teeth

Root canals are an essential measure in the fight to save teeth from infection and severe damage. Without attention from a dentist, decay can start as a small spot on enamel – a cavity – and progress to the inner portions of teeth, or even into a tooth’s roots – the part of a tooth that keep it in-place.  Tooth infections and extremely damaged teeth can often be saved, and your oral health preserved, with help from root canal therapy at our Plano dental office.

How Root Canals Preserve Tooth Structure

When a tooth is infected, material called dentin – the pulp and nerves inside the tooth’s canals – is what gets damaged. But dentin can actually be removed without compromising the integrity of tooth walls or tooth roots. By removing dentin, we are able to prevent bad bacteria from spreading and causing further damage. The end result after root canal therapy is a clean, infection-free tooth that can be allowed to remain in place, without perpetuating oral health problems.

The Complications of Tooth Extraction

Teeth that are not treated with root canals, or that are damaged past the point of saving, must be removed to prevent discomfort and damage to neighboring healthy teeth. While this fixes the immediate problem presented by a diseased tooth, lack of natural teeth creates other issues, such as bone volume depletion, shifting of existing teeth alignment, and disruption in biting and chewing function.

It’s possible to replace teeth with prosthetics like dental implants, bridges, and dentures, but this incurs additional costs for care. When possible, it’s always best to keep your natural tooth structure and roots in place. Root canal therapy allows Dr. Yeary to do just that for patients.

Protecting Treated Teeth with Custom Restorations

The process for getting a root canal includes a final restorative process where your treated tooth is sealed to prevent additional damage and promote lasting function. Dr. Yeary accomplishes this by adding a customized, tooth-colored dental crown to your smile. Not only will you be free of the discomfort caused by a tooth infection, your tooth will be saved, and your smile will look healthy.

For more information about how we can protect and renew your oral health with a root canal, contact Plano Smiles to speak to a member of our team.

How A Mouth Guard Can Help You Sleep Better Today

The Thornton Adjustable Positioner(r) (TAP(r)) is a simple, patient-friendly treatment solution for snoring and sleep apnea. The TAP holds the lower jaw in a forward position so that it does not fall open during the night and cause the airway to collapse. It maintains a clear airway to reduce snoring and improve breathing.

The unique design allows the patient to fine-tune his/her treatment at home and work with the clinician to achieve the best results. Patients are empowered to manage the degree of lower jaw protrusion over as many nights as it takes to achieve the optimal treatment position. The TAP has a single point of central adjustment, which prevents uneven bilateral adjustment that can create an irregular bite and discomfort.

The TAP has over a 95% success rate. It is the key to a snore-free, restful night of sleep. The TAP also treats sleep apnea without the need for surgery, a mask, or medication. The TAP is recognized as the market leader in oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea and is currently prescribed by over 7,000 dentists worldwide to treat snoring and sleep apnea. In addition, it is the most researched oral appliances on the market with over 30 independent peer reviewed published studies. A simple dental examination is necessary to know if the patient will be able to use an oral appliance.

Why Patients like the TAP

• Comfortable, custom fit
• Durable construction
• Easy to use
• Adjustable while in the mouth
• Patient can adjust at home and achieve maximum treatment results night to night
• Smaller and less bulky than other oral appliances
• Convenient for travel
• No masks or straps involved

What Teeth Grinding Does to your Smile

Night time teeth grinding is an involuntary action that many people may experience from time to time. However, continued and frequent teeth grinding has some negative consequences for your health, including:

Flattening Enamel - Persistent pressure on teeth, and the force of moving teeth back and forth against each other, can wear them down over time. With extra force, enamel begins to flatten, which can take a toll on aesthetic and your ability to chew properly.

Creating the Need for Restoration - Teeth that are protected from damage by preventive health measures need less complex care. When enamel has been altered by extensive grinding, however, dental restorations may be necessary. Teeth grinders may need dental crowns to prevent additional damage, protect weakened teeth, or repair chips, cracks, and fractures.

Creates Jaw Pain and Tension - Teeth grinding and jaw pain go hand-in-hand. While grinding teeth, muscles around jaw joints clench and tighten, creating soreness, discomfort, and frequent headaches.


While all of these secondary issues are uncomfortable, they are preventable with the help of a custom oral appliance.

Protecting your Smile with Mouth Guards

Mouth guards create a barrier between each arch of teeth and cushions against all of the extra pressure caused by teeth grinding. With mouth guards, patients grind teeth against the protective appliance, not dental enamel.

Mouth guards also prevent the radiating jaw pain caused by muscle clenching that contributes to grinding. With the support provided by the mouth guard, the extra force is absorbed by the appliance, alleviating soreness in jaw joints or clicking and popping sounds that are indicative of jaw joint issues.

Learn more about how you can Benefit from Dental Appliances

If you’re a night-time teeth grinder or you’re experiencing persistent jaw pain, mouth guards can provide a simple and effective solution to these nagging dental problems. Contact our Plano dental office to learn more about getting a custom-created oral appliance.