Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We know that cost is a concern for most of our patients. Dental insurance, while not a catch all for cost, can help offset some of the expenses for every day dental care, making it more affordable for many of our patients.

Hundreds of different dental plans exist and the coverage for each is different. So, even within the same insurance company, several different plans may be available. Dental insurance usually has a yearly cap, so you may find that if you need a lot of treatment, your insurance coverage only contributes up to a certain amount.

Our Sugar Land dental office accepts most dental insurance plans. If you have any questions about your coverage, we are happy to provide assistance and help you determine if your future procedures will be covered.

Our knowledgeable team will help you maximize your insurance benefits and minimize your out of pocket costs, whenever possible. If your procedure is not covered, we can discuss our financing options, including Care Credit. We also accept most major credit cards for payment.

If you want to make sure we accept your insurance, please call our office. We can help you make financial arrangements so that you do not have to put off your necessary dental care. We look forward to helping you achieve a healthier, more beautiful smile.
 

Absolutely! We love treating children, and children love coming here. We know that it is important to our patients to be able to keep appointments simple and convenient. We make it easy for your entire family to get total dental care in one location. We can schedule appointments so that you and your child receive treatment when it works in your schedule. That means no traveling across town for your child’s dental appointments.

 Our Sugar Land dental team is accustomed to treating children in our office. They know how to communicate to make your child feel comfortable and at ease with receiving treatment. We explain their treatment in a way that helps them understand what is going to happen so they are not afraid.

Dr. Regan Grizzle is especially good with children. His kind nature and gentle touch are a great combination to start your little one out on the right foot with their dental health. Kids enjoy their dental visits in our office and our focus on diagnosis and prevention keeps them healthy.

Are you looking for a highly skilled compassionate dentist that can treat your whole family? Call our office to schedule your child’s next dental appointment. We look forward to treating your entire family and supporting your overall dental health and wellness.
 

At Dr. Reagan Grizzle’s office, we welcome your children to our practice. We believe treating the entire family provides the convenience and continuity of care that parents really appreciate. We truly enjoy treating children and have a special gift when it comes to making them feel at home.

The first line of defense against cavities and other common dental problems faced by children is excellent home care, routine dental exams, and cleanings. Getting kids started early with excellent dental habits will help to ensure a lifetime of dental health.

Excellent home care begins with thorough brushing and flossing of each tooth. Until the age of eight, kids do not have the dexterity necessary to brush their own teeth so you will have to help. Once they start brushing their teeth on their own, checking in with them to make sure they got all of the areas is a good practice. Children sometimes miss the teeth in the very back because they are hard to reach.

In addition to brushing and flossing, regular dental visits can help to detect any early problems your child may have. When you bring your child for an exam, we will do a thorough cleaning and examine each tooth. If we see something that requires your attention, we will be sure to let you know.
 

We do our best to clean your child’s teeth quickly and thoroughly because we know they have a limited attention span. If their home care is good, a dental hygiene appointment should take no longer than thirty minutes.

If necessary, we may take to time to help both parents and children learn the proper techniques to take care of their child’s teeth so that we can avoid things like decay and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is common in children when their home care is not sufficient or inconsistent. Some medications may also increase the risk of periodontal disease in kids. If your child’s gums bleed when you brush them, it’s time to give us a call.

If we find decay at your child’s dental appointment, we will most likely need to schedule them for treatment on another date. Delaying treatment or too long puts their teeth at risk because decay never resolves on its own. It often gets worse and can cause bad breath and pain for your child.

Simply avoiding sugary snacks is not enough. Your child needs to brush and floss their teeth twice daily and have regular exams to stay healthy. Children will need your assistance with brushing and flossing until they acquire the dexterity to do a good job on their own, usually not until after their eighth birthday.

The first thing you should do is to remain calm. Because of their nature, children have dental emergencies all of the time. If your child is bleeding severely, dizzy, unconscious, or has a head injury call 911 first. Their more critical wounds should be dealt with prior to their dental emergency.

If your child has a dental-only emergency and is in pain, call us right away. We want to help. Be prepared to tell us the nature of the emergency, when it happened, what teeth sustained damage (if any), and what caused the injury.

Did your child lose a tooth? If it is a baby tooth, we will not replace it, but if it is a permanent tooth, try to gently put it back in the tooth socket. If that is not possible, put it in a clean container of milk and bring it with you to their appointment, we may still save the tooth.

If your child is bleeding from their gums, have them rinse their mouth and then apply light pressure to the area. Do not press hard. Call us immediately and we will find an appointment time to take care of your child, diagnose the situation, and provide aftercare instructions.

At Dr. Regan Grizzle’s office, we recommend only the x-rays that are essential to proper diagnosis and treatment for your child. When we take x-rays, we look for things like decay and to make sure that their teeth are coming in correctly.

We know you love your child and parents worry about things like radiation exposure, but with today’s dental x-rays, your little one experiences exposure to the lowest level of radiation of all medical x-rays. We have special settings on our digital x-ray machines for their small frames and teeth. You get more radiation walking around outside.

Dental x-rays are safe and when you think about the benefits like early detection of common conditions such as orthodontic complications and decay, the risk is well worth it. Early orthodontic intervention in children can help to avoid many major problems down the line. We can recommend treatment at an early age and reduce overall treatment time.

We only take x-rays once yearly unless your child encounters a problem or we need to make a diagnosis mid-year. A commitment to early detection now means a lifetime of good dental health and wellness in the future.

Do you still have questions about x-rays for your child? Call us! Our helpful team members look forward to hearing from you.

Composite fillings are a plastic material that is customizable to match your teeth. Because composite materials contain absolutely no mercury, some experts feel it is a safer option than the old black amalgam fillings of the past.

While most dentists believe amalgam fillings to be completely safe and appropriate treatment for dental decay, some dentists would rather not take that risk. Some patients complain of hot and cold sensitivity with amalgam fillings, as well. Because they are metal, they are better conductors than composites.

Additionally, we preserve more of your tooth structure when placing a composite filling as opposed to an amalgam filling because less prep work is necessary. While composites generally take a little more time because of the curing process, your filling will be as hard as it will get when you leave our office. That means you can chew on it right away, unlike amalgam fillings that must cure for hours before chewing on them.

While composites tend to cost a little more, the benefits of using them are many. Aside from the obvious aesthetic advantages, composite materials and techniques constantly improve making them as long lasting and reliable as amalgams. If you have questions about composite fillings, please do not hesitate to ask.

Composite fillings come in many shades and when Dr. Reagan Grizzle polishes them to a smooth shine, you cannot tell the difference between your filling and your tooth. Sometimes people chose to replace their old amalgam fillings because they darken your tooth and make it look gray.

However, aside from replacing black mercury fillings, we often use composite material to improve the appearance of your smile. When you have small flaws in your teeth, you may feel self-conscious. We can fix many of the minor flaws with composite. Flaws such as gaps, chips, and worn teeth may not need a crown or veneer. The benefit of using composite to treat more minor cosmetic flaws is that we do not need to do extensive prep work on your tooth. Any time we can preserve your natural tooth is a win in our book.

If you have cosmetic flaws in your smile that you do not like, call and set up an evaluation. We can let you know all of your options once we do a thorough evaluation and describe all of your options. Cosmetic treatments like whitening and dental bonding are much quicker, easier, and more affordable than you might imagine. Dr. Reagan Grizzle can help you make the decision that best suits your needs.

Dr. Reagan Grizzle can help most people who have a chipped or misshapen tooth with dental bonding, a veneer, or a crown. Normal wear, a bad bite, or biting into something hard can cause a chipped tooth. Chips feel rough and can be unsightly. They also unlock the door to decay. Often times, depending on the severity of the chip, we can address it with cosmetic dental bonding.

Dental bonding utilizes the white composite material that we use for white fillings to fix chipped and worn teeth. One of the advantages of dental bonding is the minimal prep work required. Minimal prep means little to no extra damage to your natural tooth and a less expensive procedure. Bonding can cover a chip and protect your tooth from decay. It can also smooth those sharp edges from a chipped tooth and restore the beauty of your smile.

Sometimes, the damage may be too severe and require a crown or veneer to properly protect and stabilize your tooth. Dr. Reagan Grizzle will always be honest with you about the treatment that will give you the best results. We want your dentistry to look great, feel completely comfortable and be a good investment by lasting a long time.
 

Many patients have concerns about their mercury fillings and wonder if they should have them replaced either because they are breaking down or because they have an ugly appearance. Dr. Reagan Grizzle is extremely skilled at replacing your amalgam fillings with more attractive composite fillings. His expertise can make the process of filling replacement easy and safe. Dr. Grizzle has replaced thousands of old fillings with new stable ones.

Any fillings can break down over time because of the force of chewing and the conditions inside your mouth. Once fillings break down, you could get secondary decay around the margins of your fillings. Secondary decay can put your teeth at risk and may cause deep decay and pain. So, if you notice sensitivity or pain in your teeth, let us know right away. We can do an exam to determine the cause and get you taken care of and back on track to good health.

If your metal fillings have come loose or are leaking, let us know and we can replace them with tooth-colored composite fillings. If you want them replaced for other reasons, such as aesthetics, schedule a consultation appointment so we can discuss the pros and cons of replacing your fillings.
 

At our Sugar Land dental office, our patients want to look great and feel great. We often have requests for composite (white) fillings because the main advantage of having white fillings is that they blend in with your natural teeth.

Composite material comes in a variety of shades and we choose the one that will make your dental work disappear. The untrained eye will never know that you have fillings. We understand you do not to distract people with your dentistry and we don’t blame you. Your dentistry should enhance your beauty, not take away from it.

Composite fillings are also great for some other reasons. First, they last a long time. With proper care, your composite fillings can last for 7-10 years before needing replacement. In many cases, they never need replacing. In addition, we utilize composites to make minor cosmetic repairs to your teeth. If you have chips, gaps, or other flaws in the surface of your teeth, we can choose a custom shade and repair your tooth at a fraction of the cost of a crown or veneer.

Composite fillings help to preserve your tooth structure because they require minimal prep work. We remove only the affected area of your tooth structure and leave the rest completely intact.

Many of our patients want to look and feel their best for special events like weddings and class reunions. Dr. Reagan Grizzle can help you improve your smile based on what it is you are looking for, the amount of time you have available, and your budget for cosmetic dentistry.

Some of our patients want to make small changes like professional teeth whitening because it makes them look younger and healthy. At your reunion, you will bump into friends you may not have seen for ages. When you flash them your beautiful smile, you want them to be dazzled.

Other patients use their reunion as a good time to take care of some cosmetic concerns that have bothered them for quite awhile. If you want veneers or to have your dark fillings replaced, Dr. Reagan Grizzle can accommodate your needs.

When scheduling your cosmetic consultation, it is important to leave enough time for us to complete your procedures before your special event. Several months or more would be ideal if you have any major dentistry in mind.

Also, having an idea of your budget helps us to design a realistic plan for you. We want to give you excellent results and stay within your financial reality. We can make improvements with almost any budget.
 

We certainly understand when our patients want to improve their appearance. Having a dazzling smile can give you the confidence to speak to a romantic interest, make better sales, talk in public, or just to feel proud of what you see when you look in the mirror.

Getting you that Hollywood smile depends on your current dental situation. If your teeth are worn, cracked, have deep stains, or are crooked, we may need to use a variety of procedures to take care of your needs.

We will likely start with professional teeth whitening so that all dentistry to follow is matched to your new whiter teeth. Because your natural teeth whiten, but porcelain and composite materials do not, whitening is a logical place to start.

Then we will create a custom design for the smile of your dreams. We may need to remove decay and infection first if it has been awhile since you visited the dentist. We want to put your new dentistry into a healthy environment to ensure success.

We will likely need to employ various procedures and techniques to create that perfect look. Procedures such as dental veneers can dramatically improve your smile in a relatively short period of time.

Call us to schedule your cosmetic consultation. We look forward to helping you achieve beauty, comfort, and function.

Many of our patients express a concern about the appearance of their teeth. They often think that cosmetic dentistry is out of their reach, but the truth is that making improvements to your smile can be affordable and easy.

Share with us what bothers you about your smile and we can give you an estimate for what it would take to eliminate the flaws that you see. We offer very affordable treatment such as whitening and bonding to help keep your smile looking young and beautiful. Both are quick and work well for people who want to make some minor aesthetic changes.

Are you looking to make more dramatic improvements? We can help with that, too. If your teeth are worn or broken, we can create a smile makeover treatment plan. This treatment plan can be as extensive as you want it to be. Some people want to address their front teeth and others would like us to address every tooth.

Whatever your cosmetic needs may be, Dr. Reagan Grizzle looks forward to helping you feel happy and comfortable with your smile. We know that your smile is the first impression you make when you meet people and we want to help you make it a good one. Our office team caters to what you want as an individual.
 

Most of our patients are concerned about cost, especially when the procedure is elective. Most insurance companies won't pay for procedures that are purely cosmetic in nature such as teeth whitening and dental veneers. Some procedures, like crowns and bridges, serve both a cosmetic and a functional purpose, and in those cases, your insurance may cover them.

Hundreds of different dental insurance plans exist and each of them has different rules for coverage. We can help you find out what your insurance plan will and won't cover. Our helpful and knowledgeable team partners with you to help make getting the dentistry you want easy and convenient.

If your procedure is not covered by your insurance, we can help find a way to work it into your budget so that it does not create a financial hardship. We accept most major credit cards as well as Care Credit, which is a third party financing company.

We can also group your procedures out over time, addressing the most significant issues first and then moving on to less significant ones so that you can move forward with your cosmetic dental treatment.

If you have specific questions regarding dental coverage, please contact our Sugar Land office. We can give you specific answers once you provide us with some of your information.
 

When we create custom smiles for our patients, we spend a lot of time finding what you want. Some people want a perfect Hollywood look with white dazzling teeth and do not care whether it looks entirely natural or not. Others want an improved smile that looks like they had it all along. The choice is yours to make and we will do our best to help you get the perfect smile for you.

When we bring you in for a consultation, we will look at smiles and decide what type of look you are going for. When you have a full mouth cosmetic makeover, the possibilities are endless. You can have just about anything you want as long as your dentistry remains functional because that is the most important part. Having beautiful teeth makes no sense if you can’t chew!

We control how dramatic your smile makeover will be with a couple of factors. First, we match the shape and size of the teeth we design to your current facial features. Big teeth in a small mouth will look silly. Small teeth in a big mouth just will not get the job done. We carefully chose the size and shape so they make sense.

We also carefully choose the shade of your dentistry so that it looks realistic for your age and skin tone. We can show you more about this at your exam. 

When we do dentistry in our office, Dr. Regan Grizzle wants to make sure you receive an excellent value. That means getting giving our patients high quality dentistry that looks great, is completely comfortable, and lasts a long time. If your dentistry breaks down quickly and you have to have it redone in just a year or two, we feel that is not a good investment.

Dr. Grizzle will make a recommendation that will work best for you. In some cases that may mean that a large filling could work to repair your tooth. However, a crown may better protect your tooth and provide stability over a longer period of time.

We know that cost is a concern for most patients, but we also know that your time and comfort is valuable. That is why we recommend certain procedures over others. A crown is, by far, the most long-term solution for a damaged tooth. If your have cracks, a crown can prevent your tooth from requiring a root canal or from splitting down the middle, causing pain and requiring an extraction.

Ultimately which treatment you get is completely up to you. We commit to providing you with the most accurate information about your condition so you can make an educated decision regarding your dental health.
 

We know that emergencies can happen at the most inconvenient times. We are available to our patients who experience a dental emergency outside of regular business hours. If you break a crown, bridge, or other dental restoration, please call us immediately. We can help to assess the situation and determine a time for you to come in for an emergency appointment.

Crowns come off for a variety of reasons. Sometimes if you have a strong bite, you can compromise your crown through the sheer force of chewing. The cement on your crown may deteriorate, causing your crown to come off. You could also have decay under your crown, making your tooth structure soft and unable to support a crown.

If your crown comes off and you have it, hold on to it for your appointment. We may be able to recement it if nothing serious is wrong with your tooth or the crown.

If you have lost or broken one of your crowns, call us as soon as possible. That way, we can find a time to repair your crown and prevent you from pain and sensitivity. It is important to repair your crown in a timely manner so that your teeth do not begin to shift.
 

It may seem ok to leave your missing tooth alone if you can’t really see it when you smile, but leaving a gap in your teeth can start a chain reaction of dental problems. Did you know that when you lose a tooth, your entire bite could change?

Have you ever pulled a book out of a bookshelf and all of the other books tipped inward or to one side? The same thing happens when you lose a tooth. All of your other teeth begin moving in order to close in that gap. That may not seem like a big deal except that your teeth may no longer fit together properly when you bite down.

When your teeth do not fit together properly, you can start to have sensitivity and pain because on tooth is hitting harder than all of the others. Ultimately, it may cause severe jaw problems because your jaw will continuously try to find a comfortable position. When you have jaw joint problems, you can experience clicking, popping, and even locking of your jaw. These problems can cause significant pain.

When you get a dental bridge, we fill in the gap in your teeth and it acts as a space holder for your missing tooth. While bridges do not prevent bone loss, they can help maintain the integrity of your bite.

When we create dentistry for our patients, we take a number of factors into account before designing the permanent restorations. If your dentistry is visible when you talk or smile, we will do our best to make sure it blends in with your surrounding teeth. We look at color, most certainly, but we also take your tooth’s shape, size, and unique characteristics into account when designing restorations.

We also want to provide the greatest comfort and function. So we weigh all of our options and tell you the benefits of each, allowing you to make the final decision when it comes to your treatment. For some patients, having the very best materials is incredibly important. For others, having greater comfort is most important. Fortunately, with advancements in dentistry and dental procedures, you can have both.

If aesthetics is important to you, you have more options than ever for dental restorations. From porcelain and metal to all ceramic restorations, today’s dentistry is gorgeous when created by a doctor and a skilled dental lab.

Dr. Grizzle has years of experience creating life like restorations for our patients. They come back to us repeatedly telling us they love how attractive and comfortable their smiles are.

Advancements in technology and materials mean that today’s dental bridges are more attractive and realistic than ever. Dental bridges are one of the most tried and true tooth replacement options available. Additionally, they are a great alternative for people who cannot have dental implants.

Traditional dental bridges consist of two dental crowns on your natural teeth with abutments to hold the artificial (replacement) tooth in the center. Bridges are made to match the rest of your teeth, so that they appear completely natural.

Because of the nature of dental bridges, keeping them clean can pose a challenge, but is easy if you stick to it. Food can sometimes get lodged in part of your bridge and may require a special brush or special floss to remove it. It is extremely important that you keep your dental bridge clean, just like your natural teeth, otherwise you can risk losing your investment.

Are you interested in hearing about your tooth replacement treatment? Dr. Reagan Grizzle can explain all of your options and give his honest opinion about which will work best for you. He will take your health, your budget, and your lifestyle into account when making a recommendation for your dentistry.
 

Without a crystal ball, we cannot predict the length of time your dentistry will last. So much depends on how well you care for your implants, your unique biology, and how healthy your bone is. We take all of these factors into consideration when deciding whether implants will work for you, but we cannot predict some things.

Taking care of your dental implants once we place them is essential to their longevity and health. That means brushing and flossing twice daily at home. Dental implants are convenient and you take care of them very much how you would take care of your natural teeth.

Your mouth is full of bacteria and allowing bacteria to sit too long on your teeth and gums leads to infection. No matter how diligent your home care is, you can never remove all of the plaque and calculus you acquire. Keeping your professional dental cleaning appointments and exams is essential to all of your dentistry, your oral health, and your implants.

Your dental exams will give Dr. Grizzle a heads up if something is wrong not only for your implant, but also for your bone, bite, and natural teeth. Dr. Grizzle will always check your dentistry to make sure it is holding up like it should.

Seniors are living longer than ever these days and staying more active. In fact, in their senior years, many people find them selves starting a new career or looking to start a new romance. Just because you’re a senior does not mean you need to stay at home and age. In fact, seniors today like to travel, work, meet new people, stay active, and be with the people they care about.

That is why we recommend dental implants for healthy patients of all ages. In your senior years, isn’t it more important than ever to eat the foods you love and live life to the fullest. In fact, nutrition is vitally important as we age, so being able to eat all of the delicious healthy foods will keep you in tiptop shape.

Dental implants are still the most reliable tooth replacement option for patients who are healthy enough to receive them. They are easy to take care of, look great, and are the option closest to your natural tooth. Not only do they complete your chewing surface, but they also help you to retain your jawbone because they anchor to your bone, just like a natural tooth.

No matter what age you are, we encourage you to consider dental implants as a tooth replacement option for today’s busy seniors.

Dental implants are a state-of-the-art tooth replacement technology that look and function most like your natural teeth. Because your dental implant is rooted in your bone, cleaning and caring for your dental implant is much like cleaning and caring for your natural teeth. You can brush and floss your dental implant normally, making dental hygiene a breeze.

The three-part system is made up of a titanium "root" that is placed by a trusted oral surgeon, a crown that looks like a real tooth, and an abutment that attaches the crown to the implant. When your implant placement is complete, no one may ever notice that it is not your natural tooth.

Dental implants offer the flexibility and freedom our patients appreciate. Unlike bridges, your dental implant is a stable and functional part of your natural bite. Dr. Reagan Grizzle will make sure your restored crown fits perfectly with your adjacent and opposing teeth. This will give you maximum comfort and function so that you can eat the foods that you like.

To find out if dental implants are a good option for replacing your missing teeth, call our Sugar Land dental office. We can schedule an evaluation for you so that Dr. Grizzle can explain your tooth replacement options.
 

Everyone is talking about dental implants because they are a great option to replace missing teeth. When you lose a tooth, your bone may begin to recede because your tooth helps to stabilize your bone as much as your bone stabilizes your tooth. When tooth loss destroys that relationship, your oral health declines and places your adjacent and opposite teeth at risk.

Once bone begins to recede, it becomes a ticking clock. Getting an implant placed as quickly as possible after you heal from an extraction is essential. In order for successful implant placement, you need to have enough bone remaining or you could require a bone graft.

Implants are superior to other tooth replacement options for other reasons, as well. Since implants are similar to your natural tooth in that they integrate with your bone, you can chew on them just like you would chew on your natural tooth.

Because the mechanical part of an implant hides beneath your implant crown, your dental implant will look like a natural tooth. No one will likely notice the difference unless you point it out.

You should floss and brush your implant just like a natural tooth, making implant care incredibly easy for even the busiest of people.

At Dr. Reagan Grizzle’s office, we do everything possible to prevent tooth loss. Sometimes, even the best care cannot prevent a tooth from requiring an extraction. We understand you want to know all of your options when it comes to tooth replacement and Dr. Grizzle will go over the treatment that will work best for you.

One of the best ways to replace a missing tooth is with a dental implant. Dental implants are most like your natural teeth. They look natural, function like a real tooth, and help to prevent bone loss.

Dental implants are custom made to match your natural teeth. The size, shape, and color of your implant crown will be chosen specifically for you. Because our implant crowns look so natural, no one will ever know you have an implant.

Dental implants become stable because they work with your bone. That stability means they will not only fill in the gap in your teeth, but also provide a chewing surface.

One of the most important benefits of dental implants is that they help to preserve your bone. When you lose a tooth, the bone begins to deteriorate. A dental implant anchors your bone and may slow or prevent bone loss.
 

Your dental care is as personal and individualized as your medical care. Each person has unique needs and challenges when it comes to dental health. At our Sugar Land dental office, Dr. Reagan Grizzle tailors your dental care to your specific needs.

Our dental cleanings are not one size fits all. We recommend more extensive cleanings for people who suffer from periodontal (gum) disease or are more prone to getting decay. We may also recommend other preventative treatments like fluoride.

The American Dental Association recommends that everyone have a cleaning (and examination) every six months. For most of our patients, we feel that this recommendation is appropriate. However, if you have a history of decay or gum disease, we may recommend more frequent cleanings and exams to keep you healthy.

Even though most insurance companies only cover two exams and cleanings each year, we base our recommendations on what our patients need. So, if Dr. Grizzle or our hygienist recommend more frequent cleanings, it is because we want to do what it takes to keep you healthy. In most cases, the cost of additional cleanings and exams is minimal compared to some of the more complex treatments we might be able to avoid like fillings and periodontal treatment.
 

If your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, it’s time to schedule a dental exam so we can find out what’s causing the bleeding. Contrary to popular belief, it is not normal for your gums to bleed under any circumstances. Sometime, if the bleeding is in one area, it may mean that you have something lodged under your gums. We can help you remove it so that your gums can heal.

More often than not, patients come to us with general bleeding in their gums and that is an indication of a serious underlying condition called periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is an infection that has many negative effects on your body. Scientists discovered a link between periodontal disease and early death due to heart attacks and strokes.

The only way to accurately determine the cause of your bleeding is to do an exam. First, Dr. Grizzle will visually inspect the affected area. Next, he may take measurements of your gums to determine the presence and severity of the infection. Then, he may request an x-ray to determine what is happening inside the tooth and below your gum line.

One he makes a diagnosis, he can recommend treatment to help get you back on track to excellent health and wellness.

At each dental cleaning appointment, our hygienist makes a thorough inspection of your teeth, looking for any areas of concern. If our hygienist notices something that requires Dr. Grizzle’s attention, she will let him know right away because prevention and early treatment are both important.

In addition to a visual examination, our skilled hygienist performs an oral cancer screening. That means we look over all of the soft tissue inside your mouth and including your lips, under your tongue, and the back of your throat looking for any suspicious lesions. While oral cancer is not a common form of cancer, we examine all of our patients since we are the ones who see you every six months and would notice changes.

We may also perform a periodontal evaluation, a measurement of your gums, to determine if your gums are healthy.

Last but not least, our hygienist performs a professional teeth cleaning for you making sure to remove any tartar and plaque from your teeth. No matter how diligent your dental care is at home, your toothbrush and floss can simply not reach in every area of your mouth. Professional dental cleanings utilize special instruments to remove plaque and bacteria above and below your gum line. Then, we apply a special paste with a polisher to bring out the luster in your teeth.

Some of our patients wonder why dental exams are important at all, especially if nothing is going on. It may seem like Dr. Grizzle just looks inside your mouth and makes a determination that all is well, but what you may not realize is that he employs his expert diagnostic skills each time he looks in your mouth.

Dr. Reagan Grizzle does a visual assessment of your teeth noting any visible cracks or abnormal wear patterns that might indicate clenching, grinding, or problems with your bite. He looks for other problems like recession, broken cusps or visible decay.

If he sees something that concerns him, he will let you know right away. With many conditions, time is important. Sometimes when problems go untreated, they become bigger more costly dental issues.

At our Sugar Land dental office, we try to avoid dental problems with routine preventative treatments such as exams and cleanings. If a condition does arise, we make it a priority to treat it quickly and effectively while it is small. Any type of diagnosis requires Dr. Grizzle to confirm it. Dr. Grizzle is the one who is qualified to read and diagnose from x-rays and to make a treatment recommendation when it comes to your teeth. All of our preventative exams are to keep you in tiptop dental shape.

Occasionally, if you have symptoms of periodontal (gum) disease, it may be necessary for you to have more frequent cleanings to help you stay healthy. Periodontal disease is a serious infection in your gums and when left untreated can create systemic complications including heart conditions, diabetes, and even cancer.

When we recommend more frequent cleanings, it is to help your gums heal properly. Once you have had gum disease, you are more susceptible to a reoccurrence. While six months is enough for most people, some patients may need more frequent visits to maintain their health.

Cleanings for people with gum disease are often more thorough and gently sterilize your teeth above and below the gum line, removing the active infection so your gums have an opportunity to heal. We take measurements of our patients’ gums in order to identify and treat any infections. Other signs of periodontal disease include bleeding or tender gums.

Dr. Reagan Grizzle takes your health and wellness seriously. He knows the importance of healthy teeth and gums during all phases of your life. The treatment plan he recommends takes into account your needs and unique dental needs. We will monitor your progress carefully over time. Rest assured you are in good hands at our office.
 

While most people who whiten their teeth according to the instructions from their dentist experience few or no side effects to professional teeth whitening, a small percentage of people experience some minor side effects.

The most common side effects of professional teeth whitening are gum tenderness and tooth sensitivity. Gum tenderness often comes from using too much gel in your take-home whitening trays. You can avoid gum tenderness by using only the recommended amount of professional whitening gel. The gel should cover the front of your teeth, but not coat your gums. If the gel touches your gums for extended periods, it may cause soreness.

Tooth sensitivity could occur due to the strength of the whitening gel, the frequency you whiten, or by leaving your trays in for extended periods of time. If you experience sensitivity, call our office and we can recommend steps you can take to achieve the white smile you want and feel comfortable while you do it.

We can give advice and offer products to reduce tenderness and sensitivity. Because each person is different, not every product works for everyone. We can make recommendations for alternatives to give you a dazzling white smile.

For more information or for questions about your specific product, contact our Sugar Land dental office today.
 

How long professional teeth whitening takes depends on a number of factors such as how frequently you whiten your teeth and what strength the solution is that you are using.

When we create custom trays for you, we will ask you a few questions about your teeth and if you experience sensitivity. If you have sensitive teeth or if you have experienced sensitivity from whitening in the past, we may recommend a lower solution of whitening gel or a different formula altogether.

Products do exist to cut down on sensitivity from whitening and we can talk to you about those. It is always better to go slowly at first and see how you react to professional teeth whitening. If your gums feel irritated or your teeth feel sensitive to cold, back off for a few days and let the sensation subside.

With whitening several times a week, you should begin to see a difference after one week and reach your optimum whiteness after two to three weeks, depending on your level of staining. If you are touching up your teeth from a previous whitening treatment, it will take far less time to reach your maximum brightness.

You may notice that your teeth are not as white as they once were. Yellow staining because of food, drinks, or smoking can age your appearance. We offer options to improve the color of your teeth no matter what caused the discoloration. Whitening is more affordable and effective than ever.

Professional teeth whitening using the Kor whitening system or Opalescence gel can remove most surface staining. If your discoloration is resistant to bleaching, we can also look at more permanent solutions, including porcelain veneers.

Professional teeth whitening is easier to use and more effective than over the counter products. Over the counter products may not whiten evenly and can cause unnecessary sensitivity or blotchy results. When you whiten your teeth under Dr. Reagan Grizzle’s care, he will make sure that your professional whitening provides the outcome you desire.

Many of our patients decide to whiten their teeth prior to an important event or celebration like a wedding or reunion. Whitening also makes a great gift for friends and family who are looking to improve their appearance. Whatever the reason, we look forward to helping you achieve a whiter, brighter smile.

Call our office today to schedule a professional teeth whitening consultation with Sugar Land dentist Dr. Reagan Grizzle.
 

While professional teeth whitening is highly effective and easy to use, it can only whiten so far. If you have certain types of stains or if your teeth are naturally a darker shade, whitening may not be enough to fix the problem.

Professional teeth whitening works by whitening the stains your teeth acquire over time from habits such as coffee drinking, smoking, or eating a lot of dark fruits and vegetables. Essentially, Kor whitening bleaches those surface stains.

Some people are genetically pre-disposed to having darker colored teeth. Appearances can be deceiving, as well. People with a tan or darker skin tend to have whiter appearing teeth than their paler friends do.

Enamel is the part of the tooth that determines the color of your teeth because the dentin below your enamel is a yellow color, naturally. Whitening really only affects that outer enamel layer of your teeth. If your tooth is dark on the inside from one reason or another, we will likely need to explore other options for brightening up your smile.

Your teeth are not necessarily meant to be snow white, though some people prefer them that way. If you want a 100-watt smile, we can look at options to achieve your dazzling Hollywood look.

Many people experience no side effects at all from professional teeth whitening. When following directions properly, and under the supervision of your dentist, teeth whitening is incredibly safe and has no lasting side effects. If you use too much gel or try to hurry the process along by whitening too frequently, you could run into trouble.

When you use too much whitening gel and it oozes out of your trays and onto your gums, your gums can become irritated and even damaged, sloughing off and having white, damaged tissue. That is why it is so important to use only the recommended amount of whitening gel in your trays. Usually one small dot per tooth is enough.

Whitening too frequently can also cause discomfort and shooting pain or sensitivity when you drink cold beverages or breathe in cold air. You might be whitening too frequently. We know you are excited to improve your appearance, but you will feel more comfortable if you only whiten your teeth a few times a week instead of every single day.

If you experience sensitivity, take a break from whitening until the symptoms subside. If they continue, give us a call and we can suggest some products that might help reduce your symptoms enough that you can complete your treatment.

It is natural to be a little skeptical because new technology emerges all of the time. At Dr. Grizzle’s office, we do not just jump on every bit of new technology without doing research and making sure that it is truly something that benefits our patients. We know that patients don’t want to be bothered with a bunch of gadget just for the sake of using them. That is why Dr. Grizzle tests all of the equipment before he commits to it.

Dentists have used lasers in dentistry for decades now. From soft tissue lasers, used in gingival surgeries, to lasers used to prep teeth quickly and painlessly for procedures, lasers provide greater accuracy, comfort, and diagnostic benefits for our patients.

At Dr. Grizzle’s office, we use cavity laser detection as an additional tool to help prevent our patients from developing decay and requiring more extensive treatment. A lot of dentistry today is about prevention and anywhere we can save you from unnecessary treatment, we will.

Laser cavity detection works by shining a laser on your clean, dry tooth. The laser can penetrate your tooth through the smallest of fissures and determines the health of your tooth from the inside out, measures the level of decay, and its progression.

Laser cavity detection is incredibly useful for detecting cavities below the surface. Because fluoride had made enamel harder and mare stable, microscopic bacteria are sneaking into our teeth and eating them up from the inside out. While harder, healthier enamel is good, it does pose a challenge when it comes to the accurate diagnosis of dental caries.

The laser senses density and can find its way into the smallest of openings in your tooth and determine not only the presence of dental decay, but also the extent of the dental decay.

While laser cavity detectors work on the margins of amalgam fillings, composite (white) fillings will not work with laser cavity detection because of its density. Composites throw off the readings, leading to an inaccurate diagnosis.

Dental sealants also interfere with laser cavity detection. In order to use the laser, we must first remove your sealants.

We can use other measures to diagnose caries. We still have digital x-rays, visual inspection, and plenty of preventative measures to keep your teeth healthy. We use all of the methods available in order to protect your teeth.

If you have questions about laser cavity detection, please give us a call.

Laser cavity detection is a relatively new innovation used to detect cavities that are inside your teeth. It only takes a few bacteria to eat away at the inside of your teeth. Because enamel is harder and stronger than ever, thanks to fluoride, x-rays cannot penetrate your enamel to see what is going on inside your tooth. That is where laser cavity detection comes in.

Not only can we use lasers to detect cavities, but we can also use the measurements to see if the decay has grown in size or remained the same. We can also use the lasers to determine how extensive the decay is and whether we should treat it immediately.

Laser cavity detection does have its limitations. When you already have composite fillings, we cannot use the laser to detect cavities because the composite material interferes with the laser and gives inaccurate readings. Sealants also prevent the lasers from working properly.

If you have old amalgam fillings, we can use the laser to take measurements around the margin of your old fillings in case the margins are breaking down and allowing cavities to form.

Combining all of our tools provides us with an arsenal of protection against some of the most common dental conditions.

At Dr. Reagan Grizzle’s Sugar Land, TX dental office, we believe that any way that we can use technology to help our patients creates exceptional value and the best dentistry available. Because we focus on prevention, we decided to utilize DIAGNOdent laser cavity detection to help our patients maintain a healthy smile.

The smallest compromise in the enamel of your teeth can allow microscopic bacteria to enter. The bacteria create an acidic environment in your mouth and can create cavities. If those cavities are underneath your tooth’s enamel, it may not show up on an x-ray. This is why the DIAGNOdent is so useful.

DIAGNOdent works by treating your tooth with a specific laser wavelength. When the tooth is healthy, little or no fluorescence is exhibited and the readings are very low. When decay (caries) is present, the tooth displays fluorescence in proportion to the severity of the caries and results in a high reading. Lasers can detect cavities where the human eye and x-rays cannot.

In addition to providing a reading, the DIAGNOdent laser also identifies the area in your tooth where the decay is present so that Dr. Grizzle can efficiently and accurately remove the decay, sterilize your tooth, and fill it so that it is protected.
 

Dental technology is improving every day. Some of that technology helps with detection like digital x-rays and the DIAGNOdent laser. Prevention is the best thing we can do to help support your dental health. If you experience a problem and we are able to diagnose it early, we might be able to keep your expenses and the severity of treatment to a minimum. Dr. Reagan Grizzle believes in prevention, early diagnosis, and conservative treatment when taking care of his valued patients.

Our office uses the DIAGNOdent laser to help us find cavities when they are still very small and easily treatable with conservative, less-invasive measures. We use a handheld device to run a laser light over your teeth. The light provides readings that give us information about the composition of your teeth. Using this laser, we can even detect cavities that are forming under your enamel. We believe in prevention and early detection, and the DIAGNOdent laser is a part of that plan.

We are committed to the health of our patients and we utilize the tools we have available to make sure you stay healthy and cavity-free. We treat our patients like family and that includes helping to prevent pain and deep decay.
 

Getting dental veneers is not something you should take lightly. Before diving into the idea of having a beautiful new smile, make sure you are ready to make such a big change.

Once you are, you should know that dental veneers are not reversible. That means your dental veneers will be with you for the rest of your life. Most people look at this news as a good thing and feel ready to make the commitment. Obviously, you want to change your smile for a reason, probably to improve your appearance.

How many veneers you need depends on your smile. All of your front teeth should match properly so we want to place enough veneers to give you a natural look and have matching teeth all along the front of your mouth.

In order to place your dental veneers, we need to prep your tooth. That means that we need to remove a small amount of your tooth’s enamel in order to fit your veneer properly. This is the reason veneers are not a reversible procedure.

Once we remove a small amount of your enamel, we can permanently cement your veneers to your natural tooth structure. Utilizing veneers is the best way to make dramatic changes to the appearance of your smile.

If you have short, chipped, or jagged teeth, you may have a problem with your bite. Once we determine the issue and address it, we have techniques we can use to lengthen and improve the appearance of your teeth. Typically, we use porcelain veneers to make such repairs.

Porcelain veneers are thin, shell-like covers that fit over the front and edge of your teeth. They can address such concerns as shortened teeth, chipped or jagged teeth, severely stained teeth, and even slightly crooked teeth.

When you have veneers, your tooth must be prepped which means that a small amount of enamel will be removed from your teeth to make room for the veneers. Once your veneers are bonded to your teeth, with proper care, they should last for years to come.

It is essential for you to take care of any dentistry with the utmost care in order to protect your investment. Regular cleanings and dental exams are essential in the long-term care of your teeth.

Porcelain veneers can dramatically improve your smile. How many veneers you have and the size and shape can be determined at an evaluation with Dr. Reagan Grizzle. He is an expert in designing smile improvements for his patients.
 

It's not difficult, but it is a two-part process. At our office, we can place two different types of veneers. One common type of veneers requires the removal of a small amount of enamel from your teeth, and we will make sure that you are appropriately numbed before we do this so you won't feel a thing.

We are also able to place a second type of veneers that doesn’t require any tooth prep or enamel removal. We’ll discuss both of these options with you to help you determine which type of veneers is right for you.

We then take molds of your teeth to send to the lab that will be creating your veneers. If you are getting the veneers that require enamel removal, we may place temporary veneers on your teeth until your permanent veneers get back to prevent sensitivity.

When your permanent veneers are ready, you'll return to our office to have them bonded to your teeth. When everything is perfect, you'll be all set!

If dental veneers are something you are interested in learning more about, call our Sugar Land dental office and we will schedule a cosmetic dentistry evaluation with Dr. Reagan Grizzle to see if dental veneers would work well for you.
 

We fabricate your veneers from porcelain and not steel, so some caution is necessary when you have veneers. Porcelain helps us to achieve a natural tooth-like appearance for your dental veneers. We understand that accidents happen sometime and you may accidentally bite into something or knock something against your tooth, causing damage to your veneer.

If you break off a piece and you find it, please bring it with you. If you chipped your veneer, we may be able to make a minor, invisible repair depending on the location of the chip. Call us right away.

If your veneer feels loose, do not go to sleep with a loose veneer in your mouth, give us a call and we can schedule an emergency visit with you so you do not end up swallowing your dentistry. If your veneer is loose, but all in one piece, we can likely repair it for you and re-cement it.

Your veneers are not as strong as healthy natural teeth, so exercising caution by not biting into something incredibly hard, sticky, or crunchy with your veneers. You should also maintain outstanding home care when it comes to oral hygiene. Decay and infection may destroy all of your beautiful dentistry. Brush and floss twice daily and keep your regular dental appointments.

Approximately half of the population has some anxiety about the dentist. Our team is highly skilled in making even the most timid patients feel comfortable and relaxed for their appointments. We offer kind and compassionate care in a warm and welcoming environment. Our patients love how they feel when they are with us.

Sometimes our individualized care is enough to put patients at ease, but sometimes patients need help to feel comfortable. At Dr. Reagan Grizzle’s office, we offer oral sedation for the comfort of our patients.

Sedation is completely safe for most healthy people. However, because medications are involved, we will do a complete medical history prior to sedation to make sure it is safe for you. If you are pregnant, on certain medications, or suffer from certain conditions, we may need to come up with an alternate plan for your appointment.

Sedation utilizes medication instead of an IV to help patients relax. It is not as drastic as IV sedation, but you will still need someone to drive you to your appointment and drive you home because you will be groggy after your appointment.

Sedation is a safe and reliable method to reduce anxiety and increase comfort. Most patients report being completely relaxed and having little to no memory of their treatment.
 

When you come to our dental office, we want to help you to feel completely comfortable. We know that many of our patients have a fear of the dentist and they may not even be sure why, but just the idea of visiting a dental office creates anxiety.

Sedation dentistry helps in a couple of ways. First, the medication we use for sedation dentistry makes you feel completely relaxed. Most patients have no memory of their procedure. We still numb you just like usual so you don’t feel a thing and the medication takes the edge off your anxiety.

Secondly, your awareness of the sights, sounds, and smells of the dental office will be dulled. Things that bothered you before like the sound of the suction or the smells of the materials we use will not be an issue when you are sedated. Sensory triggers increase anxiety and sedation helps to dull those senses.

Our goal is to provide you with outstanding care and Dr. Reagan Grizzle is able to perform his job more effectively if you feel good about your appointment. If you ever considered sedation dentistry to ease your anxiety, please ask us about it. We would rather have your dental experience be a positive one.

Dr. Reagan Grizzle is sympathetic to your condition and will never proceed with dental work if you are uncomfortable, but we also know dentistry may be necessary from time to time.

Did you know that anxiety could prevent you from getting numb? Because anxiety causes a rush of adrenaline and stress hormones, the medications we use do not have the same effect as they would on a patient who feels completely relaxed.

Whether your anxiety comes from being at the dentist or because you know you have trouble getting numb, we can help. At our Sugar Land, TX dental office, we offer sedation dentistry to our patients in order to help them get numb and stay numb.

Because sedation relaxes you completely, our numbing medication has the opportunity to work effectively. You will not be worried about your procedure and we can proceed with a comfortable, pain-free, and anxiety-free dental visit.

We can use nitrous oxide or a stronger medication, if nitrous is not enough to make you feel relaxed and at peace about your appointment. Our compassionate team will work with Dr. Grizzle to find a solution that suits your needs so you can have the dentistry necessary to restore your health.

Dental fear and anxiety is common and experts estimate that it keeps about 15% of all Americans from getting the dental care they need. Patients have dental anxiety for a number of different reasons from a negative experience to unexplained fear. Whatever your reason of being afraid, we are here to help.

Everyone deserves to have a healthy and attractive smile, and we will work with you to make sure you can get the care you deserve, too. Our compassionate and gentle team is highly skilled with helping patients who are nervous and afraid. We realize that even calling to schedule an appointment is a big step for many of our patients.

Putting off your dental care could increase the expense and complexity of treatment. By calling now, you may help to take care of some of your problems before they progress. Waiting too long may put you into an emergency situation, which is less than ideal for high fear patients.

Call us today to set up a consultation with Dr. Grizzle to discuss the possibility of sedation dentistry. This process uses medication to reduce your anxiety and diminish sensation. We can talk about what specifically makes you nervous about dental care and find a solution that will work for you.
 

At our Sugar Land dental office, Dr. Reagan Grizzle decided to offer sedation dentistry when he realized how many of our patients had a fear of the dentist. Nearly half of all Americans admit to having some type of dental phobia or anxiety and probably many more that never admit it at all.

Sedation dentistry utilizes medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. The medication may come in the form of an inhalant like nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) or a stronger pill form of a medication to help you relax completely.

Both have their benefits. Nitrous oxide is convenient and wears off quickly once we cease administering it. You do not need to worry about driving after your appointment because by the time you leave, the nitrous oxide will be out of your system.

Oral conscious sedation is highly effective in treating people with a moderate to severe dental phobia. Oral conscious sedation comes in pill form and while it relaxes you completely, you cannot drive after we administer it, so you will need someone to bring you to your dental appointment and take you home.

Oral conscious sedation limits your awareness to your surroundings, but still allows us to speak to you and you can answer questions.

Oral cancer is a particularly nasty form of cancer. Treatment often includes drastic surgeries in addition to chemotherapy or radiation. Oral cancer has a high recurrence rate and is often diagnosed after it has already progressed. When you consider that almost 50% of the population avoids regular twice-yearly dental visits, it is no surprise. Your dentist is your best bet in the early diagnosis and successful treatment of oral cancer.

Oral cancer has certain risk factors you can control. The main two risk factors involve tobacco and alcohol use. If you smoke, you can reduce your risk by quitting. Avoiding alcohol, particularly hard alcohol and beer, can also reduce your risk. The instance of oral cancer is much higher in people who use tobacco and alcohol together.

Exposure to sunlight may also increase the risk of oral cancer on your lips. Wearing a lip balm with SPF protection and limiting sun exposure can reduce your risk. Some studies also suggest a connection between HPV (human papillomavirus) and a higher instance of oral cancer.

In our Sugar Land, TX dental office, Dr. Reagan Grizzle uses Vizilite in the detection of oral cancer. Vizilite detects abnormal cells by making them more visible. An oral rinse in used in conjunction with a low-intensity light to make any lesions stand out.

If Dr. Grizzle ever sees anything he feels you should be concerned about, he will discuss it with you so that you know all of your options and have the best chance of successful treatment.
 

Anytime you have a spot, discoloration, or a lesion in your mouth that lasts more than two weeks, you should have it checked. Pain is not necessarily an indicator of cancer, so Dr. Grizzle should look at it whether it hurts or not.

Oral cancer is a particularly deadly form of cancer. Eight thousand Americans will die of oral cancer this year out of the 43,000 diagnosed each year. It is particularly deadly not because it is difficult to treat, but because we so commonly discover it later when it is more difficult to treat.

More than 50% of Americans do not receive regular dental care either because they think they can’t afford it, because of a fear of the dentist, or because they simply do not see the value of professional dental care.

Lack of dental care can cause numerous systemic illnesses including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and can leave serious diseases like oral cancer undetected. Often your dentist is the only person looking inside your mouth who knows how to recognize the early signs of oral cancer.

Dr. Grizzle performs oral cancer screenings at each dental exam. You never know, your dentist may save your life.

Oral cancer is cancer on your lips, gums, soft tissue, insides of your cheeks, tongue, and the top of your mouth. Your dentist is often the one to diagnose oral cancer, because your dentist is the one looking at the inside of your mouth on a regular basis. Oral cancer makes its first appearance as a lesion inside your mouth. If Dr. Reagan Grizzle suspects oral cancer, he will refer you to a trusted oral surgeon for a biopsy and treatment.

While we do not completely understand every cause of oral cancer, several risk factors increase your chances of having oral cancer. Alcohol use and tobacco use are the two biggest risk factors. When you use both alcohol and tobacco, your chances of getting oral cancer increase dramatically. Men get oral cancer more than women and recently, scientists linked the HPV (human papillomavirus) to increased risks of oral cancer.

Constant irritation from ill-fitting dentures increases your chances of getting oral cancer. If you or a loved one has ill-fitting dentures, call our office and we can help.

Dr. Reagan Grizzle performs an oral cancer screening at each exam because early treatment and diagnosis helps to avoid the most disfiguring treatments and increases your chances of survival.

When it comes to oral cancer, early detection is essential to avoid disfiguring surgeries and even death. Oral cancer is an extremely treatable cancer when found early. That is why Dr. Reagan Grizzle has invested in the latest in oral cancer detection. He wants his patients to have the best chance to beating this dangerous form of cancer.

In addition to the traditional oral cancer screening, which involves a visual assessment and physical assessment of the inside of your mouth, neck, lips, and tongue, Dr. Grizzle will use ViziLite to help detect any small or difficult to identify lesions. If any lesions are found, they will be marked for further investigation.

If Dr. Grizzle sees anything that he thinks needs to be addressed, he may recommend a biopsy to rule out cancer. Most of our patients get a clean bill of health for their oral cancer screenings, Vizilite is an extra precaution for that small percentage of people who may have oral cancer. Your health is the most important factor in our decision to offer ViziLite screenings.

When you schedule your regular exam and dental cleanings, we will automatically perform an oral cancer screening to keep you healthy and worry-free. Call our Sugar Land office to schedule your appointment today.
 

Oral cancer is a particularly deadly form of cancer with only a 50% survival rate over five years. It is not that oral cancer is particularly difficult to treat; it is mostly because we catch it in the later stages, making treatment more radical and lowering your life expectancy.

Several factors contribute to an increased likelihood of oral cancer. First, the use of tobacco or alcohol dramatically increases the chances you will develop oral cancer. Additionally, the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) also increases the risk of developing oral cancer. HPV is a virus contracted through sexual contact, causes cancer in the back of the throat, and may not show the typical discoloration that accompanies oral cancer.

Treatment for oral cancer can be particularly brutal and require reconstructive surgeries. In some cases, patient may lose part of their tongues, jaws, or face in order to try to eradicate the cancer. Patients may lose the ability to speak, smile, and eat properly.

Your dentist the person most likely to recognize the early signs of oral cancer and require a biopsy to rule it out. Dr. Grizzle knows what the pre-cancerous cells look like and performs an oral cancer screening on each of our patients at their exam.