A Better Dental Experience

Everyone wants to have a smile they love, but not everyone loves to visit the dentist. Studies show that over 25% of adults experience anxiety when going to the dentist, most often due to bad dental experiences. We understand this, and we strive to bring you a very different experience than other dentists. In fact, many of our patients say they actually look forward to going to the dentist at The Hill Dental Group. Here are five of the most common reasons people avoid the dentist, and what we do to improve your dental experience.

1. Atmosphere:

Most of us have experienced wasting hours of our precious time in a stale waiting room until being carelessly ushered in for a procedure. At Hill Dental, you will be met with a smile and a welcoming, pleasant environment that feels more like a spa than a dental clinic. We always strive to be punctual and professional because we know your time is valuable, and you are too.

2. People Skills:

Let’s face it, having good people skills is not necessarily a requirement to become a dentist – even if it should be. Our dentists are not just great at taking care of teeth, but they are great with people as well. At the Hill Dental Group, you will feel more like a good friend than just another patient.

3. Personal Attention:

We do all we can to alleviate the typical stress of a dental visit. We will explain and educate you about every step of your visit, so you don’t have to worry about what is happening. We also take the time to customize your treatment to meet your personal needs and goals. While we can help with existing dental problems, our goal is to keep your teeth healthy so you can enjoy your smile without worrying about your dental health.

4. Pain Management:

Our dentists are very gentle, and take great care to ensure that each procedure is as comfortable and painless as possible. With modern dental advances, a procedure that was once quite painful may now feel like just a slight pinch. Our dentists are highly trained to use the latest dental techniques and technology to give you the best possible dental experience.

5. Value:

Not everyone recognizes the value of their smile, or how great an investment it is. Our flexible financing options can help you address dental problems now to keep more expensive issues from developing in the future. We will also help you understand your insurance and maximize its benefits, so you can spend more of your money on things you enjoy.

If you don’t look forward to visiting the dentist, you have been going to the wrong dentist. At The Hill Dental Group, we strive to provide our customers in the Spring, TX area with a much better dental experience. Book an appointment today to see for yourself what a difference it is to go to the Hill Dental Group. Call 281-376-0911 or Make an Appointment Online.

Do-it-Yourself Braces

There are so many things on social media that make us smile, but there is a dangerous new online trend that could literally take the smile right off your face. The American Dental Association recently launched a public awareness campaign to combat a new threat to America’s dental health: Do-it-Yourself Braces. Yes, you read that right… DIY Braces.This recent internet fad is spreading rapidly, especially among children and teens. According to a recent study, about 13% of ADA dentists have seen at least one patient that tried DIY Braces. A staggering number of these had done serious, permanent damage to their smile. Some even had teeth that fell out of their mouth.

The American Association of Orthodontists also issued a consumer alert, warning the public of the danger of DIY Braces. Many states are taking legal action to stop fraudulent companies that sell products online that claim to straighten teeth without the need of a dentist. There are many things you can safely do yourself, especially with all the good resources available online, but you should only trust your smile to a professional dentist.

What are DIY Braces?

Do-it-yourself braces are an attempt to straighten teeth without the help of a professional. There are a growing number of DIY Braces videos and tutorials trending online right now that teach people to straighten their teeth with common household items like paper clips, rubber bands, wire, earring backs, and string. Those who create these videos are mostly teens and children with no medical or dental knowledge. Most of those that try them are attempting to save money, but the damage they can cause costs far more than real braces would have.

There are also a growing number of legitimate-looking online companies that sell kits for straightening your own teeth. Some of these companies go as far as creating custom appliances based on molds of the customer’s mouth. Several state governments are engaged in legal battles to shut these companies down for breaking laws that exist to protect public safety.

What are the Dangers of DIY Braces?

DIY braces could cause extremely expensive dental problems for the rest of your life. Braces should only be applied by highly trained dental specialists because it must be done correctly in order to get the desired results. DIY braces usually end with teeth that are even more crooked than before, if they don’t completely fall out during the process. Dangerous oral infections can also occur. At best, correcting the damage will usually require getting real braces with a legitimate orthodontist anyway. There could also be lifelong dental problems from tooth and gum damage.

This local news report explains more about the DIY braces trend:

Your smile is extremely important to your health, success, and happiness. You should only trust your smile to someone who really knows what they are doing, and will take good care of it. If you are looking for an orthodontist or dentist in the Spring, TX area, please consider visiting us at The Hill Dental Group. We can put together a customized dental plan that will safely improve your smile. We also have financing options that can help with the cost.

To schedule an orthodontic consultation, Call 281-376-0911 or Make an Appointment Online.

How to Choose a Dentist for Kids

By the time a child is two years old, they should start visiting the dentist. Choosing a dentist for kids is extremely important for their lifelong dental health. Studies show that the majority of adults with major dental problems avoided the dentist because of bad experiences during their childhood.

While it is obviously important to choose a dentist that excels in dentistry, it is also critical to find one who is good with children. At The Hill Dental Group, your child’s well-being is our top priority. We always do our best to provide a positive and encouraging experience for your kids, to start them off on a path to good dental health throughout their lives. This is why many of our patients say their kids can’t wait to visit us.

Free Happy Visit to Meet Your Dentist:

It is very important to get to know your dentist and see how they interact with your child. We offer a free “Happy Visit” for a child’s first time at The Hill Dental Group. During this visit, we introduce ourselves and help kids develop a positive relationship with the dentist. We also let them wear cool sunglasses for the bright lights, and give them a ride in the dentist chair. We then count their teeth, look for “Sugar Bugs”, and make sure their teeth are healthy. At the end of the visit, we let them pick out a prize from the treasure box, and give them a free dental health kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. We will also give you a brushing chart to take home that will encourage your child to brush regularly until the next visit.

Parent Involvement:

Another important thing to look for is a dentist that will let parents to stay with their children during their visit. We encourage parents to stay with their kids the entire time. This helps to reassure them in this new environment, and encourages them to enjoy their visit. We even let parents sit in the chair with children who want extra reassurance. We can also coach parents in ways to reinforce healthy dental habits that will stay with their kids for a lifetime.

If you are looking for a family friendly dentist in Spring, TX or the surrounding areas, we welcome you to visit The Hill Dental Group. We offer FREE Happy Visits where children ages 2-5, and their parents, can meet our dentists and find out if we are a good fit for your family.

To schedule a FREE Happy Visit for your kids, Call 281-376-0911 or Make an Appointment Online.

Should I Buy an Electric Toothbrush?

Many of our patients ask us questions like, “Should I buy an electric toothbrush?”, or “Is an electric toothbrush worth the money?”. An electric toothbrush can be an extremely valuable investment, and may save you thousands of dollars in dental costs over a lifetime. Depending on your brushing habits, your old manual toothbrush may be all you need. This article will explain how an electric toothbrush works, who should buy one, and which electric toothbrushes are best.

How Does an Electric Toothbrush Work?

An electric toothbrush uses battery power to automatically move the bristles very quickly across the surface of your teeth. Instead of manually moving the entire toothbrush to brush your teeth, you only have to hold it in place while the toothbrush does most of the work. Most electric toothbrushes have a rotating head that spins the bristles around in circles to scrub your teeth. Sonicare Electric Toothbrushes are unique because they use sound waves to make the bristles wave back and forth at up to 30,000 cycles per minute.

Which Electric Toothbrushes are Best?

We recommend Sonicare electric toothbrushes. The back-and-forth motion of their bristles is more effective for cleaning your teeth than spinning toothbrushes. The sound waves also help to break up plaque between teeth, along the gums, or in cracks and crevices that other toothbrushes cannot reach. If you don’t floss regularly, a Sonicare can be more effective at removing food as well. They are also usually more gentle on your teeth and gums than other brands of electric toothbrushes, so they are perfect for anyone with a sensitive mouth.

Smart Electric Toothbrushes

Some high-tech electric toothbrushes even link to your mobile device to give you an interactive brushing experience. For example, the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected Toothbrush has built-in sensors to track your brushing. It connects to your mobile device via Bluetooth, and coaches you on how to improve your brushing and overall dental health. If you want to make sure you are brushing effectively, you may want to consider a smart toothbrush.

Should You Buy an Electric Toothbrush?

The most important thing when brushing your teeth is that every surface is thoroughly cleaned. This can be achieved with a manual toothbrush when using proper brushing and flossing techniques. A manual toothbrush takes much more time and effort to achieve the same level of cleaning as an electric toothbrush, but it can still get the job done well. Electric toothbrushes are especially helpful for people with lower dexterity, like children or elderly people, because they are much easier to use. If you feel you don’t have as much time for manually brushing and flossing, you may also want to invest in an electric toothbrush to speed up the process. The main drawback to electric toothbrushes is their cost and maintenance. An electric toothbrush can be a considerable investment up front. The heads also wear out over time like any toothbrush, and occasionally replacing them is a bit more expensive than manual toothbrushes.

How to Buy an Electric Toothbrush

At the Hill Dental Group, we can help you figure out if an electric toothbrush is right for you. You can also purchase one of our recommended Sonicare electric toothbrushes in our office.

To book an appointment, Call 281-376-0911 or Make an Appointment Online.

How Does Toothpaste Work?

Have you ever wondered how toothpaste works, or why it makes orange juice taste so bad? Have you heard the rumors that toothpaste is made from seaweed? Most of us know that brushing twice a day helps prevent cavities, but the list of ingredients on the toothpaste label can be hard to understand. Here is a basic breakdown of some of the main ingredients you will find in most brands of toothpaste, and how they help protect your teeth.

Fluoride: Molecular Armor

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is like putting a molecular coat of armor on your teeth. Fluoride is a mineral that is found naturally in the ground. It is added to most drinking water in America because of its dental health benefits. It actually binds to your teeth and changes their chemical composition to be more resistant to the acids that cause cavities.

Abrasives: To Scrub Your Teeth Clean

Most toothpaste has abrasive ingredients to gently scrub away food, plaque, and bacteria that were stuck to your teeth. One common abrasive is hydrated silica, which is also used in some packaging to keep food dry.

Foaming Agents: The Soapy Bubbles that Wash out your Mouth

When you brush your teeth, it creates a foam that picks up and helps wash away particles of food that the abrasives scrub off. This comes from foaming agents like baking soda and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. These chemicals also block your taste buds from detecting sweetness. Until this effect wears off, you will mostly taste the bitter, salty, and sour flavors in food. This is why food, and especially orange juice, may taste really bad right after you brush your teeth.

Flavor, Texture, and Color: To Make it More Appealing

Most of us prefer putting things into our mouth that have a pleasant flavor, texture, and color. Without these ingredients, toothpaste would not be very pleasant. Because adding sugar would defeat the whole purpose of toothpaste, artificial sweeteners and flavors are added to improve the taste. Have you ever heard that toothpaste is made with seaweed? Carrageenan, or seaweed gum, is one of the most common ingredients used to make toothpaste smooth and creamy. Artificial coloring is also added to make toothpaste look better.

While the ingredients in toothpaste are harmless in small quantities, swallowing too much toothpaste can be very bad for you. This is why children should always have adult supervision while learning to brush their teeth, and should only use a tiny amount of toothpaste.
Brushing your teeth twice a day is great for maintaining the health of your teeth, but nothing gets them clean like a visit to the dentist. We are always happy to give you a professional cleaning and fluoride treatment.

To book an appointment, Call 281-376-0911 or Make an Appointment Online.

Do I really need to floss?

People sometimes ask, “Do I really need to floss?”. Good news, you don’t! You really only need to floss the teeth you want to keep. 😀 In all seriousness, flossing is a very important habit to establish, but studies show that only about 30% of Americans actually do this consistently.

Most of us know that we need to brush our teeth to protect against tooth decay. It removes food and plaque that can damage your teeth, but it can’t reach between your teeth or under your gums. This means that 35-40% of the surface of your teeth never gets cleaned by brushing. When you floss once a day, it removes food stuck between your teeth, and cleans the surfaces your toothbrush can’t reach.

If you don’t floss every day, it can lead to many dental problems, and even health issues. Cavities can readily form where plaque builds up between your teeth. Plaque and bacteria between your teeth may also lead to bad breath. Flossing regularly also helps prevent gum disease, which could eventually cause your teeth to fall out.

This video from the American Dental Association gives some great tips on how to floss your teeth.

Some patients give up on flossing because at first it can be uncomfortable or might cause their gums to bleed. This usually gets much better within a week or two as their mouth gets used to the new flossing routine. Some also have trouble using dental floss. We can recommend many alternative tools to make flossing easier and more comfortable.

Please let us know if you have any questions or need advice on how to floss effectively. At the Hill Dental Group, we love teaching our patients how to establish healthy dental habits. We can also give all the surfaces of your teeth a professional cleaning to keep your smile healthy.

The Brushing Challenge

The month of February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and we are inviting kids to take on the “Brushing Challenge.”

To join in, all you need to do is Download This Brushing Chart and have your child color it in every time they brush their teeth.

Then at the end of February, bring your chart in to our office to get a prize.

We hope you’ll join us for the Dental Health Challenge. See you soon!

The Dangers of Teeth-Whitening Fads

When a study asked people what they most wanted to improve about their smile, most said they want to have whiter teeth. It is no surprise that a large number of prevalent celebrity fads, internet trends, and home-remedies are taking center stage for do-it-yourself teeth-whitening. Unfortunately, many of these fads are completely ineffective, and some are even very harmful to your smile.

Charcoal Toothpaste:

One new dental fad that is gaining popularity on the internet is Charcoal Toothpaste. Many online companies claim that charcoal helps whiten teeth and improves oral health. According to the American Dental Association, there is no scientific evidence that charcoal toothpaste is beneficial in any way, or even safe for your body.

In fact, studies show that charcoal toothpaste may actually be very harmful to your dental health. Prolonged use can wear down the white enamel layer on your teeth and actually make them more yellow. Charcoal can even become embedded in the gums, causing an unsightly bluish tint that is extremely difficult to remove. The ADA strongly advises against the use of any charcoal toothpaste.

Oil Pulling:

Mainstream media is currently advocating the “new fad” of Oil Pulling, which is actually an ancient Asian practice that dates back nearly 3,000 years. It involves swishing or pulling oil through the teeth for 5-20 minutes in attempt to clean and whiten teeth. According to the American Dental Association, while this may not directly harm your teeth, there is no conclusive evidence that it does anything to whiten your smile.

Home Remedies:

There are many home remedies for whitening teeth such as lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda. While these are widely accepted as natural ways to whiten kitchen floors, they can actually cause damage to the enamel of your teeth. This can lead to cavities and may cause teeth to become more yellow.

Proven Ways to Whiten Teeth:

The ADA does recommend several scientifically proven methods for whitening your smile. The first and most important is to floss and brush your teeth with ADA approved toothpaste every day. Many brands of ADA approved toothpaste are proven to help whiten your smile and protect against damage to your enamel.

Your dentist can also recommend very effective procedures to whiten your teeth. During the month of January, if you visit the Hill Dental Group for a New Patient Exam & Cleaning, you will also get a FREE teeth-whitening (a $380 value). We are always happy to help you brighten your smile. You can contact us at 281-376-0911 or schedule an appointment online.

A Holiday Survival Guide for Your Teeth

With all the fun and festivities of the holidays, we often forget how hard they are on our teeth. Most of our favorite holiday foods are especially bad for our dental health, but we can still safely enjoy them if we know how to take care of our teeth.

These tips will help you keep your teeth healthy while you enjoy all those holiday treats and sweets.

One of the main contributing factors of tooth decay is the amount of time sugar stays on your teeth. Bacteria in your mouth break down sugars and produce a weak acid that wears down your teeth.

The longer sugar stays on your teeth, the more damage it can cause.

Any food with sugar can hurt your teeth, but many holiday treats are especially hard on them. Sticky foods like caramel, candy corn, gumdrops, marshmallows, licorice, peanut brittle, and pecan pie can get sugar stuck to your teeth long after you eat them. Sucking on hard candies like candy canes will also expose your teeth to sugar for a long time. Drinks like soda, hot chocolate, coffee, egg nog, and alcohol will coat your teeth with sugar. Popcorn kernels can get stuck in your teeth for days. Holiday cookies are a fun tradition, but they are full of sugar. If you need an excuse to avoid fruitcake, it is also especially bad for teeth.

The good news is, we can still enjoy all of these holiday treats if we take care of our teeth.

Whenever you eat sweet or sugary foods, you can reduce the damage to your teeth by drinking water or chewing gum after you eat. Chewing sugarless gum after eating sweets helps remove sugar from your teeth, and freshens your breath. Drinking water frequently throughout the day is not only good for your overall health, but it helps to rinse sugar off your teeth. Water with fluoride also helps to reinforce your teeth against decay.

It is best to eat candy and sweets during short periods of time, especially after meals. When you eat snacks or sweets throughout the day, you greatly extend the amount of time sugar stays on your teeth. Sugar is also more easily removed during meals, so this is the best time for holiday treats.
The best way to make sure your teeth don’t suffer is to brush them consistently.

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is always important, but it is even more imperative when your teeth are covered in sugar. It is also a good idea to check the bristles on your toothbrush before the holidays to make sure they are not worn or bent. A worn out toothbrush is not effective at cleaning away sugar. It is also very important to floss regularly to remove sugar from between your teeth.

Above all, nothing gets your teeth clean like a visit to the dentist.

Whether you live in Spring, TX, or are here for the holidays, you can visit The Hill Dental Group for a cleaning and checkup. We will thoroughly clean your teeth and reinforce their defenses against all that holiday sugar. Our office is located at 8338 Spring Cypress Rd. Spring, TX, 77379.

To book an appointment, Call 281-376-0911 or Make an Appointment >