Dr. Pérez and his staff at Fairway Dental want you to have awareness about oral cancer, so you can seek treatment early if you have any of these symptoms. The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for oral cancer. The following can be signs of oral cancer:
• Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth.
• A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily.
• A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth.
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.
• Difficulty in chewing or swallowing.

These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face and/or neck. Any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may be at risk for oral cancer.

Fastest growing group of oral cancer patients are white males, less than 40 years of age. Snuff-dippers make up a large part of this group!

Risk factors
o Tobacco, alcohol, dietary deficiencies
o Recent evidence links virulent cervical HPV transmission and oropharyngeal CA incidence (HPV-16)

Typical Victim Profile
o 95% are patients 40 years of age and older.
o Smokers are still high risk when smoke-free <10 years.
o Chronic use of Alcohol greatly increases risk.
o Concurrent use of tobacco & alcohol increases risk 15X.
o Previous diagnosis of oral cancer (#1)

Potential Risk Factors
o Immunocompromised (HIV)
o Pernicious anemia (Vitamin B-12 deficiency)
o Iron deficient anemia
o Diabetes
o Lichen Planus (erosive type)
o HPV

Do Only Tobacco Users Get Oral Cancer?
o Approximately 25% of victims have no history of tobacco use or chronic alcohol consumption

Early detection is the key to prevention! Dr. Pérez recommends performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly and remember that your mouth is one of your body’s most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. If you have any of these symptoms, please contact us so we may help at 214-731-0558.

128

Rating: 8 out of 10 (from 39 votes)

If you have any stained, disfigured, or fractured teeth and want to have a smile with a natural appearance, then all-ceramic crowns could be for you!

Dr. Luis Pérez and his staff use all-ceramic crowns that are produced using computer technology, e.g. CAD/CAM technology and is based upon 3D design.

The crowns are made from a translucent material, which is attractive to look at, blends in well with the rest of your teeth and are made from a thinner material resulting in a lighter crown and a superb fit. Plus the material used is ‘bio-compatible’, which is kind to natural gum tissue.

Dr. Pérez uses two types of top quality crowns that will last for many years, with proper care; Zirconia and E-Max.
Either Emax or Zirconia all ceramic crown is translucent, natural looking, which is worn to improve the appearance of a tooth that has become stained, disfigured or fractured over the years. They are durable and very esthetic. They are a good option when good esthetics and strengh are the goal.They are also commonly used to restored dental implants as well.

If you would like to know the best solutions for improving your smile, call Dr. Luis Pérez and his staff at Fairway Dental in Carrollton for a smile consultation at 214-731-4816.

144

Rating: 9 out of 10 (from 29 votes)

If you are:
• Concerned about the quality of your dental care
• Need a dentist who can restore optimal appearance and function to your smile
• Need a dentist with advanced training in esthetic restoration and replacement of teeth

Prosthodontists are proficient in comprehensive oral health diagnosis, treatment planning and restoration. A Prosthodontist is the skilled architect who can restore optimal function and appearance to your smile.

Perhaps you’re missing one or more teeth, or you’re interested in dental implants. You might wear dentures or removable partial dentures. Or, you want to improve the appearance of your smile. Simply put, you need the skills and training of Dr. Luis Pérez.

To give you a more detailed explanation of Prosthodontics, it is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. Graduate programs in prosthodontics include classroom lectures and seminars, laboratory and clinical training in esthetics/cosmetics, crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays, complete and removable partial dentures, dental implants, TMD-jaw joint problems, traumatic injuries to the mouth’s structures, congenital or birth anomalies to teeth, snoring, sleep disorders, and oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care. Prosthodontists are masters of complete oral rehabilitation. A Prosthodontist is dedicated to the highest standards of care in the restoration and replacement of teeth.

160

Rating: 10 out of 10 (from 37 votes)

If they are, then Dr. Luis Pérez can make your daily life much better with beautifully designed implant-retained dentures that are held in place by implants. 


Compared to conventional removable dentures, implant-retained dentures are far superior. A person’s chewing ability with complete conventional dentures is only about 15% of a person with natural teeth. Implant-retained dentures allow you to function up to 100% as well as with complete natural teeth.

The procedure involves consulting with Dr. Pérez to determine the best course of treatment. Once decided upon, extensive dental images are taken and the chosen number of implants are placed. Once implants are healed and solidly in place, the fixed or removable dentures are fabricated and placed. Follow-up visits are necessary to clean the implants just like one would clean natural teeth and to ensure that the dentures are performing as planned.

Call Dr. Pérez at Fairway Dental today, 214-731-0558 for your Implant-Retained Dentures consultation!

160

Rating: 10 out of 10 (from 30 votes)

As cliché as it may sound, your smile really is one of the first things people notice about you. Are you giving off a good first impression?

If you’re uncomfortable with your teeth, odds are, it shows through your body language and self-confidence. The good news is that you don’t have to be unhappy with your teeth forever. Instead, opt for porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers are often used to treat:

• Chipped teeth
• Stained or discolored teeth
• Uneven spacing
• Crooked teeth
• Teeth that are worn down
• Irregularly shaped teeth

Used to recreate the natural appearance of teeth, porcelain veneers are made out of thin pieces of porcelain, which are adhered to the front of the tooth. Porcelain is used because the material is comparable to natural tooth enamel in appearance and strength. “Veneers are custom-made for each patient, so your smile will look as natural as it did prior to veneers,” said Dr. Luis R. Pérez of Fairway Dental in Carrollton.

Traditionally, a portion of the natural tooth’s enamel is removed prior to attaching the veneer. However, there are minimal prep and “no prep” veneers that require very little to no enamel removal prior to adhering veneers.

Typically, porcelain veneers require only a few visits — the first visit being a consultation with your dentist to determine if veneers are the right option for you and to find out what specific imperfections you’re looking to resolve with veneers. Your dentist will show you examples of the end result before any treatment is performed.

The actual treatment usually involves two visits, and a follow-up visit is usually scheduled for final adjustments and polishing, and to review instructions for care of your new smile to ensure it lasts for years.

Though veneers are often a great option for people who are uncomfortable with their smile, there are a few aspects ofporcelain veneers that should be carefully considered prior to treatment.

According to Dr. Pérez, it’s important to realize that veneers are not considered to be reversible, as a portion of the existing tooth is removed to fit the veneer. New veneers can be made, but it’s unlikely that patients will be ableto ever go without veneers in the future.

In addition, once veneers are placed on teeth, the color cannot be changed. If you’re interested in whitening your teeth, make sure to have it done prior to veneers.

Though we may think of porcelain as being fragile, porcelain veneers are very strong and have a lifespan of 5-7 years before needing to be replaced. Still, patients should take care of their veneers as they can chip or crack — just as natural teeth can. Refrain from biting nails, chewing on ice, or putting any other undue stress on your veneers.

If you would like to know more about how porcelain veneers can improve your smile, call Dr. Luis Pérez and his staff at Fairway Dental in Carrollton for a smile consultation at 214-731-4816.

144

Rating: 9 out of 10 (from 47 votes)

Shown above are “before” and “after” photos of one of Dr. Pérez’ “All-On-4” dental implant patients

As a Prosthodontist who began his training with dental implants 18 years ago, Dr. Luis R. Pérez has the pleasure of seeing patients’ self-confidence restored with dental implants even sometimes in a single-day. Dr. Pérez highlights a few reasons why dental implants are long-term choices, more beneficial than conventional fixed-bridges.

Statistics show that 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay. Furthermore, by age 74, 26% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth. Patients who are current denture wearers, or in need of full upper and/or lower restorations, can greatly benefit from the “All-On-4” implant technique.

At Fairway Dental, Dr. Pérez’ approach to successful dental implants requires that all parties involved — the patient, Dr. Perez who is in charge of the planning and the restorative phase, his dental technician and the oral surgeon who surgically places the implants, follow a detailed treatment plan. All members of the implant team stay in close communication with each other to make sure everyone clearly understands what needs to be done to meet the patient's desires and expectations

Qualified patients can have a full-set of new replacement teeth in a single-day with the “All-On-4” Implant Technique! Here are the major patient advantages of this technique over a technique using more than 4 implants:

• This technique is a permanent, non-removable (fixed) replacement for teeth that can be maintained as natural teeth, following proper hygiene protocol.
   
• Full arch replacement requires only 4 specially placed implants.
   
• Patients have a faster recovery time and greater comfort after surgery.
   
• Minimizing the need for grafting, resulting in less cost, less surgery and less discomfort to the patient.
   
• These implants can last a lifetime, if cared for properly, and can prevent further bone loss.
   
• The patient’s ability to taste is not compromised, as no part of the roof of their mouth has to be covered (as with dentures, for example).
   
• The patient will have an efficient bite once more and can once again enjoy a variety of nourishing foods, greatly enhancing overall health.
   
• Achieve satisfying and natural looking esthetic results

You may find more information at www.fairwaydental.com.

Feel free to contact Dr. Pérez’ staff with any questions or by calling 214-731-0558.

128

Rating: 8 out of 10 (from 37 votes)

Did you know? About 20% of all adults have at least one missing tooth – not because of a sneaky Tooth Fairy, poor dental hygiene or tooth extraction, but because they were born that way. Called hypodontia or congenitally missing teeth, this perplexing condition can be embarrassing and uncomfortable.

The most common missing teeth are wisdom teeth, followed by the teeth right in front of your molars, the two teeth to the side of your two front teeth or the two front teeth in the lower jaw. Sometimes it is very obvious because there is a gap in the teeth. Other times it is not so obvious because the person’s baby teeth are still in place.

“I’ve seen adults in their 40’s with baby teeth in their lower jaw because the permanent ones were congenitally missing.  I suggest that patients age 15 and older come in for a check up to assess if they have any congenitally missing teeth,” said Dr. Luis Pérez, DDS of Fairway Dental in Carrollton. “By age 15 the adult mouth is formed and we can determine the best solution to get them that beautiful smile they deserve.”

While no one knows exactly what causes missing teeth, there is definitely a genetic correlation which is sometimes compounded by environmental factors. Dentists can often tell from the very earliest X-rays that there might be a problem.

“Strangely enough, some children will have missing teeth, but their adult teeth come in later. Others will have all their baby teeth but missing one or more adult teeth. Generally by age 16, we know for sure if they are going to have permanently missing teeth and can begin treatment,” adds Dr. Pérez.

With a missing wisdom tooth, treatment is rarely required since most people have their wisdom teeth extracted for good dental hygiene anyway. According to Dr. Pérez, for the more noticeable teeth there are three main treatment options:

• Orthodontics – Depending on the number of missing teeth and location, it may be possible to move the teeth enough with orthodontic treatment to fill in the gap caused by the missing tooth.
   
• Dental implants – A dental implant is an artificial tooth that is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or a bridge. “Unlike dentures, dental implants and bridges are permanently attached to your gums and jaw. They feel, look and act like real teeth. Only your dentist will ever know,” says Dr. Pérez.
   
• Bridges – If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them.

“Often with dental implants or bridges we also recommend orthodontics,” notes Dr. Pérez. “This allows all the teeth to align from a root perspective and aesthetically with the implant for a natural looking smile.”

Dr. Pérez specializes in “prosthodontics.”  He provides comprehensive oral health diagnosis, treatment planning and restoration, and is the architect who can restore optimal function and appearance of your smile.  If you would like to know more about congenitally missing teeth, call Fairway Dental in Carrollton for a free smile consultation at 214-731-0558. 

144

Rating: 9 out of 10 (from 27 votes)

Would you like to improve the appearance of your teeth?

Teeth whitening is a good way to do it. Watch our video to find out more.

112

Rating: 7 out of 10 (from 21 votes)

Are you needing to correct a space between your teeth, fix a chipped tooth, or replace a missing tooth?

Cosmetic dentistry from Fairway Dental can help!

160

Rating: 10 out of 10 (from 36 votes)

Looking for the best dentist in Carrollton, Texas?

Look no further than Fairway Dental. Watch the video to see what we offer!

144

Rating: 9 out of 10 (from 42 votes)