The most important step of oral health is a comprehensive exam.

A comprehensive exam consists of a clinical exam (where the dentist examines your mouth, teeth, & gums) & radiographs.

The number & type of radiographs needed depend on different factors such as different type of problems that exist, number of teeth, & doctor recommendations.

Exams are usually followed by a dental cleaning. Depending on your gum, bone, & tooth health, the doctor will recommend what type of cleaning is best based on your periodontal diagnosis.

For example: If you have heavy build up & plaque, haven’t been to the dentist in years, & have deep gum pockets, you’ll most likely need a deeper type of cleaning called “Scaling and Root Planing”.

Dr. Diana Pham takes her time to review all radiographs & dental findings to ensure that you understand your diagnoses & the recommended treatment.

Dental fillings are recommended for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons is due to a small or medium-sized cavity or a small part of the tooth has broken.

There are different types of filling material. The most common is called a “composite resin” filling. This type of filling is tooth-colored & is bonded to your natural tooth.

Another type of filling material is called amalgam & is usually considered the “older” type of silver-colored filling. Amalgam has been used for a very long time in dentistry, & aside from controversial claims, Amalgam is safe & can often be the material of choice in certain cases.

Sealants are preventative type of fillings that do not usually involve prepping into the tooth. Each person’s tooth anatomy is different; some teeth have deep grooves & pits that are more prone to cavities.

Although sealants are often recommended for children, adults can benefit from sealants for prevention of caries too!

Dr. Diana Pham is willing to discuss what materials & type of fillings would be best for you & to provide you with more information on the pros & cons of each type of material.

This is Dr. Diana Pham’s favorite type of dental treatment!

Removable prosthetics can be utilized in many situations where a patient has lost one, multiple, or all teeth.

Removable Partial Dentures (RPDs) are often recommended for patients who have multiple missing teeth. RPDs come in different designs & materials. Some partials can be made of metal, acrylic, or a flexible type of acrylic.

Complete dentures are recommend for patients who are missing all of their teeth in one arch or both arches. Most dentures are made of acrylic, but some specialized dentures can also have extra metal reinforcement for strength.

Contrary to popular belief, a well-made removable prosthetic is not an easy feat! There is a reason that prosthodontists have an additional three years of training in the replacement of missing teeth, bone, gums, & other structures related to the head & neck.

Dr. Diana Pham specializes in removable prosthetics & enjoys the entire process. It’s important for her to set realistic expectations & meet the esthetic & functional needs of her patients.

Bridges (also called fixed partial dental prosthesis “FPDs”) & dental implants are popular treatment options for patients who are missing one or multiple teeth.

These treatment options are popular because they are “fixed”, meaning the prosthetic cannot be removed from the mouth by the patient.

For bridges, the prosthesis is usually “glued” on your remaining teeth. For implants, an implant is surgically placed into your jaw bone & a prosthesis is screwed on top of the implant above the gums.

There are risks & benefits for each treatment options, and not every patient is a good candidate for either.

It’s important that you, the patient, to do some research & find a dentist that can help provide you with the adequate education to make an informed decision on your teeth.

Dr. Diana Pham loves to utilize dental models, mirror, photos, & videos to help educate the patient on treatment options.

At the end of the day, Dr. Pham believes in patient autonomy.

Are you having terrible tooth pain?

Did you chip your front tooth & have a wedding the next day?

Did your denture tooth break off & super glue isn’t working?

Call us at 713-270-7626 to schedule an appointment & provide as much information as possible so we can help prepare for your appointment.

In many cases, Dr. Diana Pham can provide same day treatment.

Tooth extractions are often recommended when a tooth is causing problems (pain, infection, loose, impacted, & etc.) .

This is where a comprehensive exam with radiographs is so important! Depending on the diagnosis of the tooth, the doctor will provide different options.

Dr. Diana Pham believes in conservative dentistry. Because a tooth extraction is an irreversible procedure, it’s important to understand all of your options.

If there is no other reasonable option besides a tooth extraction, it’s also important to think about the next steps once that tooth is removed.

• Can I see the missing tooth when I smile?

• Will I still be able to chew my food?

• What are different options after the tooth is taken out to replace the space?

• Will my teeth shift?

• Can I get a dental implant in the space?

• Will this affect my other teeth next to it?

Dr. Diana Pham is open to discussing these concerns with you.

This is another one of Dr. Diana Pham’s top procedures & prosthetics!

These two type of prosthetics have many things in common such as the need for dental implants & the ability to replace missing teeth, gums, & bone.

However, there are vast differences in these type of prosthetics! It’s important that you choose a dentist that spends the time to go over these differences with you.

Patients who require implant prosthetics will benefit from seeing a Prosthodontist.

Why? The additional three years of training provide the doctor with more experience & training that specializes in implant rehabilitation.

Both type of implant prosthetics are great treatment options, but some patients may benefit more from one over the other.

Our office is unique because we have an in-house dental laboratory!

We customize removable prosthetics in the office, set denture teeth, fabricate dentures & partials, & can often make same day repairs on dentures & partials.

Aside from our digital technology including 3D printing, we pride ourselves on our ability to utilize our hand-skills and unique training to help patients.

The ultimate product becomes a customized, one-of-a-kind prosthetic & smile that fits to your mouth, your face, & your life.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, undergoing cancer treatment, or surviving post-cancer care, seeing a dentist can greatly prevent dental complications.

Every patient can benefit from having a dental examination prior to any type of cancer treatment. Depending on the type of cancer & treatment that has been recommended by your oncologist, Dr. Pham will make recommendations on treatment that may be necessary before starting treatment.

For example: Patients who need radiation therapy in the head & neck region may benefit from dental treatment such as tooth extractions BEFORE radiation. Why? Radiation therapy can increase the risk for complications of bone healing in irradiated area the future.

With Dr. Diana Pham’s training at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Oral Oncology & Maxillofacial Prosthetics, she can help you navigate the journey.

Maxillofacial Prosthetics is a specialized range of prosthetics that can do much more than “replace” missing teeth.

Maxillofacial prosthetics can help patients with speech, eating, chewing, swallowing, keeping food & liquids from spilling into unwanted areas, & truly rebuild a patient’s life.

There is only a handful of trained Maxillofacial Prosthodontists that offer maxillofacial prosthetics in their private practice.

Here at Narrative Dentistry, we offer the different type of maxillofacial prosthetics:

• Maxillary Obturators

• Mandibular Resection Prosthetics

• Palatal Augmentation Prosthetics

• Palatal Lift Prosthetics

• Fluoride Carriers

• Radiation stents