The general recommendation is that you visit our dental office twice a year for checkups and cleanings. This may seem too often, but it’s for a good reason; dental health issues can sneak up on you, and we want to catch them as early as possible to increase your odds of successful treatment. Also, if we discover problems like advanced gum disease, we may recommend that you visit more often for a while. We can provide more detailed information for you about how often you should visit for checkups and cleanings at your next exam.

Yes! Floss loosens food particles, plaque, and tartar trapped between teeth. In addition to irritating gums, causing gum disease, and promoting cavities, these three culprits also cause bad breath. If you need help learning how to floss quickly and effectively, we’ll gladly teach you some tricks to make your daily oral health routine easier at your next appointment.

We recommend that you visit Ryan Dental Group if you are missing teeth. Why? Missing teeth in one area of the mouth can cause other teeth in the mouth to move or take more force than they are designed to withstand. Missing teeth can also cause jaw pain or chewing interferences. Call Ryan Dental Group! We can go through all the options for missing teeth including dental implants, bridges, and partial dentures.

Most patients are dental implant candidates. If you are missing one or more teeth, a restoration supported by a dental implant is an option you should consider. In many instances, dental implants provide the best long-term tooth replacement option. Both Dr. Michael Ryan and Dr. Laura Ryan at Ryan Dental Group can take care of your implant needs.

Digital X-rays are great for your health and the environment. They emit far less radiation than traditional radiographs, and they don’t produce paper waste; instead, the images appear on a computer screen for us to view and store in your electronic records. Because we use digital X-rays at our Allen, Texas dental office, we can maintain paperless records, which is better for both you and the environment!

You may see dentists calling themselves “cosmetic dentists,” but it’s important to know that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty; in fact, most general dentists offer some form of cosmetic dentistry. How do you know if someone will perform your smile makeover with great skill and success? You can look at pictures of their past work and learn more about their education and experience. Both of the dentists at Ryan Dental Group in Allen, Texas have experience creating successful smile makeovers.

A prosthodontist is a dentist who receives several years of additional training after completing dental school to specialize in complex full mouth restorations.  As a gradate of Baylor College of Dentistry’s 3-year Prosthodontic Residency Program, Dr. Michael Ryan has earned this distinction. He has extensive experience in full mouth rehabilitation and often receives referrals from other specialists to put patients back together who have experienced tooth loss from trauma, cancer, or congenitally missing teeth. Dr. Michael Ryan is also well versed in various denture options involving implants including implant attached dentures that snap in and snap out and implant dentures that are fixed in place to implants and do not come out. Call us today for your consult!

Some patients experience a higher incidence of decay than others. Below are some things that can help lower the chances of decay in high-risk patients.

• Use of prescription strength fluoride toothpaste 2-3 times per day. Brush 2 min. Floss with paste still in mouth if possible. Spit excess and do not rinse. Can use alone or alternate with regular toothpaste (which is more abrasive) if desired. Refrain eating/drinking for at least 30 minutes after using prescription toothpaste.
• Daily use of xylitol products (candies, gum, etc.). These can also help stimulate saliva activity. Granular xylitol is also recommended to be used in place of sugar or artificial sweetener. Xylitol is a sugar substitute proven to reduce decay risk. It can be found in gums such as Trident and Spry.
• Nightly use of fluoride trays (if recommended by dentist). Place several drops of prescription fluoride gel in trays and evenly disperse. Place over the teeth and wipe excess. Leave in place for 15-30 min. Remove trays, spit excess, and place trays in mouth over night if possible.
• Use of saliva substitutes, such as Biotene products as needed for dry mouth, if dry mouth is suspected to be the cause of increased decay.

Whether you are seeing the doctor or the hygienist, we will review and update your medical history at each appointment. Please bring a list of any medications you take with you to your appointment.

Also, please bring contact information for your general medical doctor and any specialists you see such as a cardiologist, orthopedist, or oncologist.

Bring your current dental insurance card and your driver's license.