Barry W. Heaton, DDS

Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology

Practice Limited to Periodontics
& Dental Implants

Phone: 713-784-6065
Fax: 713-784-6085

5858 Westheimer Rd., Suite 820
Houston, Texas 77057

You bet! Maintenance visits are the cheapest insurance you can get to prevent future dental problems. They will save you dollars, time and perhaps even discomfort in the long run, even if your dental insurance will not pay for all of them. If you have dental insurance, it may pay for just one maintenance visit every six months. That doesn't mean that is all you need, it just means that is the contract your company entered into. Because of your susceptibility to periodontal disease, you need to be seen more often. Think of your dental insurance like your car insurance. It pays only for collision, not maintenance. Through proper maintenance we are trying to prevent you having that collision.

Cold beverages are better. Do not drink any hot beverages for at least 48 hours.

Yes once Dr. Heaton states you can brush normally.

Teeth can be protected from acid attacks by removing plaque, reducing the number of times and the amount of sugar and starches eaten, using fluorides, and by regular professional cleaning of teeth by a dental hygienist.

If you are diabetic, you know the importance of keeping your disease under control but do you know that periodontal disease, like any infection, can make it more difficult for you to stabilize your diabetes? The two diseases play off each other. If your diabetes is not under control you are at greater risk for periodontal disease and on the other hand, if you have active periodontal disease it is more difficult to control your diabetes.
In addition to an increased risk for periodontal disease, diabetics, especially uncontrolled diabetics, may experience one or more of the following:

Delayed wound healing
Decreased flow of saliva
Burning sensation in mouth or tongue
Increased chance of tooth decay

When you visit the physician that helps you manage your diabetes it is very important to inform him or her that you have another chronic problem-periodontal disease. Dr. Heaton is always happy to work with your physician to coordinate treatments. It is important to remember, if your diabetes is well-controlled, your periodontal treatment will be similar to nondiabetic patients. You may wish to schedule your appointment early in the morning, after you have eaten a normal breakfast, in order to stabilize and prevent a severe or sudden drop in your blood sugar levels.

You only need a driver if you choose to take a mild sedative prior to your surgical appointment.

Yes we do have N20 in our office and there is no charge for the usage.

NO. While many patients are referred to us by their general dentist, we are happy to have you refer yourself, a friend or family member. We know that our reputation as the most advanced periodontal practice in Houston depends on two things: Our work and what people say about us. Over the years our patients have given us the compliment of referring families and friends to our practice. Your confidence in our care is an inspiration for us to continue to strive for excellence. Your referrals are greatly appreciated.

One of our primary concerns is that you have a comfortable experience during treatment. We offer an extensive array of the latest techniques to minimize discomfort. Many of our patients come back stating they are amazed at how little discomfort they experienced. You will have some tenderness and or possible swelling; however you will be given a prescription.

That depends on what is causing it. Often, bad breath results from less-than-optimal oral health, and sometimes people are not aware that they are not performing oral hygiene as effectively as they could be. Dr. Heaton will be able to evaluate your oral health procedures and make recommendations for improvement; also, will be able to recognize any associated problems that might be contributing to an unpleasant mouth odor. In addition to evaluating and suggesting alterations to your brushing, flossing, and tongue deplaquing regimen, Dr. Heaton may recommend products such as a mouth rinse that contains zinc. If it turns out that the problem isn't in the mouth, a physician appointment is advisable. Sinus problems, stomach problems, certain foods and medications, and other factors can contribute to bad breath.

Always follow the directions written on the bottle and if you have any questions about the medication please consult your pharmacist. Please remember to never take any prescription we prescribed for you on an empty stomach due to it may cause nausea. Also if you feel at anytime the prescription we prescribed it not working or the side effects are just more than you can handle please contact us immediately with your concerns so we can address them and call in a different medication if possible.

Plaque can also produce harmful byproducts that irritate the gums, causing gingivitis, the early stage of periodontal diseases. If plaque isn’t removed daily, it will build up into a hard deposit called calculus. If plaque continues to form on top of the calculus, it can irritate the gums, and a pocket may develop between the teeth and gums. Plaque build up can eventually destroy the gums and bone that support the teeth.

Your mouth could be numb up to two hours after surgery.

The American Dental Association advocates brushing twice each day. Although there is research indicating that brushing once a day is sufficient to disrupt the formation of plaque that feeds the bacteria that cause decay, this may not be enough for some people especially those with periodontal disease, depending on factors such as their diets and the efficacy of their brushing technique. ADHA recommends that you discuss this with Dr. Heaton who understands your individual oral health needs and will be able to make a recommendation appropriate for you.

Due to our specialty, Dr. Heaton needs to evaluate your current bone which is only seen by a panoramic x-ray, full mouth series x-rays, 3-D scan and/or PA x-rays.

No Dr. Heaton specializes in the surgical placement of the dental implant and abutment/locator only. Your general dentist will be the one that will complete your prosthetic needs.

Bleeding gums are one of the signs of gum disease. Think of gum tissue as the skin on your hand. If your hands bled every time you washed them, you would know something was wrong. There are a number of other warning signs of gum disease.

Studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease. Smokers are much more likely than non-smokers to have calculus form on their teeth, have deeper pockets between the teeth and gums and lose more of the bone and tissue that support the teeth. In addition, following periodontal treatment or any type of oral surgery, the chemicals in tobacco can slow down the healing process and make the treatment results less predictable.

Most patients wait until after their 17th birthday because of the skeletal growth.

Unfortunately periodontal treatment is never complete. Once the active phase of therapy is over and your disease is under control, the challenge then becomes maintaining health. The goal of maintenance therapy is to reduce or eliminate as many of the risk factors that caused your disease in the first place. Dr. Heaton and his team will customize a program that will effectively meet your individual needs, but the foundation for almost all maintenance programs are:

Frequent Professional Cleaning and Evaluation:

For many periodontal patients these visits are scheduled at a three month interval, ideally alternating them with your general dentist. In this manner you will receive the expertise of both your general dentist and Dr. Heaton. The actual time period between visits will be determined by the health of your gums and bone. If you are struggling to maintain health, the interval may be shortened, and on the other hand, if you historically have done well the interval may be lengthened. The reason behind the three month interval is that the bacteria that live in your mouth take three months to mature to the point that they produce the poisons that reinfect you. We cannot eliminate this bacteria but the professional cleaning disrupts, them forcing the bacteria to start the growth process all over again. Another important part of the maintenance visit is the periodontal evaluation. If you have already experienced periodontal disease, then you know that it can occur with little or no symptoms. It therefore is important to track the health of your gum and bone over time to make certain reinfection does not occur and to catch it early if it does.

Proper Daily Home Care:

This includes effective brushing and flossing. Dr. Heaton and his team will make certain that you know the best techniques especially as they relate to your unique problem.

Dr. Heaton diagnosis’ treatment based upon medical necessity. If your insurance does not cover a procedure that is a contract between you and your insurance. We advise that you contact either your human resource center or your insurance company directly to learn more about your benefit contract.

No! We recommend soft food. For example: chicken, fish, oatmeal, and pasta.

Unless the surgery is going to be performed under IV sedation, yes a light meal should be eaten no later than one hour before surgery.

Periodontal disease is often silent, meaning symptoms; particularly pain, may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. However, you should still be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms, which include:
• Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth
• Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or when eating certain foods
• Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before
• Loose or separating teeth
• Pus between your gums and teeth
• Sores in your mouth
• Persistent bad breath
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• A change in the fit of partial dentures

Red swollen gums, tooth sensitivity, bad breath, spaces between teeth, loose or shifting teeth, and or gum recession

You can loose your teeth and there are several linkages related to periodontal disease and systemic diseases including but not limited to heart disease and diabetes.

We have an after hours service you can contact via 713.954.1334 and you will be contacted by one our team members.

The removal of gum tissue and or bone to expose more of the tooth's structure.

A titanium post that is locked into the implant.

The replacement tooth that is placed on the abutment.

A titanium screw-like post implanted into the jaw.

We recommend soft food. For example; chicken, fish, oatmeal and pasta.

There are a lot of products to choose from, and much of the decision depends on individual preference. A fluoride toothpaste is essential for optimal oral health. Beyond that, Dr. Heaton can alert you to any other features that make one product more suitable than another for you as an individual.

You will want to wait until you are no longer numb from surgery to avoid biting the side of your cheek and/or tongue.

Comparisons have been made between power-assisted (electric) toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes to look at the ability of each to remove plaque and prevent or reduce calculus (tartar) buildup, thus reducing gingivitis (gum disease). These research studies have shown both powered and manual toothbrushes to be equally effective when used correctly. So probably, in practical terms, which brush you use is not the critical factor, but how you use it.

The reason paperwork needs to be filled out is so Dr. Heaton can have an accurate and complete medical and dental history. We also need to be aware of any current treatment and/or medication that you are under. By law Dr. Heaton must have a current patient record prior to evaluation and/or treatment.

Why do I need to visit the dental hygienist regularly for a "cleaning" when I clean my own teeth every day?No matter how well people look after their teeth and gums, very few maintain perfect oral hygiene day by day. Plaque is easily missed between teeth and around the gum line. If plaque is missed regularly, within days it can mineralize into a hard, rough, cement-like material (known as tartar). Plaque and tartar are the primary factors leading to the development and progression of periodontal (gum) disease. Regular visits with a qualified hygienist, ensures the teeth are kept free of bacterial irritants and any gum problem can be addressed promptly.

Periodontal infection grows under your gums which could cause bleeding when brushing/flossing of teeth and or inflammation of the gums however no pain. You will start experiencing pain when the infection becomes so severe that an antibiotic may be needed.

No, we replace the N2O, with 100% oxygen at the end of the surgical appointment; therefore you will feel the same as you did when you first came to your appointment.

We make every effort to stay on schedule, and ask patients to be on time as well. For your convenience, we will confirm your dental visit two days prior to your appointment.