All our professionals at Hill Country Dental Center maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in dentistry.
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What sets us apart...
- Amalgam-free Office. We do not place any amalgam (mercury-containing) restorations. All fillings are completed using composite resin material that matches the color of the tooth, making them almost undetectible, not to mention free of mercury.
- Digital X-rays. The use of digital x-rays allows our office to gather vital information to help in diagnosing any dental problems without the standard level of radiation. The level of radiation used is approximately half the amount required with the old technique.
- Intra-Oral Photography. We take pictures of your teeth with a camera that fits inside your mouth. You see what we see, which allows you to make an educated decision when restoration of your teeth is recommended.
- CEREC. One Visit Crowns. CEREC is a computer designed porcelain restoration for your tooth. Crowns, Inlays, Onlays and Veneers can be fabricated using this system in one visit. No messy impressions. No temporary crowns. No coming back for a second appointment to cement the crown. This method of restoring you tooth saves you time and money. Also, the use of inlays and onlays save strong tooth structure that would ordinarily be lost to a conventional crown. This is a conservative way to restore teeth to their natural strength and beauty, in one visit. www.cereconline.com
- Invisalign. Straightening your teeth without all the brackets and wires. Patients from teenagers to retirees can benefit from Invisalign.www.invisalign.com
Initial Oral Examination
Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, oral cancer screening, charting of existing conditions, periodontal probing, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take individual x-rays of the anterior (front teeth), posterior (back teeth), as well as bite-wing x-rays that help us detect decay between your teeth. A panoramic x-ray will also be utilized to visualize the entire jaw structure and TMJ. X-rays are required for the initial exam. Without x-rays, we cannot perform an accurate examination of your dental condition. If you have recent x-rays from another provider, we can request that they release them to you, or email them directly to us. There may be a charge for those x-rays from that provider, and if they are over 1-year old, we will still require new x-rays. Some offices still use traditional x-rays, which are very difficult to transfer into our system. Because we are a paperless office, we may still require a minimum amount of x-rays be taken to be placed in our digital system if you bring in a hard copy of traditional x-rays. It is best that the doctors have all the tools they need to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Dental Implants
The doctors rely on a surgeon to place dental implants. The implant is the part that replaces the root of your tooth. We work very hard to provide an accurate diagnosis and then we refer you to a very trusted surgeon to perform the surgical procedure that places the implant in your jawbone. We normally refer to Dr. Wendell Edgin, with Alamo Maxillofacial Surgical Associates here in Boerne. They are available 5-days a week and provide outstanding service. Once the implant is placed and the bone has integrated with the implant, the restoration process is performed back here at Hill Country Dental Center. Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, or replace/enhance a removable appliance (denture or partial denture).
Teeth Bleaching
Our state-of-the-art, in-office Power Bleaching system will make your teeth whiter in less than 1.5 hours. Another option is our home bleaching system you take with you for results in 2 weeks. You can also consider a combination program of both systems for optimal, long-term results.
Crowns and Veneers
Most of our crowns are made with our state-of-the-art Cerec system. This is accomplished in one visit and provides the patient with an all-porcelain crown that has the same flexural strength as enamel and is truly bonded to the remaining tooth structure, which strengthens the tooth and allows a more precise fit than a traditional crown. The Cerec restorations are also very natural looking in appearance. If the patient has an aggressive grinding habit, a porcelain crown with a metal base or an all-gold alloy crown may be recommended.
Veneers are a wonderful restoration that can improve a person’s smile and boost their self-confidence. We offer different types of veneers based on the patient’s dental condition. Lumineers are used when there is little malocclusion (crookedness) in the front teeth area. Lumineers are known as the “no-prep veneers”. Lumineers can be used to close spaces, correct minor crowding, change the shape and color of the teeth without any injections. Temporary restorations are very seldom needed when using Lumineers. Traditional veneers require more removal of tooth structure in order to make a beautiful smile. You will leave the initial appointment with temporary restorations that give you an idea of what the final product will look like. Due to the removal of tooth structure, injections are usually necessary for this procedure. We use the DaVinci Lab out of California for all traditional veneers. They provide the most beautiful, natural-looking restorations that we have found and we trust them with your smile.
Fillings: Resin
Hill Country Dental Center does not use amalgam (mercury) fillings. Resin fillings are used for routine restorations needed once decay has been removed from a tooth. Resin fillings allow the dentists to provide a more conservative restoration and preserve more tooth structure. It also provides an esthetically pleasing restoration. If a filling gets too large for a resin filling to provide adequate strength and longevity, a porcelain filling (onlay, inlay, or ¾ crown) will be recommended. The porcelain fillings are fabricated using the Cerec system and are completed in one visit.
Root Canals
Dr. Malouf performs all the root canals here at Hill Country Dental Center. Sometimes it will be necessary for you to see a root canal specialist (endodontist) for more difficult cases. If a referral is needed, we have several endodontists in the area that we use and trust.
Periodontal Treatment
Most patients receive a standard cleaning at least twice a year. A standard cleaning includes an adult prophy (basic cleaning), x-rays and an exam by one of the dentists. The hygienist will perform a periodontal screening, which includes: measuring the space between your tooth and gums to diagnose your periodontal condition. 75% of the general population have some form/level of periodontal disease and are unaware because it is a painless process. If the measurements, and other factors (bleeding, mobility) indicate that you have periodontal disease, you may require a more extensive cleaning that goes deeper under your gums (scaling and root planing). Most of the time, you will receive local anesthesia for scaling and root planing procedures to ensure that you are kept comfortable. In some cases, we will recommend the use of an antibiotic that is placed directly in those deeper pockets. This antibiotic helps to eliminate the bacteria that hide in those deep pockets and encourages the re-attachment of the gingiva. We use Arestin, which is a tetracycline-type antibiotic that works very well against bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Once you have had a scaling and root planing procedure done, you will be placed on periodontal maintenance. The maintenance procedures may be required at a shorter interval than someone who has normal periodontal health. It is common to have maintenance every 3-4 months. If the periodontal health improves to a point where the patient can manage the pockets with home care, sometimes a 6-month interval can be re-established.
Sedation Dentistry
Have you been avoiding going to the dentist because of anxiety or fear? You don’t have to be afraid anymore about getting dental work done with the comfort of sedation dentistry. There are several options to help patients cope with dental fears.
Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a great way for someone who is mildly anxious to have dental work completed comfortably. You wear a little hood over your nose before and during the dental procedure. The effect is very mild and can make you feel very “floaty”. The concentration of the nitrous oxide is very closely monitored and is calibrated differently for each patient. The great thing about using nitrous oxide is that it is 100% reversible and you can drive yourself after your appointment is completed. At the end of the appointment, you breathe 100% oxygen for approximately 5 minutes and there is no remaining effect of the nitrous oxide.
For someone who is a more anxious, we offer an enteral conscious sedation. Enteral means that you ingest the sedative agent. For adults and some teens, we use halcion (triazolam). Halcion is in the same family as valium, but does not stay in your system as long as valium. It allows for a very relaxed state during dental treatment. Sometimes we will use nitrous oxide along with the halcion, if needed. Halcion does have a side-effect of creating amnesia while in your system. Usually, you know you had dental work completed but have no recollection of the actual work being done. Again, the patient is very closely monitored during procedures where a sedation is utilized. With that being said, patients are not allowed to drive if halcion has been used. Patients must have a ride to the office, the medication is dispensed here under strict supervision. The patient must have someone present to act in their behalf the entire time that treatment is being performed.
For children, we use Versed (midazolam), which is a liquid medication, routinely. Versed is a very fast-acting sedative agent. It takes approximately 15-minutes to be at full-effect and the sedative effects only last about 45-minutes. Again, we routinely use nitrous oxide in combination with the Versed and monitor closely. This medication is dispensed in the office, based on the patient’s weight, age, and level of cooperativeness. The goal with children is to have a positive experience, even if extensive dental treatment is required.
Mouth Guards/Occlusal Splints
Whether you are an athlete or casual sports participant, you should wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth. Under Armour has just released a new-type of athletic mouthguard, called the UA Performance Mouthwear, that can actually enhance your physical abilities while playing a variety of sports. They have several different types to use with different sports ranging from football, baseball, golf, running, biking, and many more. They have compiled research that shows up to 17% increase in strength, 25% increase in endurance, increased reaction time and reduced athletic stress. We are a certified provider for this product. You can visit www.underarmour.com for more information.
Removable Dental Prosthesis
Dentures and partial dentures have come a long way. Partial dentures can be produced from a variety of materials. Our most popular is the Valplast partial. It is fabricated from a patented flexible material that is very easy to wear. There is no metal in this type of partial, so you don’t have to worry about ugly metal clasps showing around your remaining teeth. It is lighter and more retentive than a traditional metal-based partial. We also provide the traditional partials if needed.
Dentures can sometimes be very difficult to obtain a great fit. Our goal is to keep you from needing denture adhesives. Sometimes the use of implants can greatly improve the retention and decrease any mobility you feel with your denture. Frequently we recommend a process called immediate dentures. With immediate dentures, your teeth are extracted and the denture is delivered the same day. This allows you to go on with your busy life, without the worry of not having teeth. Please ask us about the details of this procedure.
30875 B IH-10 W
Boerne, TX 78006
(830) 755-6475
