Finding the right dental provider to work with can be a challenge, especially when you’re looking for someone who can meet the needs of the entire family. Doing your due diligence now and finding a provider that can take care of everyone’s needs will save you time, stress and money in the long run because you won’t have to drive all over town for multiple appointments. Here are some tips for finding a family dentist in Denton you can trust.

Ask The Right Questions

Besides the obvious considerations such as a convenient location and office hours, you should feel free to ask your prospective provider specific questions in order to determine if they will be able to meet your needs. For example, if you’re considering treatment such as cosmetic dentistry, questions about their continuing education and training will help you determine if they have the skill level needed and if they offer the types of services you’re looking for. You should also ask to see before and after pictures of cases they’ve completed so you can see if their style and artistry are right for your needs.

Leatherwood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Samantha Leatherwood and her team offer exceptional family dental care to patients in Denton, TX. We welcome patients of all ages to the practice, even the littlest ones as we strive to make every visit pleasant, educational and stress free. We offer advanced services for children such as fluoride treatment, dental sealants and orthodontics. Our goal is to be your one stop for all of your dental care.

Advanced Care for Adults

Looking for cosmetic dentistry or replacements for missing teeth? Dr. Leatherwood has had many hours of advanced training that allows her to provide cosmetic dentistry at a level that surpasses what you will find at most dental offices. Whether you’re looking to give your smile a boost with teeth whitening, or completely change the appearance of it, we can meet your needs and the result will be a beautiful smile with optimum function.

At Leatherwood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we can’t wait to meet you and your family and we look forward to being your partners in achieving and maintaining optimum oral health. Contact our office today to learn more about how we are different and how we can help you and your family achieve your goals.

Years have gone by since you were a child. You are still embarrassed by your crooked smile. In fact, you cover your mouth when you smile or laugh in public! At your age, what can you do? Explore Invisalign clear aligners from Denton family dentist, Samantha Leatherwood DMD. She can show you the benefits of Invisalign over metal braces and design a treatment plan to craft the smile you have always wanted.

What are Invisalign Aligners?

Made of BPA-free acrylic, Invisalign clear aligners resemble professional teeth whitening trays. Designed in 18 to 30 pairs, depending on the complexity of the case, these aligners are:

• Removable for brushing, flossing and eating
• Practically invisible
• Comfortable and smooth
• Well-fitting
• Made to move teeth into healthier and more attractive positions
• Worn 20 to 22 hours per day
• Changed out approximately every 2 weeks for a new pair
• Durable
• Easy to keep clean

Used by millions of older teens and adults across the world, Invisalign aligners treat mild to moderate orthodontic problems such as tooth rotation, gaps, overcrowding, overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite and overjet (protrusion of the front teeth). Treatment time is shorter than traditional metal braces in Denton ( 9 to 15 months with 12 months being average for Invisalign). For instance, a high school student could receive her Invisalign aligners the summer of her junior year and finish treatment in time to start college the next year.

Additionally, adults enjoy how comfortable the aligners are–no sore spots or uncomfortable adjustments at the orthodontist’s office. The busy patient simply checks in with Dr. Samantha Leatherwood every 4 to 6 weeks for a progress check and to receive his or her next set of aligner pairs. Plus, at-home hygiene is as easy as removing the aligners and brushing and flossing twice a day as usual. There are no bonded brackets or wires to keep clean.

Do You Qualify for Invisalign?

The team at Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry can tell you for sure. Dr. Leatherwood will examine your mouth, take digital X-rays and three-dimensional digital impressions to send to the Invisalign lab. At the lab, the specially-qualified technician crafts the aligner pairs according to the dentist’s specific care plan. Dr. Leatherwood even shows patients a virtual representation of how teeth will look at each stage of treatment.

The best Invisalign patients comply with wearing their aligners for the prescribed amount of time each day. Successful patients eat a healthy diet, brush twice a day and floss daily and keep their appointments at Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. After completion of treatment, Dr. Leatherwood recommends wearing a customized Vivera retainer from Invisalign to keep newly straightened smile in perfect alignment.  Your orthodontic treatment with Invisalign clear aligners is really a partnership between you and your dentist.

Want to Know More?

Find out if Invisalign is for you. Contact Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to arrange an orthodontic consultation with Dr. Leatherwood. Bring all your questions. Learn the advantages Invisalign treatment can bring to your smile.

Why suffer the consequences missing teeth? At Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Samantha Leatherwood recommends modern dental implants as outstanding replacements for teeth lost to oral injury, extensive decay, and gum disease. An artificial tooth from root to crown, the dental implant in Denton is surgically placed into the patient’s jaw for superior stability, strength and appearance. No other replacement options offers so much.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

The typical dental implant is a titanium metal screw inserted into the jawbone during a procedure with an a trusted oral surgeon in the area. After several weeks of healing, Dr. Leatherwood places a titanium abutment, or post, onto the implant and then bonds a custom-made porcelain crown onto the post.

Because the implant is made from titanium, it bonds with the jawbone through a natural process called osseointegration. In fact, the implant strengthens the bone and preserves its size and density. This characteristic is unique to dental implants. Other tooth replacement options such as fixed bridgework or traditional dentures set on top of the gums and do not exercise the bone.

Also, because dental implants insert into the jaw, they need no support from adjacent teeth the way bridgework or partial dentures do. As such, neighboring teeth do not require the enamel preparation common to bridges and partials procedures. Another great benefit of implants is they may anchor fixed or removable dentures.

Patients and dentists alike praise dental implants because these artificial teeth prevent the tooth drifting that occurs after tooth loss. Also, patients enjoy excellent smile aesthetics.  Implants are indistinguishable from natural teeth, and implant-supported dentures and bridgework prevent the facial changes that occur when missing teeth are not replaced. Patients speak and eat normally, with none of the slurring and slippage common to traditional dentures.

Candidates for Dental Implants

People in good general and oral health may receive implants. The jaw must be of sufficient size and density for implants to fully integrate with the bone.

In addition, while dental implants cost more initially than other tooth replacements, implants last indefinitely. Bridgework and traditional dentures must be replaced every seven to ten years, costing patients more over the years.

Finally, while implants feature a high success and retention rate (well over 90 percent), ideal candidates should not smoke as the toxins in cigarettes degrade gums and bone.  Also, implant recipients must brush twice a day and floss carefully around their new teeth. Poor at-home hygiene and infrequent in-office care leads to an infection called peri-implantitis which is similar to periodontal disease. Peri-implantitis often leads to implant failure and removal.

Would You Like to Know More?

Please contact Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to arrange your implant consultation. It’s a great opportunity to learn all you can about implants and to ask questions of your implant dentist in Denton.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research indicates that 92 percent of American adults have had at least one cavity in their lifetimes. In other words, there are millions of treated and untreated cavities out there. Denton dentist, Dr. Samantha Leatherwood, restores decay with composite resin fillings which are durable and seamlessly tooth-colored. Learn about this comfortable treatment process and what the dentist tells patients about preventing decay.

The Genesis of a Dental Cavity

It begins with an oral bacteria call Strep mutans which lives in plaque and tartar in between teeth and at the gum line. These germs secrete acids which cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Neglected, tooth decay continues to eat away at tooth enamel. Inner tooth pulp often develops an abscess, or infection, causing pain and destruction of the tooth.

Fortunately, diagnosis through visual inspection and digital X-rays can limit the destructive process. Dr. Samantha Leatherwood, your dentist in Denton, routinely uses white composite resin to repair dental cavities and strengthen tooth enamel. Seamless and tooth colored, this innovative combination of glass and acrylic virtually makes decay disappear.

Here’s How It All Works

First, Dr. Leatherwood numbs the area around the tooth to be restored. She isolates the decayed area by installing a thin rubber dam around the tooth to protect the mouth from any debris. She carefully removes the damaged enamel with a high speed drill. Unlike preparing a tooth for a metal filling, this process is more conservative, requiring removal of less enamel. Additionally, once installed, the composite resin does not expand and contract with temperature fluctuations, placing less stress on tooth enamel.

Then, the dentist uses an etching liquid to prepare the surface for the resin. She cures it with a special light and places the composite resin in layers, each hardened with the special light. After finishing the filling, Dr. Leatherwood polishes the surface to blend in with the texture of the surrounding enamel.

Prevention of Dental Decay

Of course, disciplined at-home hygiene and in-office care support good oral health. The American Dental Association tells kids and adults to brush twice a day for two minutes and to floss daily. Also, the ADA recommends semi-annual examinations and cleanings with a skilled family dentist.  Beyond these, patients should:

• Eat a nutritious, low-carb diet high in fibrous vegetables and fruit, low-fat dairy for calcium and low-fat meats and fish for protein
• Drink at least eight glasses of water daily to wash tooth surfaces and gums and to increase saliva and its antibacterial benefits
• Wear mouthguards for sports and to prevent damaging tooth grinding (bruxism)
• Avoid chewing hard foods, such as taffy and ice, and never bite open plastic packaging or bottles with your teeth

Restore Cavities

It’s a straightforward process, and the result is a beautiful and durable smile. If you think you have a cavity, contact Samantha Leatherwood DDS, dentist in Denton, for an appointment.  She’ll take care of that decay and get you smiling again.

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The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry says that an attractive smile makes a good first impression–important in our  image-conscious society. Professional teeth whitening and other services from your cosmetic dentist in Denton, Dr. Samantha Leatherwood, take worm smiles from lack lustre to Wow! You’ll get noticed and feel better about yourself, too.

Getting that Just-right Smile

The team at Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry agree that your smile impacts how people perceive your personality. Smile aesthetics affect how you feel inside, too. So, Dr. Leatherwood offers the latest in aesthetic dental services, including tooth-colored fillings, Zoom! Whitening, porcelain veneers, dental implants and Invisalign clear aligners in Denton.

To begin a makeover, the dentist discusses with the patient what changes he or she would like to accomplish. A patient’s realistic goals are critical to success in any cosmetic smile makeover. After a comprehensive examination, Dr. Leatherwood presents some recommendations which fit with the patient’s preferences, budget and schedule.

Do you think your smile is dull and yellow? Smoking, darkly pigmented foods and beverages and the aging process can stain your tooth enamel. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening in Denton is a cost-sparing, safe and easy way to brighten tooth color. Dr. Leatherwood offers both in-office and at-home whitening treatments featuring the innovative Zoom! Whitening system.  A concentrated peroxide gel lifts out discolorations in about an hour in the dental office.  At-home kits render the same bright results more gradually via customized acrylic trays.

The doctor may address deeper stains, cracks and unevenness with popular porcelain veneers. Made from translucent dental grade ceramic,  porcelain veneers cover the front side of one or more teeth. They are permanently bonded in place and last for years with good care at home.

For More Involved Makeovers

Adults want straight, well-aligned smiles, but perhaps they never received orthodontic correction. So, Invisalign clear braces are a discreet but effective orthodontic alternative for mild to moderate alignment problems.

With Invisalign, patients wear pairs of custom-designed aligners. They fit snugly over teeth and gradually move them into more favorable positions. Unlike traditional braces, treatment time with Invisalign is relatively quick. Plus, because Invisalign appliances are removable, oral hygiene is easy. There are none of the dietary restrictions or oral irritations that complicate traditional braces.

Finally, for an unbeatable combination of restorative and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Leatherwood places tooth-colored fillings and modern dental implants. White fillings are made from composite resin bonded directly to tooth enamel for a seamless, durable repair of tooth decay. Dental implants replace missing teeth from root to crown, and because of their positions in the jaw bone, implants strengthen the jaw and and stay secure for decades. Also, they may anchor bridgework and partial or full dentures.

Learn More

Find out about cosmetic dentistry.  Contact Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry today for your smile consultation. The team will be create a treatment plan that changes your dull teeth into a sparkling smile.

You remember that day like it was yesterday. You were scared and excited, and you’d planned for everything – diaper bags, a crib, onesies – you were ready for your baby to arrive. You and your husband rushed off to Texas Presbyterian in Denton, and brought the baby into the world. The time flew by and she grew up so fast! She started to teethe, started to walk, and the next thing you know, she’s in the bathroom trying to copy mom’s tooth brushing technique. Now that it’s time for a dentist, who better to trust with your baby than the best children’s dentist in Denton?

What’s Different About Children’s Dentistry?

Since kids are growing and developing their motor skills, brushing and flossing is very important, especially considering that 42% of kids have cavities. That’s nearly half of kids ages 2-5 years old! In fact, tooth decay is the most common childhood disease. Dr. Leatherwood knows that kids are often afraid of the dentist, just because a dental visit is a brand new experience for little ones. And, being a mom, she’s had plenty of experience in calming the fears of kiddos. She and her staff take the time to make sure their smallest patients are treated like the biggest stars in the office and help kids look forward to coming back for their next visit.

Are Baby Teeth That Important?

Since baby teeth eventually fall out, you may wonder why it’s important to practice proper dental care on something that will eventually belong to the tooth fairy. Baby teeth are important because:

• They help kids chew healthy food correctly, fostering proper nutrition
• They help kids to talk and develop proper speech
• They act as place holders for adult teeth – saving room in the jaw for proper adult tooth development
• Healthy baby teeth allow kids to concentrate in school, rather than being distracted by dental pain
• A beautiful smile provides kids self-confidence and increases self-esteem
• They teach kids responsibility and the importance of dental care while young

Even though they may not be permanent, baby teeth are vital to kids’ development!

What Does Dr. Leatherwood Do for Kids’ Teeth?

At Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Leatherwood and her team take the following steps to ensure your kids get a great start at dental hygiene:

1. First visit and dental care regimen begins at age 2-3
2. Specialty treatment from a trained children’s dental hygienist
3. Education on how to brush and floss properly
4. Dental sealants to protect teeth
5. Fluoride treatments to prevent cavities
6. Natural colored fillings to treat decay

Dr. Leatherwood’s approach as a pediatric dentist in Denton is to treat kids like they’re her own – she and her staff focus on teaching kids to value and prioritize their dental health, building healthy habits at a young age that will last a lifetime.

Have a kiddo who needs a cleaning, checkup, or filling? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Samantha Leatherwood at Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry today!

The square around the Denton Courthouse has been a favorite haunt of yours since college. You can see all manners of people either playing music or running around with their dogs on the lawn. Live music and food are only a few steps away. At least, that’s what you would be experiencing if you were able to make it out tonight. Your tooth has been killing you for the past few days. You’re afraid you might need a root canal, but you’re not sure. Can it possibly hurt worse than this? We tell you why there is no need to fear a root canal in Denton.

Why You Might Need a Root Canal

Enamel is the strongest substance in your body, and that is because your teeth are constantly required to exert a lot of force. Chewing food is a strenuous activity…try squeezing a piece of steak and see how much effort it takes to break it down. Teeth are constantly breaking foods down so we can digest them, so they need to be strong. Sometimes the buildup of plaque and bacteria from the food we eat can start to decay this enamel. If it is left unchecked, it can start to eat into and through the inner layer which is made of dentin. Eventually it will reach the dental pulp, which is where the nerve of the tooth resides. This is how you are able to feel your teeth despite them being rigid, bone-line structures. It can be very painful when the decay reaches the pulp, and this would call for a root canal. Other typical signs are:

• Pain or swelling in the cheek and gum near the tooth
• Extended sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
• Pain when biting down on the tooth
• A small bump on the gum beneath the tooth

Eventually the decay can infect the jaw and spread on from there. This process can be easily stopped, however, with a root canal.

How Does A Root Canal Work?

When decay has reached the dental pulp, it needs to be removed, and this procedure is called a root canal. It involves 3 basic steps:

• Dr. Leatherwood will first create a hole in your tooth in order to access the pulp
• The pulp will be removed and the tooth will be cleaned and disinfected
• The tooth will be filled with a naturally-colored resin

If too much of the tooth’s structure has been removed, it may be necessary to place a dental crown to help restore it.

Will It Hurt?

Root canals have garnered a dubious reputation as a painful procedure over the years. The truth is that due to the experience of Dr. Leatherwood and the use local anesthesia, you will barely feel anything at all during the procedure, pain or otherwise. The procedure is meant to help relieve your discomfort, not cause it. If you are experiencing a large amount of tooth pain and want relief, please make an appointment with us today.