Crowns from Premier Family Dental

February 14, 2013

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry,Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 8:23 pm

Despite our best efforts, our teeth are subject to damage and decay. Fillings are a great solution to these dental issues for many cases. If the damage or decay is more extensive, then a crown from Premier Family Dental could be a better solution.

Crowns are like a cap for your teeth. They can be made of several materials, with porcelain being a popular choice because it more closely resembles natural teeth. They cover over a damaged or decayed tooth to help protect it from damage and to restore the strength and health of the tooth.

If you have any of the following dental issues or concerns, you should consider getting a crown:

  • A broken tooth
  • Extensive decay
  • Fractured filling
  • You’ve had root canal therapy
  • You want to improve the appearance of your teeth

Your crown will be custom made so it will fit well and resemble your natural teeth. It will take about two visits for the procedure to be complete because of the time required to make your crown.

If you have a damaged or decayed tooth, a crown could be a great way to restore the health of your tooth. Call us today to learn more and set up a consultation with Dr. Cofer.

Premier Family Dental provides quality dental care from our Waco dental office because we truly believe in the power of a beautiful smile. We serve patients from Robinson, Lorena and the Central Texas area. Call us today to schedule your appointment!

Periodontal Disease and Your Health

January 28, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 5:33 pm

While you probably know that you should come see us at Premier Family Dental twice a year for good dental health, did you realize that we’re also checking you for signs of serious health concerns, such as periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is another name for gum disease. This is caused by bacteria that result from a buildup of plaque on your teeth. At first, your gums will just be inflamed, but if left alone, the bacteria can advance into the gums and cause them to start to pull away from your teeth and form pockets that can become infected. When your gums start to recede, you start to increase your chances of losing teeth.

If left untreated, gum disease can spread and lead to more serious problems, which is why it is so important that you visit our office twice a year so that we can check you for signs of this health concern.  The symptoms are usually mild or easy to confuse for something else. They generally include persistent bad breath, red or swollen gums, bleeding gums, pain while chewing, loose teeth and sensitive teeth. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to contact us today.

Periodontal therapy is the treatment for this disease. Dr. Rick Cofer, Jr. will remove the plaque and bacteria from your gums and leave you with health teeth once again. It is important to maintain good dental health by visiting our Waco dental office twice a year. We will check your teeth for signs of periodontal disease and keep your smile healthy and beautiful!

At Premier Family Dental, Dr. Rick Cofer, Jr. and our staff provide quality affordable dental care. Our Waco dental office serves patients from Lorena, Robinson, Hewett and the surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Root Canal Therapy From Dr. Cofer, Jr.

January 21, 2013

Filed under: Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 5:50 pm

If you have a toothache, your primary concern will be to stop the pain. Oftentimes, a toothache is a sign of an infection in your tooth, so the pain won’t just stop on its own. If you have a persistent or painful toothache, call us at Premier Family Dental because you may need root canal therapy.

The inside of your tooth is called the pulp, and within this is the root canal. When decay or disease works its way through your tooth into the inside, your root canal will become infected. Some of the symptoms include a toothache or tooth pain and sensitivity.

Root canal therapy is the best way to treat an infection in your tooth. We will drill into your tooth, remove the infected pulp from your tooth, fill it and seal it with a crown to prevent further infection. While many people think that root canal therapy is painful, this is a common misconception. Usually the most pain you will feel comes from the toothache that leads you into our office to diagnose the infection. Plus, you will be numbed during the procedure.

If you think root canal therapy might be right for you or you want to learn more, call us today. This is a great way to help restore your tooth and alleviate the pain and discomfort. Dr. Rick E. Cofer, Jr. performs hundreds of root canal therapy procedures each year and wants to put his experience to work for you.

At Premier Family Dental, Dr. Rick E. Cofer, Jr. and our staff provide quality affordable dental care. Our Waco dental office serves patients from Lorena, Robinson, Hewett and the surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Repair the Beauty of Your Smile with Partial Dentures

January 14, 2013

Filed under: Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 5:18 pm

In our last blog post, we discussed full dentures and how they could benefit patients who’ve lost a full set of teeth to extraction or other causes. What about those of you who’ve lost only a few or some of your natural teeth, though? You don’t want to let go of the teeth you were born with just to fit a set of full dentures, but it’s also not fair for you to be deprived of a beautiful and lasting smile. Dental implants are an option, but not everyone is an appropriate candidate for the treatment, and they aren’t always the most affordable choice. Dr. Cofer and his team at Premier Family Dental here in Waco, Texas understand your frustration, and have a solution: partial dentures. You can now enjoy all the comfort and ease of dentures while still being able to enjoy and show off your natural teeth too. What could be better?

A partial denture, or bridge, usually is made of replacement teeth connected to a gum-colored base, which is connected by metal framework that holds the denture in place your mouth. Unlike full dentures, which are held in place by natural suction, a partial denture is clipped to remaining teeth. You can be assured that Dr. Cofer will create partial dentures for you that are both natural-looking and a beautiful match for your facial structure.

Better yet, partial dentures have an added benefit. Not only will they fill in the spaces that are missing teeth, making your smile full and beautiful again, they’ll also keep your remaining teeth from shifting out of place, which will save you a headache from having to schedule another procedure.

The team at Premier Family Dental wants to give you something to smile about. You can learn more about partial dentures and some of the other restorative treatments we offer, such as dental implants, here at our website, or you can feel free to go ahead and give us a call today to schedule an appointment. Premier Family Dental proudly serves not only the Waco area, but also Lorena, Robinson, Hewett, and surrounding towns.

Show Off Your Smile Again with Full Dentures

December 31, 2012

Filed under: Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 5:14 pm

Missing teeth can be a daily embarrassment, especially when you find yourself faced with an overwhelming number of gaps. You want to smile and laugh with the people around you, but you can’t help but worry about what they’ll think when you open your mouth.  Don’t worry – Dr. Cofer and his team at Premier Family Dental are here to help with full dentures, a comfortable and affordable solution to a mouth of missing teeth. At our Waco, Texas office, we can create long-lasting dentures from biocompatible materials for a natural, beautiful look you’ll be thrilled to share with the world.

Making Your Life Easier, One Smile at a Time

Basic actions like eating or speaking don’t seem too hard – but once you find yourself without teeth, they can be a constant challenge. What’s worse is that facial muscles can begin to sag, making you look older. Full dentures can eliminate all of these problems for you, allowing you to partake in activities and outings that may have once seemed too challenging. Dr. Cofer will be happy to create a set of full dentures that both fit comfortably in your mouth and closely resemble your natural teeth. Full dentures may even improve the look of your smile!

In addition, full dentures are removable, unlike dental implants. They include a layer of soft tissue designed to look like gums, as well as the replacement teeth. They stay in place with the help of natural suction, and can be easily rinsed and cleaned once taken out of the mouth.

Are you ready for an affordable and comfortable option that will hide cover up those missing teeth with a brand-new, beautiful look? The team at Premier Family Dental wants to give you something to smile about. You can learn more about dentures and some of the other restorative treatments we offer, such as dental implants, here at our website, or you can feel free to go ahead and give us a call today to schedule an appointment. Premier Family Dental proudly serves not only the Waco area, but also Lorena, Robinson, Hewett, and surrounding towns.

Keeping Teeth Clean During the Day, At Work or At School

December 11, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 7:11 am

We all know the importance of having clean teeth, but with our busy lives it’s sometimes hard to keep on top of our dental health. The team at Premier Family Dental is here to help, so we’ve prepared some helpful tips for you!

If you’re on the go a lot, consider investing in a toothbrush for your office, so you’ll always have one. Another good idea is the Colgate Wisp, a one-use disposable toothbrush that doesn’t need water. You can keep a pack handy and always be able to freshen your breath easily.

Unfortunately, though, you can’t always brush after meals, so consider making sugarless gum a regular part of your life. You can keep a pack in your purse or desk, so it’s always there. How does this help? By increasing the flow of in your mouth. This can help neutralize the acids and bacteria that are found on your teeth, especially after eating.

You can also consider keeping some floss in your desk drawer or purse as well. You never know when you’ll get a little particle of food stuck between your teeth! Not only is it annoying, but it also gives bacteria and plaque a chance to grow and form, so it’s best to remove particles like these as soon as possible.

If you want to want to learn more about tips to keep your teeth clean, our Waco team is ready to help. Give us a call. Premier Family Dental proudly serves patients from Lorena, Robinson, Hewett, and surrounding towns.

Do Whitening Toothpastes Really Work?

November 27, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 2:11 pm

Here at Dr. Cofer’s Waco office, one of the questions we hear frequently from our patients is, “Do teeth whitening toothpastes really work?”

The answer is: Yes, they do work, as long as the toothpaste you’re using has an official seal from the American Dental Association (ADA) to verify its claims.

The real issue is that whitening toothpastes are mainly just good for removing surface stains from teeth, and only if you use it twice a day as directed. It will take between two to four weeks to see results. If you’re not trying to remove simple stains, though, like those from coffee or tobacco, whitening toothpaste won’t be very effective.

We understand that you want an easy, effective teeth whitening solution. If you don’t like the results you’re getting from your whitening toothpaste, or you need a stronger whitening solution, we also provide teeth whitening our-services at our Waco office. Dr. Cofer can create custom-made, take-home teeth whitening trays, allowing you to get whiter teeth from the comfort of your home. Within three to four days, you’ll begin to see dramatic results. You can then use your whitening toothpaste to help maintain your beautiful, white smile.

If you want to know more about whitening toothpastes and our take-home whitening trays, our Waco team is ready to help. Give us a call. Premier Family Dental proudly serves patients from Lorena, Robinson, Hewett, and surrounding towns.

What’s The Best Floss: Waxed or Un-Waxed?

November 9, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 7:32 am

Brushing thoroughly twice a day is one of the best things you can do for not just your oral health but your overall health as well. And yet, as good as brushing is, it’s not enough by itself—flossing is also important.

Why?

Because flossing makes it easier for you to clean around your gum line and between your teeth. Without flossing, plaque and food particles would be left untouched, allowing them to cause decay or gum disease. And as recent medical studies have shown, gum disease shares a not-insignificant connection with other kinds of health problems, including:

  • Respiratory ailments
  • Diabetes
  • Pregnancy complications
  • Heart disease

But there isn’t just one kind of floss out there. Among the different varieties, there are two main ones: waxed and un-waxed. So which is really more effective?

The benefit of using un-waxed floss—which is made up nylon strands woven together—is that it can more effectively clean spaces where teeth are very close together. The downside is that un-waxed floss can also break more easily.

Waxed floss, on the other hand, is made of regular floss but of course has a wax coating. That means it’s less likely to break, but it can also be difficult to use if you’re trying to clean between teeth that are very close together.

All of which means that there isn’t one particular type that’s right; it all depends on your needs. Some people have teeth that are very close to each other, while others have teeth that are spaced farther apart. The type of floss that’s right for you will depend on the type of teeth you have.

Still not sure what kind of floss you need? Call Dr. Cofer’s Waco dental office. During your next visit, we’d be happy to look at your teeth and recommend something that can help you.

Dr. Cofer serves patients from Waco, Lorena, Robinson, Hewett, and surrounding areas.

Did You Hear About Our Candy Buy-Back Program?

October 26, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 7:32 am

By next Thursday, you and your kids will have had some time to enjoy the candy you collected on Wednesday’s trick-or-treating adventure. But maybe you were a little too successful, and the last thing you want is for your children to ruin their teeth on all those sweets. At the same time, though, you don’t want to throw any of it away—so what can you do?

Come to Premier Family Dental on Friday, November 2nd between 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm with your un-opened candy to participate in our special Waco candy buy-back program.

As part of our candy buy-back, Dr. Cofer will be buying candy for $1 per pound, and he’ll have a special goody bag for all of his young patients willing to participate. When our Waco candy buy-back campaign has been completed, we’ll work with Blue Star Moms to send all donations we receive to the brave men and women who protect our country by serving in the armed forces.

To find out more about Dr. Cofer’s candy buy-back program, call our Waco dental office or visit our website.

Make Your Child’s Next Checkup a Priority This Month

August 28, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — Dr. Rick Cofer @ 4:27 pm

Every patient, regardless of age, should see their local dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings. And for children, one of the best times to come in to Premier Family Dental for one of these visits is at the beginning of a new school year.

Why is the start of a new school year such a good time?

Because August is a clear dividing line between one part of the year and another. Even if August is actually the eighth month instead of the sixth, it feels like a halfway point, separating the spring and summer from fall and winter.

But there’s an even more significant reason than this to bring your child in now. Aside from dividing the year in half, it’s a good idea to schedule your child’s next visit with Dr. Cofer at a time when your son or daughter’s schedule is still relatively light. As the year progresses, your child will have more homework and projects to do, on top of extracurricular activities, making free time hard to come by. So it’s best to schedule your child’s next visit with our Premier Family Dental team now, especially since return visits may be needed to treat common oral health conditions like cavities or gum disease.

Are You Ready to Schedule a Visit?

If you’re ready to schedule your child’s next visit with Dr. Cofer, our Waco team is ready to help. Give us a call. Premier Family Dental proudly serves patients from Lorena, Robinson, Hewett, and surrounding towns.

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