Clear Braces – Invisalign consists of custom-molded, clear acrylic aligners. Each aligner is fabricated to exacting specifications dictated by a custom treatment plan that your dentist designs.

Fast Braces - Wear your aligner for a few weeks, then move to the next in your series. In nine to eighteen months, you’ll enjoy the straight, sensational smile you deserve.

Removable Braces – In addition to being inconspicuous, Invisalign removers can be removed, just like a retainer or nightguard. Try to wear your aligners for 20+ hours a day, but feel free to remove them when you need to clean your teeth or for special occasions.

Comfortable Braces – Because Invisalign doesn’t require metal brackets and wires or rubber bands, this innovative orthodontic system is more comfortable than traditional braces. You won’t have to endure painful adjustment appointments, either.

So call today to reserve your consultation with Dr. Gatewood or Dr. Stephens. Conveniently located in Spring, their general and cosmetic dentistry office serves patients from surrounding Houston-area communities. At Stephens & Gatewood Dentistry, you’ll experience exceptional patient care, sure to make you smile!

Besides headaches, TMJ disorder contributes to chronic earaches, popping in the jaw joints, inability to open and close the mouth fully, and tingling extremities. Overworked muscles and disgruntled nerves can lead to clenching and grinding, as well. This bad habit is called bruxism. To combat TMJ disorder and bruxism – and to eliminate painful symptoms – Dr. Stephens and Dr. Gatewood prescribe the non-invasive oral appliance known as NTI-tss.

The Neciceptive Trigeminal Inhibition-tension suppression system inhibits the jaws from clenching, which eliminates nighttime grinding. Because the jaw joints are held in a slightly open yet comfortable position, with the NTI-tss, patients’ jaw muscles and nerves don’t become irritated. In this situation, when stress on the jaw is gone, so are headaches, earaches, and other symptoms.

NTI-tss has helped countless patients recover from TMJ disorder and bruxism. There is no risk, so the device works well as a first course of treatment. If we do not see improvement in your condition, the dentist can recommend alternative therapy.

You deserve relief from TMJ disorder, headaches, migraines, and bruxism. Call 281-320-2000 today to reserve your TMJ disorder evaluation and consultation with Dr. Stephens or Dr. Gatewood. Our Houston dental office is conveniently located in Spring, Tx at 6315 Cypresswood. Learn more about NTI-tss here, on the manufacturer’s website.

How do Dr. Stephens and Dr. Gatewood whiten teeth? First, you’ll want to schedule a consultation so one of the dentists can assess your dental situation and discuss realistic goals and outcomes. For example, if your teeth are darkened or yellowed by age, coffee, tea, or smoking, whitening is often more effective than if your teeth are stained gray from fluorosis or tetracycline medication.

We provide two forms of teeth whitening—in-office laser whitening and an at-home dentist-supervised method. A combination of the two will ensure your teeth stay dazzlingly white as time passes.

• Laser Whitening is a process in which the dentist applies a powerful teeth whitening gel to a patient’s teeth, then uses a laser light to activate it. In as little as one hour, teeth are lightened many shades.
• At-Home Whitening means we’ll take an impression of your mouth and fabricate a custom whitening tray to fit you precisely. When filled with the professional-strength bleaching gel we supply, the tray delivers results comparable to in-office whitening after approximately two to four weeks of regular use.

If you’re looking to gain the self-assurance of beautifully white teeth, call our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stephens or Dr. Gatewood. Our entire team loves finding ways to make Houston patients smile.

In-office CEREC restorations are:

Economical—most dental insurance providers will cover CEREC restorations just as they would for traditional lab-fabricated restorations.

Esthetic—we won’t sacrifice quality or cut corners to provide you with same-day restorations. Your crown, veneer, inlay, or onlay will be crafted from high-end dental porcelain. Dr. Gatewood and Dr. Stephens combine their experience and finely honed skills with precise three-dimensional imaging technology, providing beautiful, lifelike restorations.

Convenient—with a CEREC restoration, patients will almost never need to undergo a messy impression process. Temporary crowns are also a thing of the past, because just one visit at our Houston office yields an attractive, custom, permanent restoration.

If you’d like to learn more about the CEREC process or discover whether a one-visit restoration is right for your situation, call our office to schedule an individual consultation with Dr. Stephens or Dr. Gatewood. Our Houston-area dental practice is conveniently located in Spring, TX.

You feel the inconvenience and social impact acutely, but they are not the only negative effects of missing teeth. Your oral health is also compromised. The jawbone relies on natural teeth for stimulation, and without it the bone can atrophy and shrink. This alters the jaw’s structure and your appearance. Traditional tooth replacement methods like dentures and bridges don’t solve this problem, lacking a root-and-crown structure. But dental implants, which mimic natural teeth, keep the jawbone whole and healthy.

If you’re looking for a long-lasting, natural-looking tooth replacement solution that addresses your mouth’s natural function and esthetics, consider dental implants from Dr. Gatewood and Dr. Stephens.

About Dental Implants
Consisting of an imitation tooth root (the implant) and a crown (the restoration), dental implants are the closest replacement for natural teeth. Traditional bridges and partials use other teeth for stability. Traditional dentures rely on adhesives or natural suction to stay in place. Only dental implants function as their own anchor, creating an ultra-strong foundation for the attractive restoration placed on top.

The Dental Implant Process

• First, Dr. Gatewood or Dr. Stephens will evaluate your condition and discuss options. The doctor will assess your teeth, gums, and bone density to ensure a dental implant procedure’s success.
• One or more titanium posts will be placed in the jawbone. This will function as your replacement tooth’s root. The number of posts placed will vary based on your need. Dental implants can secure a single replacement tooth, a bridge, or a full denture. Since titanium is a biocompatible metal, the surrounding bone will integrate with the post during the healing phase.
• When your mouth has sufficiently healed, Dr. Gatewood or Dr. Stephens will complete the dental implant process by placing a restoration on the post.

With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last a lifetime. Since they blend seamlessly into your smile, no one will be able to tell you’ve had teeth replaced.
Call our office today to schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Gatewood or Dr. Stephens. We’d love to give you the confidence a beautiful, healthy smile can bring.

What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation is a wonderful way to stay current on oral care if you’re nervous about the dentist. It involves anti-anxiety medication administered by the dentist to keep you comfortable mentally and physically. In your consultation with one of our dentists, we’ll discus the type of sedation is right for you: nitrous oxide, oral, or IV sedation. Dr. Jack Stephens or Dr. Robert Gatewood will make sure you stay relaxed and calm during treatment. If IV sedation is needed, a certified anesthesiologist will come to our office for your scheduled procedure.

Who can benefit from sedation?
Any patient who needs dental care but suffers from dental phobia or nervousness could benefit from sedation dentistry. You may also be a candidate if you:

• want to consolidate your dental work into a few visits
• have had problems with a sensitive gag reflex
• find the dental chair too uncomfortable during long procedures

What types of sedation do you offer?

• Oral sedation, which is a pill your dentist prescribes.
• Nitrous oxide sedation, which means you’ll inhale “laughing gas” through a facemask.
• Oral conscious sedation, which is nitrous oxide and oral sedation combined.
• IV sedation, which is administered by a certified anesthesiologist intravenously.

The sedatives used by Dr. Stephens and Dr. Gatewood have an excellent safety record, and both dentists are certified to perform sedation dentistry. At our office, your health and comfort are high priority.

If you are ready to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephens or Dr. Gatewood, call our office today. We’d love to provide you with peace of mind and a strong, beautiful smile.

If you need to schedule an appointment or are “interviewing” us as your potential new dental provider, call today! You may also want to review information about us here.