Hide Denture in Plain View

You can wear a denture that only you and I know is in your mouth: a partial flexible denture. And not only is a partial flexible denture nearly invisible, it adapts to the constant movement in your mouth.


A removable, partial flexible denture may be an excellent choice if you need to replace existing teeth or missing teeth, and the remaining teeth in your dental arch are healthy.

Unlike a conventional partial denture that is made from rigid acrylic material and uses metal clasps to clamp onto neighboring teeth [top photo], this appliance is constructed from a soft nylon-type material that matches the natural color of your gums. The "clasps" are extensions of the base material and curl snugly around the neighboring teeth [bottom photo]. Sometimes, a hole is punched in the material and the appliance is slipped over the top of a natural tooth like a turtleneck sweater.

A partial flexible denture has desirable advantages:

1. It is strong and stays in place when you chew, unlike a conventional denture that loses suction and pops loose, which can be embarrassing.
2. Your natural teeth do not need to be reshaped like they would with a bridge, for example.
3. It maintains the shape of your face and prevents your teeth from shifting.
4. It is thin and lightweight.
5. There is little or no speech adaption necessary.
6. Most patients immediately become accustomed to its fit and feel.

A removable, flexible partial denture can magically restore your beautiful smile. Call and schedule an appointment. We can discuss your smile goals and options.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Twitter Tweets Twist Truth

Social networking sites, such as Twitter, can be beneficial. In one instance, an Oregon police department posted a Twitter alert about a lost Alzheimer patient. Tweeters' lightening fast tweets assisted police in immediately locating the patient.


We have read that Twitter has been used to hawk unused medicines or to find someone who is willing to give up their unused medicine. Tweeters also give medical advice even though they are not healthcare professionals.

Technology can provide faster ways to deliver information; however, it will never replace knowledgeable healthcare professionals.

For example, we might prescribe a medication to help you resolve a dental condition. Even though we instruct you to take all of the medication, you might be tempted to stop the medication as soon as you feel better. What will you do with the leftovers?


Sometimes, well-meaning people will offer their unused medications to others not realizing they might be putting that person in danger. If you are considering giving your unused prescription to someone else, don’t. A medication is not one size fits all. It was prescribed based on your specific condition, other medications, age and weight, for example.

You always need to be on guard against potentially harmful "advice." Please, ask us about dental medication "advice" no matter where you get it—through mobile technology, the Internet or your local coffee shop.
We have many years of education and experience, and we constantly update our knowledge and skills, just to protect you.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Teeth Might Save a Child’s Life

Your youngster's teeth may one day have the ability to save his or her life.


Everyone's teeth contain pulp, a spongy material made up of tissue, blood vessels and nerves in the center of each tooth. A child's tooth pulp contains special stem cells that can become different types of tissue, such as oral and facial bone, cartilage, muscle and soft tissues.

Many people are already aware that bone marrow (that contains stem cells) is removed from one person and injected into a cancer patient in hopes of conquering the cancer. Imagine your child at an older age being inflicted with a condition such as Parkinson's disease. Your child's own stored dental stem cells could be used to repair the brain tissue damaged by Parkinson's.

Using one's own cells is called "personalized medicine," and it is becoming a popular way to use resources from a person's body to conquer disease or regenerate tissue, which eliminates ethical concerns. Using one's own stem cells also prevents the body from rejecting the cells or from inheriting an unwanted condition from an outside donor.

A dental stem bank has been set up (outside the U.S.) to explore using one’s own stem cells for dental applications. So far, three states have certified the stem cell bank’s processing and quality control procedures.
Even though we can't use this personalized medicine technology today, the prospect of its development is very exciting!

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

It's Not What You Eat; It's How Often

This is the time of year everyone is giving you advice on eating. And this is no exception. But we aren't as concerned about how living off of hors d'ouevres or having that extra piece of pie will impact your waistline. We're concerned that the constant availability of food, especially during the holiday season, will wear out your teeth.


It can be confusing trying to make sense of the information about eating regular meals and avoiding foods that increase your risk for caries, especially when the trend is to snack throughout the day. Some weight-loss diets recommend eating five or six small meals a day.

Saliva washes harmful bacteria off your teeth and helps neutralize decay-causing acid, but snacking overwhelms your saliva. Consequently, when you constantly snack, your teeth are bathed in bacteria-produced acid all day long, putting you at high risk for tooth decay. Every time you eat, it takes your saliva about 20 minutes to put your mouth back into balance. If you are constantly eating, you don’t give your mouth enough time to recover from the acid attack.


When you snack, snack wisely. We recommend that you choose foods and beverages that have a low caries risk (low sugar and not acidic). And don't forget that beverages can be treacherous. That gingerbread, cocoa, egg nog latte with the chocolate snowflake may look like a harmless holiday indulgence, but those fancy coffee drinks can have as much as 69 grams of sugar. And you know sugar feeds cavity-causing bacteria. Consume foods made with the three natural sugars that prevent caries: tagatose, isomalt and xylitol.

Tagatose is sold under the name Naturlose, which is also a healthy sugar for diabetics. Naturlose foods include candy, cocoa, ice cream, powdered milk, yogurt, cheese, fruit juices and diet soft drinks.
Isomalt is a common ingredient in diabetic foods and candies.

Xylitol, a natural sugar found in some plants, is used in several foods, gum, candy, and lozenges.
The American Diabetes Association states that sugar alcohols such as isomalt, maltitol and xylitol contain fewer calories and carbohydrates than regular sugars. Look for products marketed as "no sugar added."
Of course, your best strategy is to minimize snacking and eat regular meals; brush at least twice each day with fluoride toothpaste, and floss at least once each day. In a pinch, chew a piece of xylitol or other sugar-free gum after the snack.

Enjoy the holidays. Eat, drink, but be wary of constant indulgence. Pace yourself. That's good advice for any time of year.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

e-Cigarettes Are Not Smoke and Mirrors

E-cigarettes look like a smoke and mirrors party trick, but they are a serious nicotine delivery system.

An electronic cigarette uses liquid nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol (an ingredient in antifreeze) instead of tobacco. A small heating device vaporizes the liquid mixture. The "smoker" inhales the vapor. When exhaled, the vapor looks like cigarette smoke, but it quickly dissipates like the steam from a teakettle of boiling water.


The FDA reports that early tests show e-cigarettes contain cancer-causing components. One participant in a university medical school's research reported that liquid nicotine caused a burning sensation at the site of some dental work.

There are too many unknowns about e-cigarettes. 

We know that liquid nicotine prescribed for smoking cessation has risks for pregnant women, anyone taking medications or who has allergies, as well as anyone with a medical condition such as asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. We simply do not yet know if the same is true about the liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes.

Because e-cigarettes have not been thoroughly tested, several countries have banned their sale, and the World Health Organization has objected to false claims that their organization approves and endorses e-cigarettes.

Until we have reliable data about health and safety issues, we recommend that our patients be safe and not use e-cigarettes.

If you use e-cigarettes, it's extremely important to see us twice each year so we can perform an oral cancer exam, check for decay and periodontal disease because we know they increase in people who use nicotine. Also, please tell us that you use e-cigarettes so we can adjust your treatments accordingly.


Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.