Cosmetic Dentist in Houston Reflects on AACD Statistics and How to Choose the Right Practice

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) reports in a recent study that cosmetic dental procedures have increased significantly over the past five years, with teeth whitening showing a growth of over 300% and porcelain dental veneers increasing by 250%. According to another statistic by the AACD, 99.7% of Americans believe a smile is an important social asset and 75% feel an unattractive smile could potentially harm a person’s chance for employment success. Houston cosmetic dentist Dr. Ann Haggard says as cosmetic dental procedures become increasingly popular and more emphasis is placed on one’s smile, choosing the right cosmetic dentistry practice is crucial for achieving the best results.

According to a recent statistic from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), teeth whitening procedures have increased by over 300%, porcelain veneers by over 200%, and direct bonding by 100% in the past five years. At her Houston cosmetic dentistry practice, Dr. Ann Haggard says she has seen similar growth in cosmetic procedures as the media continues to spotlight dental aesthetics. She also says as these procedures continue to increase in popularity, selecting a cosmetic dentist who is both experienced and dedicated to personalized care has never been more important.

Statistics from the AACD also report that 99.7% of Americans feel a smile is an important social asset, and 74% believe an unattractive smile could hurt a person’s chance for career success. Because of social pressure to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile, Dr. Haggard says many patients are opting for cosmetic procedures to boost their self-confidence. She suggests finding a cosmetic dentistry practice that focuses on providing individual attention in order to ensure that patients receive the best possible results for their unique dental needs.

Whether patients are seeking cosmetic enhancements like teeth whitening or a restorative procedure such as dental implants in Houston, Dr. Haggard recommends consulting with a dentist who is consistently pursuing continued education and who is active in the dental community. She also says dentists with extensive experience in cosmetic and restorative procedures can offer the most holistic and thorough treatment to patients seeking to enhance their smile. “Patients should select a dentist that can provide photos to display the work that they are capable of. I think that before and after photos are very important.”

About Dr. Ann E. Haggard

Dr. Ann Haggard graduated Cum Laude from Centenary College of Louisiana as a member of the pre-med honor society. She received her dental degree from Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry, during which time she belonged to the Delta Sigma Delta Professional Dental Fraternity. Dr. Haggard is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and several other professional organizations.

Located at 1015 Medical Center Blvd. Suite 1600 in Webster, TX, Dr. Haggard’s practice can be reached at (281) 667-4010 or contacted online via the website designerforsmiles.com or facebook.com/designersmilestexas.

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The DNA appliance is something worn at night while you sleep. It can be used to straighten teeth, treat mild to moderate sleep apnea or both. Dr. Ann learned about epigenentic orthodontics and the DNA appliance while taking other courses at Arrowhead Dental Laboratory, a well respected organization in the dental continuing education community. She became immediately interested because her 6 year old niece is showing signs possible jaw surgery. Dr. Ann was looking for a non surgical technique to help guide her growth away from this need.

The DNA appliance offers significant benefits when compared to traditional braces or brackets. It is worn only half the number of hours as traditional braces and simulates bone growth and guidance instead of just moving teeth through bone. It is a non-painful way to straighten teeth that is shown to be more stable than orthodontic treatment because you are guiding growth, not just moving teeth. The DNA appliance can be especially useful in cases where children are in need of upper arch expansion.

At Designer Smiles we are extremely excited to offer this groundbreaking new treatment. If you have any questions or would like to speak to one of team members about the DNA appliance, please call 281-667-4010 or email us.

Houston Cosmetic Dentist Offering Traditional Dental Implant Alternative

Dr. Ann E. Haggard, a cosmetic dentist in Houston, TX, says that dental implants are one of the most important innovations in dentistry because of their natural feeling and durability. She adds that mini dental implants can also be an affordable and innovative alternative to traditional dental implants for many patients.

According to a report by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), the number of dental implants and procedures has been growing at a rate of six percent a year since 2006. The dental implant procedure is designed to permanently replace missing teeth by rooting the implant directly to the jaw. As opposed to crown and bridge treatment, dental implants do not require the alteration of adjacent, healthy teeth. They also prevent bone loss and the movement of natural teeth by providing stability and reinforcing jawbone structure. Trained Houston implant dentists Dr. Marcus D. Haggard and his daughter Dr. Ann E. Haggard at Designer Smiles say that dental implant technology is a state-of-the-art option that continues to grow in popularity.

Mini dental implants are a smaller, less-invasive procedure that anchors lower dentures to the jawbone. Since their FDA approval in 1997, mini dental implants have had a success rate of 94.2 percent, according to statistics from the AAID. Dr. Marcus D. Haggard and Dr. Ann E. Haggard with Designer Smiles, say that mini dental implants provide a number of advantages over regular implants because they are a minimally invasive procedure, which shortens recovery time, and offers a more affordable option.

Dr. Ann Haggard adds that proper care and treatment are essential to achieving the best dental implant results, and that her main concern is always for the well-being and satisfaction of her patients. Designer Smiles provides a variety of dental implant options and procedures, including the ANKYLOS® Implant System for tooth-replacement and implant-supported dentures. “There is no question in my mind that if I were missing a tooth anywhere in my mouth, the only option for me is a dental implant. From a structural standpoint, it is the most stable dental option. Almost all bridges eventually fail. The larger the bridge, the higher the chance that it will fail more rapidly. Implants are the most permanent thing that we can do in dentistry. They will never develop a cavity, never need a root canal, and once they are integrated they are the strongest, longest standing restoration that you can buy. Think of it like an investment in yourself.”

About Dr. Marcus Haggard

Dr. Marcus D. Haggard graduated from the University of Texas, Dental Branch in 1968. After graduation, he practiced in Seabrook, Texas for ten years. Dr. Haggard has attended multiple postgraduate programs, including the Pankey Institute in Florida and the Boston Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. He is currently a member of a number of dental societies, such as the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the Houston District Dental Society, where he served as the Ethics and Jurisprudence Chairman.

About Dr. Ann Haggard

Dr. Ann E. Haggard graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Biology from Centenary College of Louisiana. She received her D.D.S. degree from Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry and is currently a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and other dental societies.

Located at 1015 Medical Center Blvd. Suite 1600 in Webster, TX, Designer Smiles can be reached at (281) 667-4010 or via its website designerforsmiles.com or facebook.com/designersmilestexas.

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Houston Cosmetic Dentists Launch Innovative New Website

Designer Smiles has been providing cosmetic dentistry in Houston, TX for more than 40 years. Dr. Marcus Haggard and his daughter Dr. Ann Haggard are now announcing the launch of an innovative new website designed to enhance their current and potential patients’ online experience, whether they are researching a specific procedure, or scheduling a consultation for teeth whitening or dental implants.

As Houston cosmetic dentists, Dr. Marcus Haggard and his daughter Dr. Ann Haggard say they strive to make each visit to their Designer Smiles practice a comfortable one. As part of this commitment to positive patient experiences, they are announcing the launch of a new website dedicated to supporting this pursuit, regardless of whether potential patients are researching a future cosmetic dentistry procedure, or current patients are scheduling a consultation for Invisalign ® clear braces or porcelain veneers.

Dr. Marcus Haggard says he has been serving the dental needs of Houston since 1968, and believes the launch of the new website will allow his practice to continue to do so in the most effective and efficient manner. Both he and his daughter say including detailed procedural pages, doctor biographies, and a before-and-after gallery on the website is extremely important to them, because they want their patients to enter the dental office feeling comfortable and relaxed. Dr. Ann Haggard adds that she believes the inclusion of social media buttons to connect patients directly to the Designer Smiles online community will further improve their patients’ level of comfort.

In collaboration with Rosemont Media, a cosmetic dentistry website design firm in San Diego, the Designer Smiles team says they have created an informative and educational online resource in the hopes of achieving a positive experience with each patient. Ultimately, Dr. Haggard says enhancing a patient’s self-confidence by giving them the smile they desire is his staff’s top priority, followed closely by improving a patient’s comfort with each visit.

About Designer Smiles

Marcus Haggard, DDS earned his dental degree from the University of Texas, Dental Branch. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Ann E. Haggard, DDS earned her dental degree from Texas A & M Baylor College of Dentistry. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Both dentists maintain strong roots in Texas, and say they are committed to providing their community with quality dental care.

Designer Smiles is located at 1015 Medical Center Blvd. Ste. 1600, Webster, TX 77598, and can be reached at (281) 667-4010, or found online at www.designerforsmiles.com or the Designer Smiles Facebook page.

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The second that cigarette goes to your lips, blood flow is reduced to your oral cavity. When blood flow is cut off, vital nutrients and oxygen are not delivered to your teeth and gums. The end result: gum disease, loss of bone, and tooth loss! These things are caused by accumulation of plaque and bacteria that result as of a decrease in salivary flow. Heating the inside of your mouth causes the death of vital cells.

More reasons to quit: Stain, bad breath, and loss of taste buds, increased risk of oral cancer.

Smokeless Tobacco and Cigars

Smokeless tobacco eats away at your gum tissue. Because the tobacco is in direct contact with your gums, the risk of gum disease increases dramatically. You are 6 times more likely to develop oral cancer from chewing tobacco. The place that the tobacco contacts is 50 times more likely to be the site of oral cancer.

Think Cigars are OK? Not a chance! Cigars contain the same cancer causing compounds as cigarettes. Even though you may not inhale, cigar smoking increases the risk of oral cancer, lung cancer, larynx and esophageal cancer.

How can the Designer Smiles team help?

Professional scaling, polishing, and teeth whitening to remove stains.
Visual examination to look for early warning signs of oral cancer.
Individualized treatment plans and prescription medications to help quit.