Become A Patient

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We would be honored to have you as a new patient. Please call our San Marcos dentist office and we can the send you the forms you need. We can mail you or email you new patient forms if you’d like to expedite the process. Of course, you’re welcome to come in and fill out the forms in-person at our dental offices in San Marcos Tx.

The Larry D. Molenda D.D.S. dentistry in San Marcos, offers our clients a wide range of basic and advanced dental procedures from simple cleanings to dental implants and TMJ Treatments. Stop by our San Marcos family dental offices to get started as a new patient!

Phone: 512–392–5845

Alcohol vs Alcohol Free Mouthwash

Taking care of your teeth and gums is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, sometimes it can feel difficult to know exactly how to have the best possible oral hygiene. Knowing how often and what techniques to brush your teeth, how to properly floss, and what foods to avoid seem to dominate most oral care conversations, but what about mouthwash? There are so many options at any given store, knowing what is best for your oral care can be overwhelming. While you should consult your dentist for the best advice for your personal situation, here is a general guide to choosing a mouthwash! Alcohol vs. Alcohol Free Mouthwash One of the biggest indicators of whether or not you should purchase an oral care product is if it is American Dental Association (ADA) approved, which will likely be clearly shown on the packaging. However, though some alcohol based mouthwashes have been ADA approved, there is still debate about whether or not this is a good option for the general consumer. It might seem like the differences would be minor, but you might want to consider choosing an alcohol-free mouthwash for a number of reasons. Downsides to Killing all Bacteria […]

What is TMJ?

The human jaw is one of those parts of our bodies that we have a tendency to take for granted. Formed like a hinge, the jaw is a key component in everyday activities like eating and opening your mouth. While this complex body part serves many functions for us, there are over 10 million Americans who suffer from chronic jaw pain, or a disorder commonly known as TMJ. What is TMJ? TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint, and it refers to a disorder in which your jaw joint is the source of a wide range of discomforts. Depending on the degree of the disorder, symptoms can range from mild ear or neck pain to jaw popping and, in some cases, the jaw getting locked when opening the mouth. TMJ is not only an irritating problem to deal with, but it can also be quite painful. What Causes TMJ? Temporomandibular Joint Disorder can be the result of several known causes. TMJ can be caused by an injury to the jaw that might include any kind of harsh or abnormal impact, cartilage damage caused by arthritis, a change in the alignment in the jaw, and most commonly, nightly teeth grinding, nail biting, […]

Everything You Need to Know About Wisdom Teeth

What are Wisdom Teeth? Wisdom teeth are a third row of molars that most late teens or early adults develop. Often times, the incoming teeth can cause issues for your jaw or cosmetically can be an issue for your teeth. Through many years of evolution, the human jaw has become smaller, and because of a change in our diet, we no longer require these extra molars for survival like we might have tens of thousands of years ago. Many researchers claim that this evolution is the reason that about 35% of people do not even develop wisdom teeth any more. Why do Wisdom Teeth Cause so much Fuss? Because our human evolution has caused a smaller jaw line, incoming wisdom teeth can result in a whole range of issues. Not only can they cause cosmetic problems like crooked teeth as they force themselves into an already full set of teeth, but this process can be uncomfortable and result in swollen and sore gums. Your wisdom teeth can really cause problems when they are “impacted” meaning there is either no room at all for them to come in or they aren’t aligned vertically so they grow in the wrong direction. This […]