Everyone in Dassani Dentistrys Clear Lake, TX dental office is an experienced dental professional committed to offering you the highest quality care possible. They strive to pursue continuing educational opportunities and stay abreast of the latest dental industry trends.
Dr. Meghna Dassani received her initial dental training from the University of Mumbai, India, where she graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). After working as an associate dentist for one year, she established her own practice in Mumbai, India. Dr. Dassani successfully operated her Mumbai practice for six years prior to moving to the United States.
Once in the United States, Dr. Dassani earned her DMD at Boston University (BU) Goldman School of Dental Medicine. While she was at BU, she was the editor of the BU chapter of American Student Dental Association (ASDA) magazine, was actively involved in research projects, and enjoyed doing outreach work in the surrounding communities. Dr. Dassani relocated to Houston and practiced dentistry as an associate before she opened Dassani Dentistry in 2011.
Dr. Dassani is passionate about and committed to continuing education. She has numerous hours of supplemental credit hours and training in the placement and restoration of dental implants, including completion of training with the prestigious Misch International Implant Institute. She also regularly attends courses and seminars with a focus on aesthetic dentistry, and in 2014, Dr. Dassani provided advanced implant and bone grafting surgeries on a missionary trip in the Dominican Republic. She is SMART-certified (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). Dr. Dassani has also had advanced training in sleep apnea treatment for adults and children as well as additional education in the treatment of TMJ/TMD dysfunction.
Since opening Dassani Dentistry, she doesnt have a lot of free time, but when she does, she enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, cooking, visiting with friends and familyand of course, SHOPPING with a Starbucks in her hand! She is a proud mom of two beautiful girls and enjoys spending time relaxing with her daughters and husband when she can.
Christina has been in the dental field for over 15 years now and she has experience in all aspects of the front office. She has really found enjoyment in getting to know patients and be involved in their lives as well as finding ways to help them achieve their dream smiles. Being at Dassani Dentistry since the doors originally opened, Christina has enjoyed seeing the practice grow, developing incredible patient relationships, and working with the rest of our wonderful team!
When she isnt helping patients at Dassani Dentistry, Christina is hanging out with her family. With four beautiful childrenTyler, Kailyn, Avery and Addisonyou can imagine not much time is spent relaxing, but her busy life is the only way she can imagine it. With young children at home, Christinas free time is spent running around and acting like a big kid herself!
Brandy, a Houston native, is the newest member of the Dassani Dentistry team. She is a registered dental hygienist who is excited to be starting her career. Brandy enjoys treating patients of all ages and teaching them how to best care for their teeth and gums.
When Brandy isnt in the office, she likes to spend her free time reading, cooking, and staying active. Her favorite activities are swimming, rock climbing, and going on long walks with her husband and their dog, Honey.
Vanna is a newer member of Dassani Dentistry as our Patient Care and Insurance Coordinator, but she has worked in the dental field for almost 11 years now. Her favorite part of working in dentistry is developing relationships with patients and watching how transforming their smiles changes their lives.
She grew up in the panhandle but has lived in League City now for 11 years. She has two daughters, Charish and Abigail, and a mini rex rabbit, Mr. Waffles. They love to cook, shop, and craft together. In her spare time, Vanna enjoys going to concerts, watching movies, attending sporting events, and being outdoors. She is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, loves Dr. Pepper, Sweet Tea, Whataburger, and all things Texas!
Melody joined Dassani Dentistry in 2017 as a Patient Care Coordinator she has become a regular guru of the dental practice front desk after working in the field for the past 4 years. Melody loves meeting and greeting a diverse variety of people in our office every day.
Melody has been happily married for over 12 years and has 4 beautiful children. In her spare time, she loves to watch her son play sports and her daughters dance performances. The whole family loves to go to the beach together and play with their loving dog, Dalylah.
Crystal is one of our Dental Assistants. After welcoming a new family member and taking a two-year break, she joined the Dassani Dentistry team. Crystal is excited to share her dental knowledge and passion for dentistry with our patients. She currently holds several certifications that include Nitrous Oxide Monitoring, Coronal Polishing, and Pit and Fissure Sealant. Crystal enjoys assisting the doctor, caring for patients, and learning new things. Crystal originally became a Registered Dental Assistant at Remington College and has worked in the dental field since 2010.
When Crystal is not at the office, she is at home caring for her 2-year-old son and her husband. She enjoys spending quality time with family and traveling. Crystal also loves to smile, and as any other girl does, she loves to go shoppingeven online! Crystal is also bilingual in both English and Spanish. Come on by and say Hola to her!
I have been a dental assistant for five years after graduating from Alvin Community College. My favorite part of working in dentistry is knowing that youre helping patients change their self-esteem. I love assisting and seeing how much we can help a patient by taking care of them and making them feel comfortable. I recently got married and in my spare time, I love spending time with my husband and my family as well as with my dog.
You guessed it gum disease. Did you know that nearly half of the American adult population suffers from some form of gum disease? Did you also know that left untreated, gum disease can wreak havoc on your oral health, causing tooth and bone loss, and can contribute to serious systemic health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke?
Periodontitis or advanced gum disease occurs when gingivitis is allowed to progress. Tartar irritates the gums to the point where they begin to pull away from the teeth, or recede. Gum recession left untreated can cause deep pockets to form, allowing the infection to progress even further. Receding gums eventually expose the roots of the teeth, causing pain and sensitivity, and leaving the door open for further decay and infection.
You may have heard on toothpaste or mouthwash commercials about the gum disease gingivitis. The truth is, gingivitis is not a type of gum disease, rather, its the first stage of gum disease. Gingivitis occurs when proper oral hygiene is not followed. Plaque that is allowed to remain on teeth quickly turns into plaques hardened cousin tartar. Tartar along the gum line irritates the gums and causes gingivitis.
The mouth is a gateway to the rest of the body; bacteria and infections in the mouth have a direct pathway to enter the blood stream and internal organs. Left untreated, aside from the horrific oral health consequences including tooth and bone loss, gum disease can cause and contribute to serious systemic diseases, including:
If youre like many of our patients, the thought of any oral surgical procedure involving cutting and sutures can make you a little queasy. Thats why Dr. Dassani at Dassani Dentistry is proud to have invested and received advanced training in the LANAP protocol for gum disease treatment. This laser therapy has truly revolutionized the way we treat gum disease, and weve helped many patients save their teeth and their smiles without the need for invasive surgery.
LANAP stands for Laser Assisted New Attachment Protocol, and is the new gold standard for gum disease treatment. Treating gum disease used to require invasive surgical techniques involving scalpels and sutures. We would have to cut out diseased tissue, and reattach it with sutures. This technique was invasive, painful, and required a lot of healing and recovery time.
With LANAP, we use a tiny laser to pass between the gums and the teeth without having to actually separate the gums from the teeth. This allows us to remove the gum disease infection, while leaving healthy tissue intact. This creates a better environment for healthy, fast healing, and more successful results. LANAP can actually eliminate periodontal pockets and reverse gum recession. LANAP stimulates new tissue growth and regeneration of bone and supporting structures.
Dr. Meghna Dassani is a world-renowned and internationally educated dentist right here in Houston, Texas. She received dental training from the University of Mumbai in India and ran a successful practice there for six years before moving to the U.S. She received even more training and advanced education from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine before starting her own practice at Dassani Dentistry. Dr. Dassani specializes in the placement of dental implants and LANAP laser gum disease treatment.
Does your significant other say that you snore heavily, only to stop breathing suddenly throughout the night? Are you often sleepy during the day and never feel truly rested, despite getting a full nights sleep? These could be signs of sleep apnea, a disorder during which your breathing pauses or becomes very shallow multiple times throughout the night due to obstruction in your airway.
During sleep, the muscles in the mouth, jaw, and throat naturally relax. However, for those who have obstructive sleep apnea, these muscles become so relaxed that they collapse and obstruct the airway, making it difficult to breath and commonly stopping breathing for 10 or more seconds. The decreased flow of oxygen caused by sleep apnea usually results in sudden, repeated awakenings throughout the night sometimes hundreds of times and an overall poor quality of sleep.
Excess weight around the neck can compress the airway, disrupting normal breathing and sleep cycles. Many patients dont know that they have sleep apnea, and therefore think it is harmless, but the disorder can cause low blood oxygen levels and even a severe form of congestive heart failure. Beyond the snoring and restless nights, the effects of obstructive sleep apnea can pose a number of serious health risks. Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of stroke, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, depression, and diabetes, so it is important to recognize symptoms and get treatment before the condition worsens.
According to the National Institute of Health, 1 in 5 adult Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and 9 out 10 cases are undiagnosed. Houston residents who fall into one or more of the following categories are at the highest risk of developing sleep apnea:
If youve noticed any of the above signs or symptoms, and/or fall into any of the high risk categories, you should come in and speak with your Houston sleep specialist. A diagnosis and simple, non-invasive treatment could give you back your restful nights, your energized days, and might just save your life.
Some of the symptoms are vague and may seem completely unrelated, which is why it important to see a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Some signs of sleep apnea include:
Once diagnosed, sleep apnea sufferers are often prescribed a CPAP machine, which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It delivers a stream of compressed air through a plastic tube connected to a nasal pillow, nose mask, or full-face mask. The air pressure helps maintain the airway open, making normal breathing possible.
Recent advances in technology now make it possible for Dr. Dassani to help treat sleep apnea with a device known as oral appliance therapy (OAT) which helps shift the jaw forward, opening up the airway.
If your sleep apnea is not severe enough to absolutely require CPAP or surgery, we would like to help you get the rest you deserve by creating a custom sleep apnea mouth appliance that will open your airway during sleep and allow you to breath normally. We offer multiple mouth appliance options because we understand that one option might not work best for all patients. Together with you and a sleep physician, we will discuss your options and decide which is likely to be your ticket to a full nights rest. For the treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea, this conservative approach is an appealing alternative to surgery or intrusive CPAP machines.
If you are still wondering whether you may have sleep apnea, Dr. Dassani would love to speak with you. If diagnosed, your Houston dentist can help you take control of your nights, your days, your health, and your life with a simple, non-invasive treatment with oral appliance therapy.
If you havent had an official diagnosis but notice blood in the sink when you brush or floss its time to call Dr. Dassani. If left untreated, gum disease has been linked to severe systemic health issues like stroke, heart attack and Alzheimers. Dont risk it. Make sure you call if you notice any of the signs or symptoms.
Scaling and root planing is often accurately described as a deep cleaning. During the procedure, Dr. Dassani will remove the plaque settled in the pockets between your gums and teeth. Then, she will smooth the tooth root so your teeth can reattach to your gums.
If Dr. Dassani thinks you require surgery to remove the diseased gum tissue, LANAP is a minimally invasive (no cutting or sutures) option. Patients love that recovery time is quick and the procedure encourages natural regrowth of bone. Cleared by the FDA, LANAP is the no-fear treatment Dr. Dassani prefers.
If your teeth seem to be getting longer, your gums might be receding. Gum recession treatment can be painful and require cutting and grafting. Dr. Dassani wants a better experience for her patients so she is a certified Chao Pinhole Technique dentist.
This less invasive treatment for gum disease may also be an option. Without cutting, Dr. Dassani carefully inserts tissue between the gums and tooth before using a single suture to keep the tissue graft in place.