Most people will agree that a toothache is one of the most uncomfortable and painful things a person will go through in their lifetime. It can affect how you sleep, eat, work and even just how you are able to function on a daily basis. Sadly, many people are suffering through this pain for no reason at all though simply because they don't believe they can afford to get the dental work done that they need. A problem like this will not go away on its own and will only start to get worse as more time passes by. This is why it is important to get family dental care for everyone in your household to prevent these problems from occurring in the first place.

Many people still fear a trip to the dentist because they are worried about the pain any treatment will cause. However, these days there really is nothing to fear and treatments that used to be so painful such as root canal work are performed under a dental anaesthetic. Dr. Tom Foster’s office, laser technology is just one of the many ways he is relieving his patients’ anxiety. Waterlase® uses patented technology which combines YSGG laser energy and a spray of water (a process know as HydroPhotonics™) to perform a wide range of dental procedures on teeth, gums, and bones. With this revolutionary technology, Dr. Foster uses fewer needles and less anesthesia - sometimes none at all. In other words, instead of the high-pitched whine of drill in your mouth, imagine just a simple spray of water. It can be that easy. It is because of cutting-edge techniques such as Waterlase® that Dr. Foster’s office earned recognition as one of the top ten practices in the entire country by Dental Economics Magazine. Once you have visited Dr. Foster, however, you will find out that he can use the tools and equipment to quickly diagnose the problem and give you a number of available options for treatment.

Dr. Foster knows many of his patients share his childhood fear of dentists. That emotion is what he kept in mind as he was designing his office on Bluebonnet Boulevard. “Water is a universally calming, and it’s one of the many elements we incorporated into our plans right from the beginning. Our office features an indoor waterfall, a tropical salt aquarium, and an exterior waterfall and pond,” he pointed out. “One of the ways we provide our patients the very latest in dental care in general is by continually learning. We are required to attain twenty-five continuing education hours per year, and I routinely earn sixty to eighty - or more. A great benefit of earning those hours as well as being part of all the dental associations. I’m able to talk to dentists from all over the country and share ideas about what works best in their practice and what does not. I bring all of that information home and incorporate it into our practice here because I believe our patients deserve the very best,” says Dr. Foster.

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, dentists who practice general dentistry typically restrict their clients' age to a specific group while family dentists will open their practice to people of every age. In doing so, this allows families with children ranging in age from toddler to teenagers to all attend the same practice. Although this concept is similar to general dentistry, family dentistry is more about prevention of dental problems. It focuses on the maintenance of oral health and hygiene.

It is common for dentists to restrict themselves to certain age groups. For example, pedodontists provide dental treatment and care to young children. Family dentistry, however, encompasses dental services to all age groups. A family dentist, such as Dr. Foster can care for and treat the oral problems of a child as well as adults. It is very important that all members of your family can visit the same dentist for a comprehensive dental care.

What are the benefits of this?

· You build a relationship with the dentist, which translates over to your children.

· You feel safe and secure in your dentists' judgments.

Additionally, the most important difference for young parents to take note of regarding the difference between general dentistry and family dentistry is philosophy. Dentists practicing family dentistry take care to educate your children on proper oral hygiene, ensuring they build life-long, healthy practices to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

Why is this important?

· If proper dental hygiene is not taught when your children are young, they will be less likely to incorporate healthy habits into their life.

· All experts agree that prevention is superior to treatment. Treatment's costly and painful while prevention is simple to maintain.

What's The Family Dentists Role?

Unlike specialized dentists such as orthodontists or prosthodontists, the family dentist serves a preventative role. It's recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) that you visit Dr. Foster for a checkup twice a year. During these checkups, Dr. Foster and his team will:

· Minimize plaque buildup.

· Fill cavities.

· Ensure gums are healthy.

· Prevent tooth decay.

· Educate you on possible tooth whitening procedures, if necessary.

Family dentists, such as Dr. Foster pride themselves in educating your children. You can feel secure in knowing that after their first visit, your child will:

· Know how to best care for their teeth.

· Understand the best flossing and brushing methods.


Dr. Foster Family Dentistry is the first level of defense against any dental abnormalities. Treatments involve routine cleaning for elimination of dental plaque. The dentist may also coat your teeth with fluoride to prevent tooth decay. X-Rays may also be taken to detect any cavities. Cavities, if found, are promptly filled, lest they develop into serious complications that require complex procedures, such as crown, root canal or dental implants. Thus, regular visits to Dr. Foster are a must to avoid complications arising from periods of neglect of your teeth. You can also retain your beautiful set of teeth and that bright, shiny smile intact.

Good oral hygiene combined with regular checkups with the dentist is your ticket to that perfect set of teeth. Dr. Foster can provide a range of dental treatments, including teeth whitening, contouring and dental implants. He can also provide cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as smile designs and smile makeovers. These techniques can provide you that perfect smile.

Today, dentists are so much more than simply someone who can pull a tooth. With all the advances in technology, there are quite a few new areas of dentistry being explored and one of these is cosmetic dentistry.

We all know how important first impressions are. Making a good first impression can be an invaluable asset, both socially and professionally. And one of the first things people notice about you is your smile. A great smile can make you look younger, more vibrant, happier, and more confident. That's why it's so important to ensure that your smile is as healthy and as beautiful as it can be.

This is one of the reasons that aesthetic dentistry, also called cosmetic dentistry, is one of the fastest growing specialties in dentistry today. In today's increasingly competitive world, people have realized that a bright, beautiful, dazzling smile is an important asset.

And with recent advances in tools, techniques, and materials that can restore and beautify your smile quickly, effectively, and affordably, more and more people are enjoying the benefits of modern aesthetic dentistry.

Modern dental materials such as durable, natural looking porcelains and dental composites can be used to repair your teeth and beautify them at the same time, with seamless looking fillings, natural looking porcelain crowns and veneers, and tooth-colored dental composites for a wide variety of restorative and cosmetic dental procedures. New technologies have also made these techniques more accessible than ever.


Cosmetic dentistry is both a science and an art. It enhances both the function and beauty your smile. Even subtle changes from minor cosmetic dentistry treatments can make a big difference in your oral health and the beauty of your smile. And when you like how you look and feel, you’ll smile more often!

Dr. Foster and his skilled team offer a wide range of treatment options from correction of a tiny chip to a complete Smile Makeover:

· Resizing too-large or too-small teeth

· Brightening stained and discolored enamel

· Rebalancing gummy smiles

· Replacing old metal fillings with harmonious white ones

· Replacing missing teeth and their missing roots

· Providing a new front surface for front teeth

In these modern times there are many different options available to people to help keep their smile looking as good as possible. Teeth can be straightened with braces that are almost invisible, or they can have teeth whitening treatment for a bright white smile. There is also dental implant treatment to replace missing teeth or veneers to repair damaged teeth. The modern dentist now also has better methods of pain control during tooth extraction and root canal work.

As the costs of having cosmetic dentistry has come down and the treatments have improved, the popularity of having cosmetic dentistry has increased. Tooth whitening, for example, is a treatment that has particularly grown in popularity and it is a quick and easy treatment that can dramatically improve a person’s appearance.

With the availability of dental implants today, many people are choosing this procedure instead of opting for dentures or bridges. This procedure is permanent so patients don’t have to worry about replacing them or getting use to uncomfortable dentures, and the procedure is available to most people. This procedure involves inserting metal posts into the jaw, which acts as an anchor for fake teeth. The appearances of implants feel and appear like natural teeth. They also are permanent, lasting a lifetime. With improved techniques dentists are finding that their success rate with dental implants is almost 100%. Recovery time is shorter, so the patient can return to their normal daily activities promptly.

Another option available to patients is veneers which allow you to strengthen or straighten your teeth and therefore allows a reworking of your smile and lovely white teeth. Veneers are made from wafer thin pieces of porcelain which can be attached to existing teeth to correct imperfections. The color of the veneers can be made to look like existing teeth or if you wish they can be a different lighter colour for the appearance of brighter teeth. They are resistant to staining and also there is the other bonus which is that they strengthen the existing teeth.

Beauty is ethereal and everyone wants to look beautiful. Everyone wants a beautiful smile and that means beautiful and healthy teeth. Today’s dentistry allows us have the smile we deserve, thanks to Dr. Foster's services we can all have something to smile about. A beautiful smile can have long way toward building self esteem and confidence to brighten your smile. An attractive smile makes you look and feel youthful, healthy and confident. Modern dentistry services can improve your dental health and smile to provide you complete dental care and treatments. The latest in dentistry is available right now, making it accessible to people from all walks of life.

Dr. Foster takes a modern approach to create, restore and maintain beautiful smiles and a good oral health by offering economical and quality dental services including family, restorative and cosmetic dentistry to help ensure you and your family receives the comfort, care and convenience they deserve.

Dr. Fosters Family Dentistry can provide everyone in your family, no matter their age, with great dental care that is close to home. Dr. Foster accepts a wide variety of insurances and can even offer financing plans for more complicated and expensive procedures. Knowing this, there is absolutely no excuse for not getting the appropriate dental care your whole family needs. A new smile can enhance your confidence, career success, romance, and give you a younger look.

Outside of his dental practice, Dr. Foster spends time with his family and enjoys all types of sports - both as a participant and a spectator. His hobbies include scuba diving, golf, racquetball, and snow skiing. Dr. Foster also serves as Broadmoor High School's Team Dentist.

“After thirty-one years of practicing dentistry, it feels more like I’m treating family than patients. I’ve seen them for so many years that I’ve seen their children and even grandchildren grow up. When a patient comes for a visit, part of the time spent is catching up on all their family’s activities and where they are now. At our office, we try to create a very comfortable atmosphere and for many of our patients and our staff it just feels like family.” ~ Dr. Foster