If you live in Bellaire, you do not have to drive far for dental care. Meyerland Family Dentistry is a short drive south of the city line, at 4455 N Braeswood Blvd in Houston, with parking on site.
Dr. Chiranjeevi Tummala provides general, implant and laser dentistry for families across Bellaire and southwest Houston. She sees the same patients year after year, so you are not handed to a different dentist at every visit. If you are looking closer to home, our Meyerland dentist page covers the neighborhood next door.
This page covers what we treat, roughly how long it takes to get here from Bellaire, and what a first appointment involves. If you would rather just talk to someone, call 713-723-7200 and we will answer your questions on the phone.
Where We Are, and How Far It Is From Bellaire
Our office sits on North Braeswood Boulevard, just outside Bellaire’s southern edge. Most Bellaire patients reach us in a few minutes using Chimney Rock or South Rice, without getting on a freeway.
That matters more than it sounds. A cleaning is easy to postpone when it means a long drive and an afternoon off work. It is much easier to keep that appointment when the office is close to home, close to school pickup, and close to where you already drive.
You can find the full address, a map and our phone number on our contact page.
We are in Suite 201, on the second floor. If you have trouble with stairs, tell us when you book and we will make sure the visit is easy for you.
The Treatments Bellaire Patients Ask About Most
Most of what we do is everyday dentistry. Cleanings, fillings, crowns and the occasional emergency. Three treatments come up more often than the rest, and they are the ones Dr. Tummala focuses on.
The first is replacing a single missing tooth with an implant. The second is straightening teeth with clear aligners instead of metal braces. The third is treating gum disease with a dental laser rather than traditional gum surgery.
You do not need to know which one you need before you call. Come in, and we will tell you what we see.
Replacing a Single Missing Tooth
Losing one tooth is more common than people expect, and it does not have to mean a bridge or a partial denture. A dental implant replaces the root as well as the crown, so the teeth on either side are left alone.
The process is done in stages over several months because the implant needs time to bond with the bone. Most of that time is waiting, not appointments. Our page on dental implants explains the full treatment, and our guide to a single tooth dental implant walks through what one visit actually involves.
If you have already lost several teeth, dentures and partials may make more sense. We will talk through both options honestly rather than pushing the larger treatment.
Clear Aligners for Adults Who Do Not Want Braces
Plenty of adults in Bellaire want straighter teeth and do not want to spend a year in metal brackets. Clear aligners are a set of removable trays that move your teeth gradually. You take them out to eat, brush and floss.
They are not right for every case. Some bite problems still need fixed braces, and we will say so if that is what we find. Our clear aligners page covers who they suit and what treatment involves, and cosmetic braces covers the fixed option.
Laser Treatment for Gum Disease
Gum disease is the quietest dental problem there is. It rarely hurts until it is advanced, and by then it has usually started to affect the bone that holds your teeth in place.
We treat it with a dental laser instead of a scalpel where the case allows. Patients generally report less bleeding and a shorter recovery than they expect from traditional gum surgery. You can read how the treatment works on our laser gum disease treatment page.
If your gums bleed when you brush, that is worth a phone call rather than a wait and see. Our post on when bleeding gums are worth worrying about covers the signs that matter.
What Your First Visit Looks Like
Your first appointment is mostly listening and looking. We take x-rays, check your teeth and gums, and ask what has been bothering you. Then we tell you what we found in plain terms and what we would do about it.
Nothing gets started that day unless you are in pain and want it dealt with. You leave knowing what the problem is, what the options are and what each one involves.
Bring a list of any medicines you take and the name of your previous dentist if you have one. If you have had x-rays taken elsewhere in the last year, we can often use those instead of taking new ones.
Plan on about an hour. Most of that is the examination and the conversation afterward, not treatment.
If You Are Nervous About Dental Visits
A lot of adults avoid the dentist because of something that happened years ago. If that is you, say so when you book. We would rather know.
We can go slower, explain each step before it happens, and stop when you need a break. For patients who need more than that, oral sedation and nitrous oxide are available. You can read about Dr. Tummala and the way she works on her profile page.
Everyday Care, Not Just Big Procedures
Keeping Children on Schedule
Most Bellaire families come to us for the ordinary things. A cleaning twice a year, a filling when one is needed, or a crown when a tooth cracks. That routine care is what keeps the bigger treatments from becoming necessary.
Our page on professional teeth cleaning explains what a cleaning appointment covers, and our guide to how often you need a dental checkup helps you work out the right schedule for you.
If something breaks or starts hurting between visits, call us. We keep room available for emergency dental care.
We also handle the work that sits between routine and major. Crowns for teeth that have cracked or worn down, bridges where a gap needs filling, non-surgical root canals when a nerve is infected, and sealants for children whose back teeth are newly through. None of it is dramatic, but all of it helps prevent more involved dental procedures later.
Children do best when dental visits are ordinary. We start seeing most children young, keep the first few appointments short, and let them look at the instruments before we use any of them. Sealants on the back teeth are usually the single most useful thing we do for a child, because they protect the grooves where cavities almost always start.
If your child is anxious, tell us before the appointment rather than in the chair. We will slow the visit down.
Areas We Serve Around Bellaire
We see patients from across southwest Houston, including Bellaire, Meyerland, Braeswood, West University Place, Westbury and Willow Meadows. Most are in the 77401, 77096, 77035 and 77025 ZIP codes.
If you are further out in Memorial, Alief, Pearland or Fresno, we still see plenty of patients who make the drive. Our Meet Us page tells you more about the practice before you come in.
Bellaire patients tend to come to us for one of two reasons. Either they want a practice close to home that they can stay with for years, or they have a specific problem, usually a missing tooth or gums that have started to bleed, and they want it dealt with by someone who does that work regularly. We are happy to be either.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is your office from Bellaire?
We are at 4455 N Braeswood Blvd, Suite 201, Houston, TX 77096, a short drive south of Bellaire. There is parking on site. Directions and a map are on our contact page.
Do you see children as well as adults?
Yes. We treat patients of all ages, and many Bellaire families book their appointments together.
Can I get clear aligners without going to an orthodontist?
In many cases yes. Dr. Tummala treats suitable cases here. If your bite needs orthodontic care beyond what aligners can do, she will tell you and help you find the right care. See our clear aligners page for what is involved.
I am missing one tooth. Do I need a bridge?
Not necessarily. A single implant replaces one tooth without altering the teeth beside it, which a bridge does. Both are options and we will explain the difference for your case. Start with our dental implants page.
My gums bleed when I brush. Is that serious?
It is worth having looked at. Bleeding gums are usually the first sign of gum disease, which is treatable and much easier to deal with early. Call us at 713-723-7200 and we will get you in.
What happens if I have a dental emergency?
Call the office at 713-723-7200. We keep time for urgent problems such as a broken tooth, a lost crown or sudden pain. More detail is on our emergency dental care page.
Make an Appointment From Bellaire
If you are ready to book, call us at 713-723-7200 or use the form on our appointment page. Tell us what is bothering you and we will find you a time.