Dental Bridges Instead of Dentures

A Dental Bridge can help replace a missing tooth and improve your self-esteem and your confidence.

According to the American Dental Association, over 35 million people in the United States do not have any teeth with over 178 Americans missing at least one tooth.

Tooth loss occurs because of gum disease, accidents, or trauma to a tooth, and although dental implants are an option, not everyone is a good candidate.

If your dentist has determined that dental implants may not be the best solution for your missing tooth, a Fixed Dental Bridge could be the answer. These non-removal dental appliances are an excellent solution to missing teeth.

When you schedule an appointment for a dental bridge, your dentist will discuss the options with you and which one would be best for your particular needs. A traditional dental bridge is the most popular and most common type of dental bridge and is made of porcelain that is fused to metal. Traditional bridges are made up of two crowns that are made to fit over two abutment or anchoring teeth that are attached to an artificial tooth or teeth to fill the gap where your missing tooth or teeth used to be.

Dental Bridges are durable and can last for several years, however, your dental bridge may need to be re-cemented or replaced because of normal wear.

Reasons that your dentist may suggest a fixed bridge include: 

• Preventing your remaining teeth from drifting out of their position
• Restore your speaking
• Fill the space of your missing tooth or teeth
• Restore your chewing ability
• Give you back your smile
• Maintain the shape of your face
• Upgrade your removable partial denture 

Fixed dental bridges usually require two or more dental visits. During your first dental appointment, your dentist will numb the area and prepare the abutment teeth by removing part of the enamel to allow for crown fit. Once a mold or impression is made, it will be sent to the dental lab for bridge fabrication. Your dentist will fit you with a temporary bridge that you will wear until your new dental bridge is ready.

During your next visit, your dentist will check your permanent bridge for fit before adjusting, if necessary, and cementing into place. On occasion, your dentist may temporarily cement your new bridge to allow your teeth and your tissue time to get accustomed to the new dental bridge.

If you would like more information regarding a fixed dental bridge, schedule an appointment with your dentist to discuss the various types of bridges available. 

It’s Not Just your Smile that is Affected by Missing Teeth

If you have been afraid to smile because you recently lost a tooth, you are not alone. Web MD explains that more than 178 million people in the United States have lost at least one tooth; however, there are nine risk factors to consider when it comes to tooth loss.

• Being male
• Over the age of 35
• Never brushing your teeth
• Smoking past or present
• Never seeing a dentist
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Your dentist explains that people who have lost their anterior or front teeth are more likely to have lost one or more of those teeth because of gum disease. Although you can’t do much about your sex, age, diabetes, or arthritis, you can do something about the other risks.

Recent research has indicated that the leading cause of tooth loss in the world is periodontal disease, which is the more serious form of gum disease. If you have gingivitis, it can easily be reversed reducing the risk of tooth loss.

Men are two times more likely than women to have a tooth or teeth removed. With that being said, tooth loss is more common in patients over the age of 35.

Three out of 10 people, both men and women, regardless of age are more likely to lose teeth if they are smokers or ex-smokers.

Over 40 percent of patients interviewed in a recent survey admitted to never having professional dental care maintenance. A whopping 60 percent of people surveyed said they rarely if ever brush their teeth with a tiny 16 percent saying they brush their teeth twice a day.

Talk to your doctor about high blood pressure, as it may be able to be reduced with a healthy diet and exercise.

Missing teeth not only affect your self-esteem, but can also be detrimental to your oral health. If you have missing teeth your run the risk of bone loss. Missing teeth can also affect the skin around your mouth, as it will begin to sag because of lack of support. Missing teeth not only make you look older, but also make it more difficult to speak and chew.

If you have missing teeth schedule an appointment with your dentist who can determine what dental procedure would be best for your particular needs. 

Are you a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

These days you do not have to resort to fixed bridges or dentures if you want to replace a missing tooth or teeth. Thanks to the wonders of modern dentistry, you can have natural looking teeth with dental implants.

Just as strong as your natural teeth, dental implants are a wonderful alternative to dentures and fixed bridges.

Dentures can be uncomfortable while dental bridges require some removal of your tooth’s structure in order to make the bridge. Talk to your dentist who can determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

Dental implants have become increasingly popular, and are actually more affordable than you think, especially if you factor in the replacement cost of new dentures every ten years or so. Dental implants are the best long-term option when it comes to restoring your natural toothy grin.

Although dental implants are not new, with ancient civilizations using seashells, wood and precious metals to replace missing teeth, things have certainly changed. These days you do not have to resort to animal or human teeth to fill the gap from a missing tooth.  

Dental implants are surgically placed in or on top of the jawbone using titanium or other types of materials to secure a synthetic artificial tooth. Once the posts, blades, or screws are surgically place in either the lower or the upper jaw they become a sturdy anchor for your new natural looking replacement teeth.

Not everyone is a good candidate when it comes to dental implants. You must be in good health and be free from gum disease. If you have suffered from periodontal disease in the past, your gums may not be strong enough to support the dental implant posts.

According to Web MD, other reasons that you may not be suitable for dental implants include chronic illnesses such as Leukemia and diabetes, which could interfere with the dental implant healing process.

If you smoke or use other tobacco products, your dentist recommends that you kick the habit before you have dental implant surgery as it could slow healing.

For more information regarding dental implants, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can determine if you are a good candidate. Call today. 

Over Bleaching Can Cause Serious Problems

Everyone likes a beautiful smile, but unfortunately, a new disorder, known in the industry as, “Bleachorexia,” is happening all over the world and could have disastrous results

Over bleaching teeth with over the counter bleaching products can cause serious problems for your teeth and gums. Bleaching more than is recommended can make you sensitive to hot and cold and even make your teeth appear transparent. Your dentist explains that over bleaching can also ruin the enamel on your teeth.

Tooth whitening is big business with Americans spending over a billion dollars each year with both over the counter tooth whitening products such as gels, pastes and whitening strips, and professional in office tooth whitening and custom made tooth bleaching trays. In fact, in a recent study conducted by the American Dental Association tooth whitening toothpaste is more popular than fluoride or tartar control toothpaste.

Although more research is needed, there is evidence that when tooth-bleaching products are used as directed no permanent damage will occur.

Studies indicate that it is quite safe to bleach for two weeks if you are using an over the counter bleaching product or a custom-made whitening kit from your dentist. It is also safe to schedule one or two in office chair side bleaching session each year. However, your dentist will tell you that it is unsafe to include bleaching as part of your daily routine.

Other side effects, besides the tooth sensitivity, that could occur from over whitening include blue colored enamel, gum irritation, and uneven tooth whiteness. If the chemicals seep into an unfilled cavity or a cracked tooth, the internal damage will not only be painful, but could also result in a root canal. With the exception of the internal damage, all of the symptoms will clear up after a couple of weeks as long as you stop using the tooth bleaching products.

However, some people will not stop and become, “Bleachorexics.” A decade ago most people were not even aware of tooth whitening, but these days, most dentists will tell you that they have had to cut off more than one patient because of, “Bleachorexia.”  

One of the main reasons people can’t stop is because once they do, teeth will return to the color that they were before bleaching. Very few people are content with their tooth color after it begins to regress. This starts the cycle all over again, which eventually leads to over bleaching.

If you think you could be suffering from, “Bleachorexia,” schedule an appointment with your dentist who can help you kick the habit with a more permanent solution such as dental veneers or dental bonding. 

Is Your Smile Embarrassing?

Your Dentist has always known that the best way to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy is to brush twice, floss once each day, maintain a healthy diet and visit your dentist regularly, but unfortunately, a good oral hygiene routine doesn’t always keep your mouth feeling or looking great.

According to Web MD, common oral problems, including tooth decay, bad breath, receding gums, and erosion can happen to anyone, even people who are meticulous about oral hygiene.

Fortunately, the right dental treatments can help solve the above embarrassing teeth and gums problems.

Bad breath, also referred to as halitosis, can vary, and really depends on the root cause. Brushing and flossing is critical as it keeps the food particles in your mouth from collecting bad bacteria. Without flossing, food particles and debris can be caught between your teeth causing a foul smell. If your dentist has given you the all clear, but you are still suffering from bad breath it could be something else entirely.

Check with your doctor as bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, gastrointestinal disturbances, and respiratory infections can be the cause of your chronic halitosis. Kidney and liver disease can also affect your breath. Medications that give you dry mouth could also be the cause of your halitosis.

Your bad breath can also be sweetened just by changing your diet. Cut down on onions and garlic, which can stay in your system for up to 72 hours and it may help your breath. Stop smoking and you will notice a difference in your breath and so will everyone else.

When you brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice each day, floss and see your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings, you are well on your way to fighting tooth decay. Your dentist may also recommend sealants on un-restored teeth to help reduce decay on your back molars. If you avoid acidic foods, which can strip away the enamel on your teeth, you may not have as many cavities.

Gum recession is caused by periodontal disease, but if caught in time, can be reversed. Gum disease in its earliest stages, known as gingivitis, causes your gums to bleed when brushing and flossing. Your gums may also be swollen and red. If periodontal disease is present, your dentist may notice damage to your gums and bones that support your teeth. Untreated periodontal disease can eventually cause tooth loss.

For more information regarding healthy teeth and gums and a beautiful smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

Root Canal Therapy is Not as Bad as You Think

Thanks to modern 21st century dental technology, you don’t have to run the other way when you hear the phrase, “Root Canal Therapy.” Root Canal Therapy in Fountain Valley is no more intrusive than a filling.

Root Canal Therapy is necessary if the nerves in your teeth have become decayed, are infected, or cracked. Root Canal Therapy is used to save the tooth by removing the diseased pulp located inside the tooth. The pulp consists of nerves, blood vessels, and tissue that keep your tooth healthy. Using special tools and dental materials it is possible to restore your tooth back to its normal function.

When the nerves in your tooth die, they need to be removed by your dentist using Root Canal Therapy. Although some people would rather have the tooth extracted, a pulled tooth can cause more problems that could prove quite costly.

According to the American Dental Association, Root Canal Therapy can last for the rest of your life and is very successful. With that being said, occasionally the tooth that was treated with Root Canal Therapy may need to be retreated because of infection.

Only your dentist can determine if Root Canal Therapy is necessary, but there are some symptoms to watch for. These include:

• Temperature sensitivity
• Toothaches
• Pimples or abscesses on your gums
• Tenderness and swelling

Be aware that you may not have any symptoms at all. When in doubt, schedule regular appointments with your dentist.

You may need a root canal if tooth decay has infected the pulp inside of your tooth. Root Canal Therapy is also necessary if an abscess or infection has developed on the tip of the root or inside the tooth itself.

Root Canal Therapy can take one of more dental appointments and is usually performed by your dentist. On occasion, a root canal specialist, or endodontist may be called in to take care of the procedure.

After your tooth is numbed, a rubber sheet or dam is placed around your tooth to make sure that it is dry and saliva free. An opening is made at the top of your tooth so that your dentist can file the opening removing the pulp from each root. If tooth decay is apparent, your dentist will remove that as well.

Once the tooth is cleaned, your dentist will seal it with a temporary or permanent filling dependant on the extent of the infection. If a second appointment is needed, your dentist will remove the temporary filling, check the roots, and fill it permanently. Your dentist may also recommend a dental crown to protect the tooth after the Root Canal.

For more information regarding Root Canal Therapy, schedule an appointment with your Fountain Valley Dentist today. 

Dental Restorations Need to Be Checked by Your Dentist

If you have been ignoring that pain that seems to be coming from an existing filling, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Most people have no idea that old and new tooth colored resin fillings and silver amalgam fillings will not last forever, and if you are continually bragging about your 15-year-old fillings, you could be asking for trouble.

According to the American Dental Associations Mouth Healthy website, tooth colored fillings, or composite fillings are resistant to breaks and fractures, but are not as strong as silver amalgam fillings. Composite fillings are also more expensive than silver amalgam fillings and are sometimes not covered by your dental insurance plan. Recent studies indicate that composite or tooth colored resin fillings are less durable than amalgam fillings and will need to be replaced more frequently.

Of course, the only way to tell if you have decay under your existing fillings, crowns or other dental restorations is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Unfortunately, not all tooth decay is painful, and you could be dealing with additional cavities under or around your fillings. If you do not take care of the issue, other problems could occur including infection and the need for root canal therapy.

If you have tooth colored fillings that are visible when you smile, you may need to have them replaced because of cosmetic reasons as tooth colored fillings can become stained or discolored.

When you age, your teeth could change. If this happens, you may need to replace your dental restorations in order to save your natural teeth or improve your bite. The old amalgam or tooth colored filling may be past its use by date. If this occurs, you are putting the rest of the tooth in danger.

Your dentist explains that a dental filling, whether it is an amalgam or composite filling, is not used to cure the tooth decay. Fillings are only placed to remove the damage caused by acid attack.

Old fillings are certainly nothing to boast about, and should be checked out twice a year by your dentist, even more so if you suspect a problem with a filling or dental crown.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist today and have those fillings checked out. Doing so may mean the difference between a simple filling replacement and a costly dental restoration.