A Guide to Dental Bridges

Missing teeth can completely change the way we look. Empty spaces inside our mouths can influence the way we eat, talk, and the way we handle ourselves in social situations. Fortunately, there are several ways through which missing teeth can be replaced. One of such methods is dental bridges. Bridges are essentially false teeth that are used to create a healthy, beautiful smile. These prosthetics are mainly applied in aesthetic dentistry to "bridge" the gaps.

The Various kinds of dental bridges:

There are mainly three kinds of dental bridges:

Cantilever bridges: these bridges are used when just one abutment projection surrounds the space.

Traditional bridges: traditional bridges are made with porcelain. These prosthetics are permanently attached and cannot be taken out of the mouth.

Maryland bonded bridges: Also known as resin-bonded bridges, such bridges are mainly used for the front teeth. They are an excellent choice when the abutment teeth are strong, healthy and do not have large fillings.

The Process:

Once the expert decides that bridges are the best option, treatment planning begins. Dentists discuss the materials that can be used for the bridges. The choice of dental bridge will depend on several factors such as the patient’s dental insurance coverage and patient’s oral health.

The procedure of getting bridges is very simple. It begins with preparing the patient’s abutment teeth. This involves re-contouring the projections by scraping off a small amount of enamel so that crowns can be put over them. Once this is done, a model or impression of the teeth is taken to create the bridge and crowns in the lab. Meanwhile, the patient is asked to wear a temporary bridge to secure the exposed teeth while the permanent ones are being created.

Once the new bridges have been created, they are adjusted and checked to get them fitted properly. Follow up visits are then required so that the patient’s metal framework and bite can be adjusted accordingly.

Advantages Of Dental Bridges:

• With the latest advancements in dentistry, installing a bridge is an extremely simple procedure.
• The procedure saves a lot of time and can be completed in two visits.
• Dental bridges are extremely natural in look.
• They help in maintaining the patient’s facial tone and stopping any facial musculature changes.
• If the patient maintains proper oral hygiene, bridges can reduce the problem of gum disease and stop the tooth from tilting, shifting, or drifting.
• They offer a patient a beautiful, healthy, well-aligned smile and assist in correcting bite issues and enhancing the patient’s ability to talk properly.
• The chewing efficiency of the patient is increased as the bite force is equally distributed after the bridge is installed.
• Bridges are less expensive and less invasive in comparison to implants or any other restorative procedure.
• Fixed bridges must last for as many as 10 years or more, given the patient follows good oral practices.

Using fixing bridges to make up for missing teeth has several benefits. They can resolve all kinds of problems pertaining to missing projections such as, problems in chewing, eating, and speaking. Moreover, they also enhance a patient’s beautiful smile and overall look. However, it is very important to look after such bridges with the same intensity and care as natural teeth. When a patient maintains proper oral hygiene, good diet and visits a dentist regularly, dental bridges can last for several years. It is also important to get these bridges from reputed clinics. There are several dental offices in California that deal with cosmetic dentistry specifically. They have the latest equipment and resources to provide their patients with lasting beautiful smiles.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are essentially caps placed over weak teeth to keep them protected. These prosthetics can be made out of porcelain, gold or silver and are shaped in such a way that they resemble a real tooth.

When are crowns used?

Decay and accidents can lead to weakened teeth that may require crowns. Apart from this, capping may also be used when patients have large fillings put inside their projection and there is not enough teeth left to keep that filling in place.

The various benefits of Dental Crowns:

These devices have several benefits. Here are some of the most important:

• Ceramic and porcelain dental crowns are custom matched to the existing tooth color of the patient and are designed exclusively for the patient’s smile. This helps in achieving an esthetically pleasing, accurate result.
• When cemented properly, such ceramic restorations encase the whole misshapen or badly discolored teeth, thereby offering a sparkling, bright smile.
• Crowns are utilized to cover dental implants and to work together with the existing natural teeth comfortably.
• They tend to act as protective covers, securing an already weak tooth from any further damage.
• The biggest advantage is that such capping feel, look, and function like a person’s natural teeth and restore the overall bite strength, in turn enhancing the patient’s ability to bite anything comfortably.
• If created correctly, dental crowns assist the lower and upper teeth to meet properly and maintain a proper bite.

Who is the right candidate?

• These crowns are apt for those patients who have severely damaged teeth or suffer from discolored or yellow teeth.
• People, who have a tendency of grinding their teeth or have a hard time chewing the food comfortably can benefit from crowns immensely.
• Dental crowns are the best alternative to extracting a loose, cracked or chipped tooth or replacing it with a fake tooth.
• People who have undergone root canal treatment will require a dental crown. Patients with particularly large fillings might need a crown to protect their major teeth.
• Patients who have lost their projections to periodontal disease or traumatic injury can be treated with crowns together with dental bridges and dental implants.
• Crowns may be recommended only if the patient has good oral health and dental structure to support the dental crown. Healthy gums have the ability to anchor crowns firmly in place and ensure an effective cementation of the capping.

The Procedure:

Crowns involve two main steps:

First, the dental expert removes a thin layer of the enamel from the patient’s tooth to fix a crown. Neighboring teeth are also prepared in a similar manner. An impression of the tooth structure is then made and the capping is prepared in a laboratory. Meanwhile, temporary crowns are fixed for a few weeks. Once the permanent capping has been created, the temporary crown is removed and a permanent crown is cemented.

Crowns normally last for a good duration of time. If the patient maintains proper oral hygiene, crowns can last for as long as ten to fifteen years. Once this period is reached, they may need to be replaced. Crowns may also need replacing because of problems such as dental decay, wear and tear, or inappropriate fitting because of placement.

The typical cost of a crown in California varies from clinic to clinic. The price depends on the kind of material used. Porcelain or ceramic crowns are costlier in comparison to metal crowns. The fee the dental surgeon charges, screening costs, and the like can also add to the total amount significantly.

Cosmetic Bonding Vs Porcelain Veneers

Cosmetic dentistry has become extremely popular in California to get a winning smile. Whether it’s a misalignment problem, unsightly spacing issue, dark or uneven colored dentition, or even gum erosion, dentists use new ways to make sure the treatment is satisfactory and painless for the patient.

In yester years, crowns were the main choice for hiding tooth problems, but since the past four decades, cosmetic dentistry has been offering both veneers and bonding to enhance smiles. However, this does lead to the main question: “Veneers or Bonding?”

Dental bonding

Dental bonding pertains to the application of a strong composite material right onto the tooth’s surface, by a dentist, who then sculpts and shapes it to look exactly like a natural projection. It is made to blend seamlessly and naturally with the existing teeth of the patient. The teeth are then exposed to a laser light that cures the composite, reinforcing and hardening it.

This technique of bonding has several applications, not just for cosmetic uses but also for pediatric and prosthodontics dentistry. The benefits of dental bonding include,

Quick treatment time as the procedure can be finished in one visit after consultation.

Low cost per tooth in comparison to porcelain veneers.

Bonding also has some drawbacks. For instance, durability of the material might get affected by the oral environment. Also, since composite bonding is a mix of resin and quartz particle, breakage and discoloration is inevitable if the mouth has high acidic pH value. Breakage is also imminent if the patient does not have a solid tooth structure, or if he/she is a night grinder.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers need to be fabricated in the lab. They are filled with tough mineral particles that enhance durability. In comparison to bonding, the work process of veneers is a lot more complicated. There is a range of fabrication techniques that can be used and all require applying different methods to prepare the tooth. Pressing technique, for instance, produces an extremely strong veneer, but needs 0.8mm thickness of the veneer. Porcelain powder on the other hand can create super thin veneers that produce an extremely conservative look on the tooth structure, while also keeping a very natural profile. The veneer lays on the surface of the tooth and is very much like a press-on nail. 

Veneers adhere to the projection with the help of bonding cement. Since porcelain is resistant to acid and a lot stronger than composite, this form of restoration lasts longer. The process of getting veneers, however, involves more than one appointment. The first visit involves taking imprints of the teeth. A thin veneer is then crafted out of the porcelain and is cemented to the surface of the tooth on the next visit. Apart from straightening the teeth, porcelain veneers also help to close gaps, whiten teeth, and protect dented tooth surfaces. The main benefit of porcelain veneers over tooth bonding is that veneers last longer than composite.

Whether a patient decides to invest in porcelain veneers or dental bonding, it is important to get the procedure done from a reputable dentist, preferably at a clinic that has experienced professionals. When such work is left for experienced and skilled doctors, any last minute alteration can be done without hassle. Remember, the results of cosmetic procedures are truly diverse depending on the ability of the ceramist, dentist, the clinical history of the patient and the communication between the parties involved. Hence, it’s best to perform proper research. California boasts of several dental clinics offering cosmetic treatment. The patient can narrow down to a clinic that best suit his/her needs by reading online reviews and checking with family and friends.

Are Braces Advisable for Adults?

Gone are the days when braces were only for children and teenagers. In the present times, adults make up almost fifty percent of orthodontic patients with the intention of getting that perfect smile. There have been considerable advancements in the past two decades in the field of cosmetic dentistry with the development of cosmetically friendly and lightweight options for adults.

A great smile can make quite a difference in the personal and professional life of an individual. In fact, the payoff is worth the momentary nuisance and expense of braces.

Is orthodontic treatment different for adults?

Just like children, adults can also receive the benefit of braces. However, because adults are no longer growing, treatment takes longer than usual. Typically, grownups need to wear braces for eighteen months to two years. Once the braces are removed, they may require wearing retainers to maintain treatment results.

How can an adult find out if he/she needs braces?

Ones interested in getting their teeth straightened should consult their dentists and ask for proper evaluations. Depending on individual cases, dentists will analyze the patient’s mouth structure and then suggest a treatment. Here are some questions that patients must ask their dentist:

Ø  What is the cost involved?

Ø  How long do patients need to wear braces?

Ø  How do braces correct an alignment problem?

Ø  Does the dentist have any experience?

Ø  Can appointments be scheduled at convenient times? It is a good idea to obtain references from former or current patients.

Ø  What are the various benefits of using braces?

Healthy Smile:

A lot of adults are also asked to get their bite corrected for health reasons. With problems such as, cross bite, misaligned teeth, there is a chance of food buildup, plaque buildup, in between the projection. Improper bite can also make it hard for the patent to chew food, which may lead to gastrointestinal problems.

Traditional metal braces

If someone has crooked teeth or bite problem, metal braces are more effective in moving the teeth than cosmetically friendly braces. Clear braces also work fine but there are certain drawbacks. The adhesive that sticks the brackets in place may stain due to smoking and dark drinks, and may cost a lot more than metal braces.

Braces Vs Invisalign

Another alternative is Invisalign. Patients are made to wear several removable orthodontic aligners that dentists adjust as the patient’s teeth shift from one place to another without wires or metal. A series of customized aligners are worn for duration of fifteen days. Every aligner shifts the teeth into place progressively. The total treatment time is a few months to about two years. While most dentists say Invisalign can be an excellent alternative to conventional braces, there are restrictions.

Veneers

If a patient does not have time for a conventional orthodontic treatment and needs instant results, then porcelain veneer is the right option. Porcelain veneers are essentially wafer-thin shells bonded to the teeth to enhance their cosmetic look.

With veneers a doctor can typically fix the shape, the position, the appearance, and the color of the tooth, all in one swoop. However, in case the patient has virgin, beautiful, healthy teeth that are just crooked, then braces are a better option.

How much do braces cost?

The cost mainly depends on the kind of braces advised by the dentist. In an average, braces tend to cost from $5,000 to $6,000. The price depends upon the condition of the patient’s teeth, and the city where the treatment will take place.

California is known to offer some of the best cosmetic dentistry clinics. These clinics use state of the art techniques to provide healthy and beautiful smiles to their customers.