Dental Plus

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge not only restores your smile, it also balances the normal bite, prevents the other teeth from moving/tilting, prevents the onset of decay and prevents undue stress to the dental ridge. Dental bridges literally mean bridging the gap between missing teeth. It’s made up of two crowns anchored on the teeth on either side or both sides of the gap. A false tooth known as pontic is fused between the two crowns to fill the area of the missing tooth.

There are three kinds of dental bridges:

1. Traditional bridges
This type of bridge creates a crown on opposing sides of the missing tooth with the pontic in between. Traditional bridges are the most common bridges. They are usually made from porcelain attached to metal or ceramic.

2. Cantilever bridges
Cantilever bridges are used when the adjacent teeth is only one side of the missing tooth.

3. Maryland bonded bridges
This bridge is composed of plastic teeth and gums supprted by a metal framework. The metal wings on each side of the bridge are attached to the adjacent teeth.

Dental bridges usually require two visits to your dentist. The first visit involves the preparation of the abutment teeth, re-contouring of the teeth where the crown will be placed and making an impression of the teeth which will serve as the model for the pontic, crown and bridge. The dentist will prepare a temporary bridge for you to protect the exposed teeth and gums while the bridge is being made. The next visit entails removing the temporary bridge and fitting the permanent bridge.

Make sure to practice good oral hygiene and have regular check-ups with the dentist to ensure that your fixed bridge will last for years.Bridges need extra care because the build up of bacteria on the treated area will cause infection such as gingivitis.

If you want to learn more about dental bridges, consult with our Ft Lauderdale dentists for treatment options.

Do you know that gum disease and not tooth decay is the major cause of tooth loss among adults? Periodontal or gum disease is caused by bacterial infections that attack the tissues and the supporting bone that hold your teeth. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, an estimated 80 percent of American adults have some form of periodontal disease. Often painless, people who have gum disease are not even aware that they already have it.

What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should visit your periodontist for a periodontal evaluation.

• Gums that bleed easily when brushing or flossing
• Swollen and tender gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Pus between the teeth and gums
• Mouth sores that don’t heal after two weeks
• Change in the way your teeth fit together

There are different forms of periodontal diseases. It could be a simple case like gingivitis wherein the gums bleed easily, red and swollen. Gingivitis is generally caused by inadequate dental hygiene. Further, untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. In this case, the plaque advances below the gumline allowing the bacteria to irritate the gums. As the disease progresses, the gums separate from the teeth forming pockets (spaces between the gums and teeth). The more gum tissue is destroyed, the deeper the pocket becomes. The unfortunate end result of the diseased gum is tooth loss.

What are the necessary steps to avoid periodontal disease?

Proper brushing and flossing everyday helps remove the plaque from your teeth. Regular visits to the dentist are also important. You should have your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist at least twice a year to remove the calculus from the spaces in between your teeth and gum lines your toothbrush and floss may have missed.

Choosing the right oral care products is as important as regular brushing and flossing. Here are some general guidelines that work for most patients:

• Choose a soft bristled toothbrush that allows you to reach every surface of your tooth. Change brush as needed.
• Massage the gums using the rubber tip found on the end of the handle of the toothbrush.
• You may also use interproximal toothbrush and interdental cleaners to clean the plaque between the teeth.  Consult with your periodontist before using these dental aids because these can injure the gums when used improperly.

To learn more about periodontal disease and treatment, visit our Ft. Lauderdale dentists at sleepdentists.com.

Dental caries when left untreated progress into the tooth’s soft core (dental pulp) causing the bacteria to develop abscess or pus pocket at the root tip. When the infected pulp is not removed, this will cause pain and swelling. Also, certain byproducts of the infection can damage your jawbones and without immediate treatment, this could also result to extraction. Endodontics or root canal procedure can save the diseased tooth. Today, a root canal procedure is a better alternative than permanently losing your tooth to extraction. 

The thought of having a root canal procedure conjures up pain and renders more than one visit to the dentist’s office. If the tooth demands complex procedure, the root canal can take hours. Imagine sitting for an extended period of time on the patient dental chair plus the enervating thought of the excruciating pain that comes along with the procedure. Some patients really cringe at the thought of the procedure. The good news is developments in dental technology has made root canal procedures faster and more comfortable on the patient. You can have a pain-free root canal with fewer visits to the dentist through sleep and sedation dentistry.

During the treatment, the dentist will put you in a complete relaxed state by administering sedation medication. The gravity of the diseased tooth plus the amount of dental work required to carry out the procedure will determine the levels of sedation and anesthesia that will be utilized. In addition, the profile of the patient is a factor on the type of sedation to be administered on the patient. For example, in cases where the patient is experiencing high levels of anxiety or has dental phobia, the dentist will have to go with sleep dentistry therapy. With this treatment, general anesthesia is administered through intravenous medication and/or inhalation agents, if necessary. This will put the patient in a complete unconscious state. 

On the one hand, in the case of adult patients who want to finish the root canal with fewer visits, the dentist may recommend conscious sedation technique. This treatment employs the use of intravenous agents and if necessary, laughing gas to help relax the patient. Unlike general anesthesia therapy that puts the patient in deep sleep with no recall of the procedure, patients treated with conscious sedation usually have little memory of the procedure being performed.

In sum, root canals do not have to be painful as it used to be. There are alternatives available to alleviate the anxiety and the pain associated with the procedure. If you find yourself needing a root canal work soon, talk to your dentist about the best option to make the procedure more comfortable and of course, painless as much as possible. 

For more information on sedation dentistry visit the Ft Lauderdale Dentists at sleepdentists.com.