There are many types of restorative dentistry to get your smile back on track. Regardless of
whether you’ve experienced tooth decay, missing teeth, cracks, or broken teeth, restorative
dentistry is here to return your smile to its absolute best. What are your restorative dentistry
options?

Fillings

Dental fillings are a very common restoration. Using a filling material that’s safe and effective,
your dentist will fill in your cavity to protect the tooth from further decay and keep the rest of
your mouth healthy. Almost everyone has had some type of dental filling in their lifetime.
Dental fillings will need to be maintained and ultimately replaced to ensure continued
protection.

Bridges

A dental bridge may be a good fit for you if you’re missing one or more teeth in a row. Dental
bridges rely on the surrounding teeth to bridge the gap with a dental crown. Bridges are ideal
for missing back teeth and, like most other forms of restorative dentistry, will need to be
maintained and replaced after a certain number of years.

Crowns

A dental crown is a ceramic tooth replacement that looks very much like your natural tooth.
Crowns are used in restorative dentistry when a filling is too large to be restored or the tooth is
so damaged it needs to be capped to protect it. A sturdy crown will fit over your existing tooth
to prevent it from experiencing further decay or harm. A dental crown will be indistinguishable
from the rest of your teeth.

Veneers

Dental veneers, like crowns, consist of ceramic. They are thin and light, yet very durable and
strong. Veneers are placed over your natural teeth and permanently fixed into place. They can
fix a variety of issues with your smile for a complete transformation, from stubborn stains to
extensive chips to worn-down teeth.

Implants

Dental implants consist of a titanium implant that’s inserted into your jaw where your missing
tooth is. Once this is healed, a crown is placed on the end of the implant. Dental implants mimic
your natural teeth and, once healed, will never need to be replaced, although your dental
crown will need to be replaced at some point in the future.

Bonding

Dental bonding involves the use of composite resin—a tooth-colored material sometimes used
for fillings—to fix cracks, chips, broken teeth, and even gaps. Dental bonding is effective for a
variety of uses in restoration dentistry to complete your perfect smile.

Dentures

Dentures are false teeth that are designed to fit comfortably in your mouth. Unlike dental
implants or veneers, dentures are removable and will need to be removed and cleaned daily.
You have the option of a partial denture or a full set depending on how many of your natural
teeth are missing.

For whatever has impacted your smile, restoration dentistry can make it right. Addressing the
root cause of your concern can help you and your dentist make the best choice for your smile.
Make an appointment with your dentist today to talk about your restorative dentistry options
and get your beautiful smile back!

The post What Are the Different Types of Restorative Dentistry? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Studies Show Avoiding the Dentist Makes You Unhappier

Recent research has shown that people who avoid the dentist tend to be unhappier in their lives. This is because people who regularly skipped their dental appointments were more likely to have missing teeth, gum disease, and other oral health issues that impacted their day-to- day life.

The research also showed that people who neglected to care for their oral health were also more likely to have poorer overall health. People who have a healthy, beautiful smile are more likely to be happier and take better care of their bodies than people who don’t. This is why having your best smile is so important—not just for overall health, but for your happiness!

Research Proves Smiling Improves Your Mood

Studies have also proved that smiling—whether genuine or faked—can boost your mood and even your immune system. This is because the act of smiling releases endorphins, and your body can’t tell the difference between a real and a fake smile. People who smile more tend to be happier and more confident!

Unfortunately, people who are severely self-conscious of their smiles often avoid smiling altogether. Having oral health issues such as gum disease or tooth decay can progress if not treated. These problems often get to the point where your smile is compromised and you no longer feel comfortable showing your teeth. When you have a gorgeous smile, you can speak and laugh without holding back and enjoy the increased happiness that comes with it!

A Beautiful Smile Increases Success and Confidence

Often, self-esteem begins in childhood. While having an imperfect smile is considered cute among children, it can be hugely damaging to the image of an adult. Having a subpar smile can impact your success, confidence, and even your approachability. A beautiful smile can make you more attractive and appear more trustworthy and approachable. Your smile affects how people perceive you. A great smile can help you be more warm and open, while hiding your smile or having an unpleasant smile can lead people to be more distrusting or less attracted to you.

Don’t wait to get the smile of your dreams. With all the benefits a perfect smile offers you, why not see what can be improved? Maybe you need a simple whitening to help get your confidence back on track, or maybe you need more involved restorative work. Regardless, schedule a consultation with an experienced dentist to talk about your perfect smile!

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Once your actual dental implant is placed, this will need to heal for a period of time before you get your crown attached to the end. During this period of time, your mouth will likely be sore and possibly bruised. It’s best to eat cold foods and drinks as much as possible. It’s also vital that you do not touch your dental implant. You can use ice to help with the swelling if needed.

Your dentist may give you a special mouthwash to use during this time, but you should avoid brushing the dental implant while it’s healing; this may take a few days. Always follow your dentist’s care instructions!

Once Your Implant Has Healed

Once your implant has healed and the crown is attached, gently clean your dental implant with a soft-bristled tooth brush. Avoid aggressive brushing—it’s not necessary. You need to keep your dental implant clean and remove plaque daily through brushing and flossing. Keeping your dental implants clean can extend the lifespan of your crown and keep your implant healthy and strong!

If you smoke, getting dental implants is good motivation to quit. Smoking not only increases your risk for gum disease and oral cancer, but prevents healing in the mouth. While your dental implant is healing, it’s crucial to avoid smoking to reduce the chances of infection so that your implant can heal.

Long-Term Care

Brushing and flossing your dental implants regularly just like your natural teeth can help you maintain great oral health. Gentle brushing is easy enough, but flossing may require a little extra effort around your dental implants. You should use the floss to get trapped food and plaque underneath your dental crown near the top of your implant.

Food or plaque that get trapped in this section can cause problems, so take a few extra seconds to get underneath your dental crown. This can help make sure your dental implants are squeaky clean and healthy! You should also visit your dentist regularly to ensure your dental implants are doing great. Your crown will need to be replaced eventually, so your dentist can examine your implants during your visit and let you know how you’re doing with your oral care.

Dental implants are one of the best choices for effective tooth replacement. Taking care of your dental implants requires brushing and flossing just like your natural teeth. You’ll also need to visit the dentist just like you do for your regular smile. Enjoy your new dental implants with these best care habits!

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Dental bridges will require that teeth on either side of your gap have a small amount of enamel removed in order to support the bridge. Your dentist will fix crowns to these teeth, which will effectively support a dental crown in the middle, therefore closing your gap. If your adjacent teeth will eventually need dental crowns anyway, a bridge is likely your best option.

Implants Are Best for Durability

Your dentist may suggest a dental implant to replace your missing tooth because of their durability. Dental implants have become an excellent option for missing teeth—in fact, they last for life! A titanium screw will be inserted into your jaw to fuse with your jawbone. This will require some healing time, but when you’re ready, your dentist will fix a crown onto the end of the implant. While your crown will eventually need to be replaced, your implant never will.

Dental Bridges When Jaw Bone Is a Problem

Since dental implants require that you have enough bone in your jaw to support proper healing of the implant, you may not qualify for this procedure. If you’ve been missing your teeth for a while, your body may have already compensated for the missing tooth by actively losing bone in your jaw. When you don’t have enough jawbone to support a dental implant or even mini dental implants, bridges will likely be best choice for speedy healing and a great look!

Great Oral Health? Consider Dental Implants

While dental bridges can be ideal when neighboring teeth have large cavities or will need crowns anyway, dental implants are an ideal choice when you have great oral health. This is because your dental implant will not affect your other teeth. Your dental implant will actually work to support the adjacent teeth because it stimulates bone growth in the jaw. Your adjacent teeth should be healthy as well as your gums in order to facilitate proper healing of the implant.

How to Decide?

Talk with your dentist, who can help you make a decision based on look, cost, and your neighboring teeth. While dental bridges are less expensive up front, they will need to be replaced after about ten years, whereas dental implants last for life. Bridges require less time to be completed, but dental implants are resistant to decay and disease.

Bridges were your only choice in the past, but now you have dental implants! Ask your dentist which will be best for you based on your unique smile, and don’t hesitate to get your teeth replaced as soon as possible so that you have all of your options when you make your decision!

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People who make excellent candidates for dental bridges often have one or more teeth missing consecutively from one area in their mouth. You could have one missing tooth, or even up to three in a row missing—either way, you could make a great dental bridge candidate. This is because dental bridges effectively “bridge” the gap between teeth, even if you’re missing more than one tooth. However, dental bridges usually aren’t an option when you’re missing more than three consecutive teeth in one area. When you’re missing a few teeth, talk with your dentist about whether or not a dental bridge could restore your smile!

You Have Healthy Teeth

Dental bridges need healthy teeth on either side of the missing spaces in your mouth in order to be successful. This is because these teeth will essentially support the dental bridge and securely anchor it for years to come—dental bridges typically last around six years, but can last even longer if you take great care of your smile! Having dental bridges requires that you take excellent care of your teeth.

If you have tooth decay or gum disease surrounding the teeth or tissues near your missing teeth, you won’t be able to qualify for dental implants until these conditions have been treated. If your teeth aren’t in great shape but you have enough jaw bone, you may qualify for implant-supported bridges, which take advantage of dental implants in order to properly support the bridge!

You Don’t Like the Idea of Dentures

Dental bridges are essentially “fixed” dentures, meaning they are permanently adhered to your teeth and not meant to come out. However, partial dentures are also an option for patients that are missing one or more teeth. Partial dentures are typically removable, require some extra cleaning, and tend to not be as secure as dental implants or dental bridges.

If you dislike the idea of having a partial denture, consider dental bridges. If you’re a candidate for a partial denture, you may also qualify for a dental bridge, which provides more security than partial dentures but without the need for oral surgery like dental implants!

A dental bridge could be the solution to your missing teeth! Dental bridges effectively close gaps, match your natural teeth, and prevent the uncomfortable and unsightly shifting that can come with missing teeth. Talk to your dentist about whether or not a dental bridge would be right for you—they can conduct a thorough evaluation and talk through all your options with you!

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Implants

No longer are dentures or partial dentures your only options for missing teeth. Dental implants effectively replace your missing teeth and even help retain the bone structure in your jaw. Dental implants accurately replace your natural teeth and they never need to be replaced. A screw will be placed in your jaw to hold your missing tooth’s spot, and a crown will be attached to the end. Completely indistinguishable from your natural teeth, dental implants restore your smile’s beauty and functionality!

Lumineers

Lumineers are a type of dental veneer that work as perfect solutions for a variety of cosmetic dental problems. If you have discolored, chipped, gapped, or crooked teeth, Lumineers could be a great choice for you. An impression is made of your teeth and then sent to a lab. After your Lumineers return, they will be bonded to your teeth. They differ from regular veneers in that less drilling is needed. Talk with your dentist to discover if Lumineers could make your smile shine again!

Veneers

Porcelain or ceramic veneers are strong, thin, and mimic your tooth’s natural enamel. To restore your smile’s appearance, veneers go on top of your teeth, yet are made of porcelain and ceramic to remain strong and functional. Veneers are bonded to your teeth to give your smile the perfect color, brightness, and functionality that becomes you. You may choose to consider veneers if you have fractured, gapped, or poorly shaped teeth. Even stained teeth could benefit from veneers!

Bridges

Dental bridges can help if you have a missing tooth or teeth. Over time, the space left by your missing tooth will cause the other teeth to shift. This could result in an improper bite, loss of bone, and even crooked teeth. Bridges help to hold and cover the space between your missing teeth. They’re affixed to your natural teeth and will help to hold the space, improve your appearance, and match the color of your other natural teeth!

Whitening

Teeth whitening is an effective, affordable, and safe procedure that improves your appearance and gives you a dazzling smile. Whether you’d like white teeth for your wedding day or a special event in your life or even just to love your smile a little more every day, teeth whitening is a great option. Using at-home kits can create uneven whitening and even damage the enamel on your teeth if overused. A professional bleaching at your dentist’s office will give you a gorgeous smile for life.

Cosmetic dentistry offers you many options to restore your smile. Whether you have crooked or missing teeth, chipped or fractured teeth, or unsightly gaps or discoloration, cosmetic dentistry can help. Talk with your dentist to discover how cosmetic dentistry can improve your smile and quality of life!

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They’re Excellent Replacements for Your Natural Teeth

As far as technology and natural teeth replacements go, it doesn’t get any better than dental implants. Dental implants are the only option for you if you want something that functions much like your natural teeth. They’re sturdy, they never need to be replaced, and they allow you to feel proud of your smile again.

Bone Structure and Oral Health Matter

You’ll need to have an adequate amount of bone in your jaw in order to properly support the dental implant. Thanks to your jaw supporting the implant, dental implants stimulate bone growth and prevent bone loss, something people with lost teeth have to worry about. Your dentist can determine if you’re a candidate!

You’ll also need to have good oral health in order to support the dental implant. This means not using tobacco products, getting regular checkups, and brushing and flossing. Any oral health problem you have will need to be addressed before the procedure.

The Procedure Is Safe

The procedure for dental implants is more accurate today than ever. Thanks to X-rays, CT scans, and 3D imaging, your surgeon can see precisely where the dental implant needs to go in your jaw. This means they can accurately insert the implant and keep your procedure simple, pain-free, and maximize chances of success.

The chances of your body rejecting dental implants are very small, and most rejections happen as a result of a titanium allergy, which dental implants are commonly made of. If you’re aware that you have a titanium allergy, talk with your dentist before getting dental implants.

They’re More Secure Than Dentures

Dental implants so accurately mimic your natural teeth in look and in function that more people are satisfied with them than they are with any alternatives, such as dentures or bridges. Often dentures can be uncomfortable and embarrassing for people who find that the dentures don’t feel secure in their mouths or slide about. This never happens with dental implants, as they’re rooted securely in your jaw. Dental implants make a great replacement for dentures and allow you to love your smile again!

They’re for Life

Dental implants are for life. Although the root of your dental implant should never need to be removed or replaced, the crown that is affixed to it will need to be changed every decade or so. If you take great care of your oral health, sometimes they can last for longer, possibly even up to fifteen or twenty years or more!

Dental implants are an excellent choice for those who qualify. They’re the most effective replacements for your natural teeth, the procedure is simple and safe, and they’re for life. What more could you want when it comes to replacing your natural teeth? Talk with your dentist to see if you qualify for dental implants!

The post What You Should Know When Considering Dental Implants appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

A Long-Term Solution – Composite crowns and bridges are stronger than their predecessors and provide long-term benefits.

Look and Feel – Because metal-free crowns and bridges are made from things like resin, quartz, and glass, they look more like your other teeth. That’s because teeth have almost a bit of translucence that can only be attained with these materials. Plus, metal-free crowns and bridges are about the same strength as your natural teeth, keeping your bite nice and even.

Cost – Metal-free crowns and bridges cost less.

Reduced Sensitivity – Less pain from hot or cold beverages is reported from individuals with metal-free crowns and bridges.

Do I Need a Metal-Free Crown?

If you are missing a tooth or have a damaged tooth, metal-free crowns are a great way to cover the damage and protect your oral health. If you have had a root canal or chipped a tooth, a dental crown can cover the remaining tooth. This restores a natural look to your smile, it protects the tooth from further damage, and it also allows you to chew naturally.

Metal-free crowns are also often used when a person gets a dental implant to replace a missing tooth. While the anchor and screw will be made of titanium, the crown can be metal-free. The crown is designed to match your teeth in shape and color thus being both aesthetically pleasing and fully functional.

When Are Metal-Free Bridges Used?

A bridge is used when several teeth next to each other are all damaged or missing. In this case, the crowns are all anchored together. For example, if you have four missing teeth all in a row, you can have them replaced with a metal-free bridge. Rather than having to get a separate titanium implant to attach each crown, a bridge made up of four crowns can usually be attached using just two implants. This is a cost-effective approach to replacing several teeth next to each other. Again, metal-free bridges are also aesthetically pleasing and fully functional.

Personal Preference

While metal crowns and bridges are FDA approved and pose no real health risks, some simply prefer not to have metal in their mouth. If this is the case for you, ask your dentist if they offer metal-free crowns and bridges today!

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What Is Full Mouth Reconstruction?

Full mouth reconstruction is an extensive procedure to restore the oral health of a patient. Treatment may be performed in a number of ways. Here are a few treatment options:

Dental Implants – To replace missing teeth, dental implants may be used. This involves implanting a titanium post to hold a custom made crown.

Bridges – In some cases, a bridge may be used when there is just a small gap due to a missing tooth. The bridge is held by crowns that are placed on the two surrounding teeth.

Bone Grafts – Sometimes, teeth are lost due to a decrease in bone density. This makes it difficult to get a dental implant to graft properly. A bone graft may need to be performed before any other dental work can take place.

Dentures – If all of a person’s teeth need to be replaced, dentures are a less expensive option than implants (and are more likely to be covered by insurance).

Crowns – Crowns are placed over damaged teeth to keep them from deteriorating further. This allows a patient to keep their original tooth. However, the coloration and shape of the cap will not only protect the tooth but allow it to match the rest of the mouth.

Fillings – Fillings keep cavities from causing further problems. Cavities can often be filled with a composite substance that matches the tooth color.

Who Is it For?

It is easier to understand situations that make full mouth reconstruction necessary now that we have discussed the processes involved. Some of these circumstances are:

– Individuals who are missing teeth.

– Victims of an accident that has caused oral damaged

– Victims of a disease that has caused oral damage

– People who have multiple cavities, cracked teeth, or other oral care problems

– Individuals suffering from bone loss contributing to lost teeth

– People who have experienced significant damage due to gum disease

– Anyone who is not happy with their smile and wants to improve it with modern dentistry

The fact is that full mouth reconstruction can help anyone from the elderly who are experiencing problems to those who are looking to make their smile more aesthetically pleasing. Whether the damage was caused by an accident and needs to be performed in an emergency or is the result of years of wear and damage, the final product can be a smile that you are happy to show off and a mouth that allows you to talk and chew normally.

The post Who Would Benefit from Full Mouth Reconstruction? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

A traditional dental bridge has one, two or three artificial teeth, called pontics, which are positioned between two dental crowns on the ends. In your mouth, the teeth that are on either side of the gap where the missing teeth were are called the abutment teeth. These teeth are reduced and shaped so that the crowns on the bridge will fit over them. The entire bridge is placed in your mouth, with the pontics filling the gap and the crowns fitting over the abutment teeth. The bridge is permanently cemented into place and does not come out.

The process of getting a bridge usually takes two appointments at the dentist’s office. At the first appointment the abutment teeth are prepared, and sometimes a temporary bridge is placed that you can wear while your permanent bridge is being made at a lab. At the second appointment, the permanent bridge is placed.

Another type of bridge, called a cantilever bridge, can replace missing teeth that have natural teeth on only one side. The crowns on a cantilever bridge are on only one side of the pontics. This type of bridge is not as common as a traditional bridge and is not recommended for teeth at the back of the mouth because it puts excessive stress on the abutment teeth.

A bonded bridge is a third type of bridge that uses resin to bond the bridge to the teeth. This type of bridge requires less preliminary work on the abutment teeth, but it also requires that the surrounding teeth be strong and healthy.

A dental bridge can usually replace one, two or three missing teeth. When a person has more than three teeth missing, a partial removable denture is usually recommended.

A bridge relies on its surrounding teeth to support it, and in turn, it can put pressure on the other teeth. With proper care, a bridge can last for 5 to 10 years and possibly longer. When you have a bridge it is important to continue to brush and floss your teeth regularly and keep appointments for regular dental checkups.

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