crowns and briges

If you have one or more missing teeth, your dental professional may recommend that you get artificial replacements.

We'll break down the similarities, differences, advantages, and disadvantages between these two fixed artificial tooth options so that even if you have a fake tooth or two, you'll have a smile that's as real as can be.

What's the Difference Between Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges?

The crowns at the ends of a bridge can fuse to existing teeth (that need to be filed down by a dental professional to fit correctly), or your dental professional can attach them to dental implants.

If you're getting a crown for a damaged or decayed tooth, your dental professional will make an impression of your bite.

Often, the model for your bite needs to be sent to a lab where they will create your crown, which can take a few weeks

Extractions

Simple tooth extraction occurs when a tooth has straight roots, extends above the gumline and is structurally sound enough to be loosened and extracted in one piece from above the gums.

In order to ensure the surgical tooth extraction procedure is as comfortable as possible, your dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the area directly around the tooth.

Incise and elevate gum flap if necessary.

Though teeth are not fused to the bone, they are suspended in the bony tooth socket with shock-absorbing ligament fibers.

That said, teeth that have been sectioned into pieces for easier removal don’t usually require bony socket expansion.

Where teeth that are being removed need to be replaced, your dentist may want to perform a socket graft in order to slow the normal bone reabsorption process and thereby preserve the normal height and width of the bony ridge.

Dental cleanings are key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

For many people, this will be every six months.

Treatments commonly performed during a dental cleaning include: Scaling, during this step, your dentist or hygienist will use hand instruments called scalers to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth surfaces.

You can only get rid of that thin layer of dirt if you use a sponge and a little elbow grease.

If you have dental anxiety that’s keeping you from receiving routine dental care, tell your dentist about it.

Tooth Whitening

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to make them lighter. It can't make your teeth brilliant white, but it can lighten the existing colour by several shades.

Who can do teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a form of dentistry and should only be carried out by a dentist or another regulated dental professional, such as a dental hygienist or dental therapist, on the prescription of a dentist.

Dental exams are usually performed by both a dentist and a dental hygienist. A dentist is a doctor specially trained to care for teeth and gums. A dental hygienist is a health care professional trained to clean teeth and help patients maintain good oral health habits. 

Dental exams are used to help find tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems early, when they're easier to treat. The exams are also used to help educate people on the best ways to care for their teeth and gums.

Why do I need a dental exam?

Most adults and children should get a dental exam every six months. If you have swollen, bleeding gums (known as gingivitis) or other gum disease, your dentist may want to see you more often. Some adults with gum disease may see a dentist three or four times a year. More frequent exams may help prevent a serious gum disease known as periodontitis. Periodontitis can lead to infection and tooth loss.

Dental X-rays (radiographs) are images of your teeth that your dentist uses to evaluate your oral health.

The only thing you’ll want to do is brush your teeth before your appointment.

The most common are intraoral X-rays, like: Bitewing: This technique involves biting down on a special piece of paper so that your dentist can see how well the crowns of your teeth match up.

This is commonly used to check for cavities between teeth (interdental).

ExtraoralX-rays may be used when your dentist suspects there might be problems in areas outside of the gums and teeth, like the jaw.

After dental X-rays When the images are ready — instantly in the case of digital X-rays — your dentist will review them and check for abnormalities.

What are dentures?

Dentures are removable oral appliances that replace missing teeth in your upper jaw, lower jaw or both. Dental technicians craft dentures from materials like acrylic, resin, nylon, metal and porcelain.

Types of dentures

There are many different types of dentures. The option that’s right for you depends on your unique oral health needs.

Full dentures

Also called a complete denture, this appliance replaces an entire arch of missing teeth. A full denture rests atop your gums and relies on your palate (the roof of your mouth) or lower jawbone ridge for support. You may need to use denture adhesive (a special type of glue) to keep your appliance firmly in place.

Full dentures are likely what comes to mind when you think about traditional dentures. They consist of artificial teeth and a gum-colored base.

People who wear dentures usually take them out at night to clean them and give their gums a rest.

Partial dentures

If you’re missing several or most of your teeth in one or both jaws, partial dentures may be an option. Partial dentures are similar to full dentures, as they also rely on your gums and underlying bone for support. But partial dentures also have special clasps that hook around your remaining natural teeth, providing additional stability.

Immediate dentures

Sometimes people need tooth extractions before they can wear dentures. An immediate denture is a device you wear right after extractions.

In some cases, immediate dentures are temporary appliances. Once you’ve healed, your dentist will replace them with your final dentures. In other cases, you might be able to wear your final denture immediately after surgery. Your dentist can tell you what to expect in your situation.

A Dental Report is the detailed document of the dental history of the patient, physical oral examination, diagnosis, treatment, and management of a patient