Archive for the ‘Dental Bridge’ Category

Waiting period between extraction and dental bridge.

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

Hello,

One of my upper molars was extracted. Right after the tooth extraction, the dentist set the bridge right on top of the area. There was no time between when the extraction took place and when the bridge was placed. I was told by someone that the area should have had pressure applied to it to avoid a blood cot. Do you know if my dentist did something wrong?

- Jordan from Minnesota

Jordan

It is always difficult to make specific recommendations without having seen you in person. Although, it sounds as if everything has worked out okay. So in all likelihood your dentist probably did the right thing.

Even though you did not decipher whether or not the bridge was a permanent dental bridge or if it was just the temporary. Either way, usually there is some pressure applied to the tooth extraction site before placement. Although, for some patients there is actually very little bleeding and within a few minutes it has subsided. The pressure is a technique that is used if the dentist isn’t going to be monitoring it right after the extraction.

One of the benefits in having the dental bridge placed right away is that there is no time for any of the surrounding teeth to move. Sometimes if there is significant time that passes where there is no tooth in that area, the teeth can shift around and cause bite problem or other issues.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.

Related link: dental implant vs bridge

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Replacement of a dental bridge

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

Hello,

I just got a chip on my porcelain bridge. I actually have an eight-teeth porcelain bridge on top and I was wondering if the one that has been damaged can be repaired?

- Linda in Oregon

Linda,

Based on what you have described, your porcelain dental bridge can be repaired. Although, it does require a certain level of expertise and special training to do a nice job. It will be a similar process as placing a porcelain crown. You may want to consider meeting with a cosmetic dentist. This is because there are many techniques that are not taught in dental school that a cosmetic dentist utilizes.

Here is what you can expect. First, the area will be cleaned, rinsed, and etched to prepare it for dental bonding. If your bridge is fused to metal, than the metal will also need to be prepared. Hydrofluoric acid is one method used for etching, another method uses a microetcher. The latter uses fine aluminum oxide particles to perform the etching. This will all be localized as to not etch the surrounding areas so the glaze on the existing teeth isn’t ruined.

Next, the porcelain will need to be primed using a special agent and then it is used to coat the repair area with resin. Again if your bridge is fused to metal, it will need to be etched with a metal bonding agent. When this work is done by an expert cosmetic dentist it is very natural and life-like and the chip will not be noticeable at all.

Composite bonding resins will be the next step and they are layered to match the exact color of the other porcelain. This composite will be polished so it mimics the luster of your natural teeth.

Once it is all said and done, it would be wise to avoid smoking and excessive coffee intake so the bonding doesn’t pick up stain. Alcohol consumption will affect the lasting color as well.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.

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Do I need another root canal?

Saturday, March 30th, 2013

Ten years ago I had a root canal done. It was for a molar. And I eventually had to have it redone a few years ago. I can’t believe it but it is starting to bother me again. My dentist referred me back to the same endodontist and told me that the best solution will be to have the tooth extracted. He said that it is the best way to go since it keeps becoming reinfected. I don’t want to have my tooth pulled if I don’t have to. Is there any other option?

- Daniel in Nebraska

Daniel,

Typically a root canal treatment works great the first time around. But there is always a possibility that it may not be successful. For example, if the canals were not cleaned as they should be or the seal was faulty than you may have a reoccurring infection. As a tooth is retreated the chances of a successful root canal become lessened. So instead of spending more money on another root canal treatment, it may be in your best interest to have it extracted. A dental implant or dental bridge would replace the missing tooth.

Their are pros and cons when comparing dental implants vs. a bridge. The bad news is that dental implants are usually not covered by dental insurance and are very expensive. Implants are the best option to replace a missing tooth as long as you have healthy jawbone present at the site. The entire placement procedure usually takes about six months to complete. A dental bridge typically is covered by insurance but probably will require an upfront cost under most plans. It tends to be more affordable yet the teeth around the missing tooth have to be prepared. So there is a disadvantage because if those teeth are otherwise healthy they will endure more stress to support the dental bridge. Three weeks is the length of time for the completion of a dental bridge with two appointments.

Meet with your dentist and be upfront about your budget. There are many affordable dentists that will work with you on payment plans or may make other arrangements. Your dentist will have the best recommendation because they have all the information about your dental history.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.

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Unhappy with how my implant teeth look!

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

One year ago, I had dental implants placed. Apparently the laboratory had difficulties so I just recently received a dental bridge on both the top and the bottom. I think they look terrible. They are fake looking and out of proportion. My dentist feels differently and keeps telling me they look great and that I will get used to them. I am so disappointed and think it’s time to see a better cosmetic dentist. What do you think?

- Gina in Texas

Gina,

An excellent cosmetic dentist would never tell you that you will just get used to them. This is because they are so passionate about how beautiful your smile looks that an expert cosmetic dentist settles for nothing less than perfection. In fact, many dentists will keep sending them back to the lab until the patient is completely satisfied.

Sorry that you had to experience this. I think you are right to visit and consult with a true cosmetic dentist at this point, especially since they are on your front teeth.

Best of luck to you.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.

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How important is it to have a missing tooth replaced, if it doesn’t show?

Monday, January 30th, 2012

I have had full mouth dental porcelain veneers. The second tooth from the upper left hand corner had a fracture in the root and had to be pulled . How important is it to have an implant done and replacing the tooth in the back when you can not see it?
- Bertie from California

Bertie,
It would be a shame to not replace this tooth after all the money you have invested in your mouth, with your porcelain veneers which have hopefully given you a beautiful smile. Let me explain why this is important.

Have you ever wondered how all of your teeth seem to get into the right positions? Each tooth touches the teeth on either side with just the right amount of force to keep food from packing in those spaces. And then when you close your mouth, each tooth on your upper jaw meets each tooth on your lower jaw at exactly the same time, so they all fit and you can clench all your teeth together. The way your body accomplishes this is that there are drifting forces built into the positions of the teeth. When your teeth erupt, they keep going until they hit something, and then they stop. And then your back teeth have a tendency to drift forward until they hit something, which keeps the adjacent teeth touching each other.

If you have a missing tooth, that completely screws up the system. So what happens, if you’re missing an upper first molar (which is the second tooth from the  back) is that the tooth behind it will tip into that space, and the lower first molar will drift up looking for its mate on the upper jaw. This has several bad effects. First of all, it throws your bite out of harmony, and this is one of the main causes of TMJ disorder. It can result in spasms of the jaw muscles and headache pain. Second, it affects the long-term health of these other teeth. When the lower tooth super-erupts, it comes out of the bone somewhat and now that tooth is weaker because it has much less bony support. And when teeth start to tip, they form food traps and create other difficulties in keeping the teeth clean. Additionally, this creates unnatural angled stresses on the teeth which leads to vertical bone loss, which also weakens the teeth.

The first molars are anchor teeth, and when one of them is allowed to stay missing, it will disrupt your entire bite on that side of the mouth. If a second molar is missing, it may only compromise the companion tooth on the opposite arch. The reason for that is that there is no tooth behind it to tip into the space.

But you don’t have to replace the missing tooth with a dental implant. A dental bridge would also work fine. And if that is too expensive for you, I would at least put in a removable clip-in tooth, such as a flipper or other type of removable partial denture.

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Do dental implants cause your bone to erode?

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Hello,

I’ve heard that dental implants can cause bone erosion. I am 60 years old and have always been in pretty good dental health. But a few years ago, I had to have two teeth extracted. And now it seems like I have one tooth standing all by itself and there is space on each side and the gum looks like it is receding in the area around the lone tooth. Do you think I should get a dental bridge?

- Janice from Michigan

Janice,

Dental implants actually prevent the erosion of bone or what is otherwise known as bone resorption. But you are correct that when you are missing teeth your body resorbs the minerals to be used elsewhere in the body which in turn causes bone loss. This process also contributes to the receding of your gumline that you mentioned and is not surprising after you have been missing teeth for a couple of years.

One of the great things about a dental implant is that when it is used to replace a tooth, the body senses the implant is there and will not dissolve away the bone. So implants actually prevent bone loss.

Although, based on what you have described it doesn’t necessarily mean that dental implants are your best option. There are many factors that will come into play like how much bone you actually have left in that area, the location of surrounding nerves, where your sinuses are, and other issues. It would be beneficial in your decision-making process to meet with an experienced implant dentist. He or she would be able to give you specific recommendations for your case. If the implant doesn’t sound like it will work well, a dental bridge should work just fine.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland implant dentist Hylan Dental Care.

Related links: facial collapse, dental implant vs. bridge

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Can you use a Maryland bridge to replace four missing teeth?

Monday, November 14th, 2011

I have a partial denture (for 4 teeth) my dentist wants to put in a Maryland bridge instead of a new partial. I am told Maryland bridges are good for only 1 missing tooth. Do you think this bridge is appropriate? If not what would you suggest.
- Susan from Wyoming

Susan,
You’re right, Maryland bridges are generally used for one missing tooth, and even then they aren’t all that secure – they sometimes come loose, if they’re under too much stress. There might be a rare occasion when one could be used to replace two missing teeth. But four is much too big a stress. I would be surprised if it would last longer than a couple of weeks before coming loose.

For those who don’t know, a Maryland bridge is a false tooth that is attached to the adjacent teeth by means of metal wings that are bonded to the inside surfaces of those adjacent teeth.

As far as what I would suggest for your situation, that depends on a lot of things I can’t see. One thing is if these teeth are in a row or in different places in your mouth. It sounds like they’re in a row, because you talk as if your dentist can replace them with one Maryland Bridge, which would imply that. Four missing teeth in a row is a tough situation. If they are in the front, you could use one fixed dental bridge, but it would have to be anchored to four other teeth. Otherwise, another removable partial denture would be an economical situation.

And, if you would want the best possible replacement for these missing teeth, that would be the most comfortable and trouble-free, you would want to go with dental implants. But your dentist needs special expertise in dental implants to be able to do that.

This blog is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Dr. Brad Hylan

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One of the teeth holding my bridge in has to be extracted

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

I have a gold bridge. One tooth has to be pulled. Can the bridge be cut from the remaining tooth of will the bridge have to come off that tooth also?
- Jim from Texas

Jim,
Some complete bridges can be cut and the offending tooth extracted, and the cut part smoothed off and they will work fine. But most of the time I would expect that wouldn’t work. You would have to ask your dentist for specific information on that as it pertains to your case. To be sure you get excellent care, If you don’t have full trust in your dentist, you may need to get a second opinion about It.

Whether your dental bridge can be cut and survive depends on how many teeth are being used to anchor the teeth and the stress that is already placed on those teeth by the teeth in the other arch. For example, if it’s a four-unit bridge, such that it covers three teeth and the fourth tooth is a false tooth, you could easily get by supporting the false teeth with two teeth instead of three, in most cases.

However, if it’s a three-tooth bridge replacing one missing tooth between two healthy ones, it’s hard to do that right. If you remove one of the teeth, you then have a cantilever bridge. A cantilever structure is one that is supported on one side only, as opposed to a traditional bridge on both sides with one or two teeth in between. If you take out the support on one side of the bridge, it likely won’t hold up and will end up destroying the other good tooth. But if the good remaining tooth is large enough and sturdy enough, it could maybe work.

This is one of the advantages of dental implants. If you replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, and later there is some problem with one of the adjacent teeth, you can just treat that single tooth. But if that tooth is part of a bridge, the treatment gets more complicated, and you may need an entirely new bridge.

This blog is sponsored by Cleveland implant dentist Dr. Brad Hylan.

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Not happy with treatment for missing tooth

Friday, September 9th, 2011

I recently got a Snap-on smile and I must say that I am not happy with the result. I am missing one of my canines and my dentist told me to go with the Snap-on smile. I think it looks very fake and bulky. I am really disappointed. From what I can tell it is non-refundable which out of principle I feel like I should wear it even though it looks fake. Do you think I should have my dentist try again with a new mold? I’m embarrassed of this tooth gap and really want to feel good about my smile.

- Carolyn in Oregon

Carolyn,

Unfortunately your situation may be a good example of the fact that most dentists aren’t artistic. Simply put, they are trained to fix things. If you think your dentist will try to fix it, than it may be worth working with them to see if it can be improved. But you are correct in not expecting to be refunded.

A true cosmetic dentist is wired a bit differently than your average dentist. They have undergone additional training beyond dental school and are very passionate about making their patients feel completely satisfied with the way their smile looks. An excellent cosmetic dentist will be able to help you.

Although, if it’s the missing tooth that is the primary issue then there are other treatments that could do a lot more for your smile and self-concept. When you are missing one tooth or if you are missing several teeth, a partial flipper may be the way to go. This appliance snaps into place and replaces your missing tooth with a plastic tooth while your other teeth remain unaffected. There is nothing that covers them up. In some cases, a dentist may let you try the flipper out free of charge. Other options that may work for you are a dental implant or a dental bridge.

I hope you find something that gives you the smile you deserve and I hope this information was helpful.

Best of luck.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland implant dentist Hylan Dental Care.

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After a tooth extraction, how soon can a bridge be placed?

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

I was wondering how soon a bridge is typically placed after a tooth extraction? One of my upper molars was extracted and my dentist placed a bridge immediately. There was no time set aside to apply pressure to the extraction site for a blood clot to form since it was done so soon. Do you think the dentist was rushing things?

- Linda from Nevada

Linda,

This is difficult to assess without having actually seen your case. That said, it sounds like you are in the clear and your dentist likely did the appropriate thing.

From your post, I am unsure whether the dental bridge was a permanent bridge or just a temporary one? Either way, the bridge itself can place some pressure on the extraction site. In some cases though, the pressure is not necessary. This is because sometimes it just doesn’t take that long for the bleeding to stop. Placing gelfoam, an astringent, or electrocautery are other procedures that can be used to place pressure to the site. Then there are those cases where the bleeding stops in a matter of minutes without the use of any pressure.

One of the benefits of placing a bridge so quickly is that it will not allow for any movement among your adjacent teeth which happens when a tooth is extracted. When your teeth move there are alignment and bite problems that can occur.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland implant dentist Hylan Dental Care.

Other links you may be interested in: missing one tooth, missing all teeth

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