News with tag bridge

You’ve finally replaced that missing tooth! Your new dental bridge looks and feels great, and you want it to stay that way. But just like the rest of your smile, our Carnegie dentists want you to take great care of your bridge so that it can last for several years. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to bridge care and maintenance: Clean Underneath Your Bridge Daily — Use a floss aid such as a threader, tufted proxa-brush, or a water flosser to clean underneath your bridge. Take care to focus on the sides of your supporting teeth, as these areas are especially prone to collecting plaque build-up. Brush Along the Margin Where Your Bridge Touches the Gums — There’s a small amount of tooth enamel exposed, where your bridge tapers off and just above your gumlines. If not cleaned properly, it can start to decay (allowing cavities to seep under the bridge, making it come loose.) Brush gently along the gumlines daily, but don’t scrub too hard as it could cause your tissues to pull back. Let Us Know if Something Feels Odd — You know your mouth better than anyone. If you’re biting down or chewing and something doesn’t feel quite right, you need to let our Carnegie dentists know. Your mouth can pick up on the tiniest of changes, even if it’s just fractions of a millimetre. Like in any area of your mouth, this is a warning sign that you should always be on the lookout for. Schedule an Exam, Scale and Polish Every Six Months — During your visit, we’ll make sure everything looks as it ought to. This includes taking periodic X-rays to inspect areas that are deeper under the bridge, so that any recurrent tooth decay can be intercepted as early as possible. Call North Road Dental Clinic today to schedule!

If you’re wondering whether or not dental implants are worthy of all of the rage you’ve been hearing on TV and the radio, then continue reading. Over the past decade, these modern tooth replacements have transformed the way we at North Road Dental Clinic treat problems related to missing teeth. When someone is a candidate for implant therapy, we believe it can be the very best treatment option available. Here’s why: Implants are made to last for decades Investing in dental implants is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make when it comes to replacing missing teeth. That’s because dental implants are successful in nearly 98% of cases. In most situations, an implant can last for several decades. Although the restorations on top can gradually wear out over time, the implant underneath is extremely predictable. Biocompatible materials bond with your natural anatomy One of the biggest problems that happens when someone loses a tooth, is that the bone around that area starts to shrink away as a result. This can cause your face to feel sunken in or your jaw to look shallower. Adjacent teeth can drift inward, causing misalignment of your entire occlusion (bite.) With implants, the titanium materials trigger “osseointegration”, a process where bone fuses with the implant, securing it permanently into your jaw and strengthening your bite. This maintains the bone where the tooth was previously extracted. Less damage to existing teeth If a tooth was to be replaced prior to implants a bridge was the options of choice. Although bridges are sometimes a treatment option we will suggest in certain circumstances, the abutment or anchor tooth/teeth will need preparation in order for the bridge to slot over the tooth. If the tooth is a healthy tooth you are in fact damaging a healthy tooth. Having an implant prevents issues with abutment teeth. Perfect for any number of missing teeth From full arch “All-on-4” implant supported dentures to single missing teeth, dental implants offer a variety of uses. That means if you’re missing 1, 5, or all of your teeth, you can incorporate implants into your long-term restoration plan. With implants, you can enjoy permanent new teeth that don’t shift or lift out of place. And unlike other treatments (such as traditional bridges,) implants aren’t invasive to adjacent teeth because they function independently. Find out if you’re a candidate for our dental implants by scheduling a consultation at North Road Dental Clinic today! You’ll never know until you find out for yourself.

It’s been a while since your last dental checkup, and you’re starting to worry that something is wrong with one of your teeth. When you bite down, it feels “off”, not to mention there’s a rough area when you run your tongue over it. To your surprise, you find out that you need more than a filling to repair it. Instead, our dentist in Carnegie recommends a dental crown. But you’ve never had a crown before, so you’re not quite sure what to expect. What Exactly is a Crown? Crowns are full-coverage restorations that go over and around the tooth, rather than inside of it like a filling. This protects more brittle or compromised tooth structure, allowing it to withstand everyday wear. Some people refer to crowns as “caps.” The Treatment Experience At North Road Dental Clinic, we’re here to make sure your crown treatment is a comfortable one. After numbing the tooth and removing any damaged tooth structures, we’ll shape the remaining enamel so that a crown can slip over the tooth, then take an impression. You’ll wear a temporary crown for a week or two, while your permanent one is being designed. Once it’s ready, you’ll stop by our Carnegie dental clinic to have the new crown bonded into place. Most of our crowns are made of a high-grade porcelain that matches the colour of the teeth adjacent to them. In some cases, other materials might be preferred. Caring for Your Dental Crown Through good home care and ongoing maintenance, your new crown can last for several years. You will want to floss around it daily, to prevent bacteria from seeping under the margin. We recommend scheduling a checkup at our Carnegie dental clinic twice a year to make sure that your crown and other restorations are all intact. Call North Road Dental Clinic today to schedule your next visit!