Dr. Reinol Gonzalez, DMD Claimed

Tooth loss is a very common problem and occurs for a variety of reasons including gum disease, decay and injury. While traditional bridges and dentures sit on the gums, surgically placed dental implants actually replace your tooth’s roots under the gum. They are made to provide a strong foundation that can be used for permanent or removable replacement teeth. Implants offer several great advantages including comfort, appearance, the ability to eat and speak normally and greater self-confidence.

Implants are fused to the jawbone and provide stable support for artificial teeth. Bridges and dentures that are mounted on implants will not slip or shift in your mouth. Dental implants do require healthy gums and enough bone to support them. A commitment to lifelong oral hygiene is also essential.

Bridges and Dentures

Dental bridges fill the gaps left by missing teeth and help complete a patient’s smile. Whether the gap is caused by a single or multiple tooth loss, the bridge is done by placing a false tooth or teeth in the gap and securing it by anchoring to the surrounding teeth. Thereafter, fixing the bridge into place, allowing for a very natural look and functionality. With today’s advanced technology, dental bridges have easy and convenient installation procedures. To have dental bridges installed, a few visits to the dentist is required depending on each patient’s specific case. The first visit is where all the measurements are done. The teeth surrounding the gap are adjusted and repositioned in preparation for the abutment teeth. As the exact model of the tooth or teeth are created, a temporary bridge will be placed to protect the exposed teeth and gums until the actual bridge is finished.

The next visit is where the actual bridge is installed. This is where further adjustments are made to ensure that the bridge is a secure fit, which might include using temporary cement for a certain amount of time. In this period, several visits to the dentist might be needed. Once the adjustments have been finalized, the bridge will be permanently placed in the mouth.

Benefits of Dental Bridges

The most important benefit of dental bridges is that it replaces the space of a missing tooth or teeth. It creates the impression that the patient has a complete set of teeth while restoring normal speaking and chewing capabilities. It also prevents the remaining teeth from loosening up and getting out of place. And since dental bridges are permanently fixed in the mouth, the possibilities of them falling-out are eliminated.

Sleep Apnea

One of the main signs of sleep apnea is long consistent period of loud snoring. If you are being woken up by your partner in the middle of the night because of your excessively loud snoring, chances are you have sleep apnea. Another sign that you have sleep apnea is gasping for air in between heavy snores and after a pause in breathing. You might only know about this symptom through a bed partner. You will have a hard time remembering incidents like these even if it happens a lot of times during sleep. Another symptom of having obstructive sleep apnea, is waking up very tired and having a headache. The feeling of tiredness might carry on throughout the day, combined with the desire to sleep, even dozing off, in the middle of work.

Tooth Extraction

A tooth extraction involves a dentist removing a tooth from a patient’s mouth. This procedure is commonly dreaded due to the perception of pain associated with it. But those who have undergone a tooth extraction, especially in today’s dentistry landscape,can attest that a tooth extraction is a relatively painless procedure. There are a several reasons why an extraction is needed. If the tooth decay and infection of a tooth is so severe that it cannot be restored by root canal therapy, then it should be removed so that the remaining healthy teeth are not affected. A rotting tooth should also be removed as it is a cause for bad breath. Milk teeth in kids fall off naturally in preparation of the growth of their permanent teeth. However, sometimes, kids experience difficulty losing their milk teeth and may need the aid of a dentist. Another common tooth extraction procedure is the removal of wisdom teeth.

Periodontal Treatment

Periodontal disease is the infection of the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth. A common example of a periodontal diseases is the development of gingivitis, which is characterized by bleeding gums. Gingivitis is periodontal disease at its earliest stage where only the gum is infected. In worst case scenarios, all the areas surrounding the teeth, like the cementum, or the surface of the root of the tooth, the periodontal ligament, and the alveolar bone are all infected. The worst thing about periodontal diseases is that it can be linked to the development of other conditions in the body. Studies show that the existence of gum disease increases the chance of heart disease and arteries getting clogged.

Teeth Whitening

There are a lot of teeth whitening products that can be bought over-the-counter today. The most common type of over-the-counter teeth whitening product is toothpaste which contains mild abrasives that gently scrapes teeth stains. Rinses are mouthwashes that contain whitening agents such as hydrogen peroxide. Whitening strips are small plastic strips that have a peroxide-gel side, which aids in teeth whitening. Tray-based teeth whiteners involve wearing mouth trays that contain a peroxide-based whitening solution. Over-the-counter products are the easiest to access and the most affordable, but it may take a while to see the results.