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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

My intense love for candy, cakes, and everything in between started as a child. I simply couldn't go one day without something sweet to eat. But my love for all things sweet took a toll on my teeth. My dentist diagnosed me with seven cavities, each one a different size and depth. After sitting through four long dental appointments, I decided to make a change. I now monitor my diet and only eat things that benefit my oral health. I'm here to help you take better care of your teeth. My blog offers tips on how to improve your diet, maintain good oral hygiene, and many other topics. Hopefully, you can learn to overcome your bad habits just as I did. Good luck with your future dental health.

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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

Bridging The Gap: 4 Types Of Bridges To Consider For Smile Restoration

by Eric Bailey

Having a full, healthy, and attractive smile is not only important for chewing and eating, but it also plays a large role in your overall appearance and self-esteem. One or more missing teeth will affect your ability to eat and speak while decreasing your confidence level that can cause you to miss out on social and professional interactions and successes. If you are part of the 69 percent of adults who have lost a tooth due to an injury or dental condition, restoring your smile's function and look with a bridge is a great option. With this guide and your dentist's help, you will learn about the different types of bridges to ensure you can bridge the gap in an effective and attractive manner.

Traditional

Most dentists will first recommend a traditional bridge, which consists of one or more artificial teeth connected to a crown that holds the entire piece in place using a dental-grade cement.

The benefit of a traditional bridge is that it is durable and secure. However, there is a negative associated to wearing this type.

Your dentist will need to wear down the enamel on your tooth to place the crown using the cement. Because enamel is removed so the cement will fuse the crown in place, you will always need to wear the crown to protect the underlying tooth.

Maryland

A Maryland bridge is designed to hold the artificial teeth in place using a frame constructed out of metal or porcelain. Bonded on the back of teeth adjacent to the missing teeth, the frame creates a natural look that many patients enjoy.

Unfortunately, the bond to the teeth may not be as secure, especially in times of excessive force or pressure. Using your molars to bite down on a hard piece of food could dislodge the framework of the bridge.

Cantilever

The Cantilever design is very similar to the traditional type of bridges. The only difference is the artificial teeth are supported by a crown on one side instead of both sides of the mouth.

Just like traditional bridges, the dentist will need to remove some of the tooth enamel to bond the crown in place on the tooth securely.

Implanted

If you have multiple teeth missing, you may want to consider an implant-supported bridge. While the other bridge types are supported by crowns or involved framework, implant bridges are supported by actual dental implants.

In most cases, one implant is placed for every tooth that you are missing. Each of these implants will hold your bridge in place.

Because the implants are placed into the actual jawbone, the procedure can be a bit invasive. Your dentist will require a full evaluation that includes x-rays to determine the location of your sinuses and nerves. This will give your dentist a better idea on how to safely place the implants.

A bridge supported by dental implants is the strongest option available, since the implants are surgically placed into the jaw to fuse with your existing bone. Patients who bite down hard or eat a lot of harder foods are good candidates for this type of bridge. Also, if you suffer from bruxism, or the clenching of the jaw and grinding of the teeth, an implant-supported bridge is an ideal option for you.

It is important to note that patients with low bone mass may have challenges with implants. Without proper fusion of the implant into the bone, the implants will fail, reducing the function of the bridge.

If you are missing one or more teeth, consult your dentist about restoring your smile with a bridge. Using one of these options, you can bridge the gap in your smile. Visit a site like http://premierdentalgrp.com/ for more information. 

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