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General Dentistry |
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Bridges |
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| Reasons for Bridges: | |||||
| 1. | Your appearance, dental health, and the proper functioning of your mouth. | ||||
| 2. | Maintaining the natural shape of your face. | ||||
| 3. | Support for your lips and cheeks. | ||||
| 4. | The loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older. | ||||
| 5. | To restore your bite. | ||||
| 6. | Prevent further drifting of teeth. | ||||
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Bridges Defined: |
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A bridge, also called a fixed partial denture, is a restoration which replaces
or spans where one or more teeth have been lost. There are two types of
bridges; fixed and removable. Fixed bridges are cemented into place and
can only be removed by a dentist. Removable bridges can be taken out for
cleaning and while less expensive, may not be as desirable as fixed bridges,
and are not generally as stable. Teeth were designed to complement each other. When a tooth is lost, the nearby teeth may tilt toward the empty space, or the teeth in the opposite jaw may move up or down toward the space. This places unusual stress on both the teeth and tissues in your mouth. Additionally, the gum tissues and the bone that holds teeth in place can break down, increasing the risk of gum disease. Missing teeth can also affect the way you chew and speak. Chewing only on one side may cause stress to your mouth. Also, you need your teeth to speak properly since they help you make the sounds needed in speech. |
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Bridges Procedures: |
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A fixed bridge is commonly cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. The pontic is attached to the crown (restorations that cover a tooth). Crowns which are cemented onto the natural teeth provide support for the bridge. There are different types of bridges, and Dr. Garcia can determine which design is appropriate for you. |
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Crowns |
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| A. Reasons for crowns: |
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| 1. | To support a large filling when there isn't enough tooth remaining. | ||||
| 2. | To protect weak teeth from fracturing. | ||||
| 3. | To restore fractured teeth. | ||||
| 4. | To cover badly shaped or discolored teeth. | ||||
| 5. | To attach a bridge. | ||||
Crowns Defined: |
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A crown is a restoration that covers, or caps, a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size. Its purpose is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. Porcelain/ceramic crowns are one of the new generation crowns which are tissue friendly, strong and create the natural beauty of teeth. |
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| Several steps are involved in placing a crown. We will prepare the tooth by removing the outer portion of your tooth to accommodate the thickness of the crown. If the tooth has a filling, this filling will be taken out and a build up placed. In some cases it is necessary to "build up" the tooth to create a foundation. An impression is made to provide an exact model of the prepared tooth. Your crown will then be made by a dental lab from the model. While you are awaiting your crown, we will make a "temporary" crown of acrylic resin or composite to be placed over your prepared tooth as a protection. It takes approximately ten days for your permanent crown to arrive from the dental lab. When the permanent crown is ready, we will make any necessary adjustments. When you and I are satisfied with your appearance, the crown will be cemented or bonded in place. | |||||
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| Reasons for Orthodontics: | |||||
| 1. | Crowded or rotated teeth. | ||||
| 2. | Gapping or mal-aligned teeth. | ||||
Orthodontics Defined: |
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| Orthodontics, that specialty of dentistry which is capable of repositioning teeth by moving them through solid bone, is now successful for adults as well as for young people. Each tooth must be studied as a unit in its relationship to correct appearance and function in the mouth. | |||||
Orthodontic Procedures: |
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| Orthodontic appliances are attached to the tooth surface by bonding and in some cases with the use of bands. This procedure requires frequent visits for monitoring and adjustments, and in some cases, can take up to two years to obtain satisfactory results. Orthopedic appliances may be used in place of braces or in combination with braces, usually to help grow bone or reposition the mandible. Tongue thrust habits, thumb sucking habits, open bites, cross bites, and deep bites can all be corrected with appliances by treating early. Treatment time may be as short as 3-9 months. | |||||
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