Dental bridges are a great way to replace missing teeth. Your existing teeth are used to literally create a bridge to cross the area where your tooth is missing. Bridges are made from gold, metal, alloys, or porcelain to ensure that they are strong and durable.

The process of creating a bridge begins by creating abutments out of your existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. The existing teeth are recontoured to provide a base for the bridge. After the abutments have been created, a mold is taken of the area which is sent to a dental lab. The lab is able to use the mold to create a bridge that will fit properly and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. The bridge consists of two crowns on either end to place on the abutments and a pontic, which is the new tooth that replaces your missing tooth.

We will fit you with a temporary bridge while we wait for the lab to craft your permanent bridge. This will protect the abutments and the exposed gum areas and look more appealing than having a missing tooth. When the permanent bridge has been created, you will have a follow up visit to set the bridge. It will be placed on the abutments and the dentist will then use an adhesive to make sure that the bridge is set.

The bridge may take a little while to get used to, but after a few days it should feel like you have your own teeth back again. You should eat soft foods for the first few days after having your bridge placed. After the initial phase, you will be able to eat whatever you want with no issues.

If you are missing a tooth you should strongly consider having it replaced. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, it could also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw, as well as making it difficult to eat or speak properly. Set up an appointment today to restore your smile.

Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, discoloration and others. If you feel your smile isn’t what it once was, crowns can help you recover your smile. If your dentist notices that a tooth is decayed or seems weakened/cracked a crown may be necessary to make sure that there are no additional problems with the tooth. In cases like this a filling or bonding will not be sufficient.

What materials are used to make crowns?

Crowns can be made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or a full gold crown. To maintain a natural look and feel a porcelain finished crown is best, as it can be matched to the shade of your other teeth. This will allow it to blend in and appear just like one of your natural teeth.

What is the process of installing a crown?

The process of installing a crown takes 2-3 visits to the dentist. On the first visit the tooth will be reshaped by filing down the enamel so that the crown can be placed over it. You will be given a local anesthetic before this part of the procedure so that you do not experience any discomfort. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. This mold will be sent to a dental lab so that your new crown can be made so that it fits in the spot created for it and looks the same relative to the surrounding teeth. Before leaving, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown until your permanent crown is ready.

The crown takes about 2-3 weeks to be returned to your dentist. At this time you will have another appointment to place and fit the permanent crown. You will again have a local anesthetic to numb the area and the tooth will be placed using a cement to ensure the tooth sets in place. When you look in the mirror, you will see your old smile back. Crowns are durable and will usually last about 10-15 years. You should care for it as you would any of your other teeth with regular brushing and flossing. Call us today if you would like to learn more about how crowns can help restore your smile.

Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that can be removed and put back into your mouth as you please. Depending on each individual patient case, they may receive full or partial dentures. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth and replaced with a full set of dentures. There are two types of full dentures.

• Conventional Full Dentures - This is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed. It could take a few months for the gum tissue to heal completely, and during this time you will be without teeth.

• Immediate Full Dentures - Prior to having your teeth removed, your dentist takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth. After removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. You will, however, need to have a follow up visit to refit your dentures because the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heels. The dentures will need to be tightened after the jaw bone has healed.

Partial dentures are another option when not all of your teeth need to be removed. This is similar to a bridge, but it is not a permanent fixture in your mouth.

Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don't have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose. These feelings will affect the way you eat and talk for a little while. Over time, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures and they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is much better than the alternative of not having teeth.

Even though dentures are not real teeth, you should care for them like they are. You should brush them to remove plaque and food particles before removing your dentures. After they have been removed you should place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don't drop them. Also, never try to adjust your dentures yourself. You could ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from your dentist if they feel uncomfortable or loose.

Bonding is a popular method to enhance the aesthetics of your smile. Bonding can be used to correct cracks or gaps in teeth, as a filling after a cavity has been removed, or to cover up stains or discolored teeth.

A composite resin is used on the affected tooth or teeth. It is molded and sculpted over an adhesive gel that is placed on the tooth. After the resin has been applied an, LED light is used to harden the resin, which is then polished to give you a fresh, new smile.

Bonding is an obvious improvement over unsightly silver amalgam fillings. With the advancements in dental technology, bonding usually lasts for over 10 years. It is a safe, affordable, and attractive solution for many dental problems.

It’s important that you are visiting the dentist every six months so that if problems like decay arise Dr. Tracey Cook at Coral Bay Family Dentistry can stop it in its tracks. The first step is to remove any of the decayed enamel from your tooth as quickly as possible to stop the decay from spreading. Once the tooth has been treated, we can then place a tooth-colored dental filling to restore and rebuild the tooth.

Restore Your Smile with Fillings

These days, we understand just how important it is for patients to get dental restorations that mimic the look and appearance of real tooth enamel. This is why the team here at Coral Bay Family Dentistry also provides composite resin, or tooth-colored dental fillings to its patients.

We believe that restorative dentistry should resemble the look and appearance of natural teeth. Our composite resin fillings are matched to the color of your tooth for a flawless finish. You won’t even notice your filling, and neither will anyone else.

There are some incredible benefits associated with tooth-colored or composite resin fillings:

• They are natural-looking restorations.

• They blend right in and can be matched to your tooth.

• Composite resin bonds directly to the tooth so it requires less enamel removal than other types of fillings.

It’s important that you properly care for your smile after getting a filling to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. With the proper care, fillings can last up to 10 years or more before they need to be replaced.

What to Expect

Whether you are getting your restorative filling for the first time or you need one replaced, we’re here to make sure that you get the gentle, caring treatment you need. A filling is typically placed after decay has been removed. This means that you’ll already be under the effects of local anesthesia, so your mouth will be numb during the procedure.

Once we choose the perfect shade of resin, we will then apply a thin layer to the tooth. We will then shape the layer and hardened it into place with a dental laser. We will continue to apply the moldable resin, layer after layer, until the tooth is completely rebuilt.

It can be incredibly exciting to finally have your dental implant. You’ve been waiting months for the dental crown to be placed over the implant to complete your smile, and now you couldn’t be happier. Of course, it’s important that you are keeping up with your oral health and making sure that your implant gets the proper care it needs to last as long as possible.

While the implant itself should last a lifetime, you will need to turn to a dentist to replace your implant’s artificial tooth (in most cases, a crown) at some point. Fortunately, when the time comes, Dr. Tracey Cook and the dental team at Coral Bay Family Dentistry can happily replace and repair damaged or worn implant crowns.

Crowns Will Need to Be Replaced

It’s normal for there to be wear and tear on any and all dental restorations over time, even incredibly durable ones like porcelain dental crowns. Of course, there are certain factors such as the foods you eat, whether you grind your teeth or the force of your bite that can play in role in just how frequently you need to have your implant crown replaced. It is important that you are doing your part to keep your crowns healthy, which includes:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day with a non-abrasive toothpaste and soft-bristled toothbrush.

• Flossing your teeth once a day, preferably at night before brushing.

• Eating a healthy diet and avoiding hard or sticky foods, which could damage crowns over time.

• Visiting your dentist every six months for routine cleanings and checkups.
  
  With the proper care, dental crowns can last anywhere from 10-15 years; however, you should come into our office every six months so that we can examine your crown and determine whether it needs to be replaced.

We Can Replace or Repair Damaged Implant Crowns

Of course, you may also end up dealing with a broken, chipped crown or a crown that’s fallen off as a result of something you ate or a traumatic injury. If this is the case, the dental team here at Coral Bay Family Dentistry also provides emergency dentistry to patients dealing with broken or damaged restorations.

If the crown is intact but has merely fallen off, we can simply cement it back into place; however, a fractured or cracked crown will need to be replaced entirely. Luckily, our dental team can measure your smile and make sure that you get another perfectly fitted crown for your implant.