Braces For Adults

Replace a Missing Tooth: Restorative Dentistry

We've come a long way from the "yank 'em" philosophy of early dentistry, before techniques and materials gave us the wherewithal to save teeth. These days, there's rarely a case we can't salvage. It's a good time for dentists - saving teeth is why we get up in the morning.

The way we see it, a missing tooth is more than just a hindrance to normal chewing, more than a cosmetic bother. It's a threat to the entire architecture of your mouth.

The mouth is dynamic. Where there is a missing tooth, neighboring teeth drift, gum disease may crop up, even the unprotected bone ridge is susceptible to damage.

So we replace the missing tooth with a dental bridge, or rescue a broken down tooth with a dental crown.

Bridges are partnered with crowns to resolve gaps left by missing teeth. The idea is to replace teeth with false, or "pontic" teeth, anchored to crowns at either end, and fixed in place. Quality bridgework looks and feels very natural, one of dentistry's mainstays and our first restoration choice whenever possible.

Partial dentures, too, are dependent on your remaining teeth for support, but are attached by clasps or "precision attachments." Complicated partials can be engineering marvels, filling in for missing teeth on both sides of the dental arch. The success of partials depends in part on the strength of attachment teeth.

Complete dentures are not the end of the line, dentally speaking. A good, well-fitting denture can come close to a full complement of teeth, and contribute to a youthful aspect, as well.

Dental implants are the newest remedy for missing teeth, to replace a single tooth, or to support an overdenture. People who have implants all agree: why didn't I do this sooner?

Replace missing teeth with cosmetic dental work? Do it. Restorative dentistry has a way.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

New Advancements in Cosmetic Dentistry Techniques

You'd be amazed (and probably delighted) by the options modern dentistry makes available for strong, natural-looking tooth restoration. Read on for more information about the exciting new cosmetic dental materials we have available now.

Traditionally, gold has been the "gold standard" of materials, and for good reason. Gold is highly biocompatible and is very long-wearing. A gold tooth, however, is not natural looking.

Today's a porcelain crowns or veneers don't mean choosing between strength and a lifelike appearance. You can opt for both. New all-porcelain crowns and veneers are available that look like natural teeth. They're durable enough to be used even for molars. This super-strong new generation porcelain is so resilient and tough it's being used in the manufacture of some tennis rackets!

Silver fillings (the kind that turn black) are a thing of the past. Instead, a composite resin filling can be used. And it's just as strong and durable as silver, and more closely reflects the color of the original tooth surface.

If you've had some cosmetic dentistry work done in the past, you'll be happy to know you're no longer locked into the choices of even five years ago. Modern dentistry is evolving rapidly, and fresher, more natural smiles, are the result.

Make sure your cosmetic dentist's office is interested in what's new for their patients. Ask them about other exciting new options (dental implants, teeth bleaching, onlays, inlays, etc.) they can offer you for your smile.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.