A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth anchored to adjacent teeth or implants. It is also called a partial denture, which may be fixed or removable and may last five to seven years or longer.

Before a bridge can be done, a patient needs to consult and be evaluated by a dentist or a prosthodontist which will include a dental examination and a medical and dental history.

A bridge is a type of indirect restoration. It will require two or more visits to the dental office – preparation of the abutment teeth and making impressions; and fitting and adjusting the bridge and securing it into place.

Crowns or caps are dental restorations made of coverings that fit over teeth. They may be necessary because of broken down old fillings, fractured, chipped or sensitive teeth and are used to improve the appearance of malformed or discolored natural teeth.

Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure. They can be made of different materials which include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain fused-to-metal crown and the all-metal crown. The patient and his dentist decide which type is appropriate, based on strength and aesthetic concerns of the tooth involved. The final crown is then fitted and cemented into place.

Currently, there are two types of dental implant in use today: Endosteal and Subperiosteal.

Endosteal (in the bone) is the most common used type of implant. This type involves screws, cylinders or blades surgically placed into the jawbone, and is generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth.
Subperiosteal (on the bone) are implants placed on top of the jaw with the metal framework’s posts protruding through the gum to hold the prosthesis. These are used for patients who are unable to wear conventional dentures and who have minimal bone height.

Today’s generation is indeed lucky compared to their parents. Why? Because the traditional way of getting braces with metal mouth is like a torture to them in the 1970’s. Unlike today, we have a number of alternatives for those who are interested to have their braces on.

One of the most popular is clear braces or invisalign. A lot of celebrities have been using this one. It is actually a type of braces that is made up of translucent brackets that are patterned from monocrystalline sapphire. The advantage of such is that the patient can smile freely without having to think of the appearance of the braces.

A common procedure to treat decayed and damaged teeth is by the use of dental fillings, and early on, the materials often used for this were gold and amalgam. The aesthetic aspect wasn’t considered because they appear as dark spots on the teeth.

Presently, fillings are either made of porcelain or other composite materials that match closely with the color of teeth. Amalgams are used in deep-seated caries because it lasts longer than composites or light cure fillings, but for visible areas such as lower molars the use of light cure fillings, usually lasting for 3 years, is preferred for aesthetic reasons.

nlays and onlays are indirect restorations that cover some or all of the chewing surface of molars/premolars. They are larger than fillings, but do not cover as much as a crown. Inlays lie within the contours of the tooth, between cusps, while onlays cover at least one cusp. Both inlays and onlays can restore a tooth that is badly damaged. The choice will depend on how much of the tooth needs to be restored. Onlays are preferred when more than half of the chewing surface needs restoration. Inlays and onlays can be made from gold/metal alloys, composite resin or porcelain and last for a long time.

n invasive dentistry, there has been a moving away from metal restorations toward adhesive dentistry and the conservation of tooth structure. Alternatives to the drill for tooth preparation have come up and the dental laser has emerged as a powerful tool, helping dentist to prepare hard and soft tissue. Laser technology has helped address such high-speed hand piece related issues as vibration- and heat-induced micro-fractures, the removal of unnecessary tooth structure, and dentin with out a smear layer.

The Waterlase system is a dual-purpose hard- and soft-tissue laser. It is able to cut hard tissue effectively and, precisely cut and coagulate soft tissue with direct laser energy.

How can you determine braces cost? It actually depends on a variety of factors. Number one is the location. We all know that orthodontists are practically anywhere. You can see one operating in a major city and there are also good ones who give their service in a minor place. Usually, orthodontist with a clinic in the big city charges a higher amount of money.

Another factor that you should consider is the orthodontist itself. Some of them offer braces in an expensive price, though some, especially the beginners give some discounts and special packages to their patients. Choosing an orthodontist is not an easy task, but once you find the right one, you’ll be able to smile sincerely at all times.