Bridges

Missing teeth are a problem that can have adverse affects on your ability to eat. Dental bridges can be a solution, allowing a person to essentially replace missing teeth. Your existing teeth can be used to create a bridge, filling the space in which a tooth was missing. Bridges can be made from a variety of materials including porcelain, gold or a combination of other alloys. These materials assure stability and remain durable to aid in a long lasting restoration.

In order to create this bridge your existing teeth are prepared to create what’s known as an abutment. Creating an abutment requires recontouring your existing teeth to allow the dentist to create a base for your new tooth. Once the abutments are made, an impression is taken of the area prepared, and this is sent to a dental lab to create your new tooth. The dental lab uses this impression of the area to create a bridge that fits the natural contour of your mouth allowing it to look and feel as close as possible to your natural tooth. This fabricated tooth, known as a pontic, will replace your missing tooth and aid in both cosmetics and function. A bridge in total consists of two abutment teeth on either side of the pontic.

While the dental lab is fabricating your new tooth a temporary bridge is made in the office, that will fit to the abutments used for the bridge. This temporary bridge protects the recountored teeth as well as your gums and will also serve as a temporary replacement to the missing area. Once the dental lab fabricates your custom bridge, a follow up visit is required to permanently place the custom bridge. A strong dental adhesive is used to place the bridge permanently in your mouth.

A new bridge sometimes can require a little bit of time to get used to, however, after a few days patients adjust to the new bridge and function as they would with their natural teeth. After this slight adjustment period you will be able to eat all the foods you love with no issues. Dental bridges are great for people missing a few teeth, and it is important to remember that a dental bridge, like your natural teeth, need to be taken care of including regular brushing and flossing.

A dental bridge is a great option if you are considering replacing a missing tooth. It is important to note that a missing tooth can cause more challenges than just being able to eat. Missing a tooth can cause the remaining teeth to shift, which may lead to increased problems throughout the years. Call our dentists in Ashburn today to make your appointment.

Crowns

As time goes on our teeth begin to become more prone to problems such as cavities, discoloration, cracks, and fractures. Dental crowns can be a great solution to some of these problems, and can help you get back to your great smile. Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials and it is usually fabricated from porcelain. Porcelain is a strong material that has the ability to blend with your natural teeth and help keep your natural looking smile. The dentist has the ability to change the shade of porcelain to customize the crown to your natural tooth color. Dental crowns can be used for your front teeth as well, helping to enhance your natural smile.

As teeth become weakened due to a variety of causes, sometimes a filling will not lead to a permanent solution. Other issues such as fractures or cracks in your teeth can compromise the integrity of your tooth to the point where fillings will not give you a permanent solution. Cavities are also another reason for a dental crown. As cavities become bigger it compromises your tooth structure, and if big enough, a cavity must be replaced with a crown. The process of making a crown can take a few visits with the dentist. The initial visit usually involves removing the underlying cause as well as giving a base in which to make the crown. This involves recontouring the enamel of the tooth in question to allow a crown to be placed over the restored area. Once your enamel has been recontoured, an impression of the area is taken which will be sent to the dental lab. Local anesthetic is given during this initial appointment to aid in any discomfort you may have. Before you leave this initial appointment a temporary crown will be placed to help you with cosmetics and chewing.

After this initial visit the impression of the prepared tooth will then be sent to the dental lab. The lab will fabricate a tooth, usually made of porcelain, to match the color of your existing teeth, giving your smile a natural look. The new crown will replicate the contour and shape of your existing teeth as well. This process usually takes a few weeks, during which you will have a temporary crown. Once the dental lab is finished creating your crown, the dentist will seat the crown using a strong dental adhesive. Once the crown is placed, you will see your great smile once again. Crowns must be maintained with proper home care which includes brushing and flossing, just as you would do with your natural teeth. Dental crowns can last for 10-15 years with regular care. Call our Northern Virginia dentists to learn more about crowns and to make an appointment today.

Implants

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth. They are better than other alternatives like bridges because no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth.

The entire implant process is performed over the course of a few months. The first part of the process is to install the implant itself, where a screw is placed into the jaw bone. An incision is made in the gum so that the implant can be inserted. Multiple implants can be placed at once if necessary. After the implants are placed the gums are sutured.

The implant must be allowed about 3-6 months to heal, and during this time the jaw bone will form around the implant in a process called osseointegration. During this healing time you can have temporary crowns installed so that you can eat and speak normally and maintain a proper aesthetic appearance for your smile.

After the implant has healed it is time to place an abutment on the implant. The abutment serves as the base for your new tooth. One this is placed an impression of the abutment is taken and is used to create your permanent restoration. Some offices have an onsite lab to create the crown, but others will have to send it to an outside lab. Once the restoration is completed you can return to the office to attach the restoration permanently. Your smile will look just like it used to, and after a short period of getting used to the implant it will feel just like one of your own teeth.

Mini Implants

Mini dental implants are about half the size in diameter of a regular dental implant. This offers many benefits, and they can also be used in situations where regular implants cannot. If an implant needs to be placed in a narrow space, mini implants are the preferred method because of their smaller size.

A main use for mini implants is to install a full upper or lower denture. A series of mini implants (4-6) are placed along the gum line and they serve as the base of the denture. Rather than placing a single implant for a single tooth, an entire lower or upper set of teeth are directly attached to the gum line.

The small size of mini implants often means that no incision needs to be made to place the implant. They can usually be inserted right through the gum into the bone. This eliminates the need for a recovery period, and the restoration can usually be placed right away or only a short time after.

Mini implants are also less expensive than regular implants. Only your dentist knows if mini implants are right for you, so call for your consultation today.