Posts Tagged ‘dental bridges’

5 Wise Reasons To Delay Implants When Pregnant

Posted on: February 7th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Pregnancy can be a time of joy, a time when you blossom and look your best.  Alternatively, it can put your body under great stress.  You may find your pregnancy has caused unexpected dental problems and you may have lost a tooth.  You want to fill the gap and restore your teeth and you don’t want to delay.

That is perfectly understandable but the Same Day Teeth Suite issues a word of caution. Wait until your baby is born and they will happily help you with your dental implants and give you even more to smile about.

1. Increased risk of complications

Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication, not a no-no, against having dental implants but as this is a surgical procedure, it is best not to put your baby at risk unless there is an urgent medical need. A dental implant is a tiny titanium post surgically inserted into the jaw bone to hold the artificial tooth.  The jaw bone needs time to heal and fuse before the artificial tooth is fitted.  Any surgery during pregnancy is fraught with complications and is best avoided if you have a choice.

2. Best to avoid X-Ray radiation exposure

Before going ahead with the surgical procedure, you will need x-rays to determine the exact position of an implant.  Although dental x-rays are safe for pregnant women during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, there are risks associated with the exposure of an unborn child to the small amount of radiation used in radiology. Even though a dental diagnostic x-ray focuses on the mouth area only, many choose to avoid x-rays altogether while pregnant just to be safe.

3. Avoid anaesthesia

Although studies show that dental treatment with local anaesthetics is safe during pregnancy, it is advisable to steer clear of sedation or general anaesthesia that renders you unconscious during these nine months. Anaesthetics are powerful drugs which you need to avoid, so they don’t potentially cause harm to your unborn child.

4. Reduce stress

High anxiety levels in an expectant mother can affect the development of a baby. An elective surgery is likely to induce unnecessary worry during an already stressful time. Your hormones, at this time, can cause mood swings and depression which are out of your control.  Relax and concentrate on your new baby, don’t add to your concerns and you will be ready for your implant after the birth.

5. Implants are best placed after you baby is born

Once your baby is born, you can visit the dentist for your dental implant as soon as you are ready.  If you are healthy and happy, there is no reason to delay.  If you are breastfeeding, your dentist will advise you on the best solution.  After surgery and the healing period, your artificial tooth will be made by our skilled technicians with the aid of modern technology.  The colour, shape and size as well as the function of your new tooth will be a great replacement and will soon restore your confidence. With baby’s first smile, you will be smiling too

For further advice on caring for your teeth during pregnancy, contact us below by leaving a comment and we will answer any questions you may have.

8 Essential Questions to Ask before Choosing Dental Bridges

Posted on: January 31st, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Without knowing what questions to ask, you might not know what options there are to replace a missing tooth. Unless you are equipped with some basic dental knowledge, you might think that your only option is a denture.  The Same Day Teeth Suite will help by filling the gaps in your knowledge about dental bridges and the gaps in your teeth by giving you a better smile to be proud of.

The 8 key questions?

  1. What is a bridge?

    A bridge fills the gap left by a missing tooth.  It is attached to one or more teeth either side of the space left by a missing tooth. The anchoring teeth are called “abutment teeth” and may need to be prepared by cutting them down or can be left as they are before a bridge is fitted. A bridge is made up of one or more crowns, or artificial teeth that are joined together.

  2. How does my dentist decide which option is best for me?

    When deciding how to fill the space left by a missing tooth or teeth,  we need to take into account many factors including the following:

    • The location of the space.
    • The size of the space – the bigger the gap, the more teeth will be needed to be carried by a bridge (implants or dentures are usually advised in larger spaces).
    • The general condition of your teeth including those next to the space.
    • Your own concerns and desires

  3. What tests will my dentist carry out?

    Your dentist will thoroughly examine the condition of your teeth and gums. X-Rays will be taken of the teeth surrounding the space to ascertain if the bone and gum support is healthy.  Each case is unique and needs to be assessed accordingly. For example, if you have only one tooth missing, and the teeth either side are healthy, it is not advised to cut down the healthy teeth to make room for a bridge. In this case, a dental implant would be the gold standard treatment.

  4. What types of bridges are there?

    Bridge options include:

    • Conventional bridges which can involve tooth preparation and reduction of the teeth either side of the space. If a bridge is well looked after, it can last approximately ten years.
    • Maryland/resin bonded bridges involve no preparation of the neighbouring teeth and consequently pose no risk to the adjacent teeth. A metal or ceramic wing, carrying the false tooth, is permanently cemented to the teeth next to the gap. It is a great option for maintaining healthy teeth whereas a conventional bridge poses greater risks to the tooth.
    • Implant retained bridge – a dental implant placed into your jaw holds the bridge securely in place and is the closest solution to natural teeth.

  5. How do I care for a bridge?

    Whatever type of bridge you have, it is essential you follow a good oral hygiene routine and clean around your bridge by brushing and flossing.  You will need to keep regular appointments with your dentist and hygienist. If the bridge is not kept clean, gum disease and decay could develop around the tooth carrying the bridge and eventually failure of the bridge.

  6. How do I get a bridge?

    The first step is a thorough examination and consultation. We discuss the options for your mouth and pros of cons of each solution before deciding together on how to best replace the missing teeth. Once this has been decided, the skilled technicians at our laboratory will carefully hand-craft your bridge to perfectly match your existing teeth.

  7. What alternatives are there?

    Your alternatives to a bridge include:

    • Implants, the gold standard for replacing a missing tooth. A dental implant is a small titanium post surgically implanted into your jaw bone to hold a replacement tooth. The benefit of using implants is that they don’t rely on neighbouring teeth for support, and they are permanent and stable.
    • Denture or partial denture which consists of a removable frame or plate with an artificial tooth or teeth.

  8. How much does a dental bridge cost?

    The cost varies depending on what type of dental bridge you have. We first invite you in for a free consultation so we can assess the best bridge solution for you and work on finding payment solution to help you.

Anything we haven’t covered on bridges? Post your comment below and we’ll make sure to answer.