Bridges vs. Partial Dentures – Which Is Best?

The decision to replace missing teeth is one that most patients base around being able to do simple things with confidence, like bite into your favorite meal or smile without embarrassment. In restorative dentistry, there are many ways to replace single or multiple missing teeth. Picking the right treatment depends on several factors, such as budget, treatment goals, and conservative dental efforts.

Fixed Dental Bridges

Bridges are often used to replace one missing tooth, but can replace a larger group of missing teeth as well. Because a bridge is held in place by dental crowns that attach to existing teeth, installing a bridge requires the alteration of healthy teeth.  A bridge is permanently bonded in place to fill in the gaps created by missing teeth. Dental bridges help support better oral function and can be made from a variety of materials to accommodate patient’s needs – whether that is a balanced bite, or cosmetic appeal and seamless matching to existing teeth.

Partial Dentures

A partial denture can be as versatile as a fixed bridge, in that it’s capable of filling gaps created by several missing teeth. Unlike a bridge, however, getting a denture does not require that healthy teeth be buffed down.  A partial denture looks like a retainer and pops into place by attaching to existing teeth. Faux teeth are added to the partial dentures’ framework to successfully fill out your smile. Partial dentures are usually a more economical treatment choice than other dental prosthetics for missing teeth, making them accessible for most patients.

What to Consider with Dental Restorations

Many patients enjoy the permanence of dental bridges, which can last for about 6 years before they require replacement for routine wear-and-tear. It’s important to note that, because bridges use crowns as anchors, ensuring that the teeth under the crowns are healthy is vital in preventing tooth decay. Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups so you can be sure that you are properly cleaning your teeth and protecting the health of your smile. Partial dentures do not require the use of crowns, so there is less likelihood of devolving tooth decay as a result of treatment. Dentures do require nightly removal and cleaning, though, in order to protect the prosthetic and your oral health.

Determining the right restoration for your smile depends on your treatment goals. Only a cosmetic and restorative dentist will be able to help you make the best decision. If you have questions about fixed dental bridges or partial dentures, please contact our Auburn, MA dental office for your consultation.

What to Expect During your Sedation Dentistry Appointment

Sedation dentistry is a huge relief for anxious dental patients. With sedation, those who need dental treatment, but are fearful of receiving care, can get the oral health attention they need in a worry-free manner. At Taylor Brook Dental Associates, Dr. Catterton provides oral conscious sedation to help patients feel at-ease.

When dental sedation is recommended during your visit, you can expect the following:

Administration of Medication

You’ll be given medication, in pill-form, to take shortly before you visit our office. There are varying medications used in oral conscious sedation and each of them can differ in how long before they take effect, and for what length of time they remain in your system. We advise patients to take the medication at the appropriate time before coming in for their appointment, so they feel relaxed when they’re ready to be treated. If, for any reason, the level of sedation you’re experiencing requires adjustment, we’re able to supply additional medication at the time of the appointment.

It’s important to note that you’ll need a companion to drive you to and from your appointment.

Relaxed Dental Treatment

Oral conscious sedation helps you achieve a feeling of deep relaxation, which is perfect for patients who are anxious about visiting the dentist. While many people refer to sedation as sleep dentistry, sedation does not directly put you to sleep. You will be awake during your appointment, but will not remember much of the appointment time, including sounds and smells.

After-Care and Recovery

When your treatment is complete, your companion will be able to take you home. It’s important to rest and relax while the medication wears off. You will be completely able to return to work the next day, having experienced a stress-free dental appointment.

If you have any questions about dental sedation and whether it’s right for you, please feel free to contact our office for a consultation.

No More Metal Mouth: Clear Correct Braces vs Six Month Smiles

Modern dental technology has come a long way from traditional braces. Getting straighter teeth no longer mean that patients have to deal with shiny metal brackets inspiring the nicknames such as “Metal Mouth” and “Brace Face.” Our Auburn dental office now offers less obvious and quicker orthodontic solutions.  At Taylor Brook Dental Associates, we offer adult orthodontic alternatives including Clear Correct and Six Month Smiles. These orthodontic treatments are less visible than common braces and offer shorter treatment times.

Six Month Smiles

Six Month Smiles is a revolutionary clear braces system which does what it promises: Creates a great smile in just six months. SixMonth Smiles is still a traditional bracket system similar to traditional braces, except Six Month Smiles’ brackets are crystal clear and the wires are tooth colored. It also utilizes a low-movement steady force, which allows for a comfortable, shorter treatment time. 

This treatment is geared toward patients who are looking to cosmetically enhance their smile by aligning their visible front teeth but do not need complex corrections.

Six Month Smiles is suitable for patients looking to correct:

·         Spacing

·         Crowding / Overlapped teeth

·         Over and under bites

For those looking to steer away from wires and brackets altogether we recommend ClearCorrect.

ClearCorrect (otherwise known as Invisible Braces) incorporates no wires or brackets. Instead, it moves teeth with clear aligners.  Aligners are custom made for each patient with the aid of impressions and photos of your teeth. ClearCorrect labs will then generate a treatment plan for our patients giving them an idea of what their smile should look like when treatment is complete. Once the patient is satisfied with projected results, the aligners are made and sent to our office. Aligners are to be worn all of the time except while eating and drinking, or during daily brushing and flossing.

Patients are monitored for progress periodically through treatment. Typically, patients get their desired smile in 12-36 months.

Patients love ClearCorrect aligners because they are barely noticeable to other . While treatment plans with this method extend longer than 6 Month Smiles, we recommend this alternative orthodontic treatment for adult patients seeking correction for mild to moderate alignment problems.

If you have always wanted straighter teeth, now is the time! Call us at our Auburn dental office today!

Root Canals: The Not-So-Painful Truth

You may have heard somebody use the saying,  “About as welcome as a root canal." But jokes aside, that is not only untrue, it is also outdated. This misguided notion probably began many decades ago before modern technology, numbing practices, and sedation options.

The truth is that root canals are a comfortable and tooth-preserving dental treatment that clears signs of infection and disease and allows you to keep your natural teeth.

Signs that you may need root canal therapy include:

·         Persistent tooth or gum pain

·         Pain upon chewing

·         Sensitivity to hot or cold food or drink

·         Tooth becomes dark

·         Tender or swollen gums

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to visit our Auburn dental office immediately for accurate diagnosis. But what then should you expect when getting root canal therapy? Most likely, the answer is that it will cause you no more discomfort than having a regular filling, thanks to modern day endodontic practices.

Endodontics simply means inside the tooth. Root canal therapy is a treatment of the pulp inside a tooth, in the case that it becomes inflame or infected. If diagnosed with a severely damaged or infected tooth, root canal treatment is often the only way to save your tooth.

Today, modern techniques and materials coupled with our joint expertise in endodontics and sleep dentistry makes your visit a routine and painless procedure.

Getting a root canal involves permanently sealing the infected canal with inert filling material. That gives your tooth its needed support. Root canal therapy allows you to keep your natural tooth, keeping it infection-free and preventing the need for extraction and replacement.  

If you your tooth has been aching for more than a day or two and live or work near Auburn, ME, give our dental practice a call today so we can get you out of pain fast.