Like dental implants, and dentures, dental bridges are used to replace a missing tooth, except bridges are supported by the teeth on either side called abutment teeth. Unlike dentures however, bridges are cemented firmly into place and cannot be removed.

A dental bridge will improve your ability to chew and speak as well as your smile. Bridges reduce the risk of losing teeth that are adjacent to a missing tooth. In addition, dental bridges can help keep your jaw and face from changing shape, as they tend to do when a person has missing teeth.

The procedure of installing a dental bridge is typically completed in two visits. First, your dentist will determine if you are a good candidate for a dental bridge. If you are, the adjacent or “abutment” teeth will need to be prepared by reshaping or reconstructing any badly decayed or damaged areas. Afterward, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, which is then sent off to a lab, and give you a temporary bridge to wear. On your second visit, the bridge will be tried in, adjusted, and cemented into place.

To find out more about bridges or to schedule an appointment, call Beffa Dental today!

The look and feel of natural teeth. Like dentures and bridges, dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. Implants have come to be the standard of care for replacing missing teeth because unlike partial dentures and bridges, they cannot be removed, do not effect the adjacent teeth, and can be cleaned and maintained like a natural tooth. Learn More about Implants!

While inlays and onlays cover the chewing surface of the tooth and fillings fill in the empty interior space of the tooth, crowns completely cover every visible part of the tooth – which is why they are sometimes referred to as “caps.” A part of your tooth remains but is essentially “rebuilt” to resemble a natural tooth. Crowns are made from a variety of materials with different strengths and aesthetics.

Crowns are typically used when large fillings break or weaken teeth, teeth fracture, or when teeth are weak or badly worn down. Teeth that have been treated by root canal therapy generally need to be restored with a crown for addend strength. Crowns can also be used cosmetically to change the shape, size and color of existing teeth.

The crown procedure is typically completed in two visits. First, your dentist will determine if your tooth can be repaired with a crown. If it can, the tooth will need to be prepared by reshaping or reconstructing any badly decayed or damaged areas. Afterward, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, which is then sent off to a lab, and give you a temporary crown to wear. On your second visit, the crown will be tried in, adjusted, and cemented into place.
See how dental crowns can highlight your smile! 

Whether from disease, malnutrition or genetic disorders, sometimes it is necessary for us to extract all of a patient’s lower or upper teeth. While this can be devastating, dentures can provide a second chance at a beautiful smile.

Having complete dentures help with chewing as well as support one’s facial structure and improve speech. With immediate dentures, you can have a full set of teeth while you are waiting for your gums to heal and your bone to realign after having teeth removed. This can take up to six months, so immediate dentures are a great alternative during that time.

Sometimes, complete dentures are not necessary. Partial dentures can replace one or more missing teeth, and are secured to your remaining teeth on a metal framework with clasps. This is a very economical solution for the replacement of missing teeth.

Dentures are worn undetected during the day, and are taken out and cleaned at night.
No matter which kind of dentures you choose, you can be assured to receive natural-looking dentures that match your facial structure and desired tooth color.

If the nerve of a tooth becomes diseased, it begins to die and the tooth can become sensitive or infected.
In the past, teeth with diseased nerves have been removed from the mouth. However, with a root canal, the tooth can be salvaged. In most cases, the root canal procedure is a simple treatment that involves little to no patient discomfort.

Tooth nerves die for a number of reasons including decay into the nerve, trauma, tooth fractures, and periodontal disease.
Symptoms of a tooth that might require a root canal are:

• pain in or around a tooth
• swelling
• hot, cold, or pressure sensitivity
• pus or gum pimples

Root canals allow the dentist to remove the nerve, clean the canal and seal the tooth, effectively protecting and saving the tooth. The procedure will effectively eliminate any infection and restore the tooth to a healthy state. Teeth that have undergone root canal therapy tend to become fragile and brittle, and for this reason a dental crown or “cap” is usually necessary to protect and strengthen the tooth.

At Beffa Dental, we always make every attempt to treat your teeth and remedy any dental problem. Unfortunately, in some cases damage to teeth is in so advanced a stage that is may be necessary to extract the tooth in order to maintain dental health.

If a tooth is broken, cracked or extensively decayed it may be necessary to remove it. Likewise, a tooth that is associated with advanced stages of periodontal disease should be removed, as well as teeth that are poorly positioned or non-functional such as third molars.

Whatever the cause, you can rest assured that Beffa Dental will carefully explore and inform you to any other options before making the decision to remove a tooth. Should tooth extraction become necessary, you are assured the nurturing care that comes with any Beffa Dental procedure. We understand that the process of having a tooth extracted can be daunting and we make every attempt to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure and after.

Having one or more missing teeth can have a serious effect not only on your smile, but also on your dental health.

Specifically, missing teeth can cause:

• A shift in the alignment of your teeth?
• Increased risk of periodontal disease
• Increased risk of tooth decay
• Loss of adjacent teeth
• Speech disorders
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

Patients have three options to replace missing teeth:
1) Partial or Full Dentures– dentures are good because they can replace multiple teeth in the same appliance. They are also the most cost effective.
The disadvantage is that dentures can be taken in and out, and tend to be somewhat of a hassle. They also have a tenancy to be lost or broken and trap food during meals.

2) Bridges– bridges are liked over dentures because they are cemented into place and cannot be removed.
The disadvantage is the two teeth adjacent to the missing tooth must be prepared to allow the bridge to fit in your mouth. If those teeth are perfectly healthy it is sometimes hard to justify that procedure.

3) Implants– implants are the standard of care for missing teeth because they replace the missing tooth, do not effect the adjacent teeth, and cannot be removed. They are cleaned and maintained just like a real tooth.
The disadvantage is that implants require a separate surgical procedure, healing time, and tend to be the most expensive.