All three are used to replace a missing tooth or teeth.

1. A bridge is one or more replacement teeth anchored by one or more permanent teeth on each side. The replacement teeth literally bridge the gap of the missing tooth or teeth.
   When teeth are lost and not replaced, the remaining teeth may shift to fill the empty space leaving patients susceptible to periodontal disease, speech impediments, jaw problems, tooth decay and collapsed bites. A bridge can help prevent these problems by maintaining the shape of your jaw line, alleviating the stress in your bite, and preventing the teeth from drifting out of position.
2. A partial denture is removable and consists of prosthetic teeth that are attached to a gum-colored base that attaches to your natural teeth with clasps.
3. A dental implant is a permanent anchor or screw that is surgically placed in the bone and covered with a crown. An implant can be used to secure a crown, a series of bridges, removable dentures or fixed dentures. An implant functions and often looks just like a normal tooth. Dental implants offer stability and a secure fit, but require surgery and may take about 4-12 months to complete. Candidates must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the placement of the anchor which holds the tooth in place.

Whitening is an easy way to dramatically enhance your smile. In less than an hour, our in-office whitening system can whiten your smile up to eight shades. Or try one of our prescription-strength take-home kits and whiten your teeth while you sleep.

Learn more about whitening

A veneer is a thin shell of tooth-colored material that is placed over your natural tooth, covering the front side. Veneers are commonly used to correct the appearance of stained, crooked, or unsightly teeth.

Learn more about veneers

Amalgam is a dental restorative material that most people think of as silver or metal fillings. A composite filling, also called a white filling, is a tooth-colored resin used to fill cavities and repair defects in teeth. Composite resins look just like natural teeth. Given the opportunity to make a fully informed choice, the overwhelming majority of patients choose this type of filling.

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Over time, constant chewing or grinding can cause your fillings to wear down. There may also be a chip or a crack in the filling, which allows food and decay-causing bacteria to get under it. Replacing the filling will seal the tooth again and help prevent further decay.

While dentures are durable, they need to be handled delicately and cared for on a daily basis to maximize longevity. Dropping dentures even a few inches can break a prosthetic tooth or the denture base. Even with special care, prosthetic teeth can lose their natural appearance and chewing ability due to brushing and age.

The way you care for your dentures can also alter their fit. Dentures can warp if placed in hot water. If they become dried out, they may change shape. When you remove your dentures at night, place them in a container of denture-cleaning solution or water. It’s best to use a brush designed for dentures and a denture cleaner rather than toothpaste, because some toothpastes may be too abrasive for dentures.

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Smokers have a much higher risk of developing oral cancer and periodontal (gum) disease than non-smokers. Smoking can delay the healing of any sores or open wounds in the mouth as well. Tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco products, irritate your gums causing gum tissue to pull away or recede from your teeth. A receding gum line exposes the roots of your teeth to tooth decay and may also leave pockets between your gums and teeth.

Not only can a receding gum line cause discomfort when consuming hot or cold foods and beverages, but it can also lead to periodontal disease , an infection that when left untreated, can irreversibly damage your gums and the bones that support your teeth. Periodontal disease can also result in tooth loss. In fact, it is the leading cause of tooth loss.

Tobacco use is another risk factor for oral cancer, a life-threatening disease. You may not even be aware that you have oral cancer in its early stages. That is why Coast Dental recommends all smokers have an annual screening with Identafi® 3000 ultra, a simple, non-invasive advanced oral cancer screening test. It just might save your life.

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Yes, because odor-causing bacteria can hide deep in the gum tissue and periodontal pockets surrounding the teeth and in the crevices of the tongue. It is important to remove bacteria daily through brushing, flossing, tongue scraping, prescription rinses and breath control products. We offer a complete product line that kills bacteria and prevents plaque build-up, a primary contributor to periodontal disease. Our products do not contain alcohol which can be drying to gum tissue.

Harmful bacteria can re-establish in the mouth quickly and continue their destructive cycle if not controlled regularly by a licensed professional. The frequency of your visits is prescribed to stop the bacteria and their toxins from doing irreversible harm to your teeth and gums and to help prevent possible damage to other areas of your body.

Only the earliest stage of the disease, called gingivitis, can be completely reversed with proper in-office treatment and good home care. The later stages of the disease cannot be cured, only managed and controlled.

The type of prescription strength fluoride toothpaste you get from the dentist is more effective in reducing harmful bacteria, controlling cavities and reducing sensitivity that can occur with periodontal disease. While regular toothpaste contains some fluoride, it does not contain the strength needed to help reduce symptoms that can be associated with periodontal disease.

The type of cleaning you get depends on your dentist’s clinical findings after a full exam is conducted. Most insurance plans provide for a healthy mouth or preventive cleaning every 6 months, which removes plaque and calculus above the gum line. When gums aren’t healthy or an active infection is present, periodontal therapy is needed to treat the areas below the gum line. Treating infected and unhealthy gums with a healthy mouth or preventive cleaning would be ineffective, unethical and unwise. It would be like waxing a dirty car, but much more dangerous.

It is important to brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste and floss at least twice a day to prevent periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss. The bacteria associated with periodontal disease can travel through your bloodstream and have an adverse impact on your overall health. The Surgeon General has linked periodontal disease to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis and pre-term and low birth weight babies.

By spending a few minutes on good oral hygiene each day, you’ll be able to maintain good oral health throughout your life. Be sure to make regular visits to your dentist as well.

No. However, we do not recommend that pregnant women use whitening products or antibiotics used in the treatment of periodontal disease. The safety and efficacy of these products has not been established in pregnant women. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene throughout the pregnancy. This includes keeping regular dentist and hygienist appointments and brushing and flossing regularly. For women who are experiencing uncomplicated pregnancies and who have healthy gums and teeth, the second trimester is generally the best time to schedule a regular office visit.

Pregnant women who have been diagnosed with periodontal disease are urged to keep their regular dental appointments in addition to following the oral health care regimen recommended by their dentist. Studies indicate that pregnant women who have severe periodontal disease may be at increased risk for pre-term delivery or a low birth-weight baby.

During pregnancy, a woman’s hormones go through many changes, leaving the woman more susceptible to gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal (gum) disease. The good news is that gingivitis is the only form of periodontal disease that can be reversed and cured with regular professional care and a good home care regimen. Be sure to mention to your dentist or hygienist if your gums become swollen or red, bleed or have an odor.

If you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk for tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease , xerostomia (dry mouth), infection, delayed healing and other oral health problems. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and bone that hold your teeth in place and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Since diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection, diabetic patients have more frequent and more severe periodontal disease. Uncontrolled periodontal disease can adversely impact your overall health. Periodontal disease has been linked by the Surgeon General to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis and pre-term and low birth-weight babies.

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause high glucose levels in the saliva and may promote the growth of bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria feed on the sugar and starches in your food and release an acid that causes tooth decay.

Oral health cannot be separated from overall general health. Your general health issues and oral condition determine the kind of cleaning you receive. Periodontal disease is harder to manage with diabetics because healing is often delayed.

The treatment we provide may actually impact your long term blood sugar control. That is why we follow a treatment plan that best addresses your specific situation, diagnosis or condition.

Your mouth is full of bacteria in the form of a sticky film called plaque. Whenever there is food in your mouth or the remains of food after eating, the bacteria use the sugars and starches in the food to produce an acid that eats away your enamel – the hard, outer surface of your teeth. The longer food remains in your mouth, the greater your chances for tooth decay.

Common things like carbonated beverages provide a breeding ground for tooth decay. Each time you eat food or drink beverages that contain sugars or starches, the acid attacks your teeth for 20 minutes or more. Brushing your teeth and following with flossing is the best way to remove the acid and decay-causing plaque from your teeth.

It is important to brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste and floss at least twice a day to prevent periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss. The bacteria associated with periodontal disease can travel through your bloodstream and have an adverse impact on your overall health. The Surgeon General has linked periodontal disease to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis and pre-term and low birth weight babies.

By spending a few minutes on good oral hygiene each day, you’ll be able to maintain good oral health throughout your life. Be sure to make regular visits to your dentist as well.

Although many people do a good job brushing with a manual toothbrush, studies show that the majority of people get significantly better results with a power toothbrush. Patients suffering with arthritis or who have experienced a stroke may find it impossible to brush effectively with a manual toothbrush, making a power toothbrush a good alternative.

Plaque, the sticky substance on our teeth, contains bacteria that feed on the carbohydrates in our diet and produce an acid that causes tooth decay. Decay can also cause gums to recede and expose the roots of the teeth.

As we age, xerostomia (also known as dry mouth) can contribute to decay. This can be a result of certain medications which reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth. We need saliva to rinse away foods, neutralize the acids produced by plaque and generally lubricate the mouth. Ask your Coast Dental staff about ways to help treat xerostomia.

Dental insurance and discount plans are very different products, though both provide discounts on dental services. Dental insurance usually requires the subscriber to pay a monthly premium, often in the range of $25 for an individual. That adds up to $300 annually.

Insurance often covers two dental exams per year and two healthy mouth or prophy cleanings. There is generally an annual dollar limit on benefits, often $1500 - $1800. Typically insurance products require deductibles, co-pays, waiting periods and claim forms. Many have exclusions for pre-existing conditions as well.

Discount dental plans are usually much less expensive. Patients typically join by paying a low annual membership fee, often upfront.

If you don’t have insurance or a discount dental plan, ask us about SmilePlus. Each member receives two free annual exams and savings of up to 70% of cleanings, x-rays, crowns, bridges, and other dental services.

Learn more about SmilePlus^®

The DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery. DMD stands for Doctor of Dental Medicine. The education and training is the same for both degrees.

Your Coast Dental doctor may recommend extraction of a wisdom tooth for several reasons. The most common reason is that the wisdom tooth is impacted, meaning it is unable to grow correctly. An impacted tooth may grow in sideways or not at all. If a wisdom tooth only partially comes in, bacteria may form around the tooth and cause an infection.

Learn more about wisdom teeth extractions

There have been a number of advances in equipment and medications with the patient’s comfort in mind. At Coast Dental, we want to make your visit as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Please ask your doctor or hygenist about the different types of sedation dentistry available to help you with any anxiety.

Learn about sedation dentistry

If tooth decay or a crack in a tooth causes an abscess or infection in the dental pulp, it must be treated to prevent further infection and damage to your jaw bone. The treatment is called a root canal and is performed by a general dentist or an endodontist (a root canal specialist).

Learn more about root canals

Dental x-rays provide valuable information that helps your dentist evaluate your oral health. With the help of x-rays, your dentist can visualize what is happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. If you are a new patient, your Coast Dental office will take x-rays to determine the current status of your mouth and compare these x-rays to x-rays taken on future visits to see what changes may have occurred between dental visits. Your oral health and age helps your dentist determine how often x-rays are taken.

Teeth appear almost white on the film, while tooth decay, infections and gum disease show up as dark spots that may not be detected by a visual examination. As a result, your dentist is able to treat dental problems in their earliest stages, thereby saving you money and more difficult procedures.

The radiation exposure you will have from dental x-rays is minimal. Most people do not realize that they are exposed to radiation every day from various sources, including small home appliances and minerals in the soil. Even though the radiation from dental x-rays is very low, we take every precaution to minimize exposure. Be sure to tell you doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Many of our practices offer digital imaging services. The advanced imaging technology uses a fraction of the radiation of traditional x-rays and offers a number of benefits to patients and dentists. Images are displayed on a computer screen instantly so patients no longer have to wait. Dentists can enlarge the images and clearly show the patient any areas of concern and discuss treatment options.

Many dental problems including crowded teeth, missing teeth or jaw alignment problems are genetic. Other dental problems are the result of bad habits, such as thumb-sucking, using a pacifier, or poor oral hygiene that led to tooth decay and the premature loss of baby teeth.

Orthodontic treatment can do more than make a smile beautiful by correcting gapped, crowded and misaligned teeth. It can also help you chew properly, speak more clearly, reduce or eliminate the need for jaw surgery, protect your gums from becoming unhealthy, and reduce or eliminate the need for extracting permanent teeth.

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Braces apply gentle, steady pressure on your teeth to move them into their proper positions. A bracket is placed on each tooth. Then we bend a wire called the arch wire into the ideal u-shape we want your teeth to have. The arch wire is threaded through the brackets and as the wire tries to return to the u-shape, it moves the teeth with it.

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The American Academy of Orthodontists recommends children see an orthodontist at the age of 7. Bite problems, called malocclusions, often become noticeable between the ages of 6 and 12 as the child’s permanent teeth erupt.

Common Problems in Children

Phase I treatment, which is also called early treatment or interceptive orthodontic treatment, typically begins in children who still have a mixture of baby and permanent teeth. It’s typically started when the child is between the ages of 6 and 10. Early treatment is often used to help correct severe crowding, tooth eruption problems, bite problems, narrow jaws and protruded front teeth. Early correction may prevent the need for the extraction of permanent teeth or surgical procedures later. Braces may still be needed when all of the permanent teeth erupt, but the duration of treatment is often shorter.

Phase II or full treatment occurs when all permanent teeth are erupted, typically after the age of 11. The goal of Phase II treatment is to straighten your permanent teeth and align your jaw. Patients who have undergone both Phase I and Phase II treatment are more likely to have lasting results.

Your treatment will depend on your specific needs. Most patients with wire braces visit the orthodontist every 5 to 10 weeks. Patients with clear aligners typically visit the orthodontist once every four to six weeks. Your orthodontist will let you know your schedule.

Every patient is different. Most people need braces for 12 to 24 months, although some require up to 36 months of treatment.

Yes. You should continue with your regular dental checkups while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Your family dentist will determine the intervals, and can advise you whether you should have your orthodontist remove the arch wires so the general dentist has better access for your dental cleaning. The arch wire would be replaced by your orthodontist after the cleaning.

Yes. We know you’re excited about your new smile, but you must wear a retainer to help keep your teeth in their new positions. Most patients wear a retainer for about a year; your orthodontist will tell you how long you need to wear your retainer.

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Yes. The bands, brackets and wires are very delicate and foods that are chewy, sticky or hard can break them. We recommend you avoid hard candy, taffy, caramels, gum, hard pretzels, peanuts, popcorn, whole apples, raw carrots, corn on the cob and other hard vegetables and fruit. Also, don’t use your teeth to open containers and be sure to cut up meat into bite-sized pieces, especially steak and ribs, rather than use your teeth to separate the meat from the bone.

Patients with ceramic braces will need to avoid colas, coffee, red wine, dark-colored berries and fruit juices that can cause the ceramic brackets to stain. A good rule of thumb: if it can stain your carpet, it can probably stain your ceramic braces.

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No matter what type of orthodontic treatment you have, you’ll need to be especially thorough when brushing your teeth to prevent cavities and periodontal (gum) disease. Patients with wires and brackets will need to brush after every meal to prevent food and plaque buildup around the wires, brackets, bands, teeth and gums. A soft-bristled revolving power toothbrush is usually recommended. Start brushing down from the top of each tooth, then switch to brushing up from the bottom of each tooth.

Patients with clear aligners will need to brush even more frequently because aligners prevent saliva from helping to wash away the food and plaque.

Our team of specialists will show you the proper brushing and flossing techniques, and may recommend that you use an irrigation device to loosen trapped food particles, too.

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You still need to floss once a day, even if you have braces. Break off a piece of unwaxed floss that is equal in length to the distance between your finger and elbow. Thread the floss between the main arch wire and part of the tooth closest to gum, moving it gently up and down to remove plaque from the sides of the teeth and the area between the teeth. Repeat this process until you’ve flossed between all of your teeth, but don’t use too much pressure around the wire.

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Fill the device’s reservoir with water or an antimicrobial rinse recommended by your orthodontist. Turn on the irrigator and direct the stream between all teeth and around brackets and wires. The irrigator will use a pulsing motion to loosen plaque and food particles so you can brush them way.

Brush aligners using lukewarm water and a soft-bristled brush or the kit that your orthodontist provided. Aligners can be soaked and cleaned in the denture solution your orthodontist recommended. Do not use toothpaste or any other abrasive material on your aligners. Also, do not boil your aligners or they will melt.

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Please call your Coast Dental office so we can set up an appointment to make any necessary repairs. Many situations can wait to be addressed until your next appointment. However, we have a dentist on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-800-32-SMILE

Your teeth may be sore for three to four days after an adjustment. Your orthodontist may recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen or eat a cold snack like ice pops or ice cream to alleviate the discomfort.

At your initial braces fitting and with each wire change, you may experience some discomfort as your mouth gets used to the braces. You can rinse with warm water, place wax over any troublesome brackets or wires, or use a dab of Oral Gel help alleviate sore spots.

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Wire braces are made up of several parts. Occasionally, parts or wires become loose. If a brace is loose and is still attached to the wire, wax can help hold it in place until your next orthodontist appointment. If it comes off completely, please call the office for guidance.

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You have a few options. If the wire is loose, you can use tweezers to try to put the wire back into place. If the wire is too long, you can use a pencil eraser to push the poking wire down or you can place wax on the wire to cushion it. As a last resort, you could also clip the wire with a clean nail clipper. If you clip the wire, call the office to make an appointment to have it repaired.

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