Restorative Dentistry Archives - Indiana Emergency Dental

When you get restorative dental work done, it can be confusing to know how to care for it. After all, it’s not like an artificial tooth or dental bridge in Indianapolis, IN can get a cavity. Here, we’ll look at what you can do at home to care for your work, so it can last as long as possible.

1. Keep Up With a Strong Hygiene Routine

Flossing, brushing, mouthwash, and water flossers can all help you care for your gums and jawbone. So, even if you have two full arches of dental implants, you can keep the gum tissue free of debris, so it can’t make its way up to the bone.

2. Adjust Your Habits

Whether you’re a smoker or you love sticky foods, like caramels or toffees, you may want to go easy on your restorative dental work. While you likely won’t cut out everything, dental work like crowns and implants may last longer if you treat them with kids gloves. You may also want to wear a nightguard when you’re asleep to avoid grinding down the prosthesis.

3. Visit Your Dentist

A dentist in Indianapolis, IN can help you understand more about how your dental work is holding up over the years, giving you a heads up before you have to suffer a dental emergency. For example, if you got a crown 10 years ago and the materials are starting to wear away, it may not be a question of if you’re going to lose it but when (giving enough time to schedule the appointment well before the loss).

At Indiana Emergency Dental, our dentists can help you stay on top of your restorative work — so you don’t have to get any more down the road.

A dental implant and a bridge are two reliable ways to fill the space a missing tooth leaves. Both do the same thing but use a different approach. Our staff for restorative dentistry in Indianapolis, IN, will work with you to decide the best option for your needs.

What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone to anchor a prosthetic tooth. Once implanted, the post integrates with the bone and fuses, acting like a normal tooth root, giving the restoration a natural look and feel.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a restoration that bridges the gap between teeth when one or more teeth are missing. The bridge is the prosthetic teeth that fill this space, making your smile whole again.

There are two forms of attachments for a bridge: a dental implant or abutment teeth. Abutment teeth are the two teeth on either side of the gap. The restorative dentist in Indianapolis, IN, modifies these teeth and fits them with crowns that serve as anchors for the bridge.

Dental Bridge vs. Implant: Which Tooth Replacement is Right for You?

Either choice is practical. In some cases, you have both. Implants can serve as anchors for a dental bridge. Picking the right opportunity depends on several factors:

Budget— Dental implants can be more expensive than a bridge with abutment teeth.
Jaw health—For an implant to succeed, you must have enough healthy bone in your jaw to support it. If not, it might be possible to graft bone to secure the implant.
Timeline—Dental bridges are faster and take fewer trips to the office.

Implants can last longer than a dental bridge, so even if they are more of an investment, they might be a better prospect for a qualified candidate.

If you have one or more missing teeth, make an appointment with our restorative dentist in Indianapolis, IN, today to discuss your best choices.