Baker Family Dental

Know Your Options For Restorative And Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures By Clicking Through These Links

Understanding your dental treatment options allows you and your dentist to make the best decisions about your dental health. You can learn more about the specifics of maintaining or restoring your smile on these informative sites:

• This article from Livestrong.com reveals what is involved in the process of getting dentures.
• What is a dental implant? Click on this link from Colgate.com to learn what this popular tooth replacement option entails.
• Dental fillings are not meant to last a lifetime. Check out this article from the American Dental Association to find out what happens when a dental filling needs to be replaced.
• Explore how dental fillings work to learn more about what happens and what you can expect from your dental visit by clicking on this link from Health.HowStuffWorks.com.
• You can read more about dental crowns and your options for choosing a material on WebMD.com. 

Baker Family Dental provides high-quality dental care and orthodontic treatment for the whole family. Our dental team is dedicated to your care and comfort. You can meet our team, find directions and more information about our practice on our website, or schedule an appointment with us by calling (480) 719-3044. 

What Materials Are Commonly Used in Dental Restorations?

When your dentist removes decay and fills a cavity, a filling material is used to restore the shape and function of your tooth. Dental restorations can be made from a variety of different materials. Asking your dentist about your options can help you decide which material is right for you and your dental needs. The available materials include:

Porcelain
All-porcelain tooth restorations are used for many types of dental work, including dental crowns, inlays, and onlays. Porcelain is durable and resistant to wear over time, but it can also be brittle and requires a minimum amount of filling material for strength. In some cases, your dentist may need to remove significant portions of the healthy tooth to ensure the filling’s strength. These types of fillings can be easily and accurately matched to your existing tooth color so as to appear invisible to others once placed in your mouth.

Metal-Fused Porcelain
For additional strength of your dental restoration, your dentist may advise porcelain fused to metal. This material is most often used in crowns and bridges to replace or add strength to damaged teeth. However, due to the brittle properties of the porcelain used in the restoration, healthy tooth material may still be removed to ensure stability. Like a porcelain restoration, this material is durable and long-lasting. Metal-fused porcelain restorations can be matched to your existing tooth color, though the metal may limit the translucence of the filling.

Titanium
Metal is often used in dental crowns as well as partial dentures and fixed bridges to replace missing teeth. Pure metal is stronger than porcelain-based fillings and require less removal of healthy tooth structure by your dentist for placement. However, titanium dental restorations appear metallic and cannot be matched to the color of your teeth.

At Baker Family Dental, we offer a wide range of dental restoration options for you to select from. Call us today at (480) 719-3044 to schedule your appointment with one of our experienced family dentists, or explore our website to learn more about family dentistry, orthodontics, and the additional dental treatments we offer. 

Bone Resorption and Dental Implants

The roots of your teeth transfer the force of chewing into your jaw, which keeps the bone solid and strong. When a tooth is lost, the removal of its roots causes the bone to dissolve or resorb. This process may be accelerated by certain kinds of partial dentures or other health factors.

Bone resorption can make the use of a dental implant difficult without special implants or bone grafting procedures. Bone grafting techniques repair or maintain the amount of bone in the jaw to allow for placement of a dental implant. Take a look at this video to learn more about these techniques and tooth replacement options.

Restore your smile with the help of Baker Family Dental. We provide family dentistry care and cosmetic procedures—including crowns, bridges, and dental implants—in Gilbert and Mesa, AZ. Visit us on the Web to explore our dental services or call (480) 719-3044. 

Comparing the Benefits of Dental Implants and Dentures

Replacing missing teeth is essential for your dental health and enhances your quality of life. Your family dentist can offer you a host of viable options when it comes to tooth replacement. It’s important to evaluate all your treatment options in order to find the solution that is right for you and your smile.

Dentures
Dentures can be worn by anyone to replace any number of missing teeth. They are removable dental appliances that are custom-made by your dentist to fit into your mouth for comfort and stability. Getting used to dentures often takes a month or so of acclimation, during which you’ll need to stick to soft foods and practice eating and speaking. However, with today’s denture technology, you can achieve a comfortable fit and continue to eat all of your favorite foods. Dentures require no surgery and can be manufactured by your dentist quickly for immediate tooth replacement. With the right care, they can last up to 10 years before requiring replacement.

Dental Implants
Dental implants consist of a titanium post, surgically implanted in the jaw, that is fitted with a crown that looks just like your natural tooth. Dental implants are not removable except by your dentist, and can be brushed just like your natural teeth. The process of receiving a dental implant requires four to six months between implantation of the post and placement of the final crown. Implants can be a good choice because they mitigate the bone loss that accompanies missing teeth. By mimicking a natural tooth root, dental implants preserve the bone mass of your jaw over time. Because dental implants are placed in the bone of the jaw, they are only possible when there is enough bone for the procedure. Your dentist may be able to use a bone grafting technique to increase your chances of receiving dental implants if necessary.

You can find out more about your tooth replacement options by contacting Baker Family Dental of Mesa and Gilbert at (480) 719-3044. Our dentists offer both family and cosmetic dental services to treat smiles of all ages. Visit us on the Web to explore your dental health and meet our staff. 

Get A Better Understanding Of Your Oral Health With These Helpful Resources

Healthy teeth create a beautiful, confident smile that you want to share with the world. Discover the many ways you can work towards a strong and healthy smile with these great resources:

• Learn more about maintaining a healthy smile by eating your veggies with this article on the TLC Cooking website.
• Strawberries can help give you whiter teeth, but they’re not the only beneficial food you can eat. Check out these nutritional tips for maintaining great dental health from The Daily Mail.
• Get more information on dairy and dental health in this publication from IDFDairyNutrition.org.
• Find more information on temporomandibular joint disorders, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments, on TMJ.org.
• It’s never too late for orthodontic treatment for straighter, healthier teeth. Explore orthodontic options for adults in this article from Livestrong.com.

At Baker Family Dental of Mesa, we provide everything from family dentistry to orthodontics for children and adults. Call us at (480) 719-3044 to book your appointment and find out how welcoming, compassionate, and knowledgeable our dental team is when it comes to your family’s care. To learn more, visit our website and explore our dental services!