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Factors Affecting the Cost of Dental Bridgework in Ocala FL

Posted on May 29, 2020 by admin
dental bridgework


Large gaps left behind by lost teeth can negatively impact the function of your mouth and aesthetic of your smile. For people missing one or more teeth in a row, your dentist can recommend dental bridgework as a treatment option. Dental bridges are a common dental procedure that is performed within two appointments, giving you a permanent restoration. 

During your consultation, the dentist will assess whether you’re a good candidate for the treatment, and discuss the factors that may affect your cost of treatment, including:

1. The Type of Dental Materials 

Bridges can be made using different materials, including gold, metal alloys, and porcelain. Porcelain or zirconia are the most common materials and can be nearly as expensive as gold. But the materials are tooth-colored and look like your natural teeth, which makes them a popular option. Moreover, they’re very tough and durable, giving you a long-lasting replacement tooth.

2. The Type of Dental Bridgework

The common types of dental bridges include traditional bridges, cantilever bridges, Maryland or resin bonded, and implant-supported bridges. Cantilever bridges are only supported by one tooth, whereas traditional bridges will be supported by at least two teeth, which can affect the cost. But they’re the cheapest bridgework option. Although resin-bonded bridges don’t require abutment crowns or preparation of adjacent teeth to support the pontic, they are more expensive than the other two options. Implant-supported bridges are also expensive because of the additional cost of placing dental implants.  

3. The Complexity of the Placement 

Replacing two or more teeth will obviously cost more than replacing a single tooth. Moreover, certain situations can cause complications, such as unhealthy adjacent teeth, the need for implants, gaps in different areas of the mouth, and so on, all of which add to the complexity and cost of treatment. The need for additional procedures in order to restore your complete smile can add to the total cost of treatment. For instance, you may incur extra costs if you need to visit a dental surgeon for the placement of dental implants. Any other dental specialists that you visit will increase your total cost of treatment, but it may be necessary to ensure optimal results. 

If you have a dental insurance plan, you should find out how much cover is provided for tooth replacement via dental bridges and other options, then consult your dentist in Ocala FL to identify the most suitable treatment for your case and budget.

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What are No-Prep Dental Veneers? | Ocala FL

Posted on May 15, 2020 by admin
no-prep dental veneers


If you’re looking to improve your smile, your cosmetic dentist may recommend that you place thin coverings over the visible surface (front part) of the tooth to conceal any damage. These coverings are known as no-prep dental veneers and are fabricated from tooth-colored materials for aesthetic reasons. 

No-prep dental veneers can be used to correct different cosmetic dental problems, including:

  • Worn or chipped teeth 
  • Discolored teeth that won’t respond to bleaching 
  • Misshapen or crooked teeth 
  • Uneven gaps or spaces between your front teeth 

Veneers are typically made from porcelain material, which requires intensive tooth preparation by removing some of the tooth enamel to create room to attach the veneer. This method is used because porcelain veneers measure about 0.5 mm in thickness. Grinding down the tooth helps to maintain its natural size. 

What to Expect with No-Prep Dental Veneers

Lumineers, Vivaneers, and composite resin veneers that are thinner at 0.3 mm don’t require any tooth preparation before placement. These no-prep veneers are less invasive to apply and take less time, which makes them a popular choice for correcting minor aesthetic defects.

No-preparation veneers offer several advantages over traditional porcelain veneers, including:

  • Easier to place since no tooth preparation is needed 
  • Don’t require fabrication in a dental lab, which makes them cheaper 
  • Can be used if you have thin tooth enamel to prevent the risk of tooth sensitivity
  • Maintain the natural tooth structure for greater strength of restored teeth 
  • Placed in a single appointment

However, you’re limited to the amount of layers you can add to reduce the risk of creating a thicker tooth that may create hard to clean spots along the gumline, putting you at risk of gum disease. Traditional veneers are easier to smooth for a better fit and optimal oral hygiene. Your dentist will examine your teeth and thickness of tooth enamel in order to decide the best material for your veneers. Lumineers may be appropriate. 

Please visit your cosmetic dentist in Ocala FL to discuss ways to improve your smile with dental veneers. 

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5 Things You Should Know About Dental Bridgework | Ocala FL

Posted on April 23, 2020 by admin
dental bridgework

Dental bridgework is a common, affordable, low-risk, and proven treatment for one or more missing teeth. The word “bridge” is used because the replacement tooth (pontic) literally bridges the gap between your teeth, and is supported by the adjacent tooth on either side of the space.

Here are some other facts about dental bridgework:

  • Dental bridges can be fabricated from different types of materials, including porcelain, gold, and metal alloys. Tooth-colored porcelain is the most common material of choice, especially for replacing front teeth, because of the strong and aesthetic result. 
  • The false tooth is designed to have a similar form (shape, size, and shade) to that of the missing natural tooth. The crowns attached to the pontic help to hold the replacement tooth firmly in the right place. These crowns can be attached to either the adjacent healthy, natural teeth or by dental implants if the gap is caused by several missing teeth. 
  • There are different types of dental bridges, though the most common one comprises a pontic that is attached to abutment crowns on each side. These crowns are bonded to the adjacent teeth on either side of the gap, forming a permanent tooth restoration. 
  • Traditional permanent bridges can be used in any position in your mouth, including missing molars, provided you have strong adjacent teeth on both sides of the gap. Moreover, this approach can be used to replace up to 6 missing teeth using 6-unit bridgework. 
  • If you’ve lost multiple teeth in a row, then implant-supported bridges can help to stabilize the bridgework. The pontics are secured to one or more implant-supported crowns spread across the gap, giving you a restoration that is just as strong as if the bridgework were anchored to your natural teeth. 

With proper oral hygiene, your dental bridgework should last for seven to ten years or even longer. Please consult your dentist in Ocala to learn more about dental bridgework and your suitability for the procedure. 

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Reasons to Use Dental Veneers to Correct Your Smile | Ocala FL

Posted on April 9, 2020 by admin
dental veneers

There are many reasons why your teeth and smile can seem to be unattractive. Fortunately, dental veneers can solve most of your cosmetic dental problems if you’re a suitable candidate. The dentist will take X-rays to evaluate the health of your teeth. This step is necessary to identify signs of gum disease, tooth decay, or other tooth defects that may need to be addressed before getting veneers. 

Dental veneers can be used for:

  • Whitening your smile – dental veneers can be used to conceal unattractive teeth that have turned yellow from smoking cigarettes or brown from consuming pigmented foods. They’re made from tooth-colored material that reflects light like your natural teeth, allowing them to beautifully blend with your smile. Moreover, they’re stain resistant, which means that normal dental care routines are sufficient to maintain your bright smile. 
  • Fixing minor cosmetic concerns – dental veneers can be used to treat slightly crooked or gapped teeth by camouflaging the problems. Though the defect will still be there, no one will be able to notice it when you smile. 
  • Replacing damaged enamel – tooth enamel is tough, but it can still wear down from consuming highly acidic items, grinding and clenching your teeth, or brushing your teeth too vigorously. Veneers can conceal the damage, giving you an even and symmetrical smile. 

Before getting your veneers, you should consult your dentist to discuss the best options for your case, and the number of veneers that should be placed depending on the condition of your teeth and budget. In some situations, it may be necessary to undergo other treatments before getting veneers, like using braces to correct uneven or crooked teeth. 

Final Note 

Keep in mind that getting veneers requires the dentist to trim down about 0.5 mm from your tooth enamel using a grinding tool before taking impressions (mold) of the teeth. If you don’t have sufficient tooth enamel, your dentist may recommend no-prep veneers that measure less than 0.3 mm and are directly bonded to the tooth without grinding it. Please consult your dentist in Ocala FL to find the best dental veneers for your case. 

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How to Replace Teeth with Dental Bridgework | Ocala FL

Posted on March 20, 2020 by admin
dental bridgework

Gaps between your teeth not only affect the beauty of your smile but also interrupt your speech and ability to chew your food. If left unfilled, the teeth adjacent to the gap can begin to shift out of position, creating smaller gaps between your teeth that are hard to keep clean. This can lead to bacteria buildup that makes you susceptible to gum disease, decay, bad breath, and other oral issues. Moreover, the moving teeth can affect your bite, causing malocclusion and jaw problems. If you’re missing one or more teeth, you should consult a dentist to determine whether dental bridgework is the best restorative option for you.

Here are the steps to getting dental bridgework:

Step 1: Consultation 

During your first appointment, a complete oral exam and dental x-rays will be done to determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure. If you are, you will proceed to choose the type of bridge and dental material for the bridgework depending on the size and location of the restoration, as well as your overall oral health, budget, and lifestyle. 

Step 2: Tooth Preparation

Next, the dentist will proceed to prepare the abutment teeth to support the crowns that will hold the pontic in place. They’re prepared by removing some of the tooth enamel to create room to place the crown over them without changing the shape or size of the tooth. 

Step 3: Create Custom Bridgework

After abutment tooth preparation, the dentist will take an impression of the teeth and use it to create an exact model of your teeth, which will be used to fabricate your permanent bridge in a dental lab. This process takes several days, so a temporary bridge will be placed over the prepared teeth to protect them in the meantime. 

Step 4: Fitting the Bridgework 

When your permanent custom bridge is ready, you will be asked to return to the dentist’s office to have the temporary crowns removed and replaced with the permanent restoration. The dentist will check and adjust the fit of the abutment crowns before cementing them in place. Next, the dentist will assess the patient’s bite and adjust the bridgework accordingly. 

Final Note 

It takes a few days to get used to your new set of teeth, so the dentist in Ocala may use temporary cement when fixing the bridge to give you time to adjust and ensure a perfect fit before making the restoration permanent. 

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Professional Teeth Cleaning for Optimal Oral and General Health| Ocala FL

Posted on March 6, 2020 by admin
professional teeth cleaning

Every person deserves to have a smile they can be proud of. While brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day can help to prevent most dental problems, your home oral hygiene routine is not sufficient to get rid of hardened plaque or tartar. This can only be removed during your six-month preventive dental checkup with professional teeth cleaning. Your dental hygienist will also recommend ways to keep your teeth healthy and bright for life. 

The Mouth as a Breeding Ground for Bacteria 

Your mouth is exposed to a myriad of health risks unlike other parts of the body. Besides the helpful and unhelpful bacteria living in your mouth, you’re exposed to other dangers in the food and drinks you consume. You need to take special care of this environment to avoid any problems. This is the reason why people clean their teeth, to get rid of food particles, stains, and dental plaque from the teeth, which in turn reduces the risk of getting cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and other oral issues. 

Constant Fight Against Bacteria in Your Mouth 

Since your mouth contains harmful bacteria and useful bacteria, your immune system is actively fighting the harmful bacteria to prevent it from causing harm. Professional teeth cleaning helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria to such an extent that it overwhelms your immune system and causes disease. 

Once the buildup of plaque and tartar is uncontrollable, it causes gum inflammation and bleeding, which is known as periodontal disease. If left untreated, the severity of gum disease can lead to tooth loss and the infection spreading to other parts of your body through the bloodstream. This increases the risk of diabetes going out of control, as well as heart disease, stroke, and dementia. 

Final Note 

Cleaning your teeth at home using good brushing technique and flossing can help to prevent most oral issues. Daily brushing and flossing helps to remove plaque on the surface of your teeth. But it is also important to visit a dentist in Ocala FL at least every six months for professional cleaning and the removal of hardened deposits known as tartar that cannot be removed through regular brushing. This prevents the buildup of harmful bacteria in your mouth that may lead to decay, gum disease, and other oral and body issues.

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How a Cosmetic Smile Makeover Can Improve Your Smile in Ocala FL

Posted on February 19, 2020 by admin
cosmetic smile makeover

Many people can assess your mood and personality based solely on your smile, before saying a single word. If you have a dazzling, bright smile, then this will work well for both your personal and professional relationships.  However, a sparkling smile may lose its vibrancy over time due to discoloration, chips and cracks, decay, excessive grinding, and tooth loss. Fortunately, no matter the problem with your teeth, a cosmetic smile makeover can help to restore your dazzling smile through the right combination of cosmetic and restorative treatments. 

Your Cosmetic Smile Makeover 

Just as each individual has a unique look, each smile makeover has to be customized by a skilled dentist to address your specific aesthetic needs. A smile makeover can involve multiple procedures, depending on the health of your teeth and gums, as well as other factors such as your facial appearance, hair color, and skin tone. 

During your consultation, your dentist will work with you to design the ideal smile, and you will even get to see a smile preview of what you can expect your smile to look like, before any actual dental work begins. 

Some of the common problems that can be addressed with a smile makeover include:

  • Discolored or badly stained teeth 
  • Chipped or fractured teeth – the right procedure depends on the extent of damage
  • Straightening crooked teeth or a misaligned bite – depending on the severity and your age, your dentist will recommend the appropriate orthodontic treatment
  • Gaps between your teeth – can be closed to make your smile look more even 
  • Missing teeth can cause functional problems. Your dentist will recommend an appropriate tooth restoration
  • A gummy smile can also be corrected

Consult Your Dentist for a Smile Makeover 

A cosmetic smile makeover can change your life by simply improving the shape, color, size, or length of your teeth, or changing the appearance of your lips or gums to make your smile more attractive. 

Please visit your Ocala cosmetic dentist to discuss the best options to help you improve your smile. 

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Dental Implant Dentist Near Me, Ocala FL 34471

Posted on February 5, 2020 by admin
dental implant dentist

Dental implants are a safe, reliable, and highly successful solution for replacing one or more missing teeth permanently. The treatment involves implanting a small titanium screw into the jawbone, so it acts as the foundation for your new tooth replacement. A dental implant dentist near you will happily explain the procedure and help you determine if implants are best for your smile.

The technology behind dental implants has been around since the 1960s and has been well-proven to replace one or several missing teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. The result is an attractive, durable tooth replacement that stimulates the underlying bone, contributing to healthy gums around the new tooth. 

Other benefits of dental implants include:

  • Secure and permanent tooth replacement 
  • Look, feel, and function like natural teeth 
  • Stimulate the surrounding soft and hard tissues – helps to maintain the facial structure 
  • No interference with the surrounding healthy, natural teeth
  • The comfortable end result with no adhesives or routine adjustments required 
  • Easy to care and maintain your new teeth, with normal brushing and flossing 

What to Expect 

Dental implants are made from a biocompatible material that completely integrates with your bone tissue. If your dentist determines that you’re a good candidate for implants, the dentist will surgically insert the implant, which is usually in the form of a screw, into your jawbone. Dental implants come in different sizes to suit the quality of your jawbone. 

As it heals in the next few months, the screw will integrate with the underlying bone through a process known as osseointegration. This will provide strong and sturdy support for your new teeth that function as the root of your tooth replacement.  

When the implant has healed, an abutment is attached to it on one side to hold the tooth in place. Your replacement tooth is then connected to the abutment on the other side. The tooth is custom made to match the shape and color of your existing natural teeth. 

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

Dental implants are the ideal tooth replacement option for anyone missing one or several teeth. Each solution is custom designed for your specific situation, with some patients requiring additional treatments such as bone grafting to ensure a successful tooth replacement. 

Please visit your dentist in Ocala FL to learn more about dental implants and whether they’re right for you. 

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What to Expect with Dental Implants in Ocala FL

Posted on January 15, 2020 by admin
dental impalnts ocala fl

A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed in your jaw to form an artificial “tooth root” that functions as a sturdy support for the replacement tooth, denture, or bridge. Dental implants in Ocala FL are a popular, effective, and long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth. 

They offer many other advantages over other tooth replacement options as follows:

  • Can be used to replace one or more teeth without affecting the health or structure of neighboring teeth like conventional bridgework 
  • They’re natural-looking and feeling, so you can enjoy your usual foods and care for your mouth as usual without necessarily giving the new tooth any special attention 
  • Can be used to support a denture, making it more secure and comfortable
  • Can be used to support a bridge to replace more than one tooth, as an alternative to removable partial dentures 
  • They stimulate the jawbone to prevent bone resorption, which can make your face appear older

Placing dental implants involves a surgical procedure that requires extreme care. The implant requires three to four months to integrate with the underlying bone tissue before crown placement. During this time, the dentist will place dentures or partials to cover the gap and allow you to eat normally. Complex cases that involve soft and hard tissue grafting will take nearly twice as long. But the actual time depends on your age, health, number of teeth, and quantity and quality of bone tissue. 

Treatment Process for Dental Implants in Ocala FL

The oral surgeon uses state-of-the-art 3D digital imaging and advanced implant planning software to analyze your jaw anatomy and identify the best site for the implant before surgery. This is important to reduce the recovery time to a few months. After surgical placement of the implant, you need to wait 4-6 months for the gums to heal before the replacement tooth can be placed. If your gum and/or bone tissue needs to be rebuilt, like through grafting, then the full treatment time will be longer. 

Please schedule an appointment with your oral surgeon in Ocala FL for a proper assessment of your case. 

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What to Expect with Cosmetic Dentistry in Ocala FL

Posted on January 2, 2020 by admin
cosmetic dentistry

Going to the dentist doesn’t necessarily need to be for professional cleanings or emergency tooth repairs. Although routine visits and restorative procedures help to maintain and/or restore the optimal health, function, and appearance of your teeth and mouth, you can also visit your dentist with the sole purpose of improving your smile with cosmetic dentistry. 

Cosmetic dentistry comprises a range of procedures used to whiten, straighten, reshape, and repair your teeth in order to improve your smile and appearance. Some of these procedures serve multiple functions, like repairing damaged teeth using tooth-colored material to improve the appearance as well. Depending on your specific cosmetic needs, your dentist can:

  • Close spaces 
  • Lighten discolored teeth 
  • Restore worn or short teeth 
  • Adjust the alignment of crooked teeth 
  • Replace missing teeth 

Generally, your dentist can alter the shape, size, shade, and alignment of your teeth, fill gaps, and replace missing teeth to improve your appearance while solving oral problems. 

Preparing for the Initial Consultation 

Thanks to technological advancements, dentists today have access to tooth-colored dental materials that help to deliver natural-looking, long-lasting results. Modern techniques are also less invasive, allowing you to preserve a greater portion of your natural tooth structure during restorations. And with 3D software, your dental team can design your smile and show you the expected results of your treatment plan on a screen before the procedures start. 

To ensure the best results from your cosmetic dentistry consultation, you should have a good idea of what you want – your ideal smile – before approaching the dentist in Ocala FL. Generally, you should know:

  • What shade of white you would like your teeth to be – natural, ultra-white, in-between 
  • Do you want your teeth to be in perfect alignment or slightly varied?
  • Do you think your smile is toothy, gummy, or awkward in any other way? 
  • What defects do you want to be fixed? – missing tooth, crooked or misaligned teeth, fractured teeth, stained teeth, etc. 

It is important that you have realistic expectations about your cosmetic treatment plan. Schedule your initial consultation today to start the process of getting your dream smile. 

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