Dental Bridges

If you’ve had one tooth or multiple teeth extracted due to damage, decay or disease, it is important to have the resulting gap filled or your remaining teeth can shift out of position and become more susceptible to decay. One way to replace your missing tooth or teeth and prevent this shifting is with a dental bridge, and in Easton, PA, Dr. Alan Dilsaver can provide you with a bridge in order to keep your smile beautiful and healthy.

Called a bridge because a prosthetic tooth is suspended between two crowns to fill in the space left by a missing tooth, this natural-looking tooth restoration is usually made from gold, metal, alloys or porcelain. These materials help to ensure a strong and durable smile that can last years.

The process of creating a bridge usually takes two visits to the dentists’ offices. During the first, Dr. Dilsaver will create abutments out of the existing teeth on both sides of your gap. Once the abutments have been created, a mold will be taken of your mouth for fabricating the bridge. At other dental practices, the process of creating the bridge may take weeks but thanks to our CEREC machine, your dental bridges is completed in just minutes. Dr. Dilsaver will start by preparing the tooth and he will then take an optical impression of the teeth using a special 3D camera. The image is transferred to the computer, where the restoration is fashioned using computer aided design (CAD). This technology takes every clinical detail of the patient’s case into consideration, creating the most precise restoration. Next, these exact specifications are sent to Dr. Buntyn’s in-office milling machine. In less than an hour, this state-of-the-art device fabricates the custom, color-matched restoration.

If you are missing one tooth or multiple teeth, a dental bridge can restore both your smile’s beauty and health. To see which option is best for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver of Easton, PA by calling (610) 252-7414. To learn more about the dentist and his services, please visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.               

Night Guards from Dr. Alan Dilsaver

At our practice in Easton, PA, we see many patients who suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding. While many people who grind their teeth do so consciously throughout the day, even more grind their teeth at night while sleeping. Bruxism can cause damage to your enamel, as well as cause jaw pain, headaches and gum irritation, so it is important to treat it. Night guards are usually the best way to prevent grinding’s negative effects.

Similar to mouth guards worn by athletes during sports, night guards provide a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. By reducing wear to your teeth and making it harder for you to grind, your teeth will be healthier and you will feel better overall. Dr. Alan Dilsaver provides night guards that are custom made in our lab to provide a fit that is as comfortable as possible. All we require is an impression of your teeth. These guards are very durable and can last for up to 10 years.

If you find yourself frequently waking up with headaches or pain in your jaw, it is very possible that you grind in your sleep. Often those who do not treat their bruxism end up with TMD, which can lead to a change in the appearance of your face. To diagnose and treat your night grinding at Lehigh Valley Smiles, call (610) 252-7414 to schedule an appointment. For more information, please visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.