Have a gap in your smile that you desperately need to get rid of? Well, you're in luck! Your Lexington Park, MD, family dentist, Dr. Denise Mullinix, is here to let you know about crowns and bridges!

Crowns:

A dental crown is a porcelain cap that covers a tooth. When your tooth is severely decayed and large portions of it are removed, your Lexington Park family dentist uses a dental crown to help preserve what remains of your natural tooth. The crown will add support to your tooth and will conceal any cracks, dents, and chips.

Bridges:

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, adults, ages 20 to 64, have around 3 decayed or missing permanent teeth. The solution to this problem comes in many forms, like the crowns mentioned above, but bridges are also helpful.

Bridges are custom-made oral appliances that can conceal dental gaps, and help restore proper bite and chewing functions. There are different types of bridges:

• Partial dentures, which are bonded to existing dental implants or natural teeth, come in many forms: conventional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges, and resin-bonded bridges.
• A removable bridge can be removed so you can clean it yourself, unlike the fixed partial dentures.

Dental Care:

It's important to maintain a healthy diet and a healthy oral regimen. If you like eating hard candies and sugary food, well then opting for fruits and vegetables is a good idea. Sugar-containing food releases bacteria that produce plaque. Plaque can lead to tooth decay and the erosion of your crown.

In addition to abstaining from sugars, brushing your teeth twice a day is a must. Make sure you spend 2 full minutes brushing your teeth and tilt your brush at a 45-degree angle to ensure you remove as much food debris as possible. Flossing your teeth before bed will also help preserve your crowns and natural teeth, of course!

For more information in regards to getting crowns or bridges, don't hesitate to contact your family dentist, Dr. Mullinix at (301) 862-2118. Her office is conveniently located in Lexington Park, MD.