Dental Bridges: What Are They?

Replacing missing teeth is important because teeth not only help us chew, but they help us speak and are a large part of our facial structure. One option for tooth replacement Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS offers here in her Holmdel, NJ dental practice is the dental bridge.

A dental bridge is quite literal to its name. It is a restoration that bridges the gap between teeth. Bridges work by attaching a replacement tooth, called a pontic, to two crowns on either side. The crowns are placed on the teeth that are adjacent to the open space. The pontic sits right in the middle where the missing tooth once was. Bridge may also be made for teeth that are missing with only one tooth adjacent to it, like in cases where the last molar is missing.

Dental bridges are able to be made to look just like your natural teeth, so no one will be able to tell the difference when you smile. We can take an impression of the open space and the adjacent teeth so that a dental laboratory can create a custom bridge. The adjacent teeth are first prepared, so the impression is taken after the teeth are reshaped for the crowns. While the custom bridge is being prepared, you will wear a temporary bridge. After the custom bridge is ready, it is permanently bonded into place. A bridge can last for over ten years with good care.

If you are missing a tooth, it is important to replace it. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ dental practice, call our office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

The Psychological Research Behind Keeping New Habits

How are those New Year resolutions going? It’s February and studies show that by this time, many of us start to fall back into old habits. Starting oral health-related habits can be difficult, but good hygiene is vital to your oral and overall health. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to let her patients in on the secrets that help them start and keep healthy habits.

According to recent research, about fifty percent of the population make New Year resolutions. However, most people end up right where they started or further behind by the next New Year. This is mainly because people set unrealistic goals and expect unrealistic outcomes. Then, when they become discouraged, they slip back into their old ways.

Psychology researchers instead suggest making more specific goals with realistic expectations and smaller steps. For instance, if you want to make it a goal to have better oral health, create a more specific goal you can focus on like starting to floss every day. This is a small goal you can focus on daily that will, in turn, lead to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.

In addition, brain scientists Antonio Damasio and Joseph LeDoux and psychotherapist Stephen Hayes have discovered that habitual behavioral changes are made through creating new neural pathways and memories. These can be established with new thinking patterns. These new neural pathways will become your default thinking when you come face to face with a decision.

That being said, the next time you want to skip part of your oral hygiene routine, think of the short-term and long-term positive effects of doing it. Day by day, change your thought process!

Remember to brush twice per day and floss once per day. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, call our Holmdel, NJ office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Electric Toothbrush Basics

Maintaining good oral hygiene should be an important part of everyone’s daily routine. Without proper cleaning at least twice daily and without a thorough annual cleaning by Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, your teeth and mouth can suffer from a number of issues. To begin a proper oral hygiene routine, you will need an effective toothbrush. Because they provide the brushing action for you, many people find that using power toothbrushes are easier than using regular manual ones.

Generally rich in technology and features, some power toothbrushes can even enable you to improve your brushing habits. While regular toothbrushes work well, electric toothbrushes offer a number of additional benefits such as faster brushing, easier brushing, deep cleaning, stain removal, and fresher breath. Hi-tech features may include numerous brushing modes for sensitive teeth, whitening benefits, or gum-massaging action. Depending on the brand, additional features may include pressure sensors to signal when you’re brushing too hard and timers to help you keep track of how long you’re brushing on each quadrant of your mouth.

To learn about the services we provide at our practice visit, www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in Holmdel, NJ, give us a call at 732-264-8180.

Are You Brushing for Two Minutes?

Brushing your teeth is a standard part of your day by now. However, could it be so mundane in your daily activities, that you aren’t really aware of what you’re doing. It’s sort of like being on auto-pilot. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to remind our patients that proper brushing, cleaning between teeth and cleaning tongue with a tongue cleaner at least twice a day  after breakfast and after dinner) will keep dentist and doctors away. 

It has been proven that inflamation of gum can cause many other diseases like stroke, heart attack, diabetes, cancer to name a few. Visiting your dentist as recommended to take out bacterial plaque that you missed along with routine oral care will help you  keep your oral  and overall health. 

 

Cleaning Your Tongue

When brushing your teeth, it is not just your teeth you should be paying attention to. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to remind her patients that cleaning their tongue is an important step of great oral hygiene.

Cleaning the tongue should be a part of your daily oral hygiene routine. A good way to remember this is to clean your tongue after every time you brush your teeth. After you finish brushing your teeth, take yourtngue cleaner and scrape it from the back of your tongue all the way to the front of it two strokes, twice a day. You can leave toothpaste on your toothbrush, if you would like. Rinse the tongue cleaner after each stroke and scrape your tongue . Press down firmly, but do not scrape too abrasively. If your tongue is sore afterwards, you will know you are pressing too hard.

There are  tongue scrapers you can purchase instead of using your toothbrush. They are usually made out of plastic or metal. We usually keep it in our office for your convinience to purchase. 

Remember your whole mouth can benefit from a good cleaning, not just your teeth! To schedule a cleaning with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ dental practice, give our office a call at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Gum Disease: Stages and Development

You have probably heard your dentist speak about gum disease, and you’re probably familiar with gingivitis, but did you know it can advance well beyond that? Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to inform her patients of the dangers of gum disease and how it develops.

Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue. The first stage is gingivitis. This is characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. Since it is caused by plaque on the teeth, it is fairly easy to treat. Brushing more frequently and flossing every day will should clear it up. However, if left alone, gingivitis could turn into periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease. Periodontitis includes those red, swollen gums, but they bleed more frequently and may be painful while chewing. Periodontitis can also create pockets between the gums and the teeth where bacteria collect; it can create sores in the mouth, and can loosen teeth. It can lead to the spread of infection and the complete loss of teeth. Periodontitis is tougher to clear up. A scaling and planing procedure is needed to remove the bacteria deep within the gums. Afterwards, pocket reduction surgery and gum grafts may be needed to repair the gums.

Gum disease develops when plaque and tartar are frequently left on teeth to irritate the gums. Remember to keep a good oral hygiene routine and to see Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS for cleanings and examinations. To schedule in our Holmdel, NJ office, call us at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Fighting Bad Breath

Do you suffer from the embarrassment of bad breath? For those who suffer from chronic bad breath, or those who just want to avoid it, Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ is offering tips. Read on to learn how bad breath is caused and how to keep it away.

Bad breath is caused from bacteria in your mouth. There are certain kinds of bacteria that cause odor and the foods we eat can contribute to them. Foul-smelling breath can also be worsened by a dry mouth. Stinky bacteria thrive in dry conditions.

In order to keep bacteria at bay and your breath fresh, make sure to keep a clean mouth and a wet whistle. Brushing and cleaning tongue  twice per day and flossing afetr each meal will keep plaque and debris away. When brushing, make sure to hit all the surfaces of your mouth, especially your tongue. The tongue has hair-like taste buds where bacteria love to hide. Keep hydrated by getting in your daily water recommendation every day. Break up your water drinking throughout the day so you stay evenly hydrated.

Avoid drinks that dry out the mouth like alcohol and caffeine, especially if you have an event you want fresh breath for; like a meeting or a car ride with a close passenger. If you do need a boost of caffeine, try green tea. It still has caffeine, but it hydrates you and has properties that fight bad breath bacteria!

Part of keeping good oral hygiene is routine cleanings from your dentist! To schedule with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ, call our office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com.