Night Guards for Bruxism

Bruxism is the technical term for any regular teeth grinding or clenching of the jaw. Stress can intensify bruxism, but it is most often caused by an abnormal bite or crooked teeth.  Bridge Smiles Dental Group offers custom night guards to help patients overcome the negative effects of bruxism.

Some teeth grinders consciously grind their teeth and clench their jaw, but some only do so while asleep and may not even realize it.  Patients who continually grind their teeth often end up needing crowns, bridges, root canals and implants. In severe cases tooth loss can occur, and partial or complete dentures may be needed. So don’t ignore any signs of your own teeth grinding, because having a custom night guard made is a simple step that will help prevent so many issues for teeth grinders.

A dentist uses an impression of your teeth to ensure a custom fit, and the night guard is manufactured in a dental lab. Wearing a custom night guard protects the surface of the teeth, and also properly aligns the jaw to improve breathing and sleep. If you think you a custom night guard could help you, please contact us.

To learn more about night guards and all the services available at our practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Intraoral Camera

The doctors of Bridge Smiles Dental Group take pride in offering the best technology available to our patients.  The intraoral camera is an exciting new tool that allows the mouth to be seen from previously impossible angles. This technology has proven very helpful in capturing images needed for procedure approval from insurance companies, but it will also change the typical dental office visit.

The tiny camera’s view is projected onto a monitor, making the same angle of the mouth visible to both doctor and patient at once. These views can help patients who don’t know a premolar from an incisor describe any problem area more accurately.  Providing more details can also help a patient better understand and follow their dentists’ plan of care for their mouth.

The intraoral camera helps both you and your dentist see and understand what is happening to your oral health.  To learn more about the technology we use at our practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Understanding Acid Reflux

At Bridge Smiles Dental Group, we want our patients to understand how they can prevent toothaches and oral pathologies before they become a problem. Maintaining oral hygiene is essential throughout life, but as people age, acid reflux has the potential to become as much of a concern as plaque.

The stomach is protected from the corrosive property of stomach acid by a thick layer of mucus, but the esophagus and mouth have no such protection. When acid escapes from the stomach and up the esophagus, the painful sensation it causes is commonly called heartburn. While tooth enamel is more resistant to acid than soft tissue, it, too, can be broken down by repeated exposure. People with gastroesophageal reflux disease commonly suffer erosion on the enamel on the inward facing surfaces of their top teeth and experience pain, discoloration, and loss of function as a result.

Damage to enamel can be repaired through means such as white fillings, bonding, and partial or whole crowns. Artificial replacements are more resistant to acid than natural teeth. However, because acid reflux is painful and contributes to esophageal cancer, patients should try to reduce it by avoiding acidic foods and those that are high in fat, avoiding eating before bed, and by maintaining good posture.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge ST. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit BridgeSmilesDental.com.

 

Oral Thrush

If you’ve never heard of oral thrush before, our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. would like to take a minute to explain it. Oral thrush is a mild infection that rarely causes complications, however it can be problematic for those with weakened immune systems. Anyone can develop thrush, but this condition is more frequent in babies, toddlers, and the elderly. Thrush is easy to treat, but it’s also preventable.

Small amounts of the candida fungus are in our mouths, digestive tracts, and skin. They are supposed to be there, but oral thrush occurs when a yeast infection develops on the inside of the mouth and causes the fungus to grow out of control. Thrush can be caused by a number of things, such as uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, dry mouth, or an HIV infection. If you experience pain when you swallow, a feeling of something caught in your throat, or a fever, you should schedule an appointment with us immediately so we can diagnose you and develop a treatment plan. You can reduce your risk of this condition by practicing proper oral hygiene, adding probiotics to your diet, and visiting us for oral checkups twice a year.

If you have questions or concerns about thrush, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.