Advantages of Teeth Whitening

How many of us get a confidence boost when a stranger gives us a compliment? Have you ever paid attention to how much of a positive effect this has on your self-esteem? The same applies to teeth whitening. Teeth-whitening is an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color if you would like. Here at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., we can help you do just that.

With all of the lifestyle habits and environmental factors that have the ability to stain our teeth on a daily basis, even proper maintenance sometimes leave them a little dull. Fortunately through our tray whitening system, your pearly whites can revive their shine. In addition, teeth-whitening can also take years off of your appearance. This is because as we age, over time, our teeth darken and can become yellow, brown, or even develop a green or grey tint (which may be due to heredity and/or eating habits). Your smile speaks volumes about who you are and leaves an everlasting impression, so it’s only natural that you want it to be as radiant as possible.

If you desire a brighter smile, 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. 

Dental Crown Details

Over time, our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, and discoloration. Fortunately, our staff at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. offers restorative treatment options, such as dental crowns. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth – to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. Crowns can be made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold. However, to maintain a natural look and feel a porcelain finished crown is highly recommended as it can be matched to the shade of your other teeth.

The procedure for installing a dental crown typically takes two separate visits. On the first visit, your tooth will be reshaped and by filing down the enamel so that the crown can be placed over it. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. This mold will be sent to a dental lab so that the permanent crown can be made. Before you leave the office, you will be fitted for a temporary crown so that you have some protection on the tooth. In about two-three weeks you will come back for the final result.

If you think you may benefit from a dental crown, 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. 

Crown Lengthening in Somerville, NJ

Occasionally, crown lengthening is needed in order to perform dental work under the gum line. Here at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, our skilled doctors perform crown lengthening for our patients in need.

Crown lengthening can be performed for both oral health and cosmetic reasons. When there needs to be a crown or a filling placed on a tooth below the gum line, crown lengthening makes it possible. A more cosmetic reason is commonly referred to as “gummy smile” where there is excess gum tissue covering the teeth.

The process of crown lengthening consists of removing gum tissue to expose more of the tooth. Your dentist will make incisions in the gum tissue to pull away the gums. If bone needs to be pulled away to reach the tooth, this will be performed next. The area will be rinsed clean and the gums will be stitched into place.

After crown lengthening, you will want to be careful brushing the teeth around the area. In addition, do not floss down to the gum line until the gums have healed. You will want to keep your mouth as clean as possible to allow proper healing and avoid infection.

For more information regarding crown lengthening, call Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. of Somerville, NJ at 908-725-0400. Information may also be found on our website, www.bridgesmilesdental.com. 

Dental Bridges for Tooth Replacement

Replacing a missing tooth improves the quality of your oral health and gives you back your smile! At Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. here in Somerville, NJ, we offer dental bridges as one of our tooth replacement options. Dental bridges have been around for a long time and they are popular with many of our patients.

A dental bridge is a restoration compiled of two dental crowns and one replacement tooth, called a pontic. The pontic is set in between the crowns. The teeth adjacent to the open space are reshaped so that the crowns can be placed on them and the replacement tooth fits snuggly in the open space. Bridges are permanent, may be made completely custom, and they are durable.

To create a custom bridge for each patient, we first reshape the adjacent teeth and then take an impression of the area. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory where the custom bridge is created to look and feel like your normal teeth. During the creation process, you will wear a temporary bridge to protect your teeth.

Replacing a tooth is important for the health of your smile and your jaw. To find out if a dental bridge is the right option for you, set up a consultation with Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ by calling our office at 908-725-0400 or by visiting our website, www.bridgesmilesdental.com. 

Mouth Guards Prevent Dental Injuries

If you play contact sports, such as baseball, basketball, and hockey, our staff at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. hopes that you’re wearing a mouth guard. Imagine what it would be like if you suddenly lost one or two of your front teeth. Your smile, speech, and chewing abilities would all be affected. Mouth guards, also called mouth protectors, help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face, or jaw. Here at our office, we provide patients with custom-made mouth guards to best suit their needs.

For the highest level of comfort and protection, you should visit our dentists for a custom mouth guard fitting. A custom mouth guard is created specifically for the optimal protection of your mouth and your mouth only. The thinness of the custom mouth guard also allows for easy breathing and easy communication, which is important when you’re calling shots on the field or the court.

If you think you may benefit from a mouth guard, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Are Dental Implants Right for You?

If you have a toothless grin, our staff at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. can recommend dental implants. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots that provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. There are many benefits to this restoration option, such as improved appearance, improved speech, improved self-esteem, and improved overall health to name a few.

In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for a dental implant. This is because patients need to have healthy gums and enough bone to support the implant, otherwise they risk the dental implant failing. If you are a smoker, have diabetes, cancer, or uncontrolled periodontal disease, this may affect whether dental implants will fuse to your jawbone. Like tooth roots, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and are not visible once surgically placed. Where and how implants are placed requires a detailed assessment of your overall mouth and jaw structure.

If you have missing teeth and would like to discuss your treatment options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Why Do We Have Teeth?

Here Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A., it is our job to educate you about your smile and the teeth that make it up. You’ve probably noticed that you have different types of permanent teeth in your mouth, but did you know that each one has its own function? Allow us to tell you about the purpose they serve!

The types of teeth and their functions are:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your pearly whites, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.