Sensitive Teeth: Causes and Treatment

If you are experiencing tooth pain when biting into hot or cold foods, you may have sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth are caused when your gums pull back and expose the surface beneath, called the dentin. This soft layer makes up the inner part and roots, which have thousands of tiny tubes that lead to the tooth’s nerve center (the pulp). Proper oral hygiene is the key to preventing sensitive tooth pain. This is why it’s important to visit our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. for regular dental checkups.

Fortunately, sensitive teeth can be treated. The type of treatment will depend on what is causing the sensitivity. Having a conversation with one of our doctors is the first step in finding relief from your discomfort. After he or she determines the reason for your sensitivity, treatment may be as simple as applying an in-office fluoride gel to help you manage the tenderness.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

Why You Might Need a Night Guard

Sleep bruxism, also known as nocturnal tooth grinding, is the medical term for clenching or grinding teeth during sleep. People who are distressed by this disorder can suffer headaches, earaches, jaw pain, jaw joint disorders as well as damaged teeth. For patients with severe and persistent sleep bruxism, our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. may prescribe a night guard made of soft plastic to protect the teeth.

Grinding your teeth can damage enamel, wear down teeth, cause jaw pain, or irritate your gums. The night guard, which is very similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes, provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All night guards at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. are custom-fitted for comfort and allow for proper breathing. To create the night guard, one of our doctors will first take an impression of your teeth and have the night guard created by a dental lab.

If you catch yourself grinding your teeth or wake up with jaw pain every morning, give us a call to discuss your options. 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 Bonding for Natural-Looking Tooth Restoration

Chips and cracks can diminish a smile. Fortunately, there is a simple solution. Here at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ and Neshanic Station, NJ, we offer dental bonding as a quick and affordable, yet strong and natural-looking restoration option.

Dental bonding is the process of shaping composite resin to fill in cracks, gaps, or misshapen teeth. It can also be used for long-lasting whitening. The resin is chosen in the same shade as your teeth for restorations or a brighter shade for whitening purposes. With good dental care, bonding can last over ten years.

The process of applying bonding first starts with lightly etching the teeth. This is to create a strong bond between your tooth and the resin. Your dentist will then smooth the resin over your tooth and shape it to make the desired improvement. An ultraviolet light is then used to harden the material. Afterwards, the resin may be polished so that it shines like natural tooth material.

Gaps, cracks, misalignments, chips, and discoloration are just some of the issues dental bonding can help fix. To set up your appointment with Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., give our Somerville, NJ office a call at (908) 725-0400 or call our Neshanic Station, NJ office at (908) 782-4418. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.bridgesmilesdental.com. 

What is an Underbite?

The main cause of an underbite is a misalignment of the lower jaw, which is usually present at birth. An underbite, clinically called prognathism, is the malocclusion or “bad bite” that happens when the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth. Just because your mouth may have this problem doesn’t mean that it’s untreatable. If you have been diagnosed with an underbite, our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. can correct the problem with dental braces.

Although far less common than overbites, underbites still affect 5-10 percent of the population. An extreme underbite can cause facial abnormality, resulting in an extended chin. Additionally, underbites including difficulty with chewing, swallowing and speaking. Underbites may also wear down tooth enamel and increase your chances of developing tooth decay or other dental problems such as TMJ disorder.

If you wish to correct your bite with orthodontic treatment, please give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visitwww.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.

Overbite Overview

If you have been diagnosed with an overbite, this simply means that your top teeth extend beyond your bottom teeth. It is a common dental problem that our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. can correct with braces. Overbite teeth are considered a type of “bad bite.” It can either be noticeable or unnoticeable, but it some extreme cases it can make your jaw look significantly larger or your bottom jaw look much smaller.

Most often, overbites are inherited as traits just as the color of your eyes or the freckles on your cheeks. Other causes of misaligned bites may result from an early loss of baby or adult teeth, gum disease, or common oral health problems in children, such as thumb sucking. Once one of our doctors confirms your overbite with X-rays, he or she may take regular photographs of your face to further examine the relationship between the teeth, jaws, and head. From there, an individualized treatment plan will be developed to correct the bite.

If you wish to correct your bite with orthodontic treatment, please give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visitwww.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.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are able to restore your tooth so it remains healthy in your mouth for a long time. When there is damage to a tooth but the root is still intact, inlays or onlays, commonly called partial crowns, can ensure the tooth remains in place. We offer inlays and onlays here at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in our Somerville, NJ and Neshanic Station, NJ locations.

As mentioned before, inlays and onlays are like partial crowns. Inlays take care of the chewing surface within the cusps. Onlays take care of the chewing surface plus one or more cusps. They take care of damaged tooth when there is no need for a full crown but when there is more damage than a filling can hold. Inlays and onlays can be made of gold, composite resin, or porcelain. Taking good care of the inlay or onlay will ensure long-lasting protection. With good care, they can last for over thirty years.

The options with composite resin or porcelain are tooth colored and are made to blend right in with your teeth. The inlays and onlays are completely customized to your specific tooth. This aids the best bond and the most successful outcome. It also helps create your natural-looking smile.

If you are looking to repair the look and strength of your teeth, look no further. Schedule an appointment in our Somerville, NJ office by calling (908) 725-0400 or schedule at our Neshanic Station, NJ office by calling (908) 782-4418. Appointments may also be made on our Bridge Smiles Dental Group, P.A. website, www.bridgesmilesdental.com. 

Flossing with Braces

As our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. will tell you, flossing can be difficult when you have braces, but it’s more important than ever to keep the gaps in your teeth clean when you have a mouth full of metal. Many folks who have braces don’t know how to floss with them or think that they can’t floss at all if they have braces and this is not true. We already taught you how to brush with braces, so it’s only fair that we share some tips for flossing effectively and keeping those brackets and wires clean.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, 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.