What are Fastbraces?

Have you ever wanted a straighter smile that didn’t require years to move teeth into place? At Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A., we offer a solution called Fastbraces that do just that. Traditional braces are usually square in shape and typically move the crown of the tooth in the first year, and the root of the tooth towards its final position in the second year, thus requiring about two years of treatment. Meanwhile, Fastbraces technology gently allows for movement of the roots of the teeth towards their final position from the onset of treatment, thus completing treatment from three months to about a year.

With safety in mind, Fastbraces technology was developed to straighten teeth differently – allowing for a fast, safe and affordable solution. Your journey will begin after scheduling a consultation with one of our dentists. During this consultation, the doctor will take radiographs and pictures of your teeth. This will help them create a customized plan for you.

If you desire a straighter smile, give us a call to discuss your orthodontic options. To learn more about Fastbraces as well as other services we provide, 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.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous oxide sometimes called “laughing gas” is one option our dentists at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. may offer to help make you more comfortable during certain procedures. Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose and helps you relax. If a visit to the dentist’s office makes you cringe, or you simply wish to remove the discomfort from a professional cleaning, we are here to make you as calm as possible.

Receiving nitrous oxide as a form of sedation is the only type that allows you to drive yourself home after the procedure. It is not intended to put you to sleep, and you will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions the dentist may have. Overall, you may feel light-headed or a tingling sensation in your arms and legs, but the effects of nitrous oxide will wear off soon after the mask is removed.

If you suffer from dental fear, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about sedation options as well as the services we provide, 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.

Scaling and Root Planing Heals Your Gums

If you have a severe case of gum disease, our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. may recommend a non-surgical procedure called scaling and root planing. Perhaps you’ve been neglecting your oral hygiene, or you just haven’t been removing plaque well enough. Whatever the case, over time, dental plaque will slither below the gum line, forming “pockets” between the teeth and gums. The larger these pockets grow, the worse gum disease gets.

Scaling and root planing are common nonsurgical techniques that may prevent the need for more serious procedures in the future, such as periodontal surgery or a root canal. Scaling involves the dentist or hygienist using a hook shaped tool (dental scaler) to remove the plaque and tartar from below the gum line while root planing uses special tools to smooth rough spots on the tooth roots. This process not only removes bacteria and helps reduce plaque buildup, but it provides a smooth surface to reattach to the teeth.

If you have gum disease, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about scaling and root planing as well as the services we provide, 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.

Benefits of Traditional Braces

Orthodontics is a specialty discipline of dentistry that focuses on alignment of the teeth and jaws to improve a person’s smile and oral health. Fortunately for our patients, Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. offers a wide variety of options for straightening teeth, but today we are going to discuss the benefits of the good old fashioned traditional braces.

Traditional braces are the most effective type of braces for treating complex cases such as overcrowding and overbites. In their entirety, they work by applying continuous pressure over a period of time to slowly move teeth in a specific direction. In addition, traditional braces give our doctors the control they need to move the teeth in small increments at a time. The main reason you may opt out of this orthodontic route is the metal mouth appearance, but we’d like you to know that today’s braces are more visually appealing than ever before. With a range of color options for both the brackets and the elastics, these little details allow our patients the chance to express themselves.

If you are searching for a straighter smile, give us a call to discuss your orthodontic options. To learn more about traditional braces as well as the services we provide, 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.

What is a Dental Sealant?

Dental sealants act as a barrier to prevent cavities. They are a plastic material usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars) where decay occurs most often. Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are candidates for sealants. At Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. we offer pediatric sealants, however, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can benefit from sealants as well.

Although brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from the surfaces of teeth, they cannot always get into all the grooves of the back teeth to remove the food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by “sealing out” these particles. Sealants can last for up to 10 years with proper care and are applied in a very simple and painless process.  

To learn more about the dental sealant application process give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide, 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.

Straighten Your Teeth Invisibly with Invisalign

At Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. we offer a wide variety of options for straightening your teeth, but in this post we are specifically going to discuss Invisalign treatment. Invisalign uses a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you, without the discomfort of “metal mouth.” These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth for approximately 22 hours a day. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements our dentists plan out for you. There are no metal brackets and no wires to tighten.

Because the trays are removable, you can continue doing all the things you normally would, from brushing and flossing to eating whatever you like. Depending on your treatment you will have a certain number of aligners. You will wear each set of aligners for about two weeks removing them only for the purposes above. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little, week by week, until they have straightened to their final position. You’ll visit us about once every six weeks to ensure that treatment is progressing as planned. Treatment time varies depending on the patient.

If you are searching for a straighter smile, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide, 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.

The Proper Flossing Technique

Floss removes plaque and debris that adhere to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces and controls bad breath. By flossing your teeth daily, you increase the chances of keeping your teeth for a lifetime and decrease your chance of having periodontal (gum) disease and tooth decay. The main purpose of flossing isn’t to remove food from the teeth. It’s to get rid of plaque. At Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A we’ve heard the excuse, “I don’t know how to floss,” but we’re here to put an end to it by providing you with the proper flossing technique.

• Wind 18 inches of floss around middle fingers of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a one-to-two-inch length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.


• Keep a one-to-two-inch length of floss controlled between fingers. Use index fingers to glide floss between contacts of the lower teeth.


• Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion and be sure to contour floss around the side of the tooth.

If you need assistance maintaining your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide, 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.