Bridges at Family Dental Care

If you’ve had one tooth or multiple teeth extracted due to damage, decay or disease, it is important to have the resulting gap filled or your remaining teeth can shift out of position and become susceptible to further decay. One way to replace your missing tooth or teeth and prevent this shifting is with a dental bridge.

Called a bridge because a prosthetic tooth is suspended between two crowns to fill in the missing space, this natural-looking tooth structure is usually made from gold, metal, alloys or porcelain to ensure a strong and durable smile that can last for many years.

The process of creating a bridge usually takes two visits to our office in Covington, WA. During your first visit, Dr. K. Singh will create abutments out of the existing teeth on both sides of your gap. This is where the bridge’s crowns will be attached. After the abutments are in place, a mold is made of your mouth for creating the bridge, which will fit and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. 

While you wait for the bridge to be fabricated in the lab, you will receive a temporary device for your convenience. Then, once the permanent device is completed, you will return to our office to have the crowns fixed to the abutments with an adhesive. The pontic between the crowns forms the bridge and replace your missing tooth or teeth.

To schedule an appointment at Family Dental Care, call (253) 239-3699. For more information, please visit www.singhcovingtondentalcare.com.       

Emergency Dental with Dr. K. Singh

There are a variety of factors that can cause pain in your teeth. While tooth decay is the most common cause in both children and adults, infections, gum disease, facial trauma, teeth grinding and an abnormal bite can also be factors. If you have experienced pain in your teeth for more than two days or have swelling and abnormally red gums, it is important to get a complete oral examination to determine the cause. This pain would be considered a dental emergency, and Dr. K. Singh can help to restore your oral health.

Pain in your teeth can arise for a variety of reasons, and you might not always know why. Sometimes pain can come on suddenly if pieces of food come in contact with a decayed area of your tooth or if heat or cold create pressure near your nerve. Additionally, losing a filling or crown can expose your nerve and cause pain.

If your tooth pain worsens over time, you may have food that is stuck between you tooth and gum. This can occur if you do not brush and floss well enough, allowing bacteria to multiply in this area and for infection to develop. This infection can then develop into an abscess, which develops at the root of the tooth in the bone or in the gums. If not treated, it can be incredibly painful and harmful to your health. If your tooth pain is accompanied by a bad smell or taste, it is very likely an abscess.

Whichever the cause of your pain, you shouldn’t try to ignore it, especially if is persistent or severe. Family Dental Care in Covington, WA can provide you the emergency dental care you need.

To schedule an emergency appointment, call (253) 239-3699. Our office is open on Saturdays. For more information, please visit www.singhcovingtondentalcare.com.

Dental Crowns at Family Dental Care in Covington, WA

Crowns are used to protect and strengthen teeth that have become extremely weak, decayed or fractured. Covering your affected tooth and restoring it to its original shape and size, dental crowns (sometimes called caps) can help reduce pain, save your tooth from needing to be extracted and keep your smile beautiful and functional. At our office in Covington, WA, we can see if a crown is necessary to save your smile.

Over time, as your teeth begin to weaken, they become more susceptible to problems, including decay, cracks and discoloration. Crowns are usually only necessary if decay has reached the point where the tooth structure is compromised. When a crown is installed at Family Dental Care, Dr. K. Singh first removes the decay from the tooth and uses a core build-up to insulate the nerve and create a surface for bonding the crown to. An impression is then made of this surface so that crown can be custom fitted. Then the crown is fabricated in a lab, a process that can take between two to three weeks. Once it is fabricated, Dr. Singh will cement the crown onto the tooth.

Usually made of porcelain or porcelain fused to metal, dental crowns are made incredibly strong to protect the remaining tooth structure, and the custom fit ensures that the seam between tooth and crown is miniscule, which helps protect the tooth from further decay.

If you’re experiencing pain in one of your teeth, stop by our office to see if a crown can save your smile. Schedule an appointment by calling (253) 239-3699. For more information, visit www.singhcovingtondentalcare.com.  

Mini Dental Implants with Dr. K. Singh

While dental implants are a great solution for replacing missing teeth, in Covington, WA, we use mini dental implants as an effective alternative in situations where regular implants cannot be used, such as in narrow spaces. Roughly half the size in diameter as conventional implants, mini implants are often used to replace smaller teeth in the mouth, as well as serve as a base for dentures.

Because mini implants are so small, often no incision is needed to place them in the gums. They can usually be inserted by Dr. K. Singh through the gum and into the bone directly, which eliminates much of the recovery time and allows the restoration to be placed immediately or shortly after. Like regular implants, mini implants are made of titanium and prevent the jaw from deteriorating after teeth have been removed.

When used for dentures, four to six mini implants are placed along the gum line, and an entire set of uppers or lowers can be attached directly to the gums, which is advantageous to the patient since, unlike adhesive, implants do not shift or slip. This makes dentures more comfortable while eating, speaking and smiling.

If you want to know if implants or mini implants are the right solution for your missing teeth, call (253) 239-3699 to schedule an appointment. For more information about Family Dental Care, please visit www.singhcovingtondentalcare.com.