Night Guards

Dental Lab Direct, Inc.

TempoBridge™ Temporary Bridges

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TempoBridge®

Dental Bridge

If you have a missing tooth, a bridge will be custom made to fill in the space with a false tooth. The false tooth is attached by the bridge to the two other teeth around the space - bridging them together. How is dental bridge accomplished? Your cosmetic dentist will prepare your teeth on either side of the space for the false tooth. You will be given a mild anesthetic to numb the area, and the cosmetic dentist will remove the an area of each abutment (teeth on either side of the space) to accommodate for the thickness of the crown. When these teeth already have fillings, part of the filling may be left in place to help as a foundation for the crown. The dentist will then make an impression, which will serve as the model from which the bridge, false tooth and crowns will be made by a dental laboratory. A temporary bridge will be placed for you to wear while your bridge is being made until your next visit. This temporary bridge will serve to protect your teeth and gums. Your cosmetic dentist may have you use a Flipper appliance. A Flipper is a false tooth to temporarily take the place of a missing tooth before the permanent bridge is placed. A Flipper can be attached via either a wire or a plastic piece that fits in the roof of your mouth. Flippers are meant to be a temporary solution while awaiting the permanent bridge. On your second appointment, the temporary bridge will be removed. Your new permanent bridge will be fitted and checked and adjusted for any bite discrepancies. Your new bridge will then be cemented to your teeth.

Who is a candidate for dental bridges?

If you have missing teeth and have good oral hygiene practices, you should discuss this procedure with your cosmetic dentist. If spaces are left unfilled, they may cause the surrounding teeth to drift out of position. Additionally, spaces from missing teeth can cause your other teeth and your gums to become far more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a false tooth, known as a pontic, which is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding it in place that are attached onto your teeth on each side of the false tooth. This is known as a fixed bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures.

In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever bridge may be used. Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space. Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease, help correct some bite issues and even improve your speech. Bridges require your commitment to serious oral hygiene, but will last as many ten years or more.

Dental Bridge

Overview of dental bridge procedure

If you a space from a missing tooth, a bridge will be custom made to fill in the space with a false tooth. The false tooth is attached by the bridge to the two other teeth around the space - bridging them together.

How is dental bridge accomplished?

Your cosmetic dentist will prepare your teeth on either side of the space for the false tooth. You will be given a mild anesthetic to numb the area, and the cosmetic dentist will remove the an area of each abutment (teeth on either side of the space) to accommodate for the thickness of the crown. When these teeth already have fillings, part of the filling may be left in place to help as a foundation for the crown.

The dentist will then make an impression, which will serve as the model from which the bridge, false tooth and crowns will be made by a dental laboratory. A temporary bridge will be placed for you to wear while your bridge is being made until your next visit. This temporary bridge will serve to protect your teeth and gums.

Your cosmetic dentist may have you use a Flipper appliance. A Flipper is a false tooth to temporarily take the place of a missing tooth before the permanent bridge is placed. A Flipper can be attached via either a wire or a plastic piece that fits in the roof of your mouth. Flippers are meant to be a temporary solution while awaiting the permanent bridge.

On your second appointment, the temporary bridge will be removed. Your new permanent bridge will be fitted and checked and adjusted for any bite discrepancies. Your new bridge will then be cemented to your teeth.

Dental Bridges Costs

How much do dental bridges cost?

The average cost of a single fixed bridge depends on many factors, from which region you're in to how many and which type of bridges are needed. Typically dental bridge cost ranges from $500-900 per tooth. Dental insurance typically pays for about half of the cost of the bridge. This is a cost per tooth in the bridge, and doesn't include the costs for any anchoring crowns on either side of the bridge.

In the case of a Maryland type bridge, costs range from $250 to $550 for each attaching wing and $600 to $1200 for each false tooth or pontic.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Dental Bridges

Pros and Cons of a Dental Bridge

Advantages of dental bridges:

Bridges are natural in appearance, and usually require only two visits to your dentist. If you maintain good oral hygiene, your fixed bridge should last as many as ten years or more.

Disadvantages of having a dental bridge:

It is common for your teeth to be mildly sensitive to extreme temperatures for a few weeks after the treatment. The build up of bacteria formed from food acids on your teeth and gums can become infected if proper oral hygiene is not followed.

Personal Stories: Dental Bridges

I turned forty last year, and have enjoyed playing softball since I was a kid. One drawback to the sport is the occasional hit from a ball. Several years ago I lost two teeth from such a mishap, and had worn a partial. I found the partial to be a bit embarrassing at my age, but my dentist had discussed no other option with me.

Frustrated that I was stuck with this thing for the rest of my life, I started doing some research, which was hard to come by. And when I did discover information on alternatives, I didn't understand it. As many of you who are now visiting this site already know, such matters are not easy to speak with family or friends about. After visiting this site, I soon understood that I had a few options to remedy the spaces in my mouth.

I located a Certified Cosmetic Dentist and discussed these options, including the fact that I wanted to avoid the more costly procedures, such as implants. His immediate solution was placing two bridges.

It only took two appointments over two weeks, and I had a terrific smile again. Chris, thanks for the site!

Gerry, New Hampshire

Determining the color for your dental bridge?

When considering dental bridges a common question is how white the dental bridge should be. Usually, the answer is to whiten your natural teeth to either the level of whiteness you want or to the brightest they can be. Your cosmetic dentist will then have the dental bridge made to that color. Teeth are of course not monochromatic, so typically more than one color is used to create a very natural look. This color variation is critical in avoiding fake or artificial looking teeth. It is the internal contrast of colors that help create vitality. The internal play of light on the porcelain in the restoration helps to create this vitality. Surface texture is also very important, and helps to break up light reflections and make the dental bridge look more natural. Depending on the type of dental bridge you're considering, it's important that the crowns anchoring the bridge match both the dental bridge and the color of your natural teeth.

There is no one standard system in the dental field to measure and determine tooth color. The most often heard about, however, is the Vita shade guide. This guide divides tooth color into four basic shade ranges:

A (reddish brown)

B (reddish yellow)

C (gray)

D (reddish gray).

In the A range there are five levels of darkness. Ranges B, C and D, each have four levels.

Not all of your teeth are the same natural color. Usually your eye teeth tend to be darker than the others, your front teeth are typically the whitest, and molars tend to be a shade between the two. The goal for everyone is to achieve their individual optimum whiteness while still looking natural.

Most dentists will show you a shade chart (like the above mentioned Vita Shade Guide) for you to pick from. Keep in mind, with a good cosmetic dentist this is merely a starting point. Other considerations when determining the color of dental bridges for each patient are your complexion, hair color, the color of your natural teeth and even your eye color.

Dental Bridge Discussion

Our message area devoted to discussing cosmetic dentistry provides you with a forum for the exchange of information with others who are interested in dental bridges. The cosmetic dentistry forum allows you to ask questions, get answers, give and receive advice and to get support from other dental bridges patients and prospective patients.

Dental Bridge Basics

A bridge created by a cosmetic dentist is completely metal-free . . . creating a natural looking smile.

Description of Procedure:

A dental bridge (or pontic) is a custom-made false tooth or teeth, that is permanently placed between two healthy teeth, filling in the area left by a missing tooth or teeth. The bridge is held in place by porcelain crowns placed on the healthy teeth on each side of space to be filled.

A bridge created by a cosmetic dentist is completely metal-free. As a result, the bridge absorbs light, creating a natural looking smile. (Bridges made of porcelain fused to metal actually reflect light, creating an "unnatural" look for the tooth or teeth.)

Bridges reduce the risk of gum disease, limit the shifting of remaining teeth, help correct some bite problems and help improve speech.

How It's Done

The dentist will first administer an anesthetic to numb the area. Then, a minimal amount of tooth structure will be removed from the teeth on either side of the space to be filled by the new tooth or teeth. This material is removed to provide the needed space for the new crowns.

An impression of the area will be made. This impression will be sent to a dental laboratory, serving as a model from which the bridge will be created.

The patient will then be fitted with a temporary bridge. At the next visit, when the permanent bridge is ready, the temporary bridge will be removed. The new bridge will be fitted and adjusted for perfect fit and comfort. The new bridge will then be bonded to the teeth.

Technology:

No advanced technology is necessary to create a bridge.

Recovery Expectations:

Both the preparation and placement of the temporary bridge as well as the bonding of the permanent bridge may cause some minor tenderness in the area. Ibuprofen can reduce the symptoms.

Complications:

There are no known complications associated with the use of a bridge.

Am I a Candidate:

If you have a missing tooth or teeth, you are a candidate for a dental bridge.

Cost:

The cost of a bridge depends on the number of units involved. Typically there is a fee per tooth, including the anchoring teeth on each side. For example, if a patient needed a three unit bridge (one missing tooth, two anchoring teeth), and the cost per tooth was $1,000, then the bridge cost would be $3,000. The cost per tooth depends on the lab fees, skill, training and location of the dentist.

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and coming soon...

~SilenSnor® brand Sports Mouthpiece Anti-snoring device~

What is the SilenSnor®?

SilenSnor® is an oral appliance that resembles an athletic mouthpiece. Small and flexible, it has no moving parts, masks, hoses, or batteries. SilenSnor® is made from sterile thermoplastic. It is easy to clean with a regular toothbrush.

How is the SilenSnor® fitted?

ENT’s (or otolaryngology specialists, as they are known to those who can spell) are not the only ones to treat snoring. Your dentist can help too, and may suggest a special type of night mouth guard. The SilenSnor® is fitted either by a dentist, or you may take the impressions yourself! It takes one simple, painless visit to the dental examination room, or you may order the same mold impression thermoplastic from www.neonbrite.com for a fraction of the cost a dentist would charge for taking an impression. There are no needles, no drugs, no tools in your mouth, no lab work or X-rays required. You or your dentist will prepare a blank SilenSnor® form by placing it in water and bringing it to a boil for 15 to 30 seconds. This softens the thermoplastic parts of the SilenSnor®. In 15 seconds it is cool enough to fit. You or the dentist centers the mouthpiece to your upper teeth and pushes up firmly, inserting your teeth into the soft, warm plastic. Then you bite into the thermoplastic at the bottom of the mouthpiece. Your lower jaw is in a normal position, not advanced. In about 30 seconds, the thermoplastic becomes firm and the mouthpiece can be removed from your mouth. Excess thermoplastic is scalloped/trimmed from the top and bottom so that the SilenSnor® fits comfortably.

How does SilenSnor® work?

SilenSnor® is worn during sleep. It uses normal body reflexes to keep the airway open. The device fits snugly on the upper teeth. When the lower jaw closes, the lower teeth close onto the lower ramp of the SilenSnor. This keeps the jaw in a normal position, rather than sagging open and back. In addition, the tongue reflexively seeks the small center orifice between the upper and lower ramp. This reflex keeps if from sagging back into the throat. With the airway open, breathing is relaxed and normal during sleep.

How effective is the SilenSnor®?

Although Scotty has never actually manufactured and tested one of these devices, here are some testimonials from a similar anti-snoring device.

"Though my wife complained of snoring, especially when I returned from a Sydney or Hong Kong flight, I realized I had a problem (and set out to correct it) when my snoring woke my daughter up, through two closed doors. "With no changes in my life style, using the Snore Guard, I now wake up (after 7 hours sleep) at 6-7 am, well rested." - United Airlines Captain

Users of Snore Guard report significant improvement of sleep quality, and a return of symptoms when it's not used.

99% reported reduced snoring and 50% reported elimination of snoring ("Oral Appliances for the Treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Review," Schmidt-Nowara, et. al., Sleep, Vol. 18, No. 6, March 1995, pages 501-510).

80% reported decreased sleep disturbance with treatment ("Treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with a Dental Orthosis," Schmidt-Norwara, et. al., Sleep, November 1990).

"Anti-snore device works: Product Name Snore Guard." A study of 75 people wearing the device showed snoring improved in all patients except one, and sleep quality and sleepiness also improved. (Clinical Research Associates Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 12, December 1992, page 4)

How much does SilenSnor® cost?

$150.00 for U.S. Customers, (Texas residents add 8.25% sales tax). NeonBrite's SilenSnor costs less than other medical snoring treatments, which can run hundreds of dollars. SilenSnor is available only through www.neonbrite.com & your dentist; ask your dentist for their exact price.

***We are sorry but the U.S. Federal Drug Administration has ruled that we are no longer able to supply customers, in the United States only, with the SilenSnor® Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece, the inexpensive, easy solution to eliminating snoring. The FDA believes that if you had obstructive sleep apnea but didn't know it, you would be relieved of it as a side benefit of using the SilenSnor® Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece to eliminate your snoring. They believe if you did this without your doctor's or dentist's help, you might be at risk of not knowing you have sleep apnea. Unfortunately the SilenSnor® Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece, which is designed to relieve snoring, also reduces the severity of sleep apnea on many people like other expensive custom mandibular advancement devices made by doctors and dentists. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition and should be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. If you are a repeat customer, you are no doubt very disappointed at your inability to resume the normal life that you have grown to appreciate now that snoring no longer afflicts you.

Because of this setback, we have found a new use for the former SilenSnor® Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece. It is now the SilenSnor® brand Sport Mouthpiece Anti-snoring device. One person has commented, "He likes his teeth protected when he dreams he is a Doberman pincher".

Warning! Snoring may be hazardous to your health!

Your body needs about 7-8 hours of undisturbed sleep each night to allow you to have a good day. If yours or your partners snoring awaken you continually, you suffer from all sorts of unpleasant things...don’t you.

You can fall asleep at the wheel

You may be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (see your doctor soon!)

You are typically irritable

You may be falling asleep in classes

You may be sleeping in another room

Many doctors will tell you that the most successful methods to eliminate snoring are jaw positioners or CPAP machines. Surgery (both conventional and laser) is falling out of favor due to the rather low success rate and adverse effects (see The Vancouver Sleep and Breathing website for more). Somnoplasty (Radio Frequency probe) is promising but no long-term studies exist.

I had throat surgery and that didn't stop the snoring. I discovered that I had apnea. The doctors recommended a C-pap machine. I tried the SnorBan mouthpiece and discovered that the mouthpiece not only eliminated my snoring, but the sleep apnea disappeared as well. I've been using the product for over three years now and I am completely satisfied. Would I recommend it to my friends and family? You can bet on it.

Don K. Gilroy California

CPAP sells for around $1,200, and Somnoplasty usually costs from $2,000 - $5,000. Many sleep disorder clinics will recommend that you start with an oral appliance like SilenSnor. If this method works for you, your search is over, if not you can move up to a CPAP machine or Somnoplasty. SilenSnor® is the ideal place to start. We even offer a 30-day unconditional return policy so you can't lose!

SilenSnor® works so easily that you'll wonder why you didn't do it years ago. It works by inserting it into your mouth, over your teeth, much like a sports mouthpiece*. It gently holds your lower jaw slightly forward while you sleep. This opens the airway in your throat and allows the rushing air in your throat to slow down. Slower air doesn't vibrate the loose tissue and stops the snoring sound.

Sports mouthpiece devices -- also known as dental appliances, or mandibular advancement splints -- have been effective for many people who snore, including those suffering from mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea. They are usually small plastic devices worn in the mouth during sleep to prevent the soft throat tissues from collapsing and obstructing the airway. They do this by bringing your lower jaw forward and/or by lifting your soft palate. Some devices also stop the tongue from falling back over your windpipe.

Your dentist will usually be the one to fit these special appliances to meet your individual condition. Typically they will take a mold of your mouth and then either send off for a custom nightguard or fashion it themselves.

You can find a dentist who specializes in sleep dentistry at the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine website. But before you go for a multi-hundred dollar solution, try a less expensive nightguard device that you can order over the Internet and fit yourself. The FDA seems to have colluded with dentists in making mouthpieces a prescription item -- so you'll either have to order from www.neonbrite.com or talk your dentist into writing you a prescription for a cheaper device. You can also buy athletic mouthguards without a prescription -- for example, the Brain Pad.

Do mouthpieces work?

A recent study in Switzerland found oral appliances effective in treating sleep apnea. Side effects were only "mildly disturbing": mucosal dryness (86% of patients), tooth discomfort (59%), and excessive salivation (55%).

A similar study in the UK of 25 heavy snorers found that use of "mandibular advancement appliances," i.e., mouthpieces, was effective in reducing snoring loudness for 84 per cent of the subjects while 76 per cent said they were snoring on fewer nights per week.

Will mouthpieces mess up your beautiful smile?

No. Researchers in Sweden found few problems in patients, especially those using soft plastic mouthpieces. However they recommend that you always check back with your dentist after a few months to ensure that your appliance isn't causing unwanted orthodontic side effects.

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Have you ever been told that you grind your teeth? Maybe you need a grinding tooth guard. Tooth grinding (bruxism) is an oral habit which involves clenching and grinding the teeth. It is not uncommon in our society. Approximately 50% to 96% of adults experience bruxism. 15% of children acquire this behavior. Most often, this habit goes by unnoticed by the person. Bruxism can occur during the day or night.

What causes bruxism?

This condition has no specific cause, but is believed to be a combination of many factors, such as:

emotional stress

personalities characterized as aggressive, controlling, precise, or who have time urgency and achievement compulsion tend to develop bruxism

malocclusion (teeth are not aligned properly)

children whose parents brux are more likely to develop this habit than children whose parents do not brux

Signs of bruxism:

tooth wear, fractures of the teeth and fillings, especially on the front teeth

grinding noise noticed by a sleeping partner

facial muscle pain and fatigue

locking, cracking, and clicking of the jaws

headaches

tooth mobility

sensitive teeth

Bruxism treatment:

your oral health professional, your dental hygienist or dentist can make you aware of the habit and suggest behavioral therapies to stop the bruxism

stress reduction and coping techniques can be initiated to reduce the emotional stress you may be experiencing

a removable intra-oral appliance can be made for you. The grinding tooth guard protects the teeth from the forces of clenching or grinding the teeth together. A bruxism mouth guard or nightguard is more practical for treating the night bruxer than for those who have daytime clenching and grinding habits.

If you think you may be experiencing this oral problem, see your oral health professional.

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