The Difference Between Dental Bridges

What’s a dental bridge? It’s a single unit that replaces one or more missing teeth by attaching a prosthetic to teeth adjacent to the missing tooth (or teeth). Pretty simple right? You’re missing a tooth, so you put in a bridge. End of story. Right…..?

Well, not exactly. Not all bridges are made the same. Some are made from noble metals (like gold), some are made from “silver” metals, some are made from metal with white porcelain fused on top (these are the most common currently), and some are biocompatible and completely metal free.

Then there’s the “construction” type. Do the attachments act like crowns and completely cover the adjacent teeth? Does the dentist cut away a large portion of healthy teeth on either side in order to place a bridge? Are there more conservative bridges that conserve more teeth? The answer is “yes” to all of the above.

Choosing the Right Bridge for You:

At The Center for Natural Dentistry in Encinitas, we only place metal-free, biocompatible bridges. We are a holistic dental practice in San Diego County, and our focus is on doing work that’s good for your mouth and your body. That means that we always strive to create the strongest, most conservative bridges possible. In most cases, this results in a biocompatible onlay bridge or inlay bridge. While metal bridges are certainly strong, they can actually be too strong, causing the tooth to weaken under the bridge and eventually leading to the loos of the tooth (does this pattern sound familiar: You have a cavity, fill it with an amalgam filling. Decay forms around the filling. Filling is redone. More decay. Root Canal. Root Canal fails, so you get a crown. Crown fails, so you have the tooth pulled and get a metal bridge. Teeth holding the bridge decay and need to be pulled. Metal dentures replace the missing teeth. Metal often causes future dental problems and can sometimes lead to other systemic and acute health problems).

So what’s the answer? A bridge that is strong, forgiving, esthetically pleasing, metal-free, and doesn’t unnecessarily and expressively remove healthy teeth.

That’s exactly what we do at our Encinitas holistic dental practice. We make strong, metal-free onlay and inlay bridges that conserve surrounding teeth because they require less material to anchor the bridge in. We make some of these bridges in a high-quality laboratory and some on our Cerec machine on the office. The result is less healthy tooth loss and a long-lasting, strong, biocompatible bridge.

So if inlay and onlay bridges are better, why do they sometimes cost more? Well, there are a variety of factors that go into the cost of a bridge. Materials used is a large part of it. The difficulty in properly placing a bridge so it will last and won’t create decay in the adjacent teeth is also part of it. The amount of skill and experience required to place an inlay bridge is often higher than that for a traditional bridge. As the old saying goes: you get what you pay for. If you want a bridge that will last a long time, will create a solid biting surface, won’t do necessary damage to the adjacent teeth, won’t cause harm to your overall health, and looks natural in your mouth (both along the gumline and in in conjunction with the surrounding teeth), then this is probably the type of bridge you are looking for.

Some pictures are below to illustrate exactly what an inlay bridge. This is one of the biocompatible inlay bridges made at our Encinitas holistic dental practice.

Welcome, New Patients!

Dr. Marvin, Encinitas Holistic Dentist

Thank you for choosing to become Dr. Marvin’s patient at The Center for Natural Dentistry in Encinitas!

We have created this page to help you prepare for you first visit to see us. Below you will find all the documents you need to fill out before your first visit, answers to some of our most frequently asked questions, important documents that many of our patients request, and much more.

STEP 1: PAPER WORK

Before you visit for the first time, we need you to print the following forms, fill them in completely, and bring them with you to your first appointment. This is very important to our office. We DO NOT double-book appointments. We do everything in our power to see our patients on time, and this is a vital step. The paperwork can take as long as 20 minutes to fill in completely. By completing it ahead of time, you help us see you on time and allow other patients to be seen on time, as well. (For more information about arriving late or rescheduling an appointment, please see our Cancellation/No-Show Policy, below)

• Medical History Form
• HIPAA Form
• Financial Policy Form

Cancellation / No-Show Policy: We do understand that things happen in life that may force you to change your plans. If an emergency arises that forces you to reschedule, we request that you let us know at least 48 hours in advance to allow another patient to be seen. If you do not show up for your appointment, show up more than 20 minutes late, or call less than 48 hours before your appointment, you will be charged a $50 cancellation/no-show fee. Please show us and all of our patients the same respect you would expect and make every effort to keep your appointment and arrive on time. Thank you

STEP 2: DIRECTIONS TO OUR DENTAL PRACTICE

To reach our practice, from Interstate 5:

• Exit Encinitas Blvd and head East
• Make a left turn on El Camino Real
• Turn up the steep driveway for 317 N El Camino Real (The building is on the hill. The sign at the street say El Camino Medical Dental)
• Park in the first spot you see. Our practice is is at the front corner of the first building at the top of the driveway.

For directions from anywhere else, please see the map, below:

Directions

STEP 3: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

QUESTION: Do You Take Insurance?
ANSWER: Yes and no. If you have a PPO or Indemnity plan that allows you to see the provider of your choice, we can probably help you with your insurance. To find out more about how we handle insurance and to see if you can use your insurance at our practice, please read our Insurance Guide. Regardless of your insurance situation, we require payment in advance for all services and, when applicable, we can help you maximize your reimbursement from your insurance company.

QUESTION: Do You Use Metals?
ANSWER: Not in the materials we use in your mouth. Some of our tools are metal, but none of the restorations we do contain metal. We can place metal-free, BPA-free composite fillings, metal-free crowns, metal-free bridges, and metal-free partial and full dentures. Onlays and inlays are also free from any metals.

QUESTION: What If I already Have Metal in My Mouth?
ANSWER: If you already have metal fillings or other metal restorations, we can safely remove the metals and replace them with metal-free, biocompatible materials on an as-needed basis. Not all mercury filling removals are the same (it can be a very dangerous procedure). We take extra precautions to keep you safe during the procedure, even going so far as to develop our own safe protocol that is above and beyond what is required (find out more about our Patient Protection Protocol for mercury filling removal here).

QUESTION: Are You More Expensive Than a “Traditional” Dentist?
ANSWER: Yes and no. We feel that our prices are commensurate with the quality and level of service you receive, and most of our patients would agree. While some of our services are more expensive than discount dental practices, we have also found that some of our services are less expensive. If you are shopping for your health based on price, we may not be the provider for you. But if you want safe, high quality dental care that can protect and improve your health, we believe you will find no better option than The Center for Natural Dentistry. Remember, just like in everything, you get what you pay for in dentistry. If you want cheap dental services, you can find it. If you want high quality work and top-notch services that gets the the root of your problems (preventing expensive future work), than you’ve come to the right place.

QUESTION: Who Does the Dental Work? Do You Have Associate Dentists or Hygienists?
ANSWER: Dr. Marvin does all your dental work, from exams and cleanings to extractions, bridges, and crowns. Dr. Marvin will be your dentist.

QUESTION: Can You Fix My Health Problems?
ANSWER: That’s a tricky question. We focus on getting to the root cause of your dental problems. During your first visit Dr. Marvin will conduct a thorough examination and begin to draw up a treatment plan based on what he found. We don’t try to hide or “mask” pain… we try to fix the problem that is causing the pain. For instance, if wisdom tooth hurts and you were told you need a root canal, we try to find out why that tooth hurts. Is it because of deep decay or is it because of the way you bite? A root canal will certainly eliminate the pain, but it may be unnecessary and may just be masking the root cause. The bottom line is this: we do everything we can to accurately diagnose and propose a treatment plan that will get you back on the path to complete oral wellness.

QUESTION: Are There Any Hidden Costs?
ANSWER: No. We do our best to outline all costs up front. The cost for your first visit should be outlined before you come in. If more diagnostics are necessary, we will let you know the cost before we proceed. Our treatment plans will outline everything we found and as many possible scenarios as we can find. In rare cases, we may find something after we begin treatment. We will do our best to always be up front and give you all associated costs and your options before proceeding.

QUESTION: What If I Have To Cancel or Reschedule My Appointment?
ANSWER: We do not double-book our appointments and many patients wait 2 weeks or more to come in for a visit. Out of respect for Dr. Marvin and his staff, along with the other patients who are waiting to come in, we request that you keep your appointment and show up on time. We do understand that things happen in life that may force you to change your plans. If an emergency arises that forces you to reschedule, we request that you let us know at least 48 hours in advance to allow another patient to be seen. If you do not show up for your appointment, show up more than 20 minutes late, or call less than 48 hours before your appointment, you will be charged a $50 cancellation/no-show fee. Please show us and all of our patients the same respect you would expect and make every effort to keep your appointment and arrive on time. Thank you.

STEP 4: VIDEOS

We believe the most overlooked item at other practices is education. Education is the key to making informed decisions and we want to provide you with every opportunity to educate yourself on your health before, during, and after your first appointment. One way we can do that is through videos. If you have the time, you may enjoy the videos below.

Rooted: The Truth About Root Canals

Dangers in Dentistry: The Hidden Dangers of Mercury Silver Fillings

You and Your Dentist… Is It A Healthy Relationship?

Episode 18 of Dangers in Dentistry originally aired on KPRZ in San Diego.

Do you know how often — and to what extent — you’re exposed to highly toxic elemental mercury? From fish to your teeth, the threat of mercury in your body is completely real, and relatively preventable… find out how to protect yourself in this week’s episode of Dangers in Dentistry.

Also in this episode, Dr. Marvin and guest expert Jared Young give you the inside knowledge you need on how the practice of dentistry can impact your overall well-being. They discuss the often confusing and sometimes frustrating relationship that exists between you and your dentist. Does your dentist listen to the requests you have about your health? And that doesn’t mean just your oral health, but your entire overall body health? Did you know that too many dentists and doctors may not spend enough time educating themselves on new techniques and new research available before they approach you?

Gain a new perspective on your health and relationship with your dentist in this week’s episode of Dangers in Dentistry, with America’s Holistic Dentist, Dr. Marvin.

Enjoy!
Dr. Marvin
San Diego, Encinitas Holistic and Natural Dentist

The Links Between a Healthy Pregnancy and Your Healthy Teeth

Episode 17 of Dangers in Dentistry, originally aired on KPRZ in San Diego.

We all know that mercury is dangerous for a developing fetus or young child (which is why the FDA warns against pregnant and/or nursing women consuming certain types of fish). But what about mercury that may already be in your mouth?

If you or someone you know is pregnant or nursing, you need to know the truth about the affects of mercury fillings during pregnancy (hint: if you’re thinking about becoming pregnant, visit the dentist before). You also should know about the affects of pregnancy on your teeth (for instance, did you know that many women develop tooth decay problems during and/or after pregnancy?).

Get the inside scoop on pregnancy and your teeth in this week’s episode of Dangers in Dentistry, with America’s Holistic Dentist, Dr. Marvin.

Enjoy!
Dr. Marvin
San Diego, Encinitas Holistic and Natural Dentist

What is Holistic Dentistry… and Why Should You Care?

Episode 16 of Dangers in Dentistry, originally aired on KPRZ in San Diego.

Holistic dentistry. It’s a term that gets tossed around a lot. But what does it actually mean? Is it just another fad or way to charge more? Well, this episode of Dangers in Dentistry will give you the answers you need to make an informed decision.

Holistic dentistry is science-based dentistry that looks at the mouth’s affect on the whole body. Rather than focusing on the topical problem, we seek out the root cause and develop treatment based on the idea that what goes into the mouth affects the body.

Find out more about holistic dentistry in this week’s episode of Dangers in Dentistry, with America’s Holistic Dentist, Dr. Marvin.

Enjoy!
Dr. Marvin
San Diego, Encinitas Holistic and Natural Dentist

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