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If you have missing teeth and need restorative work done, orthodontics and implants can work hand in hand to achieve your desired result. There are different scenarios that could require an implant before an orthodontic appliance or vice versa. Your case will be unique and Dr. Hudis will design the best plan for you. Here are some of the ways implants and orthodontics can work together to give you your smile back:

Implants provide anchorage for orthodontic appliances: For an orthodontic application to be effective it needs to be able to put sufficient torque on your teeth to move them. If you have several missing teeth there won't be anything for the appliance to anchor to.

This is where an implant can be used. If you replace the missing teeth with dental implants, you then have a sturdy anchor on which you can place braces or any other orthodontic appliance needed to correct the malocclusion.

Orthodontic appliances can be used to create space for an implant: When you have a missing tooth, surrounding teeth tend to drift and tip which doesn't leave an ideal space for a dental implant. However, we can use orthodontics to correct the space where the tooth was, positioning the adjacent teeth so as to make a perfect space for the implant. In the end, this correction lends to better hygiene, function, and aesthetics.

Mini implants can be used to close spaces: Mini implants can also be used to close spaces if you have a missing tooth or teeth. The mini implant or implants (a small titanium pin) are placed directly into the jaw and are used as an anchorage device to achieve the desired orthodontic result.

A combination of orthodontics and dental implants at our Princeton, NJ office may be what's needed to restore the form and function of your natural teeth.

Happy April from Princeton Restoratives & Implant Dentistry. Spring is the season for growth and Dr. Hudis and the team will continue to provide the most comprehensive dental care for our patients and encourage good oral hygiene habits. We are looking forward to our Annual Spring Luncheon at Dr. Hudis' house while still following CDC guidelines! We haven't enjoyed this staff get together since COVID-19 began!

At the beginning of April, the 4th-10th, we recognized National Dental Hygienists Week by thanking our own Amy and Maria for their commitment and dedication to our patients! Coming up soon, we will celebrate and recognize National Prosthodontists Awareness Week from April 19 through April 24. Through this time and beyond we will strive to make our patients aware of the unique specialty that is Prosthodontics and the important skills involved and the education required. This is what Dr. Hudis has been specially trained to do!

At this time, we will continue to follow strict guidelines issued by the CDC and inform our patients as any changes take place. We are requesting that our patients please call when they arrive for their appointments, and wear a mask upon entry to our practice! We will continue to screen for COVID symptoms, take temperatures, and conduct a pulse oxygen test. Thank you for complying.

We will also continue to emphasize to our patients the importance of oral health and how it’s connected to their general state of wellbeing. The secret to excellent oral hygiene care is: FLOSS, FLOSS, FLOSS. Another integral part of your oral hygiene is making sure you see us for regular check-ups. Call our office today to schedule your next appointment with us!

You might not realize it but how you store your toothbrush matters! A great way patients can make sure their toothbrush stays fresh and clean is to allow your toothbrush to air dry after rinsing it thoroughly. This will help to reduce exposure to bacteria and changing it every three months will assure that it is functioning properly. A clean toothbrush is a happy toothbrush!

We are giving our patients a complimentary knapsack for their personal use this spring and summer! We are consistently looking for ways to thank our patients for trusting their oral care to us. Visit our office soon to pick up your own knapsack.

We hope everyone is having a lovely start to their spring! We hope to see you in our office again soon.

A dental crown, otherwise known as a cap, covers an infected tooth and can vary in function, depending on the position of the tooth. Crowns cover all the visible parts of a tooth and vary in size, appearance, and functionality.

A crown can be used to protect a weak tooth from breaking, hold together an already broken or worn tooth, cover the tooth with a large filling or dental implant, hold a dental bridge in place, or support a cosmetic modification.

Several types of crowns are available, depending on the tooth to be treated. Stainless-steel crowns are used on permanent teeth, usually as temporary measures in children because they’re more cost-effective for baby teeth that naturally come out over time.

Metal crowns are another option that includes gold alloys, or base-metal alloys. Metal crowns are notable for their ability to withstand biting forces, rarely break or chip, and therefore offer the best results in terms of normal wear and tear.

Porcelain fused to metal crowns most closely resemble a normal tooth and are a good choice for front or back teeth. Other, less common types include all-resin, all-ceramic, all-porcelain, and zirconia crowns.

If you’re getting a crown, you can expect a few things during your visit with Dr. Hudis. Crown placement usually requires two appointments. The first entails preparation to get an impression of the tooth, shape it, and place a temporary crown. The impression is sent to a lab where a technician makes the crown to be fitted.

During the second appointment, the high-quality porcelain crown is placed on the problematic tooth.  

If you notice any signs of discomfort in your mouth, always let Dr. Hudis know by calling our Princeton, NJ office. We will determine which type of crown is best for your tooth to give it the added strength it needs. Crowns can be very helpful for your oral health if you have any teeth that need extra support.

Some foods are just terrible for your teeth — think cookies and candy bars — but there are certain foods that are beneficial to your oral health. Below, Dr. Hudis and our team have covered five of the top foods to keep your teeth and gums healthy!

1. Crispy, low-acid fruits and vegetables: Fruits like apples and vegetables such as carrots and celery act like “natural toothbrushes,” helping to clear plaque from your teeth and freshen your breath.

2. Kiwis: These little green superstars are packed with vitamin C which is essential for gum health. The collagen in your gums is strengthened when you consume foods that are high in vitamin C, like kiwis, thus helping to prevent periodontal problems.

3. Raw onions: Onions have long been studied for their antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Proliferation of bacteria is what leads to tooth decay and cavities. By including raw onions in your diet, you'll be doing your part to wipe out those little microbes before they can multiply!

4. Shiitake Mushrooms: A specific compound in shiitake mushrooms, lentinan, has been shown to have antibacterial properties that target the microbes that cause cavities while leaving other beneficial bacteria alone. It may also help prevent gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums.

5. Green Tea: Often lauded for its high antioxidant content and many health benefits, it turns out green tea also benefits your oral health! A Japanese study found men who drank green tea on a regular basis had a lower occurrence of periodontal disease compared to men who drank green tea infrequently. It's believed this is due to the catechins in green tea, a type of flavonoid that may help protect you from free radical damage, but more research needs to be done. Either way, drink up for your overall health, as well as your teeth!

If you have any questions about your oral health, or are looking for even more oral health tips, contact our Princeton, NJ office!