What are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are commonly used to cover a space if you’re missing one or more teeth. Also known as a fixed removable denture, bridges can be supported in any of three ways: by natural teeth, by implants, or by a combination of teeth and implants. Bridges offer a variety of benefits such as restoring your smile and your ability to speak. If you want to replace missing teeth, but think dental implants are too invasive of a procedure, then Dr. Thomas Basora may recommend a dental bridge instead.

Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by these missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and TMJ disorders. There are three different types of dental bridges out there to fix this issue; however, traditional bridges are the most common. A traditional bridge is made by creating a crown for the teeth on either side of the space and placing a false tooth or teeth between the crowns. The false tooth or teeth are attached to the crowns and fill the empty space. Depending on your individualized treatment plan, Dr. Thomas Basora will suggest the type of bridge that is right for you.

If you are missing teeth give us a call to discuss your options. To learn about dental bridges and other services provided at the practice, visit www.sparksfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas Basora at Sparks Family Dentistry in Sparks, NV, call 775-359-3336.

Are Your Wisdom Teeth Causing You Pain?

Ever since we were babies our teeth have erupted in stages. First came our incisors, then canines, premolars and molars, and last but not least, wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are the final teeth to erupt and they generally appear when a person is in their late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth that only partially emerge or come in crooked can lead to painful crowding and infection. When this happens, Dr. Thomas Basora can perform a wisdom tooth extraction to eliminate the problem.

Routine x-rays during a dental exam can reveal if you will need to have your wisdom teeth removed. If a wisdom tooth doesn’t have room to grow, resulting in pain, infection or other dental problems, you’ll likely need to have it extracted. To remove the wisdom tooth, Dr. Thomas Basora will open up the gum tissue over the tooth and take out any bone that is covering the tooth. But not before he administers a local or general anesthetic. After the tooth is removed, you will receive stitches to seal the wound and post-op instructions.   

If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about wisdom teeth and other services provided at the practice, visit www.sparksfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas Basora at Sparks Family Dentistry in Sparks, NV, call 775-359-3336.

What is TMJ/TMD?

The temporomandibular joint is the jaw joint, and we have two that work together as a pair, one in front of each ear. The joints connect the lower jaw bone (the mandible) to the temporal bones of the skull on each side of the head which allow us to open and close are mouths. Problems with the jaw and the muscles in the face that control it are known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD). If you experience frequent pain in this joint, at Sparks Family Dentistry Dr. Thomas Basora can conduct a physical exam to correctly diagnose you.

Common symptoms include: pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouth wide. In addition, clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth are other factors that contribute to TMD. Dr. Thomas Basora can check your jaw joints for pain or tenderness and listen for clicks, pops or grating sounds when you move them. He’ll also make sure your jaw doesn’t lock when you open or close your mouth.

If you consistently wake up with jaw pain, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. If you have questions about TMJ syndrome, as well as other services provided at the practice, visit www.sparksfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas Basora at Sparks Family Dentistry in Sparks, NV, call 775-359-3336. 

Proper Flossing Technique

At Sparks Family Dentistry patients always have excuses as to why they aren’t flossing on a daily basis. The most common is, “My gums bleed when I floss.” Blood in the sink is an early sign of gingivitis and it is reversible with the simple act of flossing. Today we are putting an end to the excuses by providing patients with the proper flossing technique.

To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

If you have questions about oral hygiene as well as other services provided at the practice, visit www.sparksfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas Basora at Sparks Family Dentistry in Sparks, NV, call 775-359-3336. 

Lumineers for a Brand-New Smile

Ever wish you could have a brand-new smile? Well, it is possible. We offer Lumineers to our patients looking to improve the aesthetics of their smile here at Sparks Family Dentistry in Sparks, NV. Lumineers are a very thin version of porcelain veneers; shells that are bonded to the front of your existing teeth.

Lumineers are ultra-thin, which means that there is little preparation needed to be done on the teeth. In fact, Lumineers are completely reversible. They work by taking custom-created porcelain shells and bonding them to your teeth. They are durable enough so you can still eat all the foods you enjoy. They can remain durable and great-looking for over twenty years with good care.

Impressions, photos, and other information will be taken from your teeth and sent to a Lumineers laboratory where they will create a set of completely custom Lumineers for you. When they are ready, your teeth are very lightly etched to aid a strong bond, and the Lumineers are set into place.  

Lumineers are great for improving the look of gapped teeth, crooked teeth, misaligned teeth, cracked or chipped teeth, and even discolored teeth. They are stain resistant, so that brand-new white smile will last a long time. Lumineers do not require any special treatment; they just need to be cleaned like normal teeth.

If you are looking to flash a brand-new smile, Lumineers are the option for you! Schedule a Lumineers consultation with Sparks Family Dentistry in our Sparks, NV office by calling (773) 359-3336 or by visiting our website, www.sparksfamilydentistry.com.

Dental Implants to Last a Liftime

When teeth go missing, it is important to replace them as soon as possible. In addition to their role in chewing and speaking, teeth are what keep our jawline structured correctly and without them, the jawbone begins to deteriorate. For a permanent tooth replacement option, at Sparks Family Dentistry in Sparks, NV, we offer our patients dental implants.

Dental implants are a permanent solution, meaning that when taken care of, they can last a lifetime. They are surgically implanted so that they bond with the jawbone. This process makes them the closest to a real tooth as you can get.

To begin the implantation process, we will make an incision in your gums to place the titanium implant post into your bone socket. The healing process will take three to six months; so during this time, you will wear a temporary crown for protection. Once the healing process is complete, we will place an abutment on the implant post to serve as the base for the new crown. Then, a custom dental crown is permanently bonded in place. Taking care of a dental implant is just like taking care of your normal teeth. They require routine brushing, flossing, and visits to your dentist for cleanings.

If you are looking to replace a missing tooth and want it replaced once and for all, consider dental implants. To schedule an appointment here at Sparks Family Dentistry in Sparks, NV, call our office at (773) 359-3336 or visit our website, www.sparksfamilydentistry.com. 

Dental Crowns for Strong, Healthy Teeth

Our teeth are meant to last us a lifetime, although sometimes decay or damage can get in the way of that. At Sparks Family Dentistry, we aim to save our patients’ teeth even if they are decayed or damaged. This is why we provide dental crowns in our Sparks, NV dental practice.

Nothing is better than your own tooth. This is why we aim to save as many natural teeth as we can before replacing them. In cases where a tooth needs restoration that a filling cannot hold, dental crowns are utilized. Dental crowns are like caps that go onto teeth to restore their strength and functionality.

To place a crown, a tooth must be reshaped, first. Your dentist will remove any decay and file the tooth into a shape a crown can fit onto. A laboratory will then create a custom crown based on impressions of your newly reshaped tooth. The lab will take few weeks to create the crown, so you will wear a temporary crown during this time. When ready, the permanent crown is cemented into place.

With good oral care, a crown can last up to fifteen years. They need to be brushed and flossed like regular teeth. Visiting your dentist for cleanings and examinations is also important.

If you are feeling consistent pain or sensitivity to a tooth, it is time for an examination. To schedule an appointment in our Sparks, NV dental practice, call Sparks Family Dentistry at (773) 359-3336 or visit our website, www.sparksfamilydentistry.com.