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. 

Benefits of Teeth Whitening

Teeth stain for many reasons, including your food and drink choices, oral hygiene, and medication use. Teeth stain occurs on the surface of the tooth (extrinsic stains) or below the tooth enamel (intrinsic stains) and some people develop both types. Keeping our teeth their whitest is a lot harder than it sounds which is why Dr. Thomas Basora at Sparks Family Dentistry offers a teeth whitening service that can provide you with life-changing benefits.

Let’s face it, not all of us are gifted with a perfect set of teeth that sparkle from their whiteness. Not only does being able to show the world your pearly whites give you more self-confidence, but it projects an outward appearance of healthiness that others are attracted to. Whiter teeth are associated with a healthier lifestyle – when people have a brighter smile, they tend to smile more often and are less self-conscious while interacting with people. In addition, one of the biggest advantages of teeth whitening is that it does not have any harmful side effects on your teeth.

If you have questions about teeth whitening and how it’s done here at the office, give us a call or visit www.sparksfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas Basora in Sparks, NV, call 775-359-3336.

Pediatric Sealants at Sparks Family Dentistry

We all know how much children love sugar, but unfortunately that love can turn to hate when cavities become present in the mouth. Here at Sparks Family Dentistry, we can protect your child’s teeth with pediatric sealants to prevent them from developing cavities that can eventually lead to tooth decay.

Dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent tooth decay. Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are candidates for sealants. Although brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of the teeth, they cannot always get into all the nooks and crannies of the back teeth to remove the food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by “sealing out” plaque and food. Applying sealant is a simple and painless process. It takes only a few minutes for your dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant to seal each tooth.

If you have questions about pediatric sealants and the application process give us a call or visit www.sparksfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas Basora in Sparks, NV, call 775-359-3336.