If one of your teeth suffers from severe tooth decay, multiple cavities or an infection has compromised the interior structures of the tooth, it might need a root canal to be saved. Unfortunately, there are times when a tooth is so severely compromised that it cannot be saved and needs to be extracted.
Losing a tooth does more than just impair your ability to chew food efficiently. Every tooth in your mouth provides structure that the neighboring teeth relate to. If the tooth is not restored, it will eventually cause the neighboring teeth to turn or move to compensate for the void. This can lead to alignment issues in your bite pattern
One of the most effective ways to restore the structure, function, and appearance of the tooth is by having Oxford Lakes Dental Care install a bridge. A bridge basically mimics the appearance of a natural tooth. It is fused to a pair of crowns that are anchored on abutments formed from the neighboring teeth.
Your Oxford Lakes Dental Care dentist will form the abutments by removing the majority of enamel from each of the neighboring teeth. A small amount of enamel is left to protect the healthy interior of the teeth.
The dentist will then take an impression of the abutments, the void, and your personal bite pattern. This will be used as a guide for the dental lab that makes your new bridge. Temporary crowns are then cemented over each abutment to protect them during the interim.
Later, Oxford Lakes Dental Care will call you in for a brief second appointment, when the dental lab has completed your bridge. The temporary crowns are removed and your dentist will cement the permanent bridge in place.
If you have a tooth suffering from severe tooth decay that needs to be restored, you should call Oxford Lakes Dental Care at 248-628-2540 to schedule an appointment.