Each of your teeth is anchored into your mouth by the root structure and a series of tough periodontal ligaments. This is meant to give your teeth the basic integrity needed to handle biting, chewing, and grinding food. Unfortunately, there are some instances when a hard blow to the face, from a sports injury or hard fall can carry enough force to traumatized these important tissues. This can completely knock a tooth out of the socket or cause it to severely fracture at the gumline.
With timely treatment, your dentist might be able to restore the tooth with a root canal and a dental crown. Unfortunately, in a case of severe dental trauma, there might not be enough healthy dental structure remaining. In a rare instance like this, your dentist might recommend extracting the remnants of the tooth to allow your gums to heal without undue complications. When you are ready, your dentist might recommend replacing the knocked out tooth by installing a dental bridge. This restoration process typically takes two appointments to complete.
It starts with your dentist examining the two teeth adjacent to the void to make sure they are completely healthy. Then he will use a dental drill to remove the tooth enamel from each tooth. This creates a pair of abutments that will eventually anchor the dental bridge in your mouth. An impression will be created of the area which will be sent to a professional dental lab. This will serve as a guide for the technicians while they create your dental work.
A staff member will call you to schedule the second appointment when your dental bridge is ready. Once your dentist cements the dental bridge in place it will fully restore the tooth’s presence in your mouth for many years to come. If you live in the Sunnyvale, California, area and you have lost a tooth to a severe oral trauma, you should call 408-738-1000 to explore the dental restorations offered at AZ Dental.