While it’s extremely rare and unfortunate, there are times when an accidental hard fall or blow to the face can impart so much force that it shatters or breaks a tooth. This can often result in a serious amount of pain. Often times the damage to the broken tooth can be so extensive that Dr. Sami Y. Nouhad must extract it.
After your gums have completely healed we can start the process of fitting you for a bridge for completely restore the tooth’s presence in your mouth. This is basically an artificial tooth that mimics the appearance of a natural tooth. It is fused into one single piece of dental work with a hollow crown at each end. It will eventually be anchored onto abutments formed out of the core of the two closest teeth.
Your dentist will create the two abutments by removing the enamel layer of each tooth. The abutment left behind is essentially the dentin layer of each tooth surrounding the pulp and root.
A detailed impression will be made of the area and the corresponding teeth in your bite pattern. This will be sent to a professional dental lab where your permanent bridge is made.
Hard plastic temporary crowns are then cemented over each abutment to protect them while you wait for the bridge to be completed.
We will call you to schedule a brief second appointment when the bridge is read. The dentist will remove the temporary crowns and cement your permanent bridge in place over the abutments.
If you have a broken, damaged or shattered tooth, you should call our office in Los Angeles, California clinic at 323-466-3541 for immediate treatment.