Dr. Daniel Tebbi, DMD has served hundreds of patients in the Encino area for almost 3 decades now. His vast knowledge in the field of dentistry has helped him provide the best dental experience to all his patients.
Why should missing teeth be restored?
A missing tooth ruins one’s smile completely. Imagine having to attend a party or an official gathering with a missing tooth that is too apparent. The embarrassment that you could face is just unimaginable!
Biting and chewing food would seem more uncomfortable and painful as unequal stresses would be applied on the teeth. Over time, the teeth right next to the gap could wear too much.
A gap would be left in the jawbone when a tooth is extracted. This allows the remaining teeth to drift from their orthodontically correct positions, thereby giving rise to a malocclusion.
Drifting of teeth and jawbone deterioration can lead to loosening of the teeth from their sockets. This can give rise to further tooth loss.
Structure of a dental bridge
A bridge consists of a prosthetic tooth that is made from a tooth-colored ceramic material that is specifically used for dental purposes. It is coupled with ceramic crowns on either side in order to hold it in place. The crowns would fit on the teeth adjacent to the gap, thereby providing the required anchorage. The ceramic prosthetic can be made to perfectly mimic the color, structure, contour, and translucency of natural teeth.
Procedure
The dentist would conduct an initial visual screening. Digital scans, x-rays, and photographs of the teeth would be taken to determine the gap available for placing the bridge. They also provide data regarding jawbone deterioration, drifting of teeth, etc. A thin layer of enamel will be removed from the adjacent teeth in order to accommodate the crowns. A mold will be taken and used as a reference to fabricate the bridge in a dental laboratory. Meanwhile, a temporary bridge may be used in its place.
Once the permanent bridge is fabricated, the temporary one will be removed and the teeth will be cleaned. They will be etched using an etching solution prior to bonding the bridge. Dental adhesives will be used to bond the prosthetic tooth in place. After this, a bite test will be conducted and any alterations required will be made.
Call us at (818) 789-2034 or schedule an online appointment to have a consultation with Dr. Daniel Tebbi at our practice in Encino, CA.