As hard as your teeth are, there are still times when a hard blow to the face can shatter or severely fracture a tooth. This is even more likely to happen if you play contact sports without the benefit and protection of a quality mouthguard. If the damage is severe, your dentist, Dr. Sterling Whitworth, might need to extract the tooth to prevent pain and further complications.
One of the most popular methods we recommend for replacing the shattered tooth is to have one of our dentists install a dental bridge in its place. A dental bridge in Covington, Georgia, is single piece of dental work that replicates the full function and appearance of the broken tooth. It is fused to a pair of crowns that are anchored on abutments that are formed out of the two neighboring teeth.
The dentist will then use a drill to remove the tooth enamel from each tooth to form a pair of post-like abutments. This creates a small, protective sheath that houses the healthy pulp, root and nerve of each tooth. Temporary crowns will then be secured over each abutment to protect them.
We will then make an impression of the abutments and the corresponding teeth in your bite. This will be sent to our dental lab to help guide the technicians as they produce your new bridge.
When your new bridge is ready, a member of our staff will call you to schedule a follow-up appointment. The temporary crowns will be removed and your new bridge will be cemented into place.
If you have a cracked or shattered tooth, you should call Covington Dental Partners at 770-786-9339 to have it treated as soon as possible.
