Athletes participating in contact sports are always at increased risk of physical harm and injury. This is even more of an issue if you choose to forgo the use of a quality mouthguard. In a situation like this, the risk of having a tooth knocked out of the socket is very high. Should something of this severity befall you, the root of the tooth might be salvaged through endodontic therapy. In an extreme case, it could still result in total tooth loss.
To treat the pain and prevent an infection from forming in the injured tissues, Dr. Wayne W. Hsieh might recommend extracting the remnants of the root from the socket.
When you’re ready, Dr. Wayne W. Hsieh can help you understand your options for replacing the tooth’s presence in your mouth. One common method he might recommend is to install a dental bridge. This is essentially an artificial tooth that is fused to a pair of crowns on each end. It is anchored on abutments that are formed from the neighboring teeth.
The abutments are formed by removing the enamel from each tooth. This leaves behind a dentin pillar that enshrouds the healthy pulp and root of each tooth.
A detailed impression will then be made of the abutments and the corresponding teeth in your personal bite pattern. This will be sent to a dental lab where your new bridge will be made. At the end of the appointment, temporary crowns will be cemented over each abutment to protect them.
You will need to come back in for a brief second appointment once the bridge has been completed. The temporary crowns will be removed and your new bridge will be cemented onto the abutments with a powerful dental adhesive.
If you live in the Garden City, New York, area and you have suffered an oral trauma, you should call 516-280-4020 to seek treatment at Designer Smiles Dentistry.