|
|
|
Due to many unavoidable reasons, one
may lose one or more teeth. The missing teeth should be
replaced in order to avoid complications later on. The
replacements could be of removable type or fixed ones. If
you are missing one or more teeth and there is at least one
tooth present on either side of the space where the teeth
are missing, then a fixed bridge could be used to replace
those missing teeth.
The procedure involves reducing the surfaces of the
adjoining teeth. This procedure is usually carried out under
local anesthesia, if the teeth are vital. Once the teeth are
reduced to the required shape, an impression is taken in a
tray to obtain a mould of your teeth. This mold serves as a
template for the fabrication of the prosthesis.
The bridges can be made in a variety of materials. They
could be fully metallic, porcelain fused to metal or full
ceramic. The choice of the material depends upon the
clinical situation, esthetics and economics. he decision is
usually taken by the patient and the dentist together.
As can be seen in the above schematic
cross section through a fixed bridge and the teeth ,the
abutment teeth (supporting teeth ) are prepared by "shaving"
them down so that they are smaller, and their sides are
slightly tapered and reasonably parallel to each other. This
makes it possible to create a casting which will fit over
the prepared abutment teeth.
Each casting has at least two crown retainers. These are the
hollow, tooth shaped "caps" at the ends of the bridge shown
above. These retainers are shaped in the form of the
original tooth and replace the original anatomy (shape) of
the tooth. The false teeth between the two abutments are
called "pontics", and these are solidly attached to the
retainers on either end. Together with the retainers they
form the structure of the fixed bridge. This appliance is
cemented in place permanently and should remain in position
for many years.
|
|
