Cavities form when poor oral hygiene allows the bacteria living in your mouth to exploit compromised tooth enamel. If the problem is detected and repaired early, it might only need a filling. If you ignore the cavity for too long, the decay can spread to the root of the tooth. This could result in a problem so severe that your dentist, Dr. Anthony Petchalonis, might need to extract it in preparation for replacing it with a dental bridge.
A dental bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will effectively restore the full function and appearance of the decayed tooth. It is essentially a single piece of dental work that is fused to a pair of crowns that are anchored on abutments that are formed from the core of the two neighboring teeth.
The process starts with your dentist removing most of the tooth enamel from the teeth. Then, a detailed impression will be cast of the abutments and the corresponding teeth in your bite pattern. This will be sent to our dental lab where your new bridge will be made. Then, temporary crowns will be cemented over each abutment to protect them while you await the completion of your bridge.
We will call you in for a brief second appointment when your bridge is ready. The temporary crowns will be removed and your new bridge will be cemented onto two abutments during this appointment.
If you have a severely decayed tooth, you should call Petchalonis Dental & Associates at 215-732-3350 to seek timely treatment.