When a tooth is missing, the teeth next to the space can be specially prepared to support a false tooth in place of the missing one. Many times bridges can be made with all white framework under hand stacked and characterized porcelain, yielding a highly esthetic, while still very strong, result. Typically, Dr. Rioseco will discuss the use of implants to restore missing teeth. however in many instances bridges still can be used to solve this problem.
Dr. Rioseco is currently one of only a few dentists in the world who is using CEREC digital technology to make bridges. To make a digital bridge, no mould is necessary. Dr. Rioseco uses the CEREC computer to scan your prepared teeth and these files are uploaded to a digital laboratory. The models of your teeth are made from these computer files and the framework of the bridge is actually milled from a block of extremely strong white material. later porcelain is hand stacked and characterized at the same lab and the brige is installed on a subsequent visit. Meanwhile, the patient wears a temporary bridge that is made in the office from the same digital files.
Very often, Dr. Rioseco finds his patients prefer to upgrade out of their old bridgework to single crowns and implants. We are happy to transition you from your old bridge to a temporary bridge, in order that an implant can be placed where the missing tooth is. Later the two teeth that held the bridge in place can be converted into single crowns, so that all the teeth involved can be used as free standing teeth.
Maryland bridges can be used when a patient does not want to damage the teeth beside a missing tooth. In this case, an all white frame is created which has the missing tooth on it in life-like porcelain. The adjacent teeth are simply etched and bonded to hole the new tooth in.