Procrastinating professional treatment of tooth decay is always a dangerous proposition. As time goes by, the bacterial decay will continue to penetrate the tooth. Even if you manage to endure the discomfort and heightened sensitivity of the degraded tooth, you still risk a severe fracture or an infection developing in the root.
For a tooth so seriously afflicted, Dr. Timothy Dinkelman might be able to perform a root canal. However, a tooth lost to untreated decay or one that is suffering from a severe abscess in the gums might need to have the root extracted.
Once everything has healed and any lingering infection has passed, your dentist can help you understand your dental restoration options. One of the more popular options is to replace the missing tooth with a dental bridge.
This is a single piece of dental work that encompasses two crowns with an artificial tooth in the middle. It will eventually be anchored onto abutments that are formed from the core of the two nearest teeth. To do this, your dentist will remove the tooth enamel from each of these teeth, leaving behind a pillar of healthy dentin.
They will then secure a temporary dental crown that is made of hard plastic over each abutment to protect it while the lab technician prepares your new bridge.
We will call you to schedule a brief second appointment when your bridge comes back from the dental lab. The temporary crowns will be removed and your new bridge will be cemented into place.
If you live in the Lincoln, Nebraska, area and you have a tooth that’s been compromised by untreated tooth decay, you should call 402-477-1177 to schedule treatment at Northridge Dental LLC.