A hard blow to the face or other significant oral trauma has the potential to cause serious damage to a tooth. If a tooth suffers from pain and heightened sensitivity, Dr. Keith Dodge might be able to restore the tooth with a root canal performed at his Orem, Utah, clinic. Unfortunately, a tooth that has suffered severe trauma to the root or socket might not be viable for conventional treatment.
In an extreme case like this, Dr. Keith Dodge might recommend a total extraction. This is a last-resort option intended to ease the pain and prevent a future infection.
When you’re ready, Dr. Keith Dodge will present you with some tooth replacement options. If you aren’t interested in the oral surgeries required for a dental implant restoration, he might recommend a dental bridge.
This is a solid piece of dental work designed to restore the full function and appearance of the decayed tooth. It is fused to a pair of dental crowns that are anchored on abutments that are formed from the core of the two neighboring teeth.
Dr. Keith Dodge starts the bridge restoration process by removing the tooth enamel from the nearby teeth. Then, a detailed impression of the abutments and the corresponding teeth in your bite pattern will be made. This will be sent to an off-site dental lab where your new bridge will be made. In the interim, a temporary crown will be secured over each dentin pillar to protect it.
When your bridge is ready, Dr. Keith Dodge will call you back into his office to install it onto the abutments with a strong dental adhesive.
If you have a severely damaged tooth, you should call 801-225-8060 to have it treated at Dodge Family Dental.