Tooth Replacement Bridge Implant/Cemented Crown Maryland Removable Partial Denture Bridge When a single tooth is missing, one restoration option is a porcelain fused to metal bridge. A color guide is used to match the color of the bridge to your teeth. Then the teeth on each side of the space are prepared to accept the bridge. This is a painless procedure, as we do not reach the nerve of the tooth. A temporary bridge is made and inserted while your final bridge is custom made at a dental lab. Without the temporary bridge, your teeth will attempt to equalize space by shifting. You should always contact your dentist if you temporary becomes loose or falls out. Meanwhile, an impression is taken and sent to a dental lab. To make the restoration, the lab technician produces models based on the impression in order to create a bridge that will function properly and fit perfectly in your mouth. When your final bridge is ready, the temporary is removed and the final bridge is cemented in place. Your dentist will be able to answer any other questions you have about this procedure. Implant/Cemented Crown When a single tooth is missing, one restoration option is an implant with a cemented crown. The advantages of choosing an implant to restore a missing tooth is that it will function like a regular tooth and it does not require any other teeth to be affected unlike having a bridge or denture. To begin the implant restoration, an implant and healing cap are placed and the bone is allowed to heal, and integrate the implant. Next an abutment is placed and the gums are left to heal while your crown is made. Impressions are taken to ensure that the crown fits in your mouth perfectly. Meanwhile, the impression is sent to a dental lab. To make the restoration, the lab technician produces models based on the impression in order to create a crown that will function properly and fit perfectly in your mouth. Your final crown is inserted into your mouth, and cemented in place. This completes the implant with cemented crown restoration. Your dentist will be able to answer any other questions you have about this procedure. Maryland When a front tooth is missing, one restoration option is the Maryland Bridge. A color guide is used to match the color of the bridge to your teeth. Then the backs of the adjacent teeth are prepared for the restoration. A small layer of enamel is removed. This is a painless procedure, as we do not reach the nerve of the tooth. Meanwhile, an impression is taken and sent to a dental lab. To make the restoration, the lab technician produces models based on the impression in order to create a bridge that will function properly and fit perfectly in your mouth. When your final bridge is ready it is cemented in place. The back of the teeth will show a thin silver “wing” that anchors the bridge to the adjacent teeth. The wing will not be visible when you smile. Removable Partial Denture When multiple teeth are missing, one restoration option is a removable partial denture, or RPD. To begin this restoration, some of your teeth are prepared to accept the RPD. Impressions are then taken to ensure that the RPD fits in your mouth perfectly. Your RPD is custom made at the dental lab. Your dentist will tell you how long this takes, and schedule appointments to continue the procedure. At several stages in the development process, your RPD will be trial fitted and adjusted to fit your mouth perfectly. Your final RPD is then inserted in your mouth. You can remove the RPD as needed, based on the advice your dentist provides for cleaning and other considerations.