Dental work

Factual Questions
1

Yes, I have real-life, scheduled dental care, and you are not my dentist, yadda yadda.

What is a bridge?

I’m getting one, but I didn’t understand my dentists explantion, mostly because I was busy trying to not freak out while snorfing nitrous when I dredged up the guts to discuss such things. They are not “a denture for just one tooth” but I have no idea what he said after that. I don’t have enough drugs to waste calling him back for this, and I’ve got no google-fu.

It had something to do with an old (25 yrs) root canal with an ill-fitting crown gone bad,. I almost trust the dentist, the Dx and the fix, but what the hell does “an extraction, a <something> and a bridge” mean?

BTW – if you need some form of sedation for dental work, bringing along a non-stoned party, and telling the dentist to talk to that SOBER person might be a good idea. I’m too embarrased to ask again.

(I have good gums. Yay me! Silly, but I’m trying to focus on the positve aspects of this. Indulge me, wouldja, please?)

2

From here:

3

Huh? So it’s one-tooth denture but I don;t have to buy Polident?

I still don’t get it.

I think I don’t like Oxycottin. I’m very very*** AWAKE*** and very stupid.

Can ya’ll ignore me for a few hours until I sober up from this shit please?

4

A bridge connects existing teeth with a permanently fixed fake one.

The dentist will make a mold of your teeth as they are now, then your bad tooth will be removed. The mold will be sent off to a place that will make a series of teeth that will replace your lost one, and one (or two) on either side called anchor teeth.

When the piece (called an appliance) is finished the dentist will file down the anchor teeth, then use a very strong glue to affix it all in place. It will feel a little strange for a while, but soon will feel like your own teeth.

5

Thank you picunurse for explaining so clearly.

Now I will return to being terrified of the oral surgeon, rather than spend time being confused about the bridge.