摘要 |
A permanent dental bridge comprised entirely of composite material may be constructed directly, i.e., without laboratory assistance, either in situ or ex situ. In the in situ process, composite material is applied between abutment teeth in the patient's mouth, affixing wings are formed from the composite material, those wings respectively attaching to corresponding surfaces on the abutment teeth, and the composite material is cured. The steps of application and curing of composite material are successively repeated until a completed dental bridge, including a pontic portion, is formed entirely within the patient's mouth. The ex situ process is accomplished by fabricating a composite pontic, applying composite material between the patient's abutment teeth, curing the composite material, applying a lamination of additional composite material between the abutment teeth, inserting the composite pontic into the lamination, and curing the lamination. In either process, a gingival stent is utilized to act as a platform upon which the successive composite laminations may be formed and also, if employed immediately following tooth extraction, to act as a bandage. The stent is inserted into the patient's mouth before application of composite material between the abutment teeth, and is removed after formation of the completed bridge but prior to the contouring and finishing thereof.
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