| 摘要 |
A permanent dental bridge comprised entirely of one or more types of dental composite material may be constructed directly, i.e., without laboratory assistance, either in situ or ex situ, without reduction of the abutment teeth. The direct composite bridge comprises one or more composite pontics, integrally laminated attachment portions and substructure, and optional embedded reinforcement materials. In the in situ process, composite material is applied between abutment teeth in the patient's mouth, attachment portions are formed from the composite material, those attachment portions 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 can be 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. In either process, one or more reinforcement materials (including different types of dental composite) may be introduced in laminations between the abutment teeth for reinforcement.
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