The key to last-longing dental restorations is proper maintenance. If you brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss in between, avoid sugary snacks and visit a dental office near you every six months, dental bridges near you will last up to 20 years.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A traditional dental bridge is a dental device that consists of two dental crowns and a fake tooth in the middle, which is the pontic. Your dental professional will shave down the anchoring teeth to make room for the dental crowns, and the pontic will gently rest over your gums.
On average, a dental bridge can last about ten years. Sometimes it can last more or less, depending on the care you give to it.
Keep on reading to know the proper care of dental bridges in Chestermere, and when it’s time to get it repaired.
Signs that Your Dental Bridge Needs Repair
You should visit our dental office in Chestermere if:
- The anchoring teeth have decay – Even though a dental bridge is an artificial device, and cavities cannot grow in them, your natural teeth are susceptible to cavities. If you have poor oral hygiene, bacteria can get trapped under the bridge and infect your dental pieces.
- There is a pontic fracture – If the fake tooth cracks, your dental professional will advise you to replace the dental bridge.
- The bridge has color issues – Even though the dental bridge is in good condition, it may not match the color of your natural teeth. You may get a new one for cosmetic reasons.
- The dental bridge has an improper fitting – If the dental bridge is loosened or hurting your gums, you should visit a dental professional to fix it.
- You feel tooth sensitivity – If you feel tooth or gum soreness in the area, visit a dentist near you as soon as possible.
How to Repair It?
The treatment will depend on what caused it to fail. If there is a problem with any of the abutment teeth (the teeth that hold the dental crowns), your dental professional will remove the dental bridge from your mouth to fix them. If there is tooth decay, he or she will clean it and will likely fill it with composite resin. Afterward, they will take a new impression of your mouth for a new dental bridge. If, however, the damage is irreparable, your dental professional might advise you to extract them, and you may opt to replace them with dental implants with porcelain crowns on top.
Dental implants are small titanium posts that your surgeon places inside your jawbone to replace the roots of a missing tooth. Once they have fused permanently with the bone (the process of osseointegration takes about six months to complete), you will get a permanent dental crown on top, for a natural and beautiful smile.
Caring for Your Dental Bridge
The trickiest part of your oral hygiene routine will be the flossing since the dental bridge doesn’t have its pieces separated; therefore, you cannot floss in between the pontic. Your dental professional will advise you on how to remove the food particles from under the dental bridge. Water flossers are an excellent tool to do so.
Besides that, keeping primary oral care habits will be enough to maintain a dental bridge in good condition, as we mentioned at the beginning of the blog.
Schedule Your Appointment
If you have any other concerns regarding your dental bridges or you want to get one, feel free to visit our dental offices in Chestermere. Our cosmetic dentists look forward to helping you restore your smile.