While it’s not meant to last forever, with proper care, your dental bridge was designed to discreetly replace up to four consecutive missing teeth for about five to seven years. Unfortunately, however, if you don’t maintain them well, they can sometimes fail. Here’s a closer look at why this happens, and what you can do to ensure that your dental bridge provides all the incredible benefits of a complete smile for as long as possible!
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a prosthetic that can replace up to four consecutive missing teeth. Essentially, it looks like a bunch of teeth stuck together, much like they appear to in your smile. For a bridge to work, the empty space in your arch must be surrounded by two healthy “abutment” teeth for it to attach to. The missing teeth are replaced with prosthetic crowns that fill in the barren spots between the two abutments. In addition to restoring the appearance of a complete smile, dental bridges are also fully functional, so you can use them just like you would your real teeth!
What Causes Dental Bridges to Fail?
Although they were designed to last between five and seven years, bridges can sometimes last longer if you take good care of them. Unfortunately, however, they can also fail sooner if you don’t. There are many things that can cause these restorations to stop working, but most typically it’s due to poor oral hygiene. You see, for your bridge to stay fixed in place, it must connect to those healthy abutment teeth. To do this, your dentist will need to remove some enamel from them and then cement the prosthetic on top. However, if you don’t take good care of your teeth and gums, bacteria can find their way underneath your restoration and cause cavities and infections in the abutment teeth. When this happens, your dentist will need to remove the bridge to repair the damage and may need to replace it entirely.
Signs Your Dental Bridge May Be Failing
It can be difficult to tell if your dental bridge is failing, because the prosthetic covers your abutment teeth by design. However, if you experience any pain or sensitivity around them, or if the restoration itself becomes chipped, cracked, or broken, contact your dentist as soon as possible.
How Can I Protect My Dental Bridge from Failure?
The good news is that protecting your dental bridge doesn’t require any special tricks or tools. In fact, you can maintain it the same way you do the rest of your smile – by regularly brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist every six months for your routine checkups and cleanings. You can also help keep your restorations free of damage by only using them to chew food (so, no biting nails or chewing pen caps) and avoiding crunching on anything too hard like hard candies or ice cubes.
Remember, although your dental bridge wasn’t designed to last forever, with proper care it can replace up to four consecutive missing teeth for five to seven years. If your restoration is experiencing any signs of failure or wear, contact your dentist to have it examined. In the meantime, be sure to maintain your oral hygiene, and you’ll enjoy all the benefits of a complete smile for years to come!
About Dr. Vekariya
Dr. Raj Vekariya earned his first dental degree in his native India, where he worked as an associate dentist for three years before moving to the United States. He then continued his education at the prestigious New York University College of Dentistry, earning his DDS degree in 2011. Dr. Vekariya has always taken a keen interest in cosmetic dentistry, which is apparent in the care and detail in dental bridges he is so hands-on in collaborating on with the dental lab. To learn more about how these durable, lifelike restorations can replace your missing teeth, schedule a consultation for dental bridges at Center One Dental by visiting our website or calling 724-300-3700.