Gaps in your grin can detract from your daily quality of life because basic tasks like eating, speaking, and smiling suddenly become much more challenging. Thankfully, your dentist can replace one or several consecutively missing teeth with a dental bridge.
These prosthetics contain the correct number of artificial teeth sandwiched between two dental crowns that anchor to healthy teeth or implants on both sides of the space in your smile. They’re made from durable porcelain, but that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. Continue reading to learn 3 potential reasons your bridge might fail!
Cause #1: Poor Oral Hygiene
Your restoration is made from customizable ceramic that reflects light like enamel, though it can’t develop decay like your natural pearly whites. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to worry about your dental health. You can still develop gum disease and cavities that can impact your dental bridge.
For example, if the teeth holding it in place begin to erode, it can become destabilized or dislodged altogether. Not only that, but if caries or periodontal problems aren’t addressed, they can worsen and spread to your jawbone, thinning it over time. Eventually, the foundation of your mouth might become too frail to continue supporting your smile, leading to additional tooth loss.
Cause #2: Harmful Habits
You could also inadvertently injure your dental bridge with bad habits if you’re not careful. For instance, if you suffer from bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, then you could crack the ceramic or wear it down prematurely. You could also accidentally chip your new chompers if you tend to nibble on pen caps or your fingernails when you feel anxious.
You should also reduce your consumption of overly hard and sticky foods, such as ice, hard candies, taffy, or gummies, that could break your prosthetic or yank it out of place.
Cause #3: Debonding
Dental bridges are typically incredibly durable and can last 5 to 15+ years if they’re maintained properly. However, if the cement holding it in place fails for whatever reason, you could lose your restoration. This can happen for several reasons, including physical trauma, bacteria buildup on your teeth and gums, drinking alcoholic beverages that dissolve it, or simply because it has weakened over time. If your prosthetic and abutment teeth are still in good condition, there’s a chance your dentist might be able to recement it back in its place.
Fortunately, caring for your restoration is easy! You should brush and floss your teeth twice daily, and visit your dentist every six months for a routine checkup and professional cleaning. This allows them to catch and address any issues, like thinning enamel or dissolving cement, before they progress.
About the Practice
Patients at Brown, Reynolds, Snow, LeNoir Dentistry benefit from an award-winning team of dentists committed to helping you build the happiest, healthiest version of your smile. They share decades of combined experience providing a comprehensive array of services to people of all ages, including dental bridges. They combine careful attention to detail with state-of-the-art equipment to provide lifelike restoration made from durable, customizable materials that look and feel like your natural teeth. You can request an appointment on the website or call (804) 288-5324.