If you plan to get a dental bridge, you can rest assured that it’ll be strong and sturdy. This type of restoration uses durable materials and can last as long as fifteen years! With that said, you still shouldn’t be careless; the wrong move will cause a dental bridge to fail. You’ll need to look after your new teeth to ensure they stay functional. For more details, here’s a primer on dental bridge failure, its causes, and how to avoid it.
What Makes a Dental Bridge Fail?
Dental bridges can fail for various reasons, but the three most common ones are:
Changes to Support Teeth
A “normal” dental bridge relies on nearby natural teeth for support. For that reason, it’ll fail when such supports experience changes.
Most dental bridges connect to “abutments” – nearby support teeth – with dental crowns. As a result, they only work well when these supports remain steady and secure. The restorations could quickly come loose or fall out if the abutments decay from bacteria. From there, you’d likely suffer a bridge failure that forces you to re-do your treatment.
Bad Oral Habits
When you indulge in bad oral habits, it isn’t just natural teeth that suffer. Those same actions could cause your dental bridge to fail.
The fact remains that dental bridges can’t withstand everything. If put under enough pressure, they can fracture and break over time. That means bad habits like nail biting and teeth grinding put bridges at risk. Left unchecked, they can cause your prosthetics to stop working.
Lack of Dental Care
Dental bridges may not decay like natural teeth, but they still need regular dental care. Skipping too many checkups makes them likely to fail.
Remember, dentists can see issues with your smile that you can’t. Their education, training, and experiences help them notice such things, ensuring they’re able to protect your mouth. Skipping dental visits would lead you to overlook threats to your dental bridges. Without their trained eyes, you won’t notice anything wrong with your prosthetic teeth until it’s too late.
How to Care for Dental Bridges
To keep your dental bridge from failing, make sure to do the following:
- Keep Your Smile Clean – If you brush twice daily and floss once a day, you’ll keep your abutment teeth healthy. They’ll then support your dental bridge without issue.
- Form Good Oral Habits – Replace bad oral habits with good ones to protect your dental bridge from harm.
- Get Dental Checkups – See your dentist every six months (or less) for checkups. By doing so, you’ll prevent (and reverse) threats to your dental bridge.
Many things can cause a dental bridge to fail, so remain vigilant. Use the tips and tricks above to keep your new teeth for many years to come!
About the Practice
Crescent Dental is based in Brighton, MN. Led by Dr. Salma Helal, our practice offers quality dentistry with a warm and personal touch. We work closely with each patient to tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to their needs. In doing so, our team ensures your whole family sports the strongest and prettiest smiles possible! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (763)-571-4837.