Your smile is everything, but sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Fortunately, there are different things that your dental team can do to fix such issues,

Crowns, veneers, and dental bridges are all things that will help you regain your smile.

Dental bridges help to replace missing teeth that have been lost to injury or disease. Specific techniques are used to ensure that any replacement tooth matches your own and that your smile is natural, even with an appliance in place.

Dental prosthetics are an advancement in dental technology that will ensure no one will ever know that there was an issue in the first place.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is just what it sounds like: a bridge spanning the gap where a tooth is missing.

By using connections to the teeth on either side, it suspends an artificial tooth or implant in between the gap resulting from a tooth that is no longer there. This bridge not only helps to support the teeth on either side, preventing further issues, but it helps to give confidence in your smile and fill in a missing piece.

There are three types of common bridges. One is a traditional bridge, which uses a crown on either side and a porcelain tooth as the replacement.

Another type is the resin-bonded bridge, which encompasses metal wings bonded to the natural tooth, and the gap is filled with a plastic prosthetic tooth and gum.

Finally, there is a cantilever bridge, which is similar to the traditional bridge but is only used when there is one adjacent tooth, not two.

A dental bridge of any kind will help your oral health, keeping the other teeth in line, making it easier to eat and chew, providing support to your jaw, and making your smile even.

However, you can still encounter dental bridge problems when the proper care is not observed.

Common Issues

There are five common issues that can be easily avoided with the proper care at home and cooperation with your dental team:

• Incorrect fitting. Even the slightest imperfection in the fitting can cause issues. Pain in your mouth can indicate issues that are starting to affect the adjacent teeth or rubbing on the gums, which can cause problems such as infection.
  Making sure that your bridge fits correctly will ensure its longevity as well as your comfort.
• Tooth decay. Adhering to a good dental hygiene routine will help to prevent cavities or plaque build-up, which can be irritated or speed up with the constant wearing of a bridge.
  A good routine of daily brushing, mouthwash, and regular flossing of your natural teeth will take care of your mouth as a whole but will also help to protect the teeth that the bridge fits onto.
• Sensitivity. When a bridge is fitted, it is common to experience slight sensitivity as the teeth adjust to the new prosthetic in place. However, should this last longer than approximately two weeks, you should discuss it with your dental team as soon as possible.
  There could be damage to a tooth or even an ill-fitting or incorrect bridge type. These issues need to be corrected quickly to prevent any damage to your natural teeth.
• Damaged bridge. The implant can become damaged due to wear and tear, age, incorrect fitting, faulty materials, or improper care. Any damage to the bridge can cause issues in your mouth.
  As soon as any damage is noticed, you should contact your dental office immediately. Prolonged damage can affect your mouth long-term, so you need to reach out immediately.
• Cracked tooth. Should one of the teeth that the bridge fits on become damaged, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible. This can affect the tooth itself, leading to other treatments such as root canals or fillings.
  When it comes to the bridge, a cracked tooth can affect the fitting and, subsequently, the prosthetic itself. The longer the damaged tooth goes unfixed, the more this can affect the bridge and its fitting.

Regular checks and good home maintenance will help reduce these issues and allow you to see any potential issues before they become serious problems.

Make sure that when you are cleaning the bridge, use cool to lukewarm water and a denture cleaner.
Avoid abrasive toothpaste, as this can cause scratches on the surface of the replacement tooth or even cause the frame to corrode and bacteria to build up, leading to infection and halitosis.

Remember that hot water will cause the bridge to warp and prevent it from fitting correctly. If you have a removable dental bridge, do not leave the appliance in any solution overnight, as this can cause the materials to break down.

Emergency Care at its Finest

At Oakville Place Dental, you are more than just a patient; you are part of the family. Our experienced team will do everything they can to get your emergency taken care of before it gets worse.

We use the most up-to-date technology, which is all located on-site to eliminate a long waiting period, thus saving time, money, and your smile.

Our in-house CEREC machine allows us to repair and create prosthetics such as crowns, veneers, and inlays in just one visit.

This allows you to be seen, treated, and leave with your smile intact in just a few hours. There is no need for multiple visits, and you can be treated without much of an impact on your day-to-day life.

Your needs and care are paramount to our experienced team members working in family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and emergency dentistry.

Whether you are in need of general dentistry or emergency care, call our dedicated and respectful team at 647-496-2721, and we will do what it takes to get your smile back in immaculate shape in no time at all.