Caring for Your Dental Bridge: Tips for Maintaining Your Oral Health

As the name indicates, dental bridges are bridge gaps between two teeth. These dental restorations are used if you have missing teeth to make it appear that you have all your teeth. A dental bridge comprises two crowns on either side of the missing tooth. The two crowns act as the anchor for the dental bridge. A false tooth is then placed between the two crowns. Now that you know what a dental bridge is learn why you need one, its benefits, and how to take care of it.

Why Do You Need a Dental Bridge?

Tooth decay and trauma can leave you with a missing gap. The missing gap can affect your chewing. This is because your teeth work together, and if there’s a missing gap between teeth, it becomes challenging to chew as usual. Additionally, the teeth in your opposite jaw can move up and down toward the space. This movement can cause:

• Pain from the excess pressure on your teeth and jaw.
• Chewing difficulties.
• Self-consciousness about your smile or appearance.
• Bite problems.

How Are Dental Bridges Installed?

You will need at least two appointments to install dental bridges in Excelsior successfully. The dentist will prepare the abutment teeth (neighboring teeth) during the first visit. The preparation involves the removal of some parts of the dentin and enamel to ensure enough room for the crown.

Next, the dentist will take impressions of your teeth. The impressions will be taken to the dental lab to make a dental bridge. Before the dental bridge is ready, the dentist will install a temporary bridge to protect the prepared area, which will now be exposed.

The dentist near you will notify you once the dental bridges are ready. During the second visit, the dental professional will remove the temporary bridge and place the permanent one. You should notify the dentist if the bridge feels comfortable so that necessary adjustments are made.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

• Speaking and chewing – after you lose a tooth or teeth, it becomes challenging to chew certain foods: especially hard foods. On top of that, it can be hard for you to pronounce certain words due to the missing gap. Fortunately, a dental bridge can help restore your chewing function and help you pronounce words for better speech.
• Smile restoration – having a missing gap can affect your smile. You will have less confidence when smiling due to the missing tooth or teeth. If you want to restore your natural smile, visiting the dentist who installs dental bridges near you is best. Dental bridges are one of the most effective and fastest ways of restoring your smile.
• Maintaining the natural shape of your face – after tooth loss, your jaw begins to deteriorate. The deterioration happens in the area where there is a gap. To prevent deterioration, it is best to go for dental bridge installation. A dental bridge will ensure that your tooth roots will stimulate the jawbone to produce bone cells to prevent bone loss.
• Prevent moving of teeth – your teeth may begin to shift when there’s a missing gap due to tooth loss. Your natural teeth will stay in their original position with a dental bridge. This is essential as teeth shifting can lead to bite changes and other dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay.

Tips For Taking Care of Your Dental Bridge

• Cleaning underneath the bridge – it is essential that you clean your dental bridge regularly. This is because there is food stuck beneath your bridge. One way to do so is by using dental picks or floss threaders to dislodge the food stuck underneath.
• Brush twice a day – taking care of your teeth is crucial in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Therefore, brush your teeth at least twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Floss once daily – your dental bridge is supported by the adjacent natural teeth. So, if they become compromised due to tooth decay or gum disease, you will lose your dental bridge. Floss your teeth once daily to prevent the growth of bacteria between teeth.
• Go for routine checkups – brushing and flossing are not enough to keep tooth decay at bay. Therefore, you should go for routine checkups at Town Dental – Excelsior. The dentist will perform deep cleanings to dislodge food debris stuck between teeth and check if your dental bridge fits well or is compromised.
• Avoid opening bottle tops with your teeth or chewing on ice.