Tips for Taking Care of Your Dental Bridge

Do you think you need urgent medical attention from an emergency dentist near you for your missing tooth? You are not alone. Many of the patients in dentistry needing urgent care have severely diseased teeth that need an extraction or have already lost their natural teeth. However, your next area of concern should be restorative dentistry to replace your missing tooth. The good news is that you cannot lack a restorative alternative to befit your needs and preferences regarding tooth replacement.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are types of false teeth that replace natural ones upon tooth loss. These dental restorations in restorative dentistry for replacing between 1 and 4 missing teeth in a row. A typical dental bridge comprises two dental crowns and an artificial replacement tooth. The dental crowns hold the replacement tooth between them, creating a bridge between the two adjacent teeth in your mouth. Therefore, you must have the rest of your natural teeth intact to qualify for dental bridges. If not, your Dentist in Winter Springs may recommend getting dentures instead.

Benefits of Getting Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are not the only tooth replacement restorations in dentistry. However, they are advantageous for the following reasons:

1. Aesthetic appeal – dental bridges are aesthetically pleasing because they feature a tooth-colored material called porcelain. The material provides a natural-looking outcome to your smile.
2. Strong – a traditional dental bridge is sturdy enough to withstand repeated chewing as it features two dental crowns to support the artificial tooth.
3. Perfect for single-tooth replacement – with dentures, you would need to extract several other natural teeth first.
4. Minimally invasive procedure – compared to the surgery involved in getting dental implants, dental bridges are minimally invasive.

Long-Lasting Dental Durability for Dental Bridges

When you visit us at 434 Dentistry – Dr. Fabiola Camacho, DDS – Winter Springs, will be sure to inform you that dental bridges are not a permanent solution to tooth loss. It means that they cannot last an entire lifetime. Typically, dental bridges last between 10 and 20 years, depending on how well you care for them. However, if you want long-lasting dental durability for your dental bridges, we may recommend getting implant-supported bridges.

Implant-supported bridges entail getting a dental implant first before the bridgework. The role of the tooth implant is to replace the roots of your lost teeth. Afterward, we can affix a dental bridge over the implants for a permanent replacement solution. With dental implants in place, the durability of oral bridges significantly increases.

Tips for Longer Wear of Dental Bridges

Before you leave the dental office near you, the dentist will give you several guidelines that can help you increase the dental durability of your dental bridges. Some of them will include the following:

1. Brush your teeth twice every day – you cannot afford to skip teeth brushing once you get dental bridges near you. Any plaque building up around the artificial teeth can compromise their durability.
2. Floss regularly – other than food residue on the surfaces of your teeth, you must remove the debris between your teeth. If not, they can get stuck on your dental bridgework and be the greatest undoing to your restorative treatment.
3. Watch what you eat – no matter how natural-looking they are, dental bridges are not the same as your natural teeth. Eating hard and crunchy foods may not necessarily damage your natural teeth, but they can damage dental bridges. Lean more toward soft, non-sticky foods that do not expose your dental bridges to excessive chewing.
4. Cut foods into small pieces – a great way to enjoy your favorite hard foods is to cut them into smaller portions instead of eating them whole. For example, small pieces of apples or carrots are easier to chew than eating them whole.
5. Plan for regular professional dental cleanings – your attempts to keep a clean mouth at home is paramount for proper oral hygiene. However, take extra measures to clean your mouth by considering regular dental cleanings. These cleanings will allow your dental hygienist to rid your mouth of plaque and food debris from hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. Besides, you will benefit from the regular dental exams that allow your dentist to evaluate the state of your oral cavity, checking for any infections or signs of decay.