Dental bridges can last for decades, but eventually they need repairing or changing. A dental bridge is a set appliance that is put in the mouth when one or more teeth are missing.
The causes of failure many and vary for each patient. Technical errors, fabrication failure, unusual occlusal events, food preferences, injury, out of balance occlusion, incisal edge attributes of opposing teeth, failure to keep oral health problems including bridge attachment, failure to maintain oral health for staying dentition … and so on.
Normally, the pontic (or incorrect) teeth are anchored to the healthy teeth on either side of the space, which are called the abutment teeth. You might require dental bridge repair work because your bridge has actually broken, or your dental expert identified an issue during a routine checkup.
When Dental Bridge Repair Requires?
Treatment to fix a dental bridge depends on the cause of the failure. If the concern is with an abutment tooth, the dental professional needs to remove the bridge. Repaired bridges are generally cemented to the abutment teeth, so this frequently requires breaking the original bridge. When the supporting teeth have been treated, and if they’re still healthy, a replacement bridge can be made. If the dental professional cannot restore the abutment teeth, they can be replaced with implants that support a brand-new bridge. The abutment teeth and the missing out on teeth can also be replaced with implants, which are placed surgically into the jaw bone.
If the porcelain coating on the bridge is chipped or fractured, however the bridge is otherwise sound, it may be possible for the dentist to repair the coating. Dental practitioners can sometimes repair a fractured pontic also, as detailed in The Journal of the American Dental Association.
Causes of Dental Bridge Failure
The majority of dental bridges are made from ceramics or porcelain fused to an underlying metal frame, and doing not have oral care can cause these items to fail. Bacteria can get in under the bridge through the crowns and handle to produce decay in the abutment teeth, according to the Windsor Centre for Advanced Dentistry. Abutment teeth can likewise fracture.
Issues in the bridge itself include damage of the underlying metal and a fracture of the coating or pontic. Often there aren’t any structural problems with the bridge, but it does not fit well in the mouth or the color doesn’t match the surrounding teeth.
Here is a list of most commont reasons of dental bridge failure:
- Violation of the rules of use of dentures;
- Poor hygienic conditions;
- Errors made by dental technicians during the fabrication of dentures;
- Dental diseases leading to the destruction or loss of supporting teeth;
- Excessive physical strain on dentures;
- The habit of grinding your teeth in your sleep (bruxism);
- Prolonged use of dentures;
- the influence of external adverse factors (temperature, chemical, etc.)
When Is a Right Time to Repair Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are an effective treatment for missing out on teeth, however they aren’t a long-term solution. The Cleveland Clinic specifies that dental bridges should last 5 to 7 years or longer– approximately 35 years according to the Creighton University School of Dentistry. But because the abutment teeth are covered, signs of decay aren’t noticeable, and level of sensitivity in the teeth or gums around a dental bridge could be a sign that it requires repair work. You might likewise observe or feel a crack in the tooth, or pieces of the porcelain may come off. If you observe chips or fractures in your dental bridge, or feel pain or level of sensitivity when chewing on it or brushing it, you must see your dental practitioner.
Peculiarities of Repair of Bridges
The most common types of damage to bridges include:
- Changes in the shade of the enamel layer of artificial teeth;
- chips and cracks formed on the surface of the crowns;
- Damage to the fixings of the structure;
- loss of artificial crowns from the body of the denture;
- damage, destruction or loss of supporting teeth.
The main task of the repair of bridges is to restore the integrity of damaged crowns and to correct the fixation elements of the structure. In cases where there is partial destruction or loss of supporting teeth, it is advisable to consider replacement of the denture.
Removable Dentures: Main Types of Damages and Repair Features
The most common forms of damage to removable dentures are:
- loss of artificial crowns from the plastic base;
- Cracks and chips in the enamel layer of artificial teeth;
- Changes in enamel shade;
- Damage to denture fixtures;
- breakage of the base or the gingival plastic base of the prosthetic structure.
It is important to understand that the appearance of even the smallest chips and cracks on the surface of the denture is reason enough to contact a dental technician. Bacteria and small food particles accumulate in the cavities created by damaged dentures. As they decompose, they cause an unpleasant odor and inflammation of the soft tissues in the patient’s mouth, and contribute to the destruction of healthy teeth.
Repair of removable dental bridges is limited to gluing the broken pieces back into place using dental glue. If more serious damage to the prosthetic structure is involved, however, it is considered to be replaced with a new one. This is because it often costs more to repair the consequences of a major breakage of the denture than it does to make a new one.
Specialists strongly advise denture wearers not to repair or restore their dentures themselves. The use of improvised materials and dubious adhesives can have a negative impact on the overall health and well-being of the person forced to use a similarly repaired prosthetic structure.
Caring for a New Bridge
Good oral care routines increase the durability of a bridge. Twice-daily brushing with a toothpaste can help avoid, decay of the abutment teeth, and dentists often suggest a special flossing tool that cleans the gap between the gum and the pontic. A routine professional cleansing schedule and a diet that is high in vegetables and fruits also helps to maintain excellent mouth health.
Stopping working bridges don’t fix themselves and only get worse in time, so if your bridge is offering you problems, book a visit at your dental expert’s right away. He can use a range of choices to restore your positive smile.