Dental Bridges:

These procedures are done to hold a false tooth in place which fills the gap where a tooth was missing. There are crowns placed on the teeth on each side of the gap, and the false tooth goes on the bridge in the middle.

Reasons for Dental Bridges:

• Tooth loss because of disease
• Tooth loss because of decay
• Tooth loss due to injury
• For optimal eating and speaking functions

The procedure should take no longer than 2 visits to the dental office.

There is not hospital stay needed since bridges are done on an outpatient basis.

If you are going to have a dental bridge done properly, then the recommended stay is 3 weeks unless you want to make two trips to complete the procedure. Since the procedure is done in two stages, you can stay the length of time that is required for the two stages (2 to 3 weeks), or you can go home after stage one and return later for stage two.

Details of the Procedure:

A local anesthetic which numbs the area that will be worked on begins the first stage if the dental bridge procedure. The dentist will proceed to remove decay, thoroughly clean the area, and remove any other damage to the spot under treatment.

The teeth that will be on either side of the bridge will then be shaped or prepared to hold the crowns that will go over them for the dental bridge. Using dental putty, the dentist will then make an impression of the area that has been prepared.

The impression is actually a mold that the dental lab will use to make the false tooth, bridge and crowns. Once the mold is taken, the dentist will place a temporary bridge in your mouth so that your teeth and gums are protected.

Once the permanent bridge is made by the dental laboratory, it’s time to go back for the second stage of the procedure. The dentist will take out the temporary bridge and check how well the permanent dental bridge fits into the area that was previously worked on.

The dentist will make any adjustments to the natural teeth that are deemed necessary to accommodate the permanent bridge. Dental cement will then be used to set the permanent bridge in place.

After the Procedure:

Once the permanent bridge is placed in your mouth, your teeth may feel a bit strange for the first few weeks. If you feel like something is loose, sore, irritated or even misaligned, this is not uncommon, but any of these symptoms should subside within 6 to 8 weeks.

Self care after dental bridge placement:

• Use a floss threader to floss a fixed bridge
• Keep dental bridge area very clean
• Take removable bridges out to clean area and bridge
• Avoid extremely cold or hot beverages

Results:

On very rare occasions, the placement of a dental bridge may not be successful. On the other hand, dental bridges are very successful at preventing the teeth surrounding a missing tooth from drifting out of place.

Dental bridges can also help prevent bone loss, and they should last for about 10 years with good care. If a dental bridge is going to last this 10-year span, the patient must observe good dental hygiene, including brushing, flossing and rinsing twice daily at the very least.

Possible Complications and Risks:

Any and all medical and dental procedures have inherent risks, and dental bridges are not exempt. What follows is a list of the risks and complications that are most common:

• Reaction to anesthetic or medication
• Bleeding
• Structural injury or damage near implant site
• Tooth injury or damage near implant site
• Nerve damage
• Weakening of the natural teeth
• Breakage of the natural teeth
• Death of the natural teeth
• Loosening of the cap
• Loosening of the bridge
• Hot cold sensitivity
• Inflammation of the gums

If you notice any of the following conditions, contact your physician:

• Bleeding of gums
• Gum pain
• Sharp pain
• Swelling is severe or persistent
• Fever that is 100.4 degrees or higher
• Chills
• Sensitivity to food is severe
• Chewing difficulty
• Crown or bridge comes loose
• Damage or injury to mouth