Ideally, a dental bridge should be firmly fixed in the mouth using high-quality, biocompatible cement. With good bridge fabrication and proper placement, the bridge should last several years without any problems. But if you have a dental bridge or are planning to get one someday, you may wonder if a dental bridge ever becomes loose. And can a loose dental bridge be fixed?
At Sierra Dental in Airdrie, we have expert dental professionals who can answer all your pressing questions about a dental bridge and what to do when it becomes loose.
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a fixed dental prosthesis that can fill in the gap caused by a missing tooth or set of teeth. It comprises two or more anchoring teeth, also called abutments, and dental crown/s as the false teeth to complete your smile.
At Sierra Dental in Airdrie, we recommend a dental bridge for people with up to 3 missing teeth. It is fixed in the mouth, so you do not have to worry about your teeth accidentally falling off when you laugh or eat. It is also a more budget-friendly option and guarantees almost zero complications compared to the other teeth replacement alternative, which is dental implants.
Because a bridge is fixed, there should not be any worries about feeling or becoming loose. But sometimes, it can happen. Our team at Sierra Dental can help you understand the possible reasons and what you should do if it happens to you.
Why does my bridge feel loose?
There are several possible causes for bridge failure. It may be because of the bridge itself or the tooth abutments. The most important factor to consider is identifying the cause so your dentist can apply the most suitable remedy.
Improper cementation
If your dental bridge suddenly feels loose just a few hours or days after getting it done, the problem is likely with poor cementation technique that was not detected early. The cement placed in the abutment may be too much or too little. Both can cause an ill-fitting dental bridge.
Trauma
An accidental blow to your face, head, or mouth, may also cause your dental bridge to fracture, causing it to loosen. Loose or fractured teeth from oral trauma may also cause the bridge to wobble. Seek emergency dental care to determine the cause and for immediate treatment.
Poor oral hygiene
Good oral hygiene is vital to the long life of your dental bridge. If regular toothbrushing and flossing, regular dental visits, and routine professional teeth scaling are not practiced, decay may affect the anchoring teeth that keep your dental bridge functional. If not identified and treated early, this can eventually cause the bridge to loosen and fail.
Weakened abutments
Aside from decay, another factor that can affect the abutment teeth is periodontitis. This is a chronic inflammation involving the bones surrounding the teeth. With this disease, the abutments will loosen from their place, causing your bridge to also wobble.
Bad oral habits
Teeth grinding, nail-biting, and pen chewing are some of the oral habits that can cause your dental bridge to fracture and loosen. Daily munching on hard foods and candies is also a likely culprit of these problems.
Breakdown with age
Though rare, your dental bridge may also naturally weaken over time. The teeth underneath the bridge may feel slightly wobbly as you age, especially because you use them daily to chew and eat. The dental cement may also break down, causing the dental bridge to loosen.
What to do if my bridge is loose?
To know what to do with a loose bridge, we must first identify why it is happening. So, if you are currently experiencing a loose dental bridge, schedule an appointment with your dentist so they can inspect it right away.
Until you can see your dentist, avoid chewing using your dental bridge and do your best not to move it around as this might further loosen it.
Treatment For Loose Bridge
Depending on the cause of the loose bridge, some treatment recommendations may include:
Better adaptation
If the problem lies with improper cementation of the bridge, your dentist can simply remove the bridge and modify the cement to fit better before it is positioned back in your mouth.
Tooth restoration
If any decay is present on the abutment, it must be restored with dental fillings to prevent further damage that may eventually result in abutment extraction. But for this to be checked, your dentist needs to remove your dental bridge.
Habit breakers
Oral habits that may cause damage to the dental bridge must be managed to prevent future problems. If you suffer from night grinding, our dentists at Sierra Dental recommend getting a nightguard to ensure your bridge is safe from the heavy and damaging forces when you grind your teeth.
Reinforce oral hygiene
Lastly, keeping your hygiene in check with a good routine can help with keeping your dental bridge in optimal health. Also, visit your dentist every six months so they can monitor the health of your bridge and your teeth abutments. Preventive dental visits also allow your dentist to provide treatment before problems get out of hand.
If needed, your dentist will reassess if your old dental bridge can still be placed back. However, putting the old bridge will do more harm than good for cases involving a fracture, trauma, or severely damaged abutment. In this case, it is best to replace your dental bridge so you can have a better-fitted one that will serve its purpose and make you smile for a longer time.
Dental Bridge at Sierra Dental
If you are looking for a dentist in Airdrie to help you smile better, look no further because we have a team of expert dentists and staff to help you with that. Learn more about your options with dental bridges and other teeth replacement alternatives by getting in touch with us today.
Discover your most confident smile with us at Sierra Dental!