Getting a dental bridge can be a scary proposition. The benefits of a dental bridge, however, far outweigh the initial feelings of hesitation you may have. A bridge can restore your smile, allow you to chew and speak properly, and prevent your remaining teeth from slowly moving out of their current positions. A great way to eliminate some of the hesitation is by understanding the dental bridge procedure and follow up process.
What Does the Dental Bridge Procedure Entail?
Your dental bridge procedure will require a number of visits to the dentist. The first visit will consist of a local anesthetic being administered to the gum around the tooth next to where the bridge will be placed. The dentist would then reshape the teeth that house the crowns by either filing them down or filling them.
Once your teeth have been reshaped, the dentist will make an impression to be sent to a laboratory in order to make a permanent bridge that perfectly fits your mouth. In the meantime, you’ll receive a temporary bridge that’s held in by cement, and it should last until your permanent bridge has been created.
How is the Dental Bridge Placed?
Once the bridge has been created and sent back to the office (usually a few weeks), it will be permanently placed in your mouth after ensuring that the mold has been perfectly formed to fit. Follow-up visits may need to be planned in order to ensure that the bite is properly aligned and that there are no issues with the placement, but your dentist will go over these as needed.
How Do You Maintain a Bridge?
Luckily, your life should be much improved after the proper placement of a new bridge! Caring for your new bridge follows the same guidelines as proper dental care. Make sure to brush twice a day and floss regularly in order to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Regular floss won’t work with your new bridge, so you likely will need to use a pressurized water flosser or special nylon floss threaders to get under the bridge. Given this kind of treatment, a bridge should last five to seven years, and even as many as 10!
To find out more about the dental bridge procedure at Fisher Pointe Dental, contact us today!
