Permanent Dental Bridge Care
Permanent bridges are a great way to protect your teeth, maintain your smile, and restore your confidence in public. While the crown portion of a bridge will protect most of the exposed portion of your tooth from decay, the area where the natural tooth meets the crown of the bridge is vulnerable to cavities. If you take good care of it and practice sound dental hygiene, a permanent bridge should last 8-10 years.
Chewing and Eating
If we used an anesthetic to place your permanent bridge, do not chew until you feel all of the numbness has worn off.
Do not eat hard foods for 24 hours from the time we cement your permanent bridge in place. The cement needs at least this much time to mature and attain its maximum strength. Also, never chew on any hard object like ice.
Eat snacks in moderation. If you eat something that is high in sugar, brush this area or swish with water.
Brushing and Flossing
Keep your permanent bridge and the areas underneath it free from bacteria. If we have given you special floss, toothbrushes, or cleaning agents, use these as directed for as long as instructed.
Brush after you eat and before you go to bed. Use a soft toothbrush, and concentrate your efforts on the area where the bridge meets the gum line. This is because harmful bacteria will gather at the gumline and eventually cause decay and gum disease.
Remember, a crowned tooth will be more prone to gum disease.
You also need to floss at least one or two times daily. Use a floss threader to help you remove plaque under and around these areas to maintain good oral hygiene. On a bridge, you have to clean “under” as well as around the bridge. If you do not do so, food debris and plaque will build up on these places and teeth and gums can become infected.
Use desensitizing toothpaste if your teeth feel sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure. Call us if noticeable sensitivity persists.
Do not worry about mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods. This will gradually go away after a few weeks.
Medication
Take any antibiotics that we prescribe as directed, and consult with your Houston dentists about anything over-the-counter you intend to take.
Adjustment period:
It is all right for your permanent bridge to feel a little bit out of place for a few days after cementing. This is due to the fact that the teeth around it area are adjusting to new forces both in between the teeth and on the surfaces of teeth when biting down.
Call Us
Call us if immediately you feel an uneven bite or persistent discomfort or pain. Also, call us if you feel a sensation of movement or looseness in the restoration. Any sensitivity to sweet foods; or any a peculiar taste from the restoration site, needs to be reported to us. We also need to hear from you about any breakage of a piece of material from the restoration or any uncomfortable sensitivity to normal pressure.
With only your continuing care and concern, your permanent bridge should serve you well and last for years to come.
Chewing and Eating
If we used an anesthetic to place your permanent bridge, do not chew until you feel all of the numbness has worn off.
Do not eat hard foods for 24 hours from the time we cement your permanent bridge in place. The cement needs at least this much time to mature and attain its maximum strength. Also, never chew on any hard object like ice.
Eat snacks in moderation. If you eat something that is high in sugar, brush this area or swish with water.
Brushing and Flossing
Keep your permanent bridge and the areas underneath it free from bacteria. If we have given you special floss, toothbrushes, or cleaning agents, use these as directed for as long as instructed.
Brush after you eat and before you go to bed. Use a soft toothbrush, and concentrate your efforts on the area where the bridge meets the gum line. This is because harmful bacteria will gather at the gumline and eventually cause decay and gum disease.
Remember, a crowned tooth will be more prone to gum disease.
You also need to floss at least one or two times daily. Use a floss threader to help you remove plaque under and around these areas to maintain good oral hygiene. On a bridge, you have to clean “under” as well as around the bridge. If you do not do so, food debris and plaque will build up on these places and teeth and gums can become infected.
Use desensitizing toothpaste if your teeth feel sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure. Call us if noticeable sensitivity persists.
Do not worry about mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods. This will gradually go away after a few weeks.
Medication
Take any antibiotics that we prescribe as directed, and consult with your Houston dentists about anything over-the-counter you intend to take.
Adjustment period:
It is all right for your permanent bridge to feel a little bit out of place for a few days after cementing. This is due to the fact that the teeth around it area are adjusting to new forces both in between the teeth and on the surfaces of teeth when biting down.
Call Us
Call us if immediately you feel an uneven bite or persistent discomfort or pain. Also, call us if you feel a sensation of movement or looseness in the restoration. Any sensitivity to sweet foods; or any a peculiar taste from the restoration site, needs to be reported to us. We also need to hear from you about any breakage of a piece of material from the restoration or any uncomfortable sensitivity to normal pressure.
With only your continuing care and concern, your permanent bridge should serve you well and last for years to come.
Labels: caring for dental bridges, permanent dental bridge care
posted by Dental Expert at
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