If your loved one is missing one or more teeth, a dental bridge can help by bridging the gaps in their smile, giving them a complete smile again. Dental implants are ideal for replacing one or more consecutive missing teeth, but they aren’t completely indestructible. Here are some of the most common reasons for dental bridge failure so you can help your family member avoid it.
Poor Oral Hygiene
The most common reason why a dental bridge may fail is poor oral hygiene. If your loved one has a bridge, it’s important to be especially thorough when it comes to their dental hygiene regimen. This means brushing twice and flossing every day to avoid putting their dental bridge and the rest of their smile at risk.
Insufficient Abutment Teeth
The abutment teeth are the ones that are supporting the dental bridge. However, if they aren’t healthy enough, there will be issues. If there is an uneven distribution of the bridge on the surround teeth due to an abutment tooth not being supportive enough, it can result in trauma and dental bridge failure.
Bad Habits
Many different habits can put dental bridges at risk. This includes nail biting, chewing on pens or pencils, eating sticky and tough foods, teeth grinding and clenching, and munching on ice cubes. If your loved one has one or more of these habits, their bridge could be at risk.
Poor Jawbone Support
When the jawbone isn’t sufficient enough, neither will the abutment teeth. They will be much less likely to be able to support a dental bridge. With poor bone support comes a greater chance of dental bridge failure. This means that the patients would need to opt for another tooth replacement option.
Skipping Dental Checkups
When patients attend regular dental visits, their dentist checks to ensure that your bridge is in good shape and their hygienist will clear away plaque and tartar buildups that could lead to decay of the surrounding teeth and gum disease. Both of these issues can result in dental bridge failure.
Dental bridges aren’t indestructible, but they can last up to 15 years if you care for them properly. By taking steps every day to keep them in good shape, your family member will be showing off their restored smile for many years into the future.
About the Practice
At Disability Dental Services, we have a team of skilled dentists serving patients in the Grand Prairie area. We specialize in providing high quality dental care to those with a wide range of special needs. To learn more about dental bridges or to schedule an appointment for your loved one, visit our website or call (972) 296-0101.