It is not every day that you will go looking for an emergency dentist near you to handle your dental health. In fact, the best indicator that you have been caring for your oral cavity the right way is not having need any dental treatment for infections in your mouth. However, when it comes to dental emergencies, there is not much you can do to predict when you will need urgent dental care. It is especially the case with dental emergencies that regard dental traumas and accidents. For example, if you have received a dental bridge to replace your teeth, an injury on your face can cause dental bridge problems. Even though it is uncommon to have a problematic dental bridge, once you have received an oral appliance in your mouth, you should always be aware that anything can happen. You may, in that case, need emergency dental bridge repair and restoration.
What Are Dental Bridges?
They are tooth-shaped oral appliances that are used in restorative dentistry to replace missing teeth. Dental bridges feature dental crowns and an artificial tooth to replace the lost one. Ideally, the artificial tooth is sandwiched between two dental crowns, which are placed over adjacent teeth to replace the missing one. Dental bridges are usually used to replace one to three missing teeth in a row. The requirement for getting dental bridges is that you must have adjacent natural teeth intact. If not, your dentist may recommend getting dental implants, which will play a similar role to natural teeth.
What Is the Process of Getting Dental Bridges?
A couple of steps are involved in the placement of a dental bridge:
- Teeth preparation – This entails preparing the adjacent teeth for receiving a dental bridge. The preparation involves shaving off part of your tooth’s enamel. Depending on the type of dental bridge you are getting, one or two of your adjacent teeth will be prepared in this way.
- Taking impressions of your mouth – The impressions are used as measurements for creating a mold of your mouth that will be used in manufacturing a tailored and customized dental bridge for you. After this step, your dentist will place temporary dental crowns on the prepared teeth. The idea is to keep your teeth protected while your dental bridge is readied for installation.
- Placing the dental bridge – After two weeks or so, you will be scheduled for another appointment for your bridgework to be completed. The installation process involves using dental cement to adhere the dental crowns to the adjacent teeth. Lasers are then used to cure the dental cement and promote speedy adherence. At this, your treatment is complete.
What Dental Bridge Problems Should You Anticipate?
It is uncommon for patients to have dental bridge problems after their procedure, but it is not impossible. As such, you must be keen to notice any anomalies in the performance and state of your oral bridge after getting it. Some of the tooth bridge problems you should not ignore are:
- Ill-fitted bridge – You need to be very attentive to how you feel about your dental bridge before you leave your dentist’s office. If a toot bridge does not fit perfectly, it will cause significant discomfort when you try to use your mouth, among many other dental issues. One of the indicators that your dental bridge is ill-fitting is soreness in your gums. This soreness will eventually allow for gum infections, mouth sores, boils, and gum recession.
- Tooth decay – For the crowned teeth. It is not uncommon for patients to suffer dental decay after getting tooth bridges. If you are not keen to keep up with proper oral hygiene, the bacteria from plaque and food residues will cause your crowned teeth to begin decaying.
- Heightened tooth sensitivity – Since your adjacent teeth are prepared before crowning, you may experience tooth sensitivity after getting dental bridges. However, the sensitivity should only last a few days after your treatment. Anything longer than a week or two should be a cause for concern.
- Damaged bridge – Dental brides feature porcelain, ceramic, or metal materials, or a combination of any of them. However, these materials are not fully resistant to damage. As such, they can break, crack, chip, or even dislodge, all of which are issues you should report to your dentist.
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