Permanent bridges are an excellent way for a person to protect their teeth, maintain their smile, and restore their confidence in public. While it is true that the crown portion of a bridge protects most of the exposed surface of a teeth from decay, the area where the natural tooth and the bridge crown intersect is vulnerable to decay.
Nevertheless, consistent and proper home care for a permanent bridge should make it last for a good eight to ten years.
Chewing and Eating
If a dentist uses an anesthetic to place a permanent bridge, the patient should not chew until they feel all of the numbness wear off.
The patient must avoid eating hard foods for 24 hours from the time the dentist cements the permanent bridge. The cement needs at least one day to mature and achieve its maximum strength. It goes without saying that no one, with or without a bridge, should ever chew on hard foreign objects or ice.
Snacks should only be eaten in moderation. If a snack is high in sugar, the patient should brush the bridge area or swish with water.
Brushing and Flossing
The patient should keep the permanent bridge and the areas beneath it free from bacteria. If the dentist gives the patient any special floss, toothbrushes, or cleaning agents, the individual should use these as instructed.
The patient must brush after each meal and before going to bed. A soft toothbrush should be used for this, and concentrated brushing should be done around the area where the bridge meets the gum line. This is because harmful bacteria tend to gather at the gumline and eventually cause decay and gum disease.
It is a proven dental fact that a crowned tooth is more vulnerable to gum disease if not properly cared for..
Floss must be done at least one or two times a day. A floss threader should be used to help remove plaque under and around these areas and maintain good oral hygiene. On a bridge, one must clean beneath the bridge as well as around it. Failure to do so will result in food debris and plaque building up in these places and subsequent infection of teeth and gums.
Dentists strongly recommend using desensitizing toothpaste. Patients experiencing consistent, unusual sensitivity to heat, cold, or pressure should call their dentists immediately.
Patients should not worry about mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods. This is normal and will eventually subside after a few weeks.
Medication
Patients should take antibiotics that are prescribed by the dentists as prescribed, and they should consult with their dentists about any over-the-counter medications that they intend to take.
Adjustment period
It is normal for a permanent bridge to feel a little bit out of place for the first few days after cementing. This is because the teeth around it are adjusting to new forces in between the teeth and on the surfaces of teeth when biting down.
Call Your Dentist
Call the dentist at once if there is any sense of an uneven bite, persistent discomfort, or severe pain. Also, call the dentist if there is a feeling of movement or looseness in the restoration. Any sensitivity to sweet foods; or any a strange taste from the restoration, needs to be reported to the dentist ASAP. A dentist should also be contacted if any piece of the restoration breaks.
If care is attended to consistently, a permanent bridge should last for years to come.
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