My Dental Bridge Cracked: What Should I Do?

My Dental Bridge Cracked: What Should I Do?

Dec 01, 2022

A broken tooth can be a major source of self-consciousness and embarrassment as one goes about life. But when the tooth is part of a dental bridge, it brings an added element of financial worry and confusion about how to repair it.

So if you’ve broken or fractured your bridge, don’t worry. Our team at Warm Family Dentistry knows just what to do.

What is a Dental Bridge?

This is a special type of dental implant that replaces multiple missing teeth. A dental bridge is usually secured via a crown on each abutment tooth while first serving to close the gap.

A broken dental bridge can be a source of embarrassment and self-consciousness, like a chipped or broken tooth can. It might also be expensive to replace or repair if one doesn’t have dental insurance. Fortunately, a replacement or repair is usually possible.

What Causes a Dental Bridge to Break?

A dental bridge is normally made of a metal frame coated with porcelain or ceramic. Although usually sturdy, these materials can weaken due to improper oral hygiene. Dental bridges can also crack or chip in the same way that a normal tooth might. In addition, experiencing a blow to the tooth due to accidents or a fall can break even a false tooth, as can hard foods and candies.

A dental bridge may sometimes break when the abutment teeth break or fracture. In this case, a bridge normally remains whole but can no longer function properly.

There are other possible reasons why your dental bridge might break:

  • Long missing teeth gap: The longer you have a gap, the more false teeth are used and the greater the deflection and stress on your dental bridge. The deflection of a dental bridge can cause the dental bridge to break. So the longer the gap of missing teeth, the greater there’ll be a deflection of your dental bridge.
  • Teeth clenching and grinding: This can make your dental bridge weak and susceptible to breakage.
  • Improper dental hygiene: Natural teeth that support your dental bridge are prone to tooth decay and periodontal disease. This can reduce the stability of the dental bridge and make it break easily.
  • Poor oral habits: Having habits like opening soda cans and chewing on a pen with their teeth can fracture and break your bridge.
  • Injury: Getting hit in the face or falling on an object can break the dental bridge
  • Dental laboratory errors in the fabrication: This might occur due to mistakes during fabrication, such as poor dental material selection or low bridge thickness. Also, it might be due to the wrong fabrication technique affecting your dental bridge’s longevity.

What to Do if a Dental Bridge Breaks

If your dental bridge breaks, you should remain calm and see your dentist immediately. Although a broken bridge may not be painful in the same way a broken tooth might, the break allows bacteria to enter the dental bridge, which causes problems over time.

When getting dental bridges in Salt Lake City, UT, your dentist will discuss your options for replacement and repair depending on your dental bridge. For example, if the break is only a minor fracture, it might be repaired by dental bonding.

However, this may stain over time because it uses a different material than heat-fused porcelain. Another option might be a partial or a full veneer, depending on the type of damage to your bridge.

Normally the best option is to replace the dental bridge entirely. This ensures that your bridge is as strong as it can be and that no bacteria are trapped.

Caring for New Dental Bridge

Having good oral care habits increases the longevity of a dental bridge. For example, brushing twice daily helps prevent plaque, cavities, and the care of the abutment teeth. Also, your dentist might often recommend a special flossing tool that cleans the gap between the replacement tooth and your gum. So ensure you ask your dentist about the special flossing after you get your dental bridges in Taylorsville, UT.

If you think your dental bridge might need repair, now you know the scoop of dental bridge repairs. If you have any sensitivity around the teeth or notice any cracks or chips, you should check in with your dentist. It’s also essential to see your dentist regularly to ensure that your teeth under the dental bridge stay healthy.

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