Lifespan of a Dental Bridge

Introduction

We often encounter patients with broken, chipped-off, or worn-out bridges. Sometimes, patients complain of feeling mobility in the tooth from which anchorage has been taken. To our surprise, this happens only a few years after bridge placement. Hence, various factors need to be kept in mind when placing a dental bridge. In this article, we will illuminate factors that extend the longevity of your dental bridge.

What are the Factors that add to the Lifespan of Dental Bridges?

The factors that extend the lifespan of a dental bridge are-

• Material of the Bridge- The zirconia and the lithium disilicate bridges are fairly strong and can last more than a decade without breaking. The porcelain and metal bridges may undergo wear and tear with time, leading to chipping of the outer porcelain layer.

• Choosing the Correct Option- During the first appointment at a dental clinic, your dentist will discuss all the options for the dental bridge with you. You should always choose a bridge that takes anchorage from both adjacent teeth for your missing tooth. Never insist your dentist put a cantilever bridge (a bridge that takes support from only one side of the missing space), especially in the back region of the tooth arches, which bear all the burnt of chewing. Your dentist will enlist all the pros and cons of these bridges. Cantilever bridges have a shorter life span than traditional bridges.

• Proper Treatment Plan - In some cases, there are more missing teeth and fewer anchorage teeth. In these cases, the dental bridge will have a short life expectancy. The increased stress on the anchorage teeth will cause extensive load on them, as the replacement units will outweigh the abutment (anchorage teeth), causing bridge failure. To address this issue, your dentist will suggest the implant placement to reduce the load on the anchorage teeth. After thoroughly discussing with your dentist, a bridge supported by both natural teeth and implants can be planned for better stability and longevity of the bridge.

• Minimizing the Error in Tooth Preparation- After the tooth preparation for the bridge placement, the preparation measurement should be taken very accurately. This can be better obtained by using a 3D intraoral scanner, which takes the impression with great precision.A good impression model will ensure proper margins for the final bridge. Proper margins of the bridge will ensure no seepage of food beneath the bridge will occur, preventing early failure and increasing the longevity of the bridge.

• Evaluation of Anchorage Teeth - It is very important to Examine the support tooth for the bridge. If the adjacent teeth are not in good health, efforts will be made to correct their condition.A compromised health of these may result in the early failure of the bridge.

• Checking Highpoint in Final Prosthesis- After the final bridge placement, it's important to check for any high points. These high points, if not corrected or reduced, can cause trauma from constant hitting that happens due to the opposite tooth. This trauma can cause early failure of the bridge. Hence to prevent failure and increase the life of the bridge this should be considered.

• Aftercare Maintenance- After all the procedures are done at the dental clinic, the aftercare solely depends on you. Proper oral hygiene with extra care for the bridge is important to enhance its longevity. Water flossers should be used to clean food debris that may stick to it while eating. Keeping a check on gum disease, and frequent gargles using mouthwashes and normal saline can significantly improve the stability of the bridge and enhance its life span.

Conclusion

Dental bridges can last from 5 years to a decade long. However, many factors impact the longevity of the dental bridge. While prime factors are based on the treatment plan and the material used, aftercare and maintenance by the patient wearing it play an important role. A good bridge can show early failure if bad oral hygiene and bad gum health prevail. Hence care in bridge maintenance plays a very vital role to increase its lifespan.

John Scott content writer and digital marketing graduate. Write about business tip, tech, technology topics.