Just like London Bridge falling down, your dental bridge falling out is an emergency that requires immediate attention. A bridge is a dental restoration connected to two abutment teeth that’s used to fill in the gap between them. If your bridge loses its grip in your mouth and falls out or becomes lost, there are a few steps you must take to ensure that it is repaired quickly and properly. Read on to learn about why your dental bridge might fall out and what you can do about it.
Tooth Decay Can Cause a Dental Bridge to Fall Out
While the bridge will cover up most of the teeth supporting it, it can also provide shelter for accumulating bacteria, acid, and food debris. If this buildup is not removed, the bacteria will eventually cause tooth decay, and even the tiniest cavity will only get worse without professional intervention. This can degrade or destroy the teeth holding the bridge in place, causing the appliance to fall out.
For this reason, your dental bridge must be cleaned along with your natural teeth every day. This means a daily regimen of brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash. Additionally, you should see the dentist twice a year or more if they recommend it.
The Abutment Teeth May Not Be Able to Support a Bridge
For a bridge to remain secure in a patient’s mouth, it needs the abutment teeth supporting it to be healthy. If these abutment teeth become damaged, their ability to hold the bridge in place becomes compromised. This can happen due to tooth decay, but sometimes the abutment teeth just don’t have the strength to hold the bridge in the long term, and other times they might be too short to provide enough surface area for a strong cement bond. In some cases, one or more of the abutment teeth can break due to injury as can the artificial teeth between them.
An Irregular Bite Can Work a Bridge Out of Place Over Time
With a well-aligned bite pattern, the teeth prevent undue stress on each other and the jaw by sharing pressure evenly and efficiently, and this should work the same way while wearing a dental bridge. If it is not fitting properly, biting and chewing can cause irregular stress on one side of the bridge or the other, eventually causing it to break or come loose from an abutment.
What Should I Do if My Bridge Falls Out?
If your dental bridge falls out, you’ll want to make an emergency appointment with your dentist. Putting the appliance in a plastic sandwich bag is a great way to securely store it until you get to the office. On the day of your appointment, bring your bridge so your dentist can repair it and put it back into position.
While a dislodged dental bridge is a dental emergency, it is not something to panic over. Your dentist can have your smile looking great again in no time.
About the Author
Dr. Megan McInnis earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2013 from the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX. She serves as a member of the American Dental Association and the Oregon Dental Association while being dedicated to delivering comfortable, conservative, and high-quality treatment. Her practice in Portland, OR provides preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If your dental bridge has fallen out and you need it replaced, contact her online or dial (503) 761-1414.