What You Should Do If Your Dental Bridge Falls Out

Tooth loss is a common issue throughout the United States. Approximately 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. However, losing a tooth doesn’t mean that you need to go the rest of your life without it. There are several tooth replacement options out there to help patients get their smiles back. A dental bridge is a common choice because of its many benefits, but what happens if it falls out? What should you do? Continue reading to find out.

Why Did My Dental Bridge Fall Out?

There are a few different reasons why your dental bridge could have fallen out. Here are some of the most common:

• Tooth Decay: One of the most common reasons why a dental bridge failure occurs is because of underlying tooth decay. Bridges and crowns cover the majority of the supporting teeth, but this doesn’t mean that the teeth cannot still be affected by bacteria and decay. If you don’t practice excellent oral hygiene, cavities can develop. When left to progress, they will become deeper and ultimately cause your dental bridge to fall out.
• Improper Bite: An irregular bite pattern can also cause a dental bridge to fall off. This is because improper bite leads to pressure points across the dental bridge. It could be that the bridge has an area where it is too high on the chewing surface.
• Weak Supporting Teeth:The abutment teeth that support the bridge must be healthy to keep the bridge strong. If they don’t have the strength to hold the bridge long term, it can collapse and fall out. Your abutment teeth could also be too short to provide proper support.

What Should You Do If Your Bridge Falls Out?

If your dental bridge falls out, there isn’t a need for you to panic. After all, it isn’t completely unheard of. Make sure that you save your bridge so that your dentist can take a look and determine whether or not it is salvageable. Give your emergency dentist a call and schedule an urgent appointment so the issue can be taken care of as soon as possible. During your visit, your dentist will take a look at your abutment teeth as well as the bridge so adjustments can be made to prevent this from happening again in the future.

If your bridge falls out, there is no need to panic. Just give your emergency dentist a call. Your smile will be restored again in no time!

About the Author

Dr. Winston Eaddy is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for well over four decades. He earned his dental doctorate from the College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of S.C. and completed a residency at the Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry, where he earned his specialty degree in periodontics. Dr. Eaddy served as Assistant Professor of Periodontics at the LSU School of Dentistry and Assistant Professor of Periodontics at the Medical University of S.C. Currently, he is a proud member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, American Academy of Periodontology, and the American Academy of Osseointegration. If your dental bridge has fallen out, he would be happy to help you out. For more information on dental bridges or to schedule an appointment at his office in Lakeway, visit his website or call (512) 263-4252.