Preparing and Caring for a Dental Crown

Teeth can be lost in a number of ways, including becoming badly decayed and falling out, being extracted by a dentist, or being knocked out from an injury.

In any of these cases, what’s left is a gap between your teeth that can make eating, drinking, and speaking more difficult.

Additionally, when a tooth is lost, the other teeth may shift position to close the gap, which can lead to a misshapen mouth or other issues.

While a space maintainer can be installed to prevent the other issues, most people prefer to resort to a dental bridge.

Preparing a Dental Bridge

Houston dentists will prepare your teeth to install a bridge so that the bridge is secure and comfortable within the mouth.

To prepare for the bridge, one or two teeth adjacent to the gap will need to be filed down in order to seat a dental crown.

The dental crown’s purpose is to serve as an anchor point for the bridge.

In between the two crowns (or next to the single crown for some) sits the pontic, or false tooth.

The pontic is usually fashioned from porcelain with a metal support structure. The support structure is laced through the pontic itself along with the crowns on the ends, forming a bridge structure.

After the teeth have been prepared, a mold is cast to get a scale replica of the inside of your mouth. This mold shows how the teeth fit together so a lab technician can fabricate the dental bridge.

Installing the Dental Bridge

After the first visit, the dental laboratory builds the dental bridge, carefully sizing and shaping it to match the patient’s mouth structure and layout.

Once the bridge is complete, the patient returns to the Houston dentist’s office to have the bridge installed.

The crowns will be placed atop the teeth adjacent to the gap while the pontic is suspended within the gap. The dentist will carefully mount them to ensure a snug, but comfortable fit.

If the bridge does not sit comfortably or securely, it may need to be remade, as poorly set dental implants can lead to complications such as infections.

After Mounting the Dental Bridge

Once the dental bridge has been securely placed, including any resetting, if necessary, the patient will be able to speak, drink, and eat normally. The false tooth will function just like its original counterpart.

Porcelain pontics are durable and look natural, but they are not impervious to damage. Taking care of your teeth with proper hygiene after getting a dental bridge will prolong the life of the bridge.

In most cases, dental bridges will last about 10 years, but with expert home care and regular checkups with your Houston dentist, they can last upwards of 15 years.

Should a dental bridge come loose or fall out, return to your dentist immediately. The exposed base of the teeth that were crowned are more susceptible to damage compared to whole teeth, and the gums need to be protected and clean to avoid infection.

The dentist will clean the area of your mouth the bridge was removed from and if necessary, have a new bridge constructed.

It is important not to hesitate having a loose bridge fixed by your dentist. Poorly fitted dental bridges can cause infections below the gums, which can lead to periodontal disease, including the advanced scenario that leads to bone infection.