Tips to Care for Your Dental Bridge

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A dental bridge is a type of permanent false tooth that doesn’t penetrate the gumline. It’s usually secured by two crowns on the surrounding teeth, though it may sometimes only need one crown depending on its positioning.

Because restorative prosthetics, like artificial teeth and crowns, aren’t vulnerable to tooth decay, it may lead people to think that their bridge is an impenetrable fortress. However, it’s still important to care for your bridge as well as (if not better than) your natural teeth.

How to Care for Your Dental Bridge

Caring for your dental bridge is similar to caring for all your teeth: flossing, brushing, mouthwash, and visiting your dentist in Windermere, FL at least twice per year. Standard dental care protects the dental work and the gums and jawbone that anchor your permanent teeth.

The trickiest part of standard oral care is flossing. You may need a specialized product, like super floss, that’s designed to get in and around the prosthetics. For example, super floss has a spongy section in addition to the standard thread that makes it possible to maneuver through more complex sections.

Why It Matters

Many people choose dental bridges in Windermere, FL because they’re not quite healthy enough for dental implants. Usually, this is due to gum or jawbone damage, which means that you need to take extra care of the tissue that you have left. However, even if you chose a dental bridge because it was a simpler procedure than an implant, it’s still important to keep up with cleanings to get the most from your investment.

If you have questions about dental bridges, the team at Inspired Dental can help you learn more about the procedure or provide better tips to keep up with your home care!

How to Decide Between a Dental Implant and a Dental Bridge

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A dental implant and a dental bridge will both replace a missing tooth with a permanent artificial tooth. Here, we’ll look at the similarities and differences between the two and when to choose one over the other.

Comparing Bridges and Implants

Both dental bridges and implants strengthen your mouth, taking the pressure off your remaining teeth and preventing the surrounding teeth from sliding in to take the missing tooth’s place. Unlike a partial denture, you can care for the artificial tooth the same way you care for your regular teeth (with standard brushing and flossing).

Contrasting Bridges and Implants

A bridge relies on your remaining teeth to cement the tooth, meaning you’ll need either one crown or two (depending on location) to hold the artificial tooth. With an implant, a dentist in Windermere, FL fuses a metal post in your jaw to cement the tooth, ensuring the artificial tooth is held by the bone rather than your surrounding (more vulnerable) teeth.

Which One Is Better?

This comes down to both your oral health and personal preferences, but in general you should choose the implant if at all possible. Implants may take longer and cost more, but they act like your natural tooth, which is the best way to ensure long-term oral health. If you have gum or bone damage, though, you may not be eligible for an implant — in which case a bridge would be the best option.

If you’re interested in a dental implant in Windermere, FL, it helps to prepare for the procedure first. While some people can complete the process in just a few weeks, for others, it may take several months. At Inspired Dental, we’re here to help you learn more about your options.