How Long Does a Dental Bridge Last?

A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by joining a false tooth to the teeth on either side of the gap. Most people who get one want to know how long it will last.

 

No single number fits every bridge. With good care, a bridge can last many years, and the way you look after it makes a big difference.

 

How a bridge works

 

A traditional bridge rests on crowns placed over the teeth beside the gap. Those teeth are called the anchor teeth, and the false tooth between them is called a pontic.

 

Some bridges rest on dental implants instead of natural teeth. Others are bonded to the back of the teeth beside the gap, a type that suits front teeth.

 

Every bridge depends on what is under it. If the anchor teeth decay or the gums around them break down, the bridge fails with them.

 

What shortens a bridge’s life

 

• Decay on an anchor tooth, often starting at the edge of the crown.
• Gum disease around the anchor teeth.
• Food and plaque left under the false tooth.
• Grinding or clenching your teeth at night.
• Chewing ice, hard candy or pens.
• Skipped checkups that let small problems grow.

 

Back teeth take more chewing force than front teeth. For that reason, a bridge at the back of the mouth has a harder job.

 

What helps a bridge last longer

 

Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and clean along the gumline around the bridge. Plaque that builds up there is how decay starts on an anchor tooth.

 

Regular floss cannot slide down between the false tooth and the teeth beside it. Use a floss threader, a special floss with a stiff end, or a water flosser to clean under it.

 

If you grind your teeth, ask us about a night guard. It spreads the force of grinding and protects the bridge while you sleep.

 

Come in for regular checkups and cleanings. At each one we check the edges of the crowns and the gums around the bridge.

 

Signs your bridge needs a look

 

• The bridge feels loose or moves when you chew.
• A bad taste or smell near the bridge.
• Sore, swollen or bleeding gums around it.
• A chip or crack in the bridge.
• Pain or sensitivity in an anchor tooth.

 

Call us if you notice any of these. Sometimes a loose bridge can be cemented back in place if the anchor teeth are healthy.

 

When a bridge needs replacing

 

A bridge that wears out or breaks can be replaced. We check the anchor teeth first, because a new bridge needs healthy teeth under it.

 

Sometimes an anchor tooth needs a filling or a root canal before a new bridge goes on. In other cases an implant or a partial denture is the better choice by then. We go over each option with you.

 

What getting a bridge involves

 

A bridge usually takes two visits. At the first, we shape the anchor teeth and take a digital scan of your mouth.

 

You wear a temporary bridge while the final one is made. At the second visit, we check the fit and the bite, adjust what needs it, and cement the bridge in place.

 

A good fit at the start helps a bridge last. An even bite spreads the chewing force across the anchor teeth.

 

Types of bridges we make

 

Different gaps call for different bridges. These are the four types we offer:

 

• Traditional bridges, anchored by crowns on natural teeth.
• Implant-supported bridges, for people missing several teeth in a row.
• Cantilever bridges, used when there is an anchor tooth on only one side of the gap.
• Maryland bridges, bonded to the back of the teeth beside the gap, best for front teeth.

 

We make many of our bridges in our own dental lab, in the same building as our office. We take a digital scan of your teeth, so there are no goopy impressions.

 

Thinking about a bridge?

 

Read more about dental bridges in London, Ontario, or call 519-472-4460 to book a visit. We can check an old bridge or talk through a new one.

 

We are on Aldersbrook Road and open until 7pm on Monday and Tuesday.