What to Do If Your Dental Bridge Falls Out  

In the United States, 120 million people are missing at least one of their pearly whites. This means that millions of people are walking around with gaps in their grins. If you’re one of them, you may have a dental bridge to fill in the gaps. These restorations can be used to replace one or more consecutive missing teeth and consist of a dental crown between two abutment teeth or implants. as useful as bridges can be to your beam, what do you do if yours falls out? Keep reading to learn about potential causes as well as what to do if your dental bridge falls out.

2 Common Reasons Dental Bridges Fall Out

Though dental bridges can last 5-15 years with proper care, there are a few reasons why they may fall out, including:

• Tooth decay – If one or both of the abutment teeth of your dental bridge develop a cavity, this can cause it to fail. This is because there may eventually not be enough tooth structure left to support your bridge. This is often the cause of a bad oral hygiene routine that doesn’t consist of brushing twice daily for two minutes each time and flossing every night.
• Irregular bite pattern – If a component of your bridge is too high or too low on your chewing surface, this can lead to an uneven distribution of pressure. This will cause your bridge to loosen over time, and it may eventually fall out.

What to Do If Your Dental Bridge Fell Out

So, what do you do if your dental bridge falls out? Though your first reaction may be to panic, it’s important to keep calm and take a deep breath. Once you’ve done that, you should:

• Contact your dentist – Explain to them what happened. They will help you schedule an emergency appointment. If the accident occurs after hours, listen to their voicemail. It may give you information on what to do next.
• Place the bridge somewhere safe – Store it in a plastic bag or a storage case to keep it safe. Bring it with you to your dental appointment so your dentist can see if it can be reattached. If not, they’ll have a new one made.
• Be careful when eating – Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the crown was. Additionally, don’t eat or drink anything too hot, cold, acidic, spicy, sweet, or sharp to lessen sensitivity.

About the Practice

Dr. Stephen Wardlaw and his team at I-20 Family Dental are highly skilled in everything oral health. They are located in Arlington, putting them in the perfect place to serve patients all over the metroplex. If you are missing teeth, they offer dental bridges to fill in the gaps. They can also help you get your smile back on track if your dental bridge falls out. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Wardlaw or want to learn more about dental bridges, call I-20 Family Dental at (817) 572-5115 or visit their website to get started.