You’ve opted for dental veneers, and now your smile positively dazzles. As you look ahead, you want to know how long you’ll be able to flash your winning grin. The answer varies, and you play a big role.
You have your new bridge in place and you’re thrilled to be able to chew, smile, and talk with confidence again. While your bridge contains a prosthetic tooth (or teeth), you still need to care for these replacement teeth.
To help you get the most out of your new dental bridge, Drs. Negar Tehrani and Chang Yi and the rest of the team here at Aura Dentistry pulled together a few tips.
One of the many benefits of a dental bridge is that it’s a nonremovable option for replacing missing teeth, which means you should care for it as you would your surrounding, natural teeth. This means:
While these prosthetic teeth are immune to tooth decay, the same can’t be said of your surrounding teeth, which also act as anchors for your bridge. As well, gum disease can still strike around your dental bridge, which means you still need to pay close attention to your gum health.
We suggest that you use a soft-bristled brush and avoid scrubbing your teeth. Instead, brush gently and thoroughly and be sure to get all the way around your bridge.
The prosthetic teeth we use in your bridge are made from porcelain or ceramic, tough materials that mimic the natural coloring of your teeth. While porcelain and ceramic may resist stains better than the enamel on your existing teeth, these materials can still stain, which means you should take steps to minimize discoloration, such as:
Even natural foods, such as berries, can lead to staining, but we don’t want you to miss out on the great health benefits these fruits deliver. When you eat blueberries, for example, consider brushing afterward, or, at least, rinsing.
As we mentioned, porcelain and ceramic are tough materials, but they can still crack, chip, and break. To preserve your dental bridge, we suggest you steer clear of foods and behaviors that can damage your bridge, such as:
If you care for your bridge properly, these prosthetic teeth can last for 10, 20, or more years.
Lastly, we recommend that you stay on top of your regular, twice-annual, professional dental cleanings with us. These visits allow us to ensure that your bridge is functioning well, to check the health of your existing teeth, to monitor your gums, and, lastly, to give your teeth a great clean and polish.
If you have more questions about caring for your dental bridge, please contact our office in McLean, Virginia, to learn more.
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