The Dental Bridge Process Step-By-Step – Preparation, Placement, Recovery

When you lose one or more teeth, a dental bridge may fix your smile and make eating and speaking regularly again. The bridge process does take multiple dental appointments to complete fully. This step-by-step guide will explain the tooth preparation, temporary and permanent bridge placement, aftercare, healing time, and potential long-term maintenance involved with bridges.

What Tooth Preparation is Done Before Bridge Placement?

An initial requirement for obtaining a dental bridge in Pomona, CA, involves preparing the surrounding teeth to support the false tooth/teeth replacement. Your dentist near me will numb the area and then file down the teeth bordering the missing tooth space. This allows room for the dental bridge to be anchored in place. They remove around 1⁄2 millimeters off the surface and shape the tooth into a peg form. Impressions are then taken of your current bite alignment. You'll wear a temporary protective guard until your permanent bridge is fabricated.

Do Bridges require multiple dental appointments to be completed?

Bridges cannot be created and placed within the same day. The custom-designed bridge takes 1-2 weeks to craft in a dental lab. So yes, getting a bridge requires at least 2 but often 3 dental appointments:

1. Initial Exam & Tooth Preparation Appointment
2. Bridge Placement Appointment (Temporary Bridge)
3. Permanent Bridge Bonding Appointment

Spacing out the process allows your prepared teeth time to heal before permanent cementing. It also allows you to test the feel and fit of the temporary before getting your permanent bridge.

How Are Temporary vs. Permanent Bridges Inserted?

When you return to have your finished custom bridge placed, your dentist in Pomona will first insert a temporary bridge. This ensures the proper shape and function before the final permanent bridge is cemented. Temporaries help you adjust to having a bridge in your mouth again. The temporary bridge is held loosely with temporary cement or plastic clips anchored to the back of your teeth. They can be removed and reinserted easily during this try-in phase. Once you're comfortable with the fit of the temporary bridge, you return to have the permanent custom bridge bonded securely into place. Using dental glue, the repaired natural teeth are used to attach the permanent bridge. Your dentist will remove the temporary bridge, make any final adjustments to your permanent bridge, and then permanently fix it into place using the dental cement.

What Aftercare is Critical Following Dental Bridge Surgery?

The initial period following your bridge placement requires diligent oral care to allow proper healing and help your mouth adjust. Critical aftercare guidelines from your dental clinic near me include:

• Brush normally but gently around healing teeth
• Floss carefully under and around the bridge daily
• Use medicated mouth rinse daily as directed
• Take any prescribed medications like pain relievers or antibiotics

Also, avoid chewing hard, crunchy, or sticky foods during the first week. Softer nourishing foods are gentler while you heal.

How Long Does It Take Bridges to Feel Normal in the Mouth?

As you adjust to the new feeling and pressure points, you'll speak slower and eat softer foods for 1-2 weeks after bridge placement. Temporary bridges may feel bulky or loose while wearing them. Your permanent bridge should feel more comfortable and secure within a few weeks. Within 6-8 weeks, the bridge typically starts to feel completely normal as you eat and speak. However, occasional sensitivity or discomfort around anchoring teeth may persist long-term.

What's the Average Healing Time After a Bridge Procedure?

While bridges don't require cutting your gums, healing is still needed where your anchoring teeth are filed down. This tooth preparation area may remain sensitive to hot and cold temperatures for several weeks to months afterward. As the nerves heal and the bridges settle in, this sensitivity and discomfort should gradually subside. Expect the first 8 weeks to require the most significant oral healing and adjustment period.

Could Bridges Require Occasional Dental Work Long-Term?

Even once healed and settled into place, bridges often require dental work every 5-7 years. The adhesive cement may come loose, requiring re-cementing or re-bonding the bridge again. The false bridge tooth/teeth can also chip or fracture over many years of chewing stress and pressure. See your dentist promptly if you notice any loosening, damage, or problems with your dental bridge. Getting re-cementation or dental repair work done quickly prevents further complications or bridge failures. With proper placement, healing, and ongoing care, dental bridges can be a seamless solution for replacing missing teeth. Work closely with your local dentist in 91767 if you consider bridges to restore your smile's form and function beautifully again. Taking it slowly through the multi-step bridge process ensures you heal properly and adapt to your custom-designed bridge result over time. Schedule any required dental checkups or maintenance work at Pomona Dental Practice to keep your bridges functioning properly for years.