When missing one or more consecutive teeth along the upper or lower row of your mouth, many dentists recommend a dental bridge to restore the visual aesthetics and normal use of your smile. Reliable and natural-looking, these restorations allow you to embrace a new appearance that blends in beautifully, so others will never be able to tell you have artificial teeth. But how long do they last and what can you do to extend their lifespan? Keep reading to find out.
What is the Average Lifespan of a Dental Bridge?
Before discussing the average amount of time you can expect your new dental bridge to last, it’s important to remember that it is unlikely to remain in place for the rest of your life. There are rare cases when this can happen; however, the more common timeframe to follow is 10 years or more.
Both the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Rochester Medical Center agree that when properly cared for with good oral hygiene, regular dental visits every six months, and giving up unhealthy habits, you can enjoy your dental bridge for a decade or more.
What Tips Can Help Extend the Life of a Dental Bridge?
When learning that you need a dental bridge, you’ll need to make sure it looks and feels good all the time. Otherwise, you’ll be left with a restoration that is damaged and requires replacement much sooner than you anticipated. This can mean more time and money spent visiting the dentist for essential care.
To extend the life of your dental bridge, you’ll need to make sure you adopt the following habits:
- When wearing a removable bridge, take it out and clean it over your sink, but place a towel in its basin so that if it slips out of your hands, it will not break.
- Use only a soft-bristled toothbrush or denture brush and cool water to clean your bridge. Regular toothpaste is too abrasive and can scratch the material. Instead, you can use a denture cleaner.
- Rinse your dental bridge using only cool water. Hot water can warp it.
- Unless your dentist tells you to, don’t leave your bridge in water or denture cleaner overnight. Doing so can cause the metal clasps or clips to rust.
Dental bridges are highly dependable and great for anyone who prefers a non-surgical approach to tooth replacement. By adopting good oral hygiene habits at home, you can expect to enjoy your new set of teeth for many wonderful years.
About the Practice
Indy Dental Group consists of a team of dental experts who understand the challenges of tooth loss. Whether it is one missing tooth, multiple, or an entire row, we believe in providing effective solutions to restore smiles, so they look and feel better and allow for easier eating and speaking. With dental bridges, we can fill in the gaps left behind by one or more missing consecutive teeth. Contact us at (317) 846-6125 to find out what you can do to extend the lifespan of your new smile.