Dental bridges and crowns are designed to be durable. However, without proper care and maintenance, you might find yourself in need of a new crown or bridge after a short time. This is because they can be damaged similarly to your natural teeth. However, here are some essential tips that can help you maintain your tooth replacements in good shape.
Regular Checkups
After the tooth replacements are permanently fixed, it is necessary to have periodical checkups to keep them in check. Some complications can occur afterwards and not show any symptoms. Only a practitioner can detect these problems after a careful examination. Also, it is during regular checkups that your artificial restorations can be cleaned professionally to remove any tartar or plaque.
In case of accidents, a checkup is necessary to evaluate any trauma that can cause the replacements to shift or break. This can call for a repair or a replacement. Dr. Benjamin J. Crowley offers porcelain crowns and bridges in Richmond at Brightwork Family Dentistry and can counsel you on the right steps you should take to keep them strong.
Avoid Overloading the Restorations
The strength and resistance of natural teeth cannot be achieved no matter how sophisticated or expensive a restoration is. With this in mind, please use them with care. For extremely hard foodstuffs, you can opt to crush them using objects other than your restorations.
Report any Discomfort
This is one aspect that you should be keen on. Several complications can be easily treated when reported in time and avoid further complications. They include:
- Swelling, pain, or bleeding in the gums
- A foul smell
- Pain when biting
- Toothaches of various intensities
- Pain in the jaw muscles
- Unusual cracks in the TMJ joint
Brushing and Flossing Every Day
You can brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once to prevent bacteria and plaque from building up on the tooth. Please don’t be afraid of damaging the restorations. Leaving them unclean is what will cause their surface to deteriorate.
Avoid Using Your Teeth as Tools
Opening bags or tags with your mouth can seem convenient, but not with restorations. Such improper use of teeth can cause tugging motion on your dental crown or bridge, which reduces their durability. Instead, you can use the right alternatives, such as scissors.
Prevent Teeth Grinding
If you have a behaviour of grinding your teeth as you sleep or when you are stressed, you can look for a way to avoid the habit. You can look for alternatives to lower your anxiety and stress. You can also use a nightguard or custom clear tray to control the grinding. This helps to protect the restorations from chipping and cracking.
Avoid Sugary Foods
If you want your dental crowns or bridges to serve you a lifetime, you should do your best to avoid sugary foodstuffs. This is because such foods create a sweet environment which is warm and moist, and this is a thriving environment for tooth decaying bacteria.
In conclusion, with few lifestyle adjustments and proper care, you can make more from your investment in dental crowns and bridges. It also helps you avoid getting new replacements any time soon. Most importantly, walking with a medical practitioner through your maintenance journey is critical in making the restorations last long.