What Causes a Dental Bridge to Fail?

Prosthetic teeth are pretty durable these days, but even they have their weak spots. A few careless moments can make dental bridges stop working, putting your restored smile at risk. With that said, you may wonder: Just what causes a dental bridge to fail? Your Owasso dentist doesn’t want you puzzled, so they’re here with an answer. Keep reading to learn the potential causes of dental bridge failure, as well as how to guard against them.

Causes of Dental Bridge Failure

While dental bridges can fail for various reasons, the most common ones are:

Nearby Cavities & Decay

Dental bridges depend on good oral health, as surprising as that may sound. They’ll often fail early when a patient’s mouth suffers from major plaque buildup.

Remember, dental bridges secure themselves with nearby natural teeth. If or when those “abutments” decay, they’ll become too unstable to support any prosthetics. They’ll instead cause your dental bridge to loosen until it eventually slips and falls from your mouth.

Bad Oral Habits

Lack of hygiene isn’t the only threat to dental bridges. If a patient overindulges in bad oral habits, these devices will quickly fail.

Habits such as biting hard objects – nail biting, teeth grinding, etc. – happen to be key examples. As they put a dental bridge under excess pressure, the habits can cause your device to fracture. That means the wrong habit will trigger a bridge failure before you know it.

Poor Bridge Construction

At the same time, your own actions aren’t the only danger. Some dental bridges stop working simply because they weren’t well-made.

Note that low-quality dental bridges use flimsy materials. If you opt for one of these lesser options, it won’t endure the force from chewing for very long. That lack of endurance (as well as a poor fit) can make a bridge stop working much earlier than it should.  

How Can You Prevent Bridge Failure?

Thankfully, you can take several steps to avoid dental bridge failure. Just do the following:

• Keep Your Mouth Clean – By brushing twice daily and flossing once daily, you’ll keep the teeth supporting your dental bridge strong.
• Quit Bad Habits – Quit any bad oral habits you have and replace them with good ones. If you do, your dental bridges are less likely to break from pressure.
• See Your Dentist – A dentist can identify threats to your dental bridge, ranging from tooth decay to poor construction. You should thus see one at least every six months.

For more details on what causes a dental bridge to fail, consult your dental provider. They’ll gladly assist!

About the Practice

Infinite Smiles Dentistry is based in Owasso, OK. Led by Dr. Mark Gaches, our practice combines cutting-edge dental care with warmth and attentiveness. We always take your smile’s unique needs into account, whether we’re performing preventive, cosmetic, or restorative work. That means you and your grin will always thrive after each appointment! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (918)-928-2383.