How to Clean Your Dental Bridge

/0 Comments/in , /by

A dental bridge does more than fill a gap—it restores your smile and makes chewing easier. But once the bridge is in place, it also needs regular care. Cleaning isn’t complicated, but it is a little different from brushing natural teeth. A few simple habits can go a long way in keeping the dental bridge in Jacksonville, NC strong and your mouth healthy.

Daily Brushing and Flossing

Brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush is the starting point. Aim to brush gently around the bridge to remove plaque that builds up along the gumline. Flossing is where things change. Since food and bacteria can slip underneath the bridge, traditional floss doesn’t always work well. Special floss threaders or super floss are designed for this exact job, letting you clean under the false tooth so nothing lingers where it shouldn’t.

Extra Tools That Help

Some patients find that adding an interdental brush or a water flosser makes the process easier. Interdental brushes can slide between tight spaces, and water flossers use a stream of water to wash away debris beneath the bridge. Neither replaces brushing and flossing entirely, but together they make cleaning much more effective and less of a hassle.

Regular Checkups

Even with good home care, dental bridges benefit from professional attention. At routine visits, the dentist checks the bridge, the supporting teeth, and the gums to be sure everything is stable. A bridge can last for many years, but only if it’s cared for properly.

Cleaning a dental bridge doesn’t take long, but it does require consistency. With the right tools and a little daily effort, patients can protect their investment and keep their smile working the way it should. If you have more questions about dental bridge upkeep, contact your Jacksonville, FL dentist at A Beautiful Smile, The Office of Dr. Gina Mancini.

A Beautiful Smile, The Office of Dr. Gina Mancini – The Best Ways to Maintain Your Dental Crowns and Bridges

/0 Comments/in , /by

For anyone who has suffered serious tooth damage, dental crowns and bridges in Jacksonville, NC are like a lifesaver. They are both restorative dental treatments designed to bring back function and appearance to otherwise damaged teeth. As always, saving your natural teeth is always a top priority with your dentist, and crowns and bridges make it more possible to save those teeth. After the dentist has done their job, it’s up to you to maintain your dental work. Here’s how to make it last.

Keep Up With Dental Appointments

Whatever the reason that your tooth suffered damage, hopefully you won’t repeat any bad habits, like avoiding the dentist. Now that you have a dental crown or bridge, it’s all the more essential that you keep up with your dental appointments, visiting at least once every six months, if not more often.

Avoid Dangerous Foods

What are dangerous foods? They’re the ones that can damage your dental work. Your crown or bridge is strong, but it’s not indestructible. Hard foods like really crunchy fried chicken, ice, nuts, hard candies, peanut brittle and the like are no-nos, now that you have a dental crown or bridge. Do yourself a favor and avoid these forevermore.

Don’t Grind Teeth

Are you a teeth grinder? If you don’t know, consider asking your sleep partner. If you grind or clench your teeth, known as bruxism, it can wear down or damage crowns and bridges over time. Talk to your dentist about getting a custom night guard to protect your restorations while you sleep.

Ready to learn more about dental crowns and bridges, or simply ready for your next appointment? Contact your Jacksonville, NC dentist today to get started.

A Woman Smiling

How Long Does a Same Day Bridge Last?

/0 Comments/in /by

Same day bridges are designed as a temporary solution until your permanent bridge is ready. Dental bridges sometimes take a while to be manufactured in a dental lab. After that process is complete, the bridge is sent to your dentist in Jacksonville, NC. When it arrives, your dentist will contact you to come in for your final fitting. But before all that happens, you need something to replace your permanent bridge. That’s the job of a same day bridge.

Purpose of a Same-Day Bridge

While a same day bridge isn’t supposed to be permanent, it does serve several key purposes:

Appearance

After a tooth extraction, no one wants to leave the dentist with missing teeth. It’s embarrassing and can cause self-esteem to suffer. Even though many people lose their adult teeth for any number of reasons, the idea of being seen in public with missing teeth isn’t pleasant. A same day bridge enables the patient to leave the dentist’s office with confidence and self-esteem intact.

Function

The same day bridge preserves the function of the missing teeth. The patient is able to eat, pressure is applied to the bone to avoid degeneration, and the abutting teeth can’t shift toward an empty space in the mouth.

How Long Does a Same Day Bridge Last?

A same day bridge is made to last for several weeks to a few months. During this time, the bridge may be subject to wear and tear from chewing and speaking and potential damage from accidents or trauma. Because these bridges are temporary, they may not fit as securely as a permanent bridge, which can lead to issues with stability and comfort over time.

When you need a dental bridge in Jacksonville, NC, it’s well worth it to get a same day bridge until your permanent bridge is ready. Contact us today to book your appointment.