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A Few Facts To Consider If Your Bridge Or Crown Falls Out

Unlike removable dentures, crowns and bridges are bonded to your natural teeth. These teeth have been ground down to allow the false teeth to fit into your mouth and not take up any more space than the natural teeth. In most cases, these fixtures will be a permanent part of your teeth, without you ever having to worry about them. However, if you have some type of accident that causes the crown or bridge to pop out, you need to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, clean the fixture and your teeth, and try to put the fixture back in place using a dental adhesive. If you wait around to get to the dentist, and can't keep the fixture in place, here are some of the problems you may cause.

Damage to the Anchor Teeth

The teeth that hold the fixture in place are not as strong as a normal tooth. When the crown or bridge is not covering them, it is easy to bite into something that will chip or crumble them. This may make it impossible to bond the fixture to them. Either an implant will need to be surgically put into your jaw, or the next tooth will need to be ground and another tooth added to the bridge.

Shifting Teeth

Without the fixture in place, the natural teeth beside it can shift. Even a small amount of movement can make it so the fixture no longer fits in the space. You may be able to force it back in, but it will be uncomfortable. In addition, you will not be able to clean between the fixture and your natural tooth, but bacteria cans still get in there, causing decay and infection.

Wearing Down of Natural Teeth

If the fixture is not even on both sides of the mouth, or if it is only a single crown, when it is not there you will do the majority of your chewing on the side of your mouth with natural teeth. Part of the reason is because without the fixture, your upper and lower teeth do not meet properly to chew. In addition, the filed tooth has no enamel and is very sensitive to temperature. Regardless of the reason, when you chew on one side of your mouth more than the other you end up wearing down the one side. This will result in your upper and lower jaw not meeting properly when the fixture is back in place.

As long as you get in to see your dentist like the one from Rose City Dental Care within a few days of losing a permanent dental bridge or crown, there will not be any problems. Try to fit the piece in yourself, but if it will not stay, put it someplace safe until you can take it to be reinstalled in your mouth.