The Lifespan of Your Dental Bridge: How to Make It Last Longer

Although it wasn’t traumatic, tooth loss was no walk in the park. In fact, you’d rather just put the whole experience behind you, restore your smile, and move on. When you get your dental bridge, you want to forget this ever happened. Unfortunately, like most things in life, bridges don’t last forever. There may come a time when you’ll have to replace your bridge or find another solution. So how long can you enjoy your bridge’s lifespan? In other words, how long do bridges generally last? In this post, you’ll learn the answer as well as some tips to stretch your bridge a little further.

The Normal Lifespan of a Dental Bridge

Typically, a traditional bridge goes for about 10 to 15 years at most before it needs to be replaced. Usually this happens because the jawbone loses density with the missing root structure. Without stimulation, it slowly deteriorates and changes shape. After so long, the bridge may not fit as securely as it once did. In addition, over the years, the bridge can show its age through normal wear and tear, especially if the anchoring teeth have sustained damage or decay.

How to Make Your Bridge Last as Long as Possible

Take Good Care of Your Bridge Daily

At first, it might seem silly to have to keep your bridge clean every day. After all, it can’t get cavities! But the teeth the bridge is attached to can. If you don’t clear away plaque, decay-causing bacteria can enter under the bridge and infect the tooth. Plus, if plaque remains near the gumline on the bridge, your gums can become inflamed, leading to gum disease, the top reason for tooth loss in adults.

Fortunately, cleaning your bridge doesn’t require any extra effort than what you already should do for your natural teeth: brushing and flossing every day.

Visit the Dentist Regularly

Even if you consider yourself a meticulous person, it’s easy to miss some spots in your at-home hygiene routine. Once tiny bits of calcified plaque have formed on your teeth and bridge, they are extremely difficult to remove without the proper tools. That’s why you need to have a professional cleaning regularly. At this visit, the dentist also inspects your mouth for any early signs of trouble. They can identify a developing cavity or infection before it can harm your bridge and teeth, helping you hold onto your restoration longer.

Consider Attaching Your Bridge to Implants

Do you have multiple missing teeth in a row? Although you could take advantage of a traditional bridge for three missing teeth, there’s a smarter alternative that would last much longer: an implant bridge.

By using dental implants instead of teeth to keep the bridge secure, you don’t negatively impact any natural teeth. These posts are surgically positioned in the jawbone to hold just as firmly as the real thing. Because implants keep the jawbone strong, it won’t change nearly as fast, meaning your prosthetic teeth can continue to fit and function for nearly twice as long or more if you take good care of them.

Although you probably want to put unpleasant experiences in the past, you need to keep your bridge’s lifespan in mind. Only by following these tips can you enjoy your replacement teeth for the maximum amount of time.

About the Author

For Dr. Steven Oshins, dentistry isn’t just his career; it’s his life’s passion! Since earning his dental degree, he has dedicated more than 100 hours each year to continuing education coursework, and he has completed multiple post-graduate programs with some of the country’s most prestigious dentists and institutions, such as the Kois Center. Whether he’s performing a complete smile makeover or just a routine checkup, he loves helping others smile. To schedule an appointment at Oshins of Smiles in Schenectady, call 518-356-5635 or click here.