Are you missing one or more teeth? If so, you’re far from alone. Surveys estimate that about 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Fortunately, whether you’ve lost a tooth from gum disease, decay, or an injury, a dental bridge in Bonita Springs is an excellent option for restoring your smile. Dental bridges are designed to stay securely in place for many years, but we all know that life doesn’t always go according to plan. So what should you do if your dental bridge falls out? Read on to learn more about handling this uncommon dental emergency.
Your Step-By-Step Guide for a Lost Dental Bridge
Fortunately, it’s not common for a dental bridge to fall out of place. Nonetheless it’s important to know what to do ahead of time just in case. Should you lose a dental bridge, follow these steps:
- Find your dental bridge and keep it safe. If possible, recover your lost restoration and rinse it off. If it’s still intact, we may be able to put it back into place, so make sure to bring it with you to your appointment.
- Call your Bonita Springs emergency dentist. A lost dental bridge qualifies as a non-urgent dental emergency, meaning none of your teeth are in immediate danger, but your situation needs to be treated right away. Your dentist may want to see you for a same-day appointment.
- Manage your symptoms and keep your smile safe. Over the phone, your dentist will walk you through what they want you to do until you can reach their office. Typically, you should rinse your mouth out with water and exercise extreme caution when chewing or eating anything. If you’re experiencing discomfort, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever as instructed or apply an ice pack to the outside of your face.
What to Expect At Your Emergency Appointment
Once you arrive for your appointment, your dentist will see you right away. They’ll evaluate your teeth, the gap in your smile, and your dental bridge to determine why it fell out in the first place. If they discover that an underlying oral health issue is to blame, they’ll work with you to create a treatment plan for addressing it. Otherwise, they’ll determine if the dental bridge is suitable for being recemented in place or if a new one needs to be made. This may also be the perfect time to ask your dentist about making the switch to an implant crown or bridge, which should never fall out of place!
Even though it’s not likely that a traditional dental bridge will fall out of place, it’s always a good idea to be prepared just in case of an emergency. If you find yourself with a gap in your smile and you don’t know what to do, don’t hesitate to contact your Bonita Springs dentist!
About the Practice
At Pelican Landing Dental, we’re proud to showcase the talents of a fantastic team of doctors. Our team of specialists is dedicated to helping smiles of all ages in Bonita Springs achieve and maintain optimal oral health for life. We are proud to offer high quality restorations that are seamlessly lifelike and reliably durable. Additionally, we’re excited to offer start-to-finish dental implant treatment right here in our comfortable office. If you lose a dental bridge, don’t hesitate to contact us right away online or at (239) 948-2111.
