Can a dental bridge be removed and recemented?

Can a dental bridge be removed and recemented?

Dental bridges are an extremely popular and effective solution to restore gaps in a mouth due to missing teeth. They are incredibly long-lasting, so once you have completed the cosmetic dental procedure, you will most likely not need to do anything with it for a very long time.

However, for various reasons and on rare occasions, your dental bridge may need to be removed and recemented, or replaced altogether. If you think this might be the case with your dental bridge or if you’re considering the procedure and want to do your research first, you’re in the right place to find out more.

In this post, we provide you with everything you need to know about dental bridges, including when and why they might need to be removed and recemented.

Dental bridges

Dental bridges are a cosmetic dental treatment that acts to bridge a gap between your teeth. It involves replacing the missing tooth with a false tooth that is bonded to the teeth on either side of it. The main type of dental bridge consists of dental crowns, which are usually made of porcelain.

Another option is to have an adhesive bridge, which is essentially a false tooth with wings that bond to the inner surface of the teeth on either side. This option involves less preparation of the surrounding teeth.

So are crowns and bridges the same thing? Not quite, although people tend to get mixed up between the two. A bridge covers a gap with a false tooth, whereas a crown covers up an existing tooth. Crowns are great for covering imperfections on a tooth and are used on either side of a bridge, over your existing teeth.

The process of fitting dental bridges

To start the process, book an appointment with your dentist for a consultation. They will take impressions of your mouth using a special putty that, when pressed into your teeth, sets and creates a hard mould of your mouth. This allows them to make a bridge that is personalised to you and fits perfectly in your mouth.

You want your bridge to look as natural as possible, so your dentist will also determine the correct shade of your bridge and match it to the shade of your natural teeth. If you have stains on your teeth or you don’t like the colour, you might want to consider having other treatments beforehand, such as teeth whitening.

Your bridge won’t be created there, and then, it’ll take a little bit of time for it to come back after being made. In the meantime, your dentist can fit a temporary bridge or crown if you wish. When your new dental bridge is ready, you will be given a local anaesthetic injection before the procedure begins, so the process is pain-free and comfortable.

After your dental bridge has been fitted and dried, your dentist will ask you to bite down to determine if the fit is correct and that you’re happy with it. It might feel a little strange to start with, as you won’t be used to having a tooth where you used to have a gap. Your dentist will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you have before leaving.

Reasons your dental bridge may need to be recemented

Your dental bridge is a definitive fixture in your mouth, meaning it can’t be removed for brushing and cleaning. However, it is possible to have your dental bridge removed by a dentist and recemented. These are some of the reasons why this might need to happen:

Tooth decay

As you know, the dental bridge is a false tooth that replaces a missing tooth and is attached to crowns on either side of it. Underneath the crown is a natural tooth, and if that tooth is affected by tooth decay, this could result in your dental bridge no longer fitting properly.

A poorly fitted dental bridge is bad news for dental hygiene. It can lead to a build-up of plaque, tartar and calculus beneath the crown, which will damage your natural tooth.

Gum disease

Gum disease is when the gums become red, inflamed, swollen and often bleed. Examples of gum disease include gingivitis and periodontitis. Without proper care, people with dental bridges are more likely to develop gum disease. This can be avoided with proper brushing and flossing behind the bridge and in any gaps.

If you have mild gum disease, this can usually be resolved with a few hygiene changes, such as using interdental brushes, using mouthwash and brushing twice a day. But if you have more severe gum disease, your dental bridge will likely need to be removed.

Damage to the crowns

If you have damaged your crown by accidentally chipping or cracking it, your dental bridge may need to be removed.

A loose or poorly-fitting dental bridge

On rare occasions, you may find that your dental bridge becomes loose or hasn’t been fitted correctly. If this is the case, the bridge can easily be removed and recemented using dental cement.

The Eye and Dental Clinic: Who are we?

Safety, quality, continuity and support are as paramount to us as they are to you. Our promise is to consistently care for you with compassion and dignity.  We are passionate and committed to providing the community of Bury and the surrounding areas with the highest quality of care possible.

Our ethos carries through to our building, our team and our comprehensive range of treatments. It’s our mission to improve the health and quality of life within our diverse community through best practices and the latest research in collaboration with other clinicians. We want our patients, old and new, to feel comfortable visiting us.

Other treatments

As well as dental bridges, we offer a vast range of other dental treatments.

Veneers

If your front teeth are crooked, misaligned, chipped, gappy or discoloured, porcelain Veneers offer the solution to all these problems and more! Made from eggshell-thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to your front teeth, Veneers are the go-to treatment for the perfectly straight white smiles you see on celebrities and film stars.

Lucky for patients in Bury, Bolton, Rochdale and surrounding areas, veneers are a lot more accessible than they used to be. If you’re interested in getting Veneers, come to Eye & Dental Clinic for an initial consultation, and we’ll start the journey towards your brand-new smile.

The cost of veneers is around £400-£1000 per tooth, but for a more accurate price, contact our clinic for a consultation.

Composite bonding

Do you have a chipped tooth or space between your front teeth that is giving you so much worry? Well, getting Composite Bonding may be the solution you need to restore your smile.

Composite Bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure where a composite resin material having the colour of a tooth is applied to your teeth to repair damage and improve your smile and confidence! The cost of composite bonding is around £200-£300 per tooth, making it a cost-effective solution that improves the appearance of broken, chipped, stained, or cracked teeth.

To learn more, find out about composite bonding and dental bonding.

Emergency treatment

In addition to cosmetic treatment as also offer emergency appointments. You can go to urgent care for dental emergencies, but it could mean lengthy wait times and revisits at a later date if you need any complex procedures.

Knowing what to do for a dental emergency is half of the problem solved. We are here for fast and effective emergency dental relief, and we pride ourselves on seeing patients with dental emergencies as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Find out more

If you want to find out more about The Eye & Dental Clinic, have a read of our policies and complaints procedures.

Now you know everything there is to know about dental bridges and reasons why they may need to be removed and recmented contact us for a consultation and to find out more about what we can do to give you the winning smile you have always wanted.

To enquire about other cosmetic procedures, contact us, and one of the team will be happy to welcome and assist you.

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