Restoration Rescue: How to Handle a Lost Dental Bridge

Dental bridges are a popular way to replace several missing teeth in a row because a single restoration can completely rebuild your smile’s appearance and functionality. These prosthetics contain the correct number of teeth between two dental crowns that anchor to abutment teeth or implants in your mouth.

Plus, they’re made from durable, customizable materials like resin or porcelain, but that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. If your dental bridge fell out, it’s natural to panic, but don’t worry! Continue reading to learn 3 steps you can take to help yourself, instead!

Step #1: Locate Your Restoration

Your dental bridge can be damaged in several ways. For example, if the underlying teeth develop decay or disease, it can become destabilized without a firm enough foundation to hold onto. You might also accidentally chip or crack it by eating something too hard or crunchy, or sustain an injury that breaks or dislodges it.

Whatever the reason, do your best to find your prosthetic. If it’s still in good condition, there’s a chance your dentist might be able to cement it back in its place. However, depending on what happened, it might be in pieces. Be careful not to swallow any still in your mouth and do your best to gather up as much as you can find.

Step #2: Address Discomfort

You might not consider your lost dental bridge an emergency, but the teeth and gums it covered are vulnerable to harm without a restoration protecting them. The abutment teeth were thinned so your prosthetic could fit correctly, and they can be injured if you try to bite or chew anything. Plus, you might be feeling associated aches and inflammation if you’ve experienced some form of physical trauma that knocked it out.

Try not to eat anything on that side of your mouth, or stick to soft foods if you do, to avoid triggering your already tender tissues. Taking over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen is also usually safe to ease your discomfort.  

Step #3: Call Your Dentist

If you haven’t already done so, contact your dentist to let them know what happened. They’ll discuss your situation over the phone to schedule an appropriate time to see you based on your unique circumstances. Then, they might also provide special care instructions for you to follow until you arrive for your appointment.

After your provider examines your condition, they’ll let you know whether they can repurpose the lost dental bridge or whether a new one is required.

About the Practice

Patients at North Jacksonville Complete Dentistry benefit from three dentists with decades of combined experience. Dr. Bradberry, Dr. Truong, and Dr. Baxter work collaboratively to offer a comprehensive menu of services to people of all ages. Whether you need basic preventive care or have lost a dental bridge, they are eager to help address your concerns to improve your dental health. They take the time to get to know you to customize treatment plans to meet your unique needs. Then, they use state-of-the-art equipment to deliver comfortable, accurate results. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (904) 751-4958.