Healthy Smile: My Bridge is Failing

by Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD of The Healthy Smile

Just yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting a knowledgeable and informed new patient. She came to me to deal with a fractured upper bicuspid. This tooth was broken to the gum line and was not salvageable. She was a patient of a colleague of mine who had recently retired. His successor knew that she needed treatment and had a group of doctors to whom to refer her. He would finish the case. One of the reasons that she came to see me was the desire to have her dental needs met in one office. As my readers know, this is usually the case in my practice.

She proceeded to tell me she had a bridge that was failing on her lower right. The bridge was decades old. I want to spend time today discussing what tells me that a bridge is failing. Is the definition of a failing bridge different for a doctor or a patient? Let’s talk about this briefly. When a dentist calls a bridge failing, it does not usually refer to the bridge breaking. Dental bridge materials will stand up to years of chewing. Breaking or fractures are very rare. Dentists define a failing bridge as one whose teeth under the bridge start to have problems. Decay or infection can occur with these teeth. The purpose of a bridge is to replace missing teeth and protect the teeth underneath the bridge. If the teeth under the bridge develop cavities or other problems, then a dentist considers this to be a failing bridge.

The other purpose of a bridge is one of cosmetics. We can correct spaces and teeth that are misshapen with a permanent bridge. If over time, chipping or black lines develop around the bridge, then the bridge is called a failure from a cosmetic perspective. This aesthetic failure can occur even though the teeth underneath the bridge are healthy.

My patient had valid concerns over the age of her bridges and crowns. There were spots of decay developing, which will threaten the integrity of the teeth. The more significant problem for her was cosmetic. Dark lines around the edges of a bridge may be indicative of decay underneath or be unsightly. In either event, this bridge was failing cosmetically and possibly biologically. It was falling short from its status when it was new. We all want to be proud of our teeth and how they look. When this is no longer the case, then we have a failure. This failure needs to be corrected.

As I mentioned, black lines and spots near the gumline of a bridge may or may not be a sign of underlying problems. Waiting for something to go awry is a recipe for disaster and complicated work. It is always better to fix a simple problem rather than wait for something more serious to develop. Typically a new bridge can be made in a couple of visits. A new bridge is simple and readily accomplished.

If you have a bridge or crown that has been around for years, maybe it’s time to consider a replacement. The cosmetics will always improve as well as the fit and sealing of the tooth. Call Joyce at 440-892-1810 and let’s set up a time to talk about it and look a little closer into your options.

Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD is an Ohio licensed general dentist and is on the staff of Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine.

The Healthy Smile • 27239 Wolf Road, Bay Village, OH 44140 • 440-892-1810 • www.jeffreygrossdds.com