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Sunbury dental tips: Caring for teeth when you have a bridge

Posted By: | Published On: | Bridges

If you have lost a tooth, you are likely considering a dental bridge. One of the most common questions patients ask at our Sunbury and Moonee Ponds practices is about longevity. How long will it last? That depends largely on how you care for the teeth supporting your bridge.

Dr. Terry Rose, Smile In Style

What causes a bridge to fail?

The most likely problem is not with the bridge itself, but with the teeth that support the bridge. If they are injured, broken, or decayed, they cannot support the bridge and it will fail. There are two ways to avoid this problem. The first is to choose an implant restoration rather than a traditional bridge. As an implant is independently supported, it does not put any extra burden on your remaining teeth, nor is it dependent on them for support. The other option is to be diligent in at home care and dental care for your abutment teeth.

Caring for dental bridge

You already know how to brush and floss your teeth, but it takes a few extra steps to clean properly around a dental bridge. That is because the false tooth sits against the gum line. There is not a visible gap, but there is still room for bacteria and food particles to accumulate.

  • To clean around the bridge, thread the floss under the false tooth
  • It is advisable to use a floss threader or similar tool
  • Slide the floss back and forth, cleaning the underside of the false tooth, and the gum surface beneath
  • Slide it to the side and use an up-and-down motion to clean one adjacent tooth, then repeat on the other side
  • Because bridges tend to trap plaque, regular professional teeth cleaning is essential.

To schedule an appointment, call Smile in Style at 03 8001 6021 for our Sunbury location, or 03 8400 4104 for our Moonee Ponds location or BOOK ONLINE at www.smileinstyle.com.au

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Smile In Style Dental office near Moonee Ponds and Sunbury

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Throughout our site, you will find valuable information about our services that will help you get to know us better. It is our mission to create beautiful white healthy smiles using the latest technologies. Our experienced Dentists and staff aim for lifelong relationships with our patients, providing relevant dental education and continual care throughout life. Here, you can learn more about the various dental conditions that may develop and the ways in which we treat them.
Some of the services you can expect to find at Smile in Style include: Our goal is to work together with you to achieve your healthiest, most attractive smile, whilst ensuring your comfort and satisfaction.

Safe Amalgam Removal Protocol

  • Chlorella drink prior is given prior to treatment and a mouth rinse post-treatment. Chlorella can help bind and prevent mercury absorption.
  • Physical protective barriers - Masks, protective coverings, eyewear, in-mouth non-latex dental dams, and other steps are taken to prevent physical contact with mercury for the patient and staff.
  • Oral evacuation - Generous amounts of water are used to continuously rinse particulate matter from the mouth while suctioning it away. Combined with protective dental dams, this prevents patients from swallowing dental amalgam particles during treatment. Additionally, the rinsing helps lower the temperature of the filling, reducing the amount of mercury vapour released.
  • External air - A continuous supply of non-contaminated air or oxygen is delivered via a mask or similar apparatus, preventing inhalation of mercury vapour or particles.
  • "Chunk it out" method - Rather than using a drill to grind the filling down, it is carefully removed in the largest possible pieces, minimising friction, vaporisation.
  • High Volume Evacuation Suction is used by the dental assistant to remove amalgam particles in the mouth.
  • High Volume Air suction and Air Purifiers are used in the clinical room that is able to remove mercury vapour from the room.
  • Amalgam separator use - This device collects mercury-contaminated waste before it can enter the sewage system, allowing us to dispose of it safely.