My Dental Bridge Fell Out: What Should I Do?

You’ve been enjoying life with your dental bridge, eating, speaking, and smiling with greater confidence. Its functionality makes performing daily tasks with optimal ease, and better yet, it looks completely natural. But after years of wear, you begin to worry that your restoration may be nearing time for a replacement. While you assume it will occur when your dentist says it’s time, there is always the potential that it could come out on its own. So what should you do if a dental bridge falls out? Read on to find out.

Can a Dental Bridge Fall Out on Its Own?

Unfortunately, yes, a dental bridge can fall out. Although this is not common, it can occur for various reasons, some of which include:

• Severe tooth decay – If you do not practice good oral hygiene, bacteria can accumulate and cause a breakdown of tooth enamel underneath the bridge. If allowed to spread, it can cause your restoration to eventually fall off.
• Improper bite – If your bite is off and causes part of your bridge to sustain more pressure than the other part, it will eventually loosen and come off.
• Anchor teeth are weakened – If the healthy abutment teeth holding your bridge in place are damaged or become weakened over time, this will cause your bridge to fall off.

What Steps Should You Take if It Comes Out?

The moment you realize your bridge has fallen out, you should not begin to panic. Although that might be the easiest thing to do, it is best if you remain calm and remember that your dentist can help.

You first need to call your dentist’s office to alert them to the situation. Based on the information you provide, they will work to schedule a time for you to come in and have it addressed. You should then place the bridge in a plastic bag and make sure that you bring it with you to your appointment.

If you are not seeing your dentist the same day that it falls out, keep the bag in your purse or somewhere you can easily remember to grab it. On the day of your appointment, bring it so that they can determine if it can be bonded back into place.

If it cannot be saved because of damage, there is the option to replace it with a  new one. Depending on the status of your abutment teeth, you may require further treatment before having a new bridge put into place. If you would rather transition to an alternative form of tooth replacement – dental implants – you and your emergency dentist can discuss that during your visit.

Dental bridges are reliable when it comes to replacing missing teeth, but they can fall out if proper oral hygiene and care are not maintained. Make sure you are attentive to your smile and follow the necessary steps should a dental emergency occur.

About the Author
Dr. Warren Hoffman is a dentist in North Sarasota who received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in Baltimore, Maryland. He then went on to complete an externship during his senior year, providing dental services to stationed members of the United States Coast Guard in Honolulu, Hawaii. At Parkway Ridge Dental, he and his team are here to provide emergency services no matter the problem. If you are living with a dental bridge and an accident occurs or it suddenly falls out, contact us at (941) 358-8830 to let us help!