Hi. I just got a dental bridge. I'd had a baby tooth that never came out (a new one never grew in) and I finally had it extracted last month. That was no big deal. Then they put in this temporary bridge. That was awful, lots of pain and then the bridge was agonizing for the week and a half I had it. Now I have the permanent bridge. I am very upset because it is uncomfortable and I don't know what to do besides waiting to see if I will get used to it. I don't know if I can. My dentist says I don't have much choice.
They had to file down my two perfectly-good teeth on either side, to put in the bridge and now those teeth cannot be exposed so I can't have them just take the bridge out.

Has anyone else had the bridge and had problems? I have been very emotional and close to tears or crying for the past two days. I am trying not to be a baby, but I don't know how I will ever get used to this.
It's not pain, it's just not natural-feeling. I feel like I've got, at best, a piece of plastic stuck on my teeth. At worse like I am biting on metal. It's just horrible. It's not that it doesn't fit, it's just that they seem really big in my mouth. I have a small mouth and these look larger than the teeth on the other side. Inside they fit fine but outside, chomping on them is totally unnatural-feeling, like I have a big piece of plastic or metal stuck between my teeth.

And the dentist was not very sympathetic. He and the dental assistant acted like I was criticizing their work or acting like a big baby. They asked me how it felt and then didn't like my answer. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif He kept saying, "they look great" but I don't really care how they LOOK, they are back teeth! I only care how they feel.

They said I will get used to it, but they are not giving me any confidence that they really know.
So I'm looking for some sympathy and someone who has had this done to give me some hope.

Thanks!

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Suzanne

[Edited to remove websites and personal contact information. These are not permitted.]

[This message has been edited by Well-come (edited 09-26-2003).]

I am also a recipient of a new bridge. My temporary one was comfortable, but it was smaller than my permanent one. I told them that my teeth look so much bigger. They explained that in order to match the joining teeth, they had to be that size. At first I had a problem with my bite. I kept hitting one spot with my lower canine tooth. They told me to wear it and see if my teeth shift. They didn't even cement the bridge in so that if it did need tweaking, they could just remove it and fix it. My teeth did shift, but I am not sure if they have shifted enough. I can chew alright, but if my teeth happen to grind side to side, I hit that canine again and it is not very comfortable. I went in today for a root canal and I forgot to mention anything about it, so I'll have to go back another time. Fortunately my niece works there so they work with me very well and they are all very nice there. But I would suggest keep working with it and see if you can get used to it because your teeth should shift. If after a couple of weeks it is still not comfortable, I would tell them, but if it is cemented in, I don't know how they would remove it without damaging it.
Good luck.

I am so sorry about your bridge problem because I have one also. I am 22 years old and have no money but desperately needed to get one tooth pulled. I spoke with a dentist I trusted and he recommended going to NJ Medical and Dental School. I made an appointment in Newark, NJ and commuted from school at Rutgers University. For almost a whole year I went to the dentist via bus- train- bus. The student doctor did all the work while supervised by a leader in bridge work. I went almost 10 times because the process is so slow at the school because she is checked and graded every step of the way. Finally (finally) it was done. They did the same thing as you, filed down the two perfectly healthy teeth on both sides to nubs. Then they put in the permanent bridge and I was on my way. Its been 3 months and the pain is bad. I am sensitive to even mild hot and cold temperatures. I can't bit hard and I can only bite straight down. I went through this whole process because I knew that this was a problem and I needed to take care of it; the sooner the better. Now I have this seemingly huger problem, I have no more money for dental work and the dentist is not liable in the least! The last thing I want to do is see another dentist but it is the one thing I need to take care of.
I totally sympathize with your case. Don't let those dentists tell you its okay. You paid them and they are professionals. Call a lawyer and find out about malpractice or something. I wish I could but like I said, they aren't liable.
Good Luck

Thanks you guys!
Ken, mine is already cemented in.
Chaps, I'm sorry yours is so painful. If I were you, I would call them and demand they help you, since it should not hurt. Also you might look for pro bono services (for a free lawyer). If you are a student, look in your student services because they may have a legal service for students. Good luck!
Suzanne

Originally posted by kens4ever:
I am also a recipient of a new bridge. My temporary one was comfortable, but it was smaller than my permanent one. I told them that my teeth look so much bigger. They explained that in order to match the joining teeth, they had to be that size. At first I had a problem with my bite. I kept hitting one spot with my lower canine tooth. They told me to wear it and see if my teeth shift. They didn't even cement the bridge in so that if it did need tweaking, they could just remove it and fix it. My teeth did shift, but I am not sure if they have shifted enough. I can chew alright, but if my teeth happen to grind side to side, I hit that canine again and it is not very comfortable. I went in today for a root canal and I forgot to mention anything about it, so I'll have to go back another time. Fortunately my niece works there so they work with me very well and they are all very nice there. But I would suggest keep working with it and see if you can get used to it because your teeth should shift. If after a couple of weeks it is still not comfortable, I would tell them, but if it is cemented in, I don't know how they would remove it without damaging it.
Good luck.

i'm having the same problems i had all 5 teeth shaved down and then had a 6 tooth bridge done, talk about pain, hot and cold kills me, my right side of my upper lip is swollen and the pain is awful, i can hardly bite down on anything, I've been taking pain killers that doesn't seem to work either, I'm on antibiotics because my dentist thinks i have a sinus infection I don't think that's the problem he says the xrays are fine, i don't know if i should believe him, I hope this wasn,t a waste of $6000 because i will not be happy.

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Judy Smith

I am so sympathetic, I also had a baby tooth that lacked the adult under it and had it removed. Today I had the temporary bridge put in after 1.5 hours of grinding and removing my very expensive porcelain crown. :o
The numbness is gone and now my whole side of my face where the bridge is hurts. The assistant nor the Dentist mentioned anything about pain. Why would there be pain if all they did was grind that tooth down and remove the crown? This had better not last. I despise going to the dentist and I fret everytime I'm there that they are going to make a mistake that will either cost me more money or even worse, more pain. Please tell me I'm going to wake up in the morning and everything will be fine.
My dentist did I good job of making this temp. look real, but it's too wide and rubs up against my cheek, is my permanent bridge going to be the same way?
Mandy :eek: