Dental Bridge question - Dental Health Message Board

oanda1984 · 01-17-2008, 09:47 AM

I am having a cantilever bridge done for tooth 10 I believe. It is being bridged to tooth 9. I hope these numbers make sense. After a few days with the temporary in now. The gums where the missing tooth was have started to unswell and I feel a very very small space between the fake tooth and gums. Well not an open space, just not so snug anymore. I can feel air and saliva jet threw over the top of the fake tooth when I say my Sâ€™s and Fâ€™s. I guess my question is when I get the permanent ones put in will it fit more snug between the gums and tooth and not allow the air to jet threw. At least not so much. It tickles my lips and gums and also affects my speech. Question two: Since it is a Cantilever bridge, will it cause and kind of torque pressure against the capped tooth? With the temporary one now I can feel a little twisting pressure when I rub my tongue across the back of the teeth as well as when I pucker my lips. Any info will help. My dentist seems on top of it. Itâ€™s just I donâ€™t want to continue with all these questions. I have already been a pain the last few days. Beside I want to get somebody elseâ€™s opinion.

bergerbaby · 01-17-2008, 12:51 PM

well,the tooth isnt in your gums like a real tooth is,so bits of food etc will ,get through under the gum and over the false tooth,so thats why you will need super floss ,to go over the false tooth and under your gum to clean there

its not a very nice thing to do and make sure you get the cotton bit over the tooth and not the string bit you thread through ,as you will make your gums sore

as for your speech ,its probably because the tempory bridge isnt as stable as your permanant one is ,but once your permanant bridge is in ,you should be able to pronounce your s,and f ok

hope you get on with the bridge

willybrown · 01-18-2008, 11:17 PM

I hate to tell you this- but a maxillary lateral incisor (number 10) that is cantelevered off a maxillary central incisor (number 9) is just plain contraindicated. That is, it is not a good thing and not adviseable to have done.
If number 10 is missing , it is a really good location for a dental implant. But since you have already had your central incisor cut down as a retainer for that cantelever bridge, I suppose it is too late to consider that option.
It would have been more appropriate to cantelever that tooth off of the canine, number 11. It is a much stronger tooth , with a longer and larger root. It can take the torqueing of that cantelever bridge.

As for your temp bridge as it is now- that's another story. The final restoration should just touch the gingiva. And the gingiva should be healthy before the final impression is taken and before the bridge is cemented. There are other considerations and aspects of this case that are way too detailed to get into here. You should have been informed of all the risks and benefits and other options before you allowed the cantelever brige you have now.
I wish you the best with it.