Broken dental bridge

goodValue

Last night a tooth from my bridge fell out.

The bridge was made for my two front teeth about 20 years ago.

The dentist said it was a special bridge that would last my lifetime, unless it received a direct blow.

Each tooth was separate, so the bridge was in the form of two cantilevers.

The tooth that fell out looks in good condition, it was only the cement that failed.

I'm expecting that this could be repaired in two visits. 

The first to prepare the broken tooths surface, and that of the tooth it bonds to.

The second to cement it in place.

Is it possible that complications may arise, and some other type of repair would need to be done?

What are the likely costs for doing this repair?

flaneurs_lobster

You really need to visit a dentist, it would be very hard for anyone here to start giving possible diagnostic outcomes or costings.

Any chance that you can use one of the dental repair kits from a pharmacy to make a temporary repair until then? 

welshdent

You need to see a Dentist as its impossible to determine what you need and what can be done without a clinical exam. However I CAN say that nothing we do is going to be guaranteed for life. Expect that at some stage, all dental work is likely to need replacement of some sort. 

goodValue

Of course I need to go to the dentist to get the definitive answers.

But that doesn't mean I shouldn't arm myself with useful information about bridges beforehand.

Especially because I'm not sure what type of bridge it is.

When fitted, I asked the dentist what type of bridge it was, and he didn't give it a name, just emphasized how strong it would be.

I think he said that this was because it was a combination of techniques.

So it may not be a pure cantilever bridge.

I don't understand why this bridge has been so much better than a Maryland bridge that I had previously.

They both rely on a metal wing being bonded to an adjacent tooth, but the cantilever should experience more forces on it, as it is supported on only one side.

The Maryland bridge kept falling out every couple of years, but the cantilever lasted 20 years.

So the cantilever (hybrid ??) has proved much better (and was considerably more expensive).

Of course there may have been developments in the last 20 years that means there is a more suitable solution.

Undervalued

goodValue said:

Of course I need to go to the dentist to get the definitive answers.

But that doesn't mean I shouldn't arm myself with useful information about bridges beforehand.

Especially because I'm not sure what type of bridge it is.

When fitted, I asked the dentist what type of bridge it was, and he didn't give it a name, just emphasized how strong it would be.

I think he said that this was because it was a combination of techniques.

So it may not be a pure cantilever bridge.

I don't understand why this bridge has been so much better than a Maryland bridge that I had previously.

They both rely on a metal wing being bonded to an adjacent tooth, but the cantilever should experience more forces on it, as it is supported on only one side.

The Maryland bridge kept falling out every couple of years, but the cantilever lasted 20 years.

So the cantilever (hybrid ??) has proved much better (and was considerably more expensive).

Of course there may have been developments in the last 20 years that means there is a more suitable solution.

There are three very helpful dentists (as far as anyone can be certain on an anonymous forum!) who post here. One of whom has already replied.

They are very restricted in what they can say by the forum's rules (no medical advice) and no doubt by their own professional rules. Beyond that only a dentist you visit in person can advise and if you are still unsure seek a second opinion. 

SimonFF

Do bridges really last 20+ years? I was told that bridges have a relatively short life.

sheilavw

I had a dental bridge done in Turkey about 20 years ago, its at the top to the side if that makes sense. Recently it came out. I went to my dentist. The tooth under the last unit had rotted so it wasn't being held in. She changed it from a 4 unit to a 3 unit and recemented it in.