715-253-3200The bridge restoration in progress at Szmanda Dental Wittenberg is designed to replace the missing tooth with a single piece of dental work. This involved one of our dentists, Dr. John Felkner or Oliver Keefer removing the tooth enamel from each of the teeth neighboring the void. These two abutments will eventually serve to anchor the bridge in your mouth.
Your dentist will then secured a temporary crown over each abutment to protect them while the dental lab works to create your bridge. These small, hard, plastic caps are only meant to keep them safe, they are not strong enough to restore the full function of the teeth. With that in mind, there are a few things you should know to protect their integrity.
If one of the temporary crowns is damaged, feels loose or falls out it can seriously damage the abutment and lead to significant complications. This means it is best to abstain from chewing gum and eating sticky foods on that side of your mouth. The suction this causes could potentially pull one of the temporary crowns loose.Â
Also, avoid biting down on hard foods, crunching ice, or chewing objects–like pencils or pens. This could potentially crack the biting surface of the temporary crown and damage to the abutment.
Each of the temporary crowns should also be included in your daily oral hygiene routine. This means brushing it twice a day and flossing around it each evening just as you would any other tooth in your mouth. This will ensure healthy gums that will fit comfortably with the permanent crown.
If you are in the process of a bridge restoration at Szmanda Dental Wittenberg and you have questions or concerns about one of your temporary crowns, you can always call 715-253-3200 to speak to a staff member. Our team in Wittenberg, Wisconsin is always happy to hear from you!