A new bridge is just the thing to hold a crown in place, allowing you to regain your full smile again. The procedure your dentist uses to place both the bridge and crown may require several appointments to complete. They will need to create and affix the bridge, followed by the creation of a properly fit crown. Then, adjustments may need to be made to ensure the best fit and the most comfort. Caring for your new dental work correctly, both between these appointments and after it's complete, ensures everything goes well. These aftercare tips can help.

Tip #1: Eat Carefully

It's a good idea to opt for soft foods for the first few days after any dental work. This is especially true if your dentist has fitted a temporary crown anywhere in your new bridgework. These crowns are not custom fit to your teeth or mouth, so they fit loosely at best. Hard, overly chewy, or crunchy foods can knock them off. If the crown is knocked off, you will need to get right back to your dentist for a refitting. This is because that crown is a necessity to keep the rest of the bridgework-in-progress spaced correctly until the permanent crown is fit.

Tip #2: Skip (Some) Flossing

You do need to floss and brush most of your teeth as usual, except for around any temporary crowns. Go ahead and brush the crown gently, but skip the flossing for now. You can resume flossing this area once the permanent crown is fitted. Some people find it difficult to floss around bridgework, even after it's complete. If you run into this issue, ask your dentist for help or consider switching over to a water-pick device instead.

Tip #3: Start Wearing a Night Guard

If you are prone to teeth grinding or jaw clenching at night, you may find that your crowns keep cracking or that the bridge becomes damaged. This is especially true right after the procedure, when fixatives may not have hardened completely. If your dentist recommends that you wear any type of mouthpiece or night guard, follow their advice. If you're concerned, ask your dentist if a guard is a good idea.

Tip #4: Be Aware of Sensitivity

New bridgework is often followed by several weeks of increased tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, and pressure. You can eliminate some of this by drinking through a straw so the problem liquids don't touch the teeth in question. You may also want to skip extremely hot or cold items, such as ice cream or hot coffee. This sensitivity usually goes away after a few weeks, so bring it up with your dentist if it remains or becomes more severe.

For more information, contact Rose City Dental Care or a similar location.