Terry,

Patients find it confusing when dentists talk about the lifespan on dental work. There is no way of knowing exactly how long dental work will last. It’s okay to give an approximate time and then let patients know that many factors come into play.

Lifespan varies from patient to patient and other concerns include the bridge wearing out and how long you will have it before something goes wrong.

Loosening may occur over time with the Maryland Bridge but this also depends on the stress in your mouth. If you flex your teeth a lot when you bite, 10 years might be overly optimistic for lifespan. However, if you are soft on your bite, you might get to wear your bridge longer. Eating habits play a large role in the health of the bridges because if you snack a lot and don’t brush well, you may get decay. Other issues can be tooth color. If you drink coffee or tea, dark-colored foods or eat other pigmented foods, your natural teeth may stain but your white porcelain bridge will remain whiter.  This is a problem but can be solved by having professional tooth whitening done.

Remember that lifespan is an approximation so keep this in mind when you have the procedure done. Your bridge will obviously last longer if you’re easier with your teeth.

This blog brought to you by Baton Rouge family dentist, Dr. Ryan P. Perry.