You have a dental bridge to support your existing teeth or to fill a gap in your smile with a false tooth. Your bridge should last for some time, but as the bridge starts to age, the unit may eventually need to be replaced. Your bridge can also become loose or get broken if you are hit in the mouth or have an accident. If your dental bridge fails, you need to see your dentist for repairs. In the meantime, here are things you can do.

Try to gather all the pieces

If you have a false tooth or other dental apparatuses attached to your bridge, try to locate what you can. If these items are not broken and merely fell out or became loose, your dentist may be able to repair them without having to design a new bridge. However, if your bridge is severely worn, damaged, or cannot be found, the dental work will be more extensive.

Clean the affected area

If your mouth was injured, try to examine your mouth for signs of a cut or other wounds. Make sure the teeth surrounding the bridge appear to be intact. Clean your mouth out with water, salt and water combinations, or with hydrogen peroxide to keep infection and bacteria at bay until you can get to the dentist. If your mouth is bleeding, you're in severe pain, or you cannot open and close your mouth normally due to your bridge falling out, call your dentist for emergency care right away. If you cannot get into a dentist immediately and your bleeding is severe or your pain is causing you to feel dizzy or experience nausea, go to the emergency room.

Don't touch the affected area

Once you have cleaned out your mouth and treated the affected area, try not to touch or chew things or drink water until you have seen the dentist. You don't want to make the damage worse by accident. Your dentist will give you further instructions over the phone as to how you can care for your mouth until you can get into their office. If your dental bridge is not an immediate concern, your dentist may schedule you for their soonest appointment, otherwise they will see you immediately. In the meantime, try to take it easy and don't put additional strain on your mouth.

Losing a dental bridge can be frustrating. With the right precautions, you can take care of your mouth properly until you get to the dentist. Speak with a local dental service for more information.