What to do if you swallow a dental crown?

Causes of structure failure

Can a dental bridge fall out immediately after installation? The reasons that a permanent dental bridge falls off after a few days, weeks (less often, months) most often lie in errors in its manufacture or fixation. But the patient’s own fault may also be present here. Let's take a closer look at the factors that cause loss in the early period:

• the use of low-quality cement or its incorrect application,
• the presence of a gap between the inside of the prosthesis and the supporting teeth on which it is placed,
• caries under crowns: this may be undetected caries - it was not noticed during preparation for prosthetics. Or when the supporting tooth was overheated during turning. If, during the passage of root canals, they are poorly processed or sealed, then over time this leads to the spread of infection,
• allergy to prosthetic materials,
• if the patient chewed something very hard with his teeth (including artificial ones), chewed toffee, toffee.

Another reason for loss is poor oral hygiene, when a large amount of plaque and stone accumulates around the crowns. This in itself can lead to the destruction of the ceramic or composite coating of the bridge and partial crumbling of the cement composition. If we consider that dental deposits are inhabited by bacteria that have a negative effect on the gums and roots of the teeth under the prosthesis, then loss can occur due to progressive caries on the supports.

Accelerate the process of getting used to the prosthesis

• Rinse your mouth with a salt solution;
• Take the process of cleaning your denture seriously;
• Try sucking on lollipops, this process calms you down and distracts you from having a foreign object in your mouth;
• To improve your diction, say tongue twisters, read aloud, and speak more often. It’s also worth trying to pronounce words louder. Often, normal speech is restored within a few weeks;
• For a more reliable fixation of the prosthesis in the oral cavity, it is best to use special gels and ointments; they not only allow you to securely fix the product in the mouth, but also prevent the appearance of abrasion wounds and other mechanical damage to the oral cavity.
• It is necessary to completely exclude various sticky foods from the diet, and not only for the period of getting used to the prosthesis. These can be candies, various chocolate bars with nougat, toffees, etc.), they can not only cause discomfort during chewing, but also damage the structure.

Relationship between loss and service life

Dental bridges can fall out due to natural wear and tear or the end of their life. On average it is 5 years. And with good oral hygiene and careful treatment, the bridge will last up to 10 years. If the bridge is supported by implants, the service life increases. For ceramic and metal-ceramic it is at least 10 years, and for zirconium dioxide and ceramic-composite – from 20 years.

“My mother built golden bridges for herself back in the 90s. So, they stayed with her for almost 20 years. Either the doctor was such a good one, or she was taking care of her teeth. But she definitely never ate nuts. And I installed metal-ceramic ones in 2014. And they fell out after only 6 years. The doctor was able to glue them in place, but I understand that it is no longer so convenient. We'll probably have to change it."

Anastasia G., review from gidpozubam.ru

Rules of conduct when a bridge falls out

What to do if a dental bridge falls off? Often people get lost and don’t know how to behave. Someone almost begins to panic, someone hastily throws the fallen orthopedic structure into the trash. The list below includes simple and understandable rules that will tell you what to do when a dental bridge falls out:

1. carefully spit everything out of your mouth onto a napkin if it falls out while eating,
2. rinse your mouth with water and then with some solution (chlorhexidine or mouthwash),
3. rinse the bridge in clean water, you can clean it with a soft bristle brush: when rinsing and cleaning, make sure that it does not fall into the sink or onto the floor,
4. place the prosthesis in a clean handkerchief or piece of sterile bandage,
5. put the bridge in a small, clean container so as not to accidentally break the product (in case it can be glued back, although this is unlikely). You will need to take the prosthesis to the clinic in the same container,
6. try not to chew on the “affected” side, and also rinse your mouth after each meal (if there is still a lot of time before your visit to the clinic).

When the bridge falls out from clenching the jaws, from pressing with the tongue - that is, when there was no food in the mouth, then immediately go to point number “2” of this list.

If it suddenly turns out that the bridge was swallowed along with food or liquid, then you need to immediately contact a clinic - for example, a therapist, pediatrician, or a hospital emergency room. The sharp edges of the structure can injure the gastrointestinal tract; the bridge can get stuck in the esophagus or intestines. Therefore, you will need to undergo an x-ray or ultrasound. It is important not to make active movements, not to bend over and to adhere to the diet prescribed by the doctor - so that the structure leaves the body naturally. Otherwise, you will have to undergo emergency surgery.

Is it possible to glue the bridge in place yourself?

What to do and how to secure a dental bridge if it falls out at home? Let us immediately point out that putting a fallen bridge back on your own is not the best idea. Since this can injure the supporting and neighboring teeth, harm the gums (if you suddenly decide to glue the bridge with pharmaceutical cement or household glue). The consequences can be unpredictable - up to the removal of “damaged” teeth or implants. Therefore, it is better to entrust your teeth to a professional dentist.

What will the doctor do?

Which doctor is best to see if a dental bridge has fallen off? In general, dental prosthetics is the domain of an orthopedic dentist. If the prosthesis is on implants, then you will need to visit both an orthopedist and an implantologist, because The problem may be with the implant. Will the doctor be able to fix the old prosthesis? Here you will first need to undergo diagnostics, incl. tomography of the jaw, which will help determine the condition of the bone around the roots, the quality of root canal filling, and identify cracks in the roots.

Read on the topic: features of dental bridges - who is suitable for them, how they are made and installed.

If the support is in order and suitable for prosthetics, and the prosthesis itself has no flaws (i.e., the problem of falling out was only due to low-quality cement), then you can try to glue the old bridge in place. Of course, using new and high-quality cement.

If the doctor considers that the support needs treatment or removal, and also if the prosthesis is made incorrectly or is broken, then in addition to the main treatment, it will be necessary to make a new orthopedic bridge structure or, in principle, a different type of prosthesis.

Installation of metal-ceramic dental bridges

Stage 1 - consultation.

During the first visit to the doctor, anamnesis is collected and the rehabilitation method is agreed upon.

Stage 2 - rehabilitation.

Preparation of the oral cavity, treatment of concomitant dental diseases, if any.

Stage 3 - production of the prosthesis.

Computer modeling is considered the most advanced and most accurate method for manufacturing orthopedic structures. In the case of metal ceramics, a metal frame is first made, and after applying the ceramics, the product is fired.

Stage 4 - implantation.

If the product is fixed on implants, a surgical stage is necessary. A classic denture requires grinding of adjacent teeth.

Stage 5 - installation.

Fitting and installation of the finished structure.

What to do if a temporary bridge falls out

If the temporary bridge falls out, then there is nothing to worry about. After all, it is glued to temporary cement, which has weaker fixing properties. Therefore, you need to contact an orthopedist to glue the structure in place. Or, if a permanent prosthesis is already ready or the implants have taken root, then the temporary bridge will not be put back, but the permanent one will be fixed immediately.

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How much does a re-restoration cost?

How much does it cost to put a dental bridge in place if it falls out? If the supports do not need to be treated or removed, then fixation with new cement will cost approximately 1000-1500 rubles. If the screws on dentures on implants have come loose, then fixing them with new screws will cost about the same. If the patient needs to treat/remove supports, install new pins or inlays - and, as a result, make a new prosthesis, then the cost of restoration starts at 30 thousand rubles. And the final cost is calculated individually.

When is it better to replace a bridge or crown?

If mobility of the entire bridge, some part of it, or a separate crown appears, then the best option for what to do next is to immediately contact an orthopedic dentist. Of course, the patient’s desire to keep the old prosthesis and continue to walk with it is understandable. But it is not always possible to save the orthopedic structure.

When should a crown or bridge be replaced? While a small chip of ceramics can be “repaired”, large chips or cracks are difficult to restore – so the doctor suggests a replacement. If 1-2 crowns fall off, if you are allergic to the material, you will have to make a replacement. You will also have to make a new prosthesis if the support was drilled, the stump tab or pin was changed, or if teeth were removed.

1Markskors R. Fixed dental restorations, 2007.

QUESTION ANSWER

QUESTION Tell me, if the bridge is wobbly on only one side, as if it moves a little when chewing, then what should I do to secure it? Anatoly

ANSWER Hello, Anatoly. You don’t need to do anything yourself, since there may be inflammation inside under the prosthesis - and if treatment is delayed, it will only get worse. Therefore, the best option is to visit an orthopedic dentist. Preferably the one from which you installed the bridge earlier. The doctor will conduct a full examination and take an x-ray. And it will already become clear whether it is possible to “plant” the old bridge with fresh cement or whether a new bridge will have to be made (because the old one could have been manufactured with violations).

What needs to be done to make the bridge last as long as possible

In order to extend the service life of the bridge, we must not forget that although it is an artificial structure, it should be treated like “natural” teeth. That is, do not load the bridges with excessively hard and stretchy food, regularly brush your teeth with a brush and toothpaste. Another important rule is that you need to visit an orthopedic dentist every 6 months. During a preventive examination, the doctor will examine the condition of the oral cavity and installed dentures, and will carry out professional removal of tartar and plaque.

1Yamamoto M. Basic technique for manufacturing metal-ceramic dentures, 1998.

Your questions and answers

QUESTION Hello, the bridge fell out of the teeth along with the pins. Can it be put back or not? And what is the best way to do this? Oksana

ANSWER Hello, Oksana. It's best not to try to glue the bridge in place yourself, because... This is fraught with complications, and consult an orthopedic dentist. Because there are many nuances due to which the old prosthesis can either be put back or not be used further (i.e., a new one can be made). But, given that your bridge fell out instead of the pins, most likely you won’t be able to put it back in place.

Author: Sambuev B. S. (Thank you for your help in writing the article and the information provided)

What does a metal-ceramic dental bridge look like?

All fixed bridges are similar in appearance: they consist of a frame and artificial crowns that imitate the visible part of the tooth. Their very name speaks about the features of metal-ceramic “bridges”. They are made of metal and ceramics, that is, the metal base is covered with a layer of ceramics, making the design look quite natural. The base of the prosthesis is made from several types of alloys:

• nickel-chromium
• cobalt-chromium
• based on palladium and silver
• based on gold or platinum

The last two types of alloys are rarely used (especially gold), since they increase the cost of treatment, thereby eliminating one of the main advantages of metal-ceramic prostheses - cost-effectiveness. Theoretically, prostheses made of zirconium dioxide with ceramic lining can also be called metal-ceramic, but almost all experts distinguish between these two technologies.