If You Miss the Replacement Timing for an Old Molar Long Bridge

If you miss the replacement timing for an old molar long bridge, it will come crashing down.

Hello.

I am the director of Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic.

"While eating, a big chunk of my tooth came out..."

I still remember the patient who was flustered while holding a huge prosthesis connected across five teeth.

When teeth that have stayed together for so many years suddenly come out all at once...

How upsetting must that have been?

If it had simply been a matter of the cement coming off,

that would have been a relief,

but in fact, when a long prosthesis like this comes out, most of the time the tooth inside has broken with a crack.

Today, I’d like to introduce a case in which we had to let go of a shaky long bridge and

restore chewing function with implants.

What happens when teeth are tied together too long Old molar long bridge, replacement

Before talking about the patient,

I think I should briefly explain what a long bridge is.

A structure that bundles several teeth into one unit... At first glance, it looks strong, right?

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But from a dentist’s perspective,

it is a very precarious structure.

Why is that?

First, it is very difficult to clean.

Because a long bridge has a long connected structure,

it is structurally hard to maintain.

As a result,

food debris is left behind and causes inflammation.

Second, it forces together teeth with different functions.

The front teeth have the role of "cutting,"

while the molars have the role of "grinding" like a millstone.

What happens if you tie together teeth that do different jobs?

They fall out of sync,

and the tooth roots are put under strain.

So, it is better not to connect front teeth and molars together.

Third, there is the most frightening kind of "collective responsibility."

To put it simply...

It is like several people carrying a log together.

What happens if one person loses strength and lets go?

The weight shifts to the others,

and eventually, crash...

they all collapse together.

Especially with a long bridge,

the burden of withstanding that load becomes even greater.

Just as a longer bridge experiences stronger forces that try to bend the middle,

there is a powerful "lever force" acting on the roots of the teeth at both ends.

In the end, the jawbone can dissolve, or the roots can break,

and the speed of that process can be much faster.

A case where an old long bridge came off and was replaced with implants Old molar long bridge, replacement

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This patient came in with a long bridge connecting five teeth on the lower right side,

that had come out all at once.

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"This is already the third time it has come out... Can we stick it back on?"

Seeing the patient’s desperate eyes,

I also wanted to save it somehow.

But,

when I looked inside the mouth...

Because gum care had not been maintained for a long time,

the surrounding area was swollen and bleeding,

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most importantly, the front tooth supporting the bridge (#43)

had not been able to withstand the excessive force,

and half of the tooth had broken.

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The very last tooth (#47) also had a large pus pocket at the tip of the root.

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Thinking about how disappointed the patient must have felt,

I was saddened as well,

but from a medical standpoint,

there was no longer any possibility of reattachment.

The teeth supporting the bridge were already badly damaged,

and they no longer seemed to have the strength to bear such a heavy prosthesis.

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In the end, we decided to extract the three remaining roots and place three sturdy implants.

A month later, this time the other side..? Old molar long bridge, replacement

It was a day when we were waiting for the bone to heal well after successfully finishing the surgery on the right side.

The patient came back with a gloomy face,

even though it was not the scheduled day.

"This time, the other side came out..."

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It was bad enough already.

The bridge on the left molars on the opposite side (#35~37)

had also come off.

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Since the right side was uncomfortable,

the patient had been eating only on the left side,

and the left teeth, unable to bear the weight,

had eventually developed problems.

When we examined them, the jawbone there had also been dissolving,

and the teeth were shaking severely.

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We also had to remove the teeth on the left that could no longer be saved,

and proceed with implants.

4. Having trouble opening your mouth? The magic of the 'oral scanner' Old molar long bridge, replacement

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After implant surgery,

we usually wait about three months for the bone and tooth roots to become firmly fixed.

At last, the day came to take impressions.

The patient asked worriedly,

"Um... the thing you have to fill the whole mouth with,

do I have to do that?

I have a sensitive stomach..."

There are quite a few people whose memories of past dental treatment

remain like a nightmare, right?

The time spent enduring a cold, clay-like material filling the mouth,

while trying not to gag...

But at Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic, don't worry.

We use an "oral scanner."

With the oral scanner tip, which has a small camera,

all you have to do is gently scan over the teeth.

There is no need to open your mouth so wide it feels like it will tear,

and no need to endure the suffocating smell of rubber.

"Oh? Is it already over? Technology has really improved~"

Every time I see the patient’s relaxed smile,

I feel glad that we introduced digital equipment.

Treatment is not about speed, but about direction Old molar long bridge, replacement

After three months of waiting,

implant prosthetics were completed on both molars.

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Compared with the shaky, bad-smelling bridge,

the firmly fixed implants made the "chewing feel" different above all else.

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Of course, saving natural teeth

is my first principle and belief.

But...

if they have already reached the end of their lifespan and are

having a negative effect on surrounding teeth or the jawbone,

it is time to let them go.

Holding on by force is not always the best answer.

Are you suffering alone because of a bridge that is already shaking?

"Because of the cost..."

"Because I’m afraid it will hurt..."

I understand those feelings very well.

But I hope you do not spend too long worrying alone and miss the right time for treatment.

We will protect your precious teeth in the most honest way possible.

Thank you.^^

▼Check the dental clinic location▼

If you miss the replacement timing for an old molar long bridge, it will come crashing down.

Go to make a reservation call
02-481-4278

| This post was written directly by Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act. The information provided is for reference only, and for symptom evaluation and accurate care methods, please visit a medical institution and receive guidance from a medical professional. All procedures/surgeries performed at the dental clinic may involve individual differences (such as inflammation, bleeding, swelling, etc.). Please make decisions after sufficient consultation with medical staff in advance. The treatment cases in this post were photographed with the consent of patients who completed treatment at our clinic, and the before-and-after photos were taken under identical conditions. |