A dental bridge can put artificial teeth in place of missing teeth. If you don’t have a tooth, your dentist may suggest a dental bridge to help you eat and speak normally again. But a lot of patients want to know if receiving a dental bridge hurts.
No, mostly. Modern dentistry has made it possible for dentists to use new technologies to make dental work less painful. You might feel a little pain, but dentists also use local anesthesia to aid with pain.
Let’s discover what you can realistically expect when getting a dental bridge.
What to Expect During a Dental Bridge Procedure
A dental bridge commonly replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring an artificial tooth to your natural teeth or implants on either side. The process usually requires two visits.
On your first appointment, your dentist will prepare the abutment teeth, also known as the supporting teeth. These teeth are gently reshaped to create more space for crowns to bond the bridge in place.
Before this step is carried out, your dentist will administer a local anesthesia so that you don’t feel pain, only slight vibration or pressure. If you suffer from dental anxiety, your dentist can also administer sedation to provide you with utmost comfort.
Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and place a temporary bridge to keep the area safe from bacteria. Once your custom bridge is ready, you may return for your second visit. During this visit, your dentist will remove the temporary bridge and secure the permanent one.
Your dentist will also make sure that it fits accurately. Throughout the process, pain will be minimal due to the numbing medication.
Is There Pain After Getting a Dental Bridge?
After the anesthesia has worn off, you may feel mild sensitivity or soreness around the treated teeth and gums. This reaction is completely normal.
You might notice:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold foods
- Tender gums around the crowns
- Minor jaw soreness
Patients have said that the pain is similar to what they feel after getting a crown. Ibuprofen and other over-the-counter pain medicines usually do a good job of controlling discomfort. Within a few days, the symptoms get better.
You can be more sensitive than usual if you have a root canal before obtaining a bridge. But this feeling won’t endure long; it might just last a brief time.
How Long Does Pain Last?
For most people, the pain goes away in three to five days. Your mouth needs a little time to become adjusted to the new bridge.
You can also feel a little pressure when you bite or chew at first. This feeling comes because your bite is becoming used to the new repair. But you should go to the dentist immediately away if the pain lasts longer than you imagined it would.
To Sum Up
So, does getting a dental bridge hurt? No, most of the time. Dentists use local anesthesia to numb the area so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. Afterward, any discomfort you experience is usually small and goes away quickly.
You may expect a simple visit and results that last if you take care of your teeth and talk to your dentist. If you’re thinking about getting a dental bridge, talk to the dentists at Mabrito Dental. To make an appointment, please call (713) 528-0567.