Q: I have a three tooth bridge that needs to be re-done for the third time over a period of about twenty years. The dentists all say that I keep getting decay underneath. Is this normal? Aunt “B” in Delray

A: All of us tooth docs wish that all dental work could last forever. (I thought the roof on my house would last forever; boy was I wrong. That was some bill!)

The common treatment to replace a single missing tooth by crowning the adjacent teeth and stringing three crowns together has its limitations. Only a pair of dextrous hands can snake a floss threader underneath the fake tooth to clean out bacteria. The area missing the tooth will continue to resorb, creating an increasingly larger gap that traps food leading to tooth decay. Some reports state that these types of bridges have an average lifespan of 7 years.

If you have enough bone in the area missing the tooth, discuss with your dentist the implant option. This will stop the bone resorbtion and provide you with a single, floss-able crown that better mimics a natural tooth.

For a free consumers guide to implants, contact us.

Dr. Mitchell Josephs practices Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry in Palm Beach and can be reached at drjosephs@palmbeachdentist.com (888-378-6684) or visit www.palmbeachdentist.com