Dentist says I need a dental bridge because of a missing tooth (long story short: hockey accident, tooth lost the fight). I've heard mixed things about the whole process, like how long it takes, if it's uncomfortable, or if it feels weird after it's in. I'm not exactly nervous, but you know... not thrilled either. Has anyone here had one done? How was the whole procedure and adjusting afterward?
My daughter had a dental bridge put in last year after losing a tooth in gymnastics (yeah, sports can be rough...). Honestly, the procedure itself wasn't too bad—she said the worst part was just sitting still for so long. Did your dentist mention if they're doing it in one visit or two? Hers took two appointments, about a week apart, but I've heard some dentists do it all at once now.
"I've heard mixed things about the whole process, like how long it takes, if it's uncomfortable, or if it feels weird after it's in."
She did say it felt a little strange at first—like something foreign in her mouth—but after a week or two, she barely noticed it anymore. Eating was awkward initially, especially crunchy stuff, but that improved pretty quickly. Now she doesn't even think about it. Have you asked your dentist about temporary bridges or anything to help you adjust? Might be worth checking out. Anyway, hang in there—it'll probably feel normal sooner than you think.
My dentist offered the temporary bridge option, but honestly, I skipped it to save a few bucks (yeah, dental stuff ain't cheap...). The first week was definitely a bit weird—felt like chewing with someone else's teeth—but it wasn't unbearable. One thing I'd slightly disagree with is the crunchy food getting easier quickly:
"Eating was awkward initially, especially crunchy stuff, but that improved pretty quickly."
For me, chips and nuts felt off for at least a month or two. Not painful exactly, just...awkward. But hey, everyone's different, right? After that initial adjustment period though, things really did get back to normal. Now I munch away without even thinking about it. So yeah, expect a little awkwardness, but don't stress too much. It'll sort itself out eventually.
Yeah, I skipped the temporary bridge too—figured it wasn't worth the extra cash. Agree with you on the crunchy stuff though:
"chips and nuts felt off for at least a month or two."
Same here. My kid complained about popcorn feeling weird for weeks. Eventually it sorted itself out, but definitely took longer than expected. Just gotta be patient and chew carefully for a bit...
Reading these posts is making me a bit uneasy tbh. I have braces now, and my orthodontist mentioned I might need a bridge later on because of an extraction. Did anyone here have braces before getting their bridge? Wondering if the adjustment period is similar to when braces first go on—like soreness, sensitivity, or trouble eating certain foods. The crunchy food thing sounds familiar...
