A calculus bridge is a type of dental procedure that temporarily covers a missing tooth or area until more permanent treatment options like dental implants or bridges can be applied.
Calculus is something that is an indication of poor oral hygiene. If you have been brushing your teeth in the wrong for some time, you are highly likely to develop a thin film of dirt on your teeth. This can gradually develop into one of the most common dental issues called, plaque. There are a lot of ways through which you can address and effectively treat the plaque in your teeth.
You can try improving the methods of cleansing your mouth and it is also possible for you to seek professional help to deal with the same. Brushing twice a day and proper flossing can help you in this regard.
However, if you are not very disciplined about maintaining proper dental health, the tartar or the calculus can even spread to the surrounding teeth, making it an even bigger concern for the individual. You need to have regular visits to your dentist and fix the issue.
Plaque Turn Into Calculus: How To Prevent It?
But if you fail to address the issue, there are high chance for the plaque in your mouth to get hardened over time. It can also seriously affect the health of your gums and overall overall hygiene, apart from the condition of that particular tooth. It can thus transform and become the issue known as Calculus Bridge.
This article is all you need to know about the issue of Calculus Bridge, including the side effects of having the issue, some of the most common risks involved in having a hardened tartar in your teeth, some of the effective techniques of prevention that you can try your hands on, and also a couple of proven methods through which you can get rid of this dental issue.
Causes Of Calculus Bridge
1. Poor oral hygiene
No matter how many other causes are there to be listed, poor oral hygiene stands as the first and foremost reason for the development of a calculus bridge in your mouth. If you are someone who brushes twice a day, it is highly likely for all the remnants of the food particles and waste materials to remain in the crooks of your teeth and thus form a layer of dirt that may get thickened over time.
Flossing should also be practiced along with brushing to maintain your oral hygiene in the best way possible.
2. Crooked teeth
Crooked teeth are another reason for plaque or eventually calculus bridge to form in your teeth. When you have crooked teeth, it becomes difficult for you to clean certain areas of your teeth through regular brushing and flossing techniques, which again throws light upon poor dental hygiene itself.
In such cases, it is advised to have regular visits to your dentist who can help you with the proper cleaning of all the hidden areas of your teeth, even if they are in a crooked position.
3. Smoking
If you are someone who smokes daily or a chain smoker, you also have an elevated risk for the plaque to develop on your teeth and then transform into a calculus bridge. The stain of nicotine gets deposited on your teeth over time, which can easily form layers of dirt on your teeth, causing the issue.
The stain or dirt deposited in such cases would be quite difficult to remove through brushing and flossing. Hence, it is always better to quit this deadly habit as soon as possible concerning your oral health as well as your overall health as life expectancy.
Side Effects And Risks Of Calculus Bridge
1. The visible calculus bridge
Your calculus bridge would be less visible, especially during the beginning stages of the infection. However, after this period, it is highly likely to become more magnificent and visible to others. This can significantly reduce your self-confidence and can even affect the quality of your social life.
2. Bad Breath
This is another important side effect of having a calculus bridge in your mouth. Since the calculus bridge is a layer formed by dirt materials, your breath may also smell bad to all others around you. This can also pose a threat to the quality of your social life and self-esteem.
3. Poor gum health
This is another countable side effect that comes along with the calculus bridge. The infection in your mouth can slowly affect your gums. In some people bleeding gums can also be noticed at the time of brushing and flossing.
4. Cavities and tooth loss
This is the extreme side effect that can be caused by to calculus bridge. Calculus bridge can lead to enamel erosion, which causes bacterial infection and thereby cavities. Untreated cavities can easily lead to tooth loss over time.
How To Prevent A Calculus Bridge?
The only way to prevent your teeth from calculus bridge infection is by maintaining proper dental hygiene. All you need to do is brush twice a day and also do regular flossing. It is also suggested that you quit bad habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption which can be the reason for your calculus bridge. It is also important to have regular dentistry visits to stay completely safe from any kind of similar infections.
How To Treat Calculus Bridge?
Scaling, polishing, and deep cleaning are the three different steps involved in the treatment of teeth infected with calculus bridges. Scaling is the removal of all the plaque deposits from the surface of your teeth. Polishing is the step where the dentist smooths the surface of the teeth and prevents any further bacterial infection. The treatment would be completed with a deep cleaning session, where the plaque deposits would be removed from the roots of the teeth.
calculus bridge diseases
A calculus bridge itself does not cause disease. However, it carries some risks and considerations:
Poor Oral Hygiene – Calculus bridges can accumulate bacterial plaque and tartar around cement lines and abutment teeth, increasing decay and gum disease risk if oral hygiene is inadequate.
Tooth Decay Under Bridge – If dental cement washes out over time, decay can develop in abutment teeth under the bridge attachment site.
Gum Recession – Excess forces from a bridge may cause some gum recession around supporting anchor teeth.
Abutment Tooth Damage – Retainer teeth sustaining all chewing forces may undergo cracks, wear damage, and looseness over time without proper care.
Oral Irritation and Discomfort – Poorly contoured, rough edges on a calculus bridge can rub and irritate cheeks, gums, and tongue.
Looseness Issues – Improper fit or cement washing out leads to bridge instability, rocking, and need for replacement.
With excellent long-term home care and adjustments as needed by your dentist, a well-made calculus bridge can function successfully for years before implants or fixed bridges are warranted.
Sum Up
Now you know what to do and what to do when you are suffering from the embarrassing condition of a calculus bridge. However, it is always better to prevent this condition by adapting the various preventive techniques that have been mentioned in the article. You also know when to take the right action and seek expert help and opinion to prevent more severe issues such as cavities and the loss of teeth.
References
- Alshehri F. (2018). The use of mouthwash containing essential oils (LISTERINE®) to improve oral health: A systematic review.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6112363/ - Plaque. (2017).
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10953-plaque
