Unusual Reasons Your Bridges May Hurt Your Gums
While most people enjoy comfort and functionality when wearing their dental bridges, others who have certain medical conditions or who take certain medications may notice gum pain when their bridges are in place. Here are some unusual reasons your dental bridges may hurt your gums and what you can do about them:
Bisphosphonates
If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, your physician may have recommended that you take a medication from a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates. Osteoporosis can cause thinning and weakness of your bones and may heighten your risk for falling and fractures.
Bisphosphonates can help keep your bones strong and slow the progression of osteoporosis. While effective in the management of osteoporosis, bisphosphonates can raise the risk for a rare condition known as osteonecrosis of the jaw.
This condition causes the destruction of your jawbone and may destroy the bones that support your natural teeth. Because of this, your dental bridges may no longer fit, and they may cause oral pain when you are wearing them. If you take these medications and notice pain or deformity of your jaw bone, see your dentist or oral surgeon right away. He or she will take an x-ray of your mouth to determine if your jawbone is healthy.
If you have osteonecrosis of your jaw, the dental lab may need to make another set of bridges; however, your dentist may recommend that you avoid wearing them until you have received further treatment for your bone condition.
Sjögren's Syndrome
If you have an autoimmune disorder known as Sjögren's syndrome, you may develop problems with your teeth and gums, including discomfort when wearing your oral appliances. Sjögren's syndrome often causes problems with the tear glands in your eyes and your salivary glands.
Two of the most common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome include dryness of the eyes and dry mouth. Sjögren's syndrome often causes salivary gland dysfunction, and when this happens, the salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist.
This leads to oral dehydration and may cause your gum tissue to shrink or otherwise change shape. If you have an autoimmune disorder that causes oral dryness, let your dentist know. He or she may prescribe a special mouthwash that will help reverse oral dehydration.
If you develop pain or irritation of your gums when wearing your bridge, see your dentist right away. Wearing ill-fitting dental appliances can lead to friction wounds on your gums, infection, and hypertrophy of your gum tissue.
For more information, contact a clinic like Scott W. Murphy Dentistry.