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Volume 3 Issue 1 (January - March, 2015)

Letter to Editor

AN UNFORGETTABLE BRIDGE
Treville Pereira, Subraj Shetty, Svylvy Pereira

1Professor, 2Associate Professor, Dept of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Dr D Y Patil Dental College & Hospital, Sector 7, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
3Private Practice, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Corresponding Author: Dr. Treville Pereira, Professor, Dept of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, Dr D Y Patil Dental College & Hospital, Sector 7, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Pincode- 400706, Email- trevillepereira@gmail.com

This article may be cited as: Pereira T, Shetty S, Pereira S.  An Unforgettable Bridge. J Adv Med Dent Scie Res 2015;3(1):186.

Sir,
We would like to report an interesting case of a 56-year-old male patient who consulted us for a complaint of food collection below the fixed prosthesis. The patient was undergoing dialysis treatment since the past ten years. On intraoral examination, the patient had a complete denture in the upper arch. In the lower arch, we noticed a single fifteen unit fixed prosthesis which was fabricated sixteen years back. Intraoral periapical radiographs showed root and bone resorption in relation to mandibular right first and second molar and mandibular left canine. The prosthesis was also resting on the mandibular left third molar which did not show any evidence of root or bone resorption. The entire prosthesis was firm because of the calculus attached on the lingual surface. Considering the poor oral hygiene and the hopeless prognosis of three of the four abutment teeth, it was decided to remove the prosthesis. We expected the three abutment teeth with poor prognosis to get exfoliated at the time of removal of the prosthesis. Hence, the patient was asked to take a heparin free dialysis on the day of treatment. The prosthesis was sectioned and removed. The entire bridge came out in one unit along with the mandibular right first and second molar and mandibular left canine (Figure 1). Further management  advised was endodontic treatment of mandibular left third molar along with a removable partial denture since the patient could not afford implant supported prosthesis.
Although crowns and bridges can last a long time, they typically do not last forever. The main reason for a shortened lifespan is poor oral hygiene. Just as one may have problems with natural teeth, fixed prosthesis is subject to problems. These include recurrent decay, recession and exposure of crown margins. Probably the greatest factor in the determination of how long crowns and bridges last are the quality of the dentistry and patients compliance to the care and maintenance that is necessary.
This case is presented here to make one aware of how such a long span bridge lasted for so many years.



 
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