While you may know that dental bridge treatment can enhance the appearance of your smile after tooth loss, you may be unaware of many of the other benefits dental bridges can provide. Dental bridges get their name because they bridge gaps that have been left by your missing teeth. Here are some surprising benefits of dental bridges that you may be unaware of:
Speech Improvement
The empty spaces or gaps that are present after you have lost your teeth can prevent you from speaking clearly. Your teeth help you properly form your words with the help of your tongue so that you enunciate correctly. When teeth are absent, it is more difficult for you to form the correct sounds of your words, which can cause an awkward pattern of speech.
Once you start wearing your new dental bridge, the empty spaces left by your missing teeth will be filled, and you will be more confident when you speak, as your speech will be clearer. Speech patterns are typically always clearer when people have all their teeth or the appropriate dental restorations. If your speech impairments are severe, your dentist may refer you to a speech therapist to augment your dental bridge treatment.
Improved Facial Appearance
Tooth loss not only affects the appearance of your smile, but it can also alter your facial appearance. When you lose your teeth, your face may take on a sagging appearance. Facial sagging ages you prematurely and can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles in your skin.
Your natural teeth provide structure for the soft tissues of your face, and when that structure is diminished or lost as a result of missing teeth, your face may look like it is caving in. This effect is more noticeable when tooth loss is in the front of your mouth. Dental bridge treatment helps to restore the structure lost by your missing teeth and will improve your overall facial appearance.
Prevents Shifting
Missing teeth cause your remaining teeth to shift. When you develop a gap inside your mouth as a result of missing teeth, your natural teeth will shift in the direction of that gap. Not only can shifting teeth cause problems with chewing, but they may also lead to jaw and neck pain and headaches. Shifting may also exacerbate TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorders. A dental bridge will fill the gap, discouraging shifting teeth.
When your teeth are not properly aligned, they may also become crowded. Crowding can make it difficult to remove plaque and calculus between your teeth, even when you brush and floss regularly. If you are unable to effectively clean between your teeth because of crowded or overlapping teeth, you may be at a heightened risk for periodontal disease and cavities.
If crowding becomes extreme, you may develop a malocclusion, which may need to be evaluated and treated by an orthodontist. If you have lost some of your natural teeth, your dentist will take X-rays and impressions so that the dental lab can make you a set of dental bridges.
If you feel that your missing teeth have negatively affected the appearance of your smile or facial structure, or if your teeth are shifting or have started to crowd, make an appointment with your dentist to find out more about the benefits of dental bridges.
He or she will also evaluate your speech patterns to determine if a bridge might help correct your speech. If your speech is impaired as a result of jawbone deterioration related to a degenerative bone disorder, you may be referred to an oral surgeon or maxillofacial specialist for further evaluation and treatment. With proper care and regular examinations, you will enjoy the benefits of your dental bridges for years to come.
Contact a clinic like Town Center Family Dental for more information.
Share20 June 2019
Toddlers should see a dentist for the first time by the age of twelve months or by the time their first tooth comes in. But if you are a parent with toddlers anything like mine, the prospect of going to the dentist (let alone anywhere!) can be pretty intimidating. My kids were a handful growing up. They had tantrums any time we would have to sit in a waiting room, and they refused to get in the dentist's chair during their first few visits. So, I had to employ a professional to help me make the transition to finally getting them in that dental chair without all the screaming and crying. I know I'm not the only parent in this situation, so I decided to share the information I've learned with others who can use a little help. You can find all my advice right here on these pages!