It is not just an aesthetic problem; it compromises your face shape, speech, and how you chew your food. However, the best thing is that dental bridges are a viable treatment to regain your smile and the normal structure of the face. Here’s a look at how missing teeth can change your appearance and how dental bridges can help you regain confidence.
How Missing Teeth Affect Your Face
When a tooth is missing, it doesn’t just leave a gap in your smile; it also changes the support structure of your face. Teeth play an important role in supporting your facial muscles and tissues. When they’re missing, the surrounding teeth and bone lose their support, which can result in several noticeable changes:
- Facial Sagging: Teeth support the cheeks and lips. When teeth are missing, especially in the back, your cheeks can start to sink inward. Over time, this can make your face appear older and give it a sunken look.
- Bone Loss: Evidently, people with missing teeth are prone to losing the bone mass in the jaw. This is because the roots of your teeth stimulate the bone. In case one loses a tooth, the bone that is usually under the tooth also starts to degrade and this leads to a change in the length of the face or even the jawline.
- Shifts in Other Teeth: The other teeth may begin to shift along the line where a particular tooth is missing due to genetic factors. Such a shift can result in an uneven bite, pain, and still further alterations in facial contour.
- Speech Changes: Missing teeth, especially near the front, can impact how you pronounce words. This can complicate simple conversations and potentially affect self-esteem.
How Dental Bridges Help Restore Your Smile and Facial Structure
A dental bridge is a fixed dental prosthesis that is used to replace one or more missing teeth. It is usually held by the adjacent teeth or dental implants and has prosthetic teeth in between them. Dental bridges for missing teeth can replace both form and function, so you can eat, speak, and smile as you once did.
Benefits of Restoring Missing Teeth
Dental bridges provide several immediate and long-term benefits. Some of the key ways they help include:
- Restore Facial Structure: Dental bridges replace missing teeth and offer the facial muscles support and volume which gives the face a more natural look. This prevents deep hollows or indentations under your eyes that can make you look older than you are
- Prevent Bone Loss: By placing a bridge, you prevent further shifting of teeth and maintain the natural alignment of your jaw and bite. While a bridge doesn’t replace the root of the tooth, it does help stabilize the surrounding teeth, which can slow down bone loss.
- Improve Speech and Chewing: In the case of a dental bridge, you are able to chew your food properly hence digestion is enhanced. And because gaps are closed, you’ll also find that your speech may improve, restoring comfort in conversations.
- Aesthetically Pleasing: A bridge looks very similar to natural teeth. Modern dental bridges are designed to blend in, so your smile looks as natural and attractive as possible.
Advantages of Dental Bridges
Beyond just filling in gaps, there are many advantages of dental bridges:
- Long-Lasting Solution: With proper care, dental bridges can last up to 10–15 years or even longer. This makes them an excellent long-term investment for oral health and appearance.
- Quick Treatment Process: Compared to other dental restorations, dental bridges can often be completed in just a couple of visits. This means you don’t have to wait long to restore your smile.
- Minimal Invasive Procedure: For patients who may not be suitable candidates for implants, bridges provide an effective yet minimally invasive alternative, making it accessible to a wider range of people.
Feel Confident with a Restored Smile
Tooth loss is no longer a reason to suffer in silence or change your lifestyle and smile. Dental bridges are a well-proven method to restore your teeth’s form and function and to give you a beautiful smile. Better facial appearance onset, full mouth confidence, and the sense of a complete smile are some of the benefits of dental bridges.
Smile Brighter at East Chestermere Dental
If you’re looking for a trusted dentist in Chestermere, East Chestermere Dental is here to help. Our friendly team is ready to explain all the options to you and help you get the smile you have always wanted. Call us today and find out how a dental bridge can restore your smile and ease.
Contact East Chestermere Dental to explore how dental bridges near you can transform your smile and enhance your quality of life. Schedule your appointment today!
