After tooth extraction, your dentist will recommend you fill the space with a dental bridge or implant. If you have recently lost a tooth, it’s best to fill the gap in your smile before nearby teeth start to tilt toward the open space. If left untreated, a missing tooth can make it more difficult to eat, speak, and feel confident. A dental bridge is a false tooth anchored on both sides with crowns on natural teeth or implants. For more information, schedule an appointment with your dentist.
1. Smile with Confidence
A tooth bridge looks and feels natural so you can smile with confidence. Many of our patients report feeling more confidence after getting tooth bridges to restore their smiles. If you have ever felt self-conscious about your smile, you owe it to yourself to schedule an appointment with your dentist. During your consultation, you’ll be able to explore tooth replacement and smile makeover options.
2. Eat Your Favorite Foods
Is it painful to bite or chew food? Eating shouldn’t have to be something that causes you pain on a regular basis. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to discuss getting a dental bridge. A dental bridge restores your smile so you can maintain a balanced diet.
Teeth are held in place by roots and surrounding teeth. This means that when you lose one tooth, you risk further tooth loss. If you have recently lost a tooth, the pain may be from teeth tilting toward the open space in your smile. You may also have sore gums from plaque buildup in the empty socket.
3. Speak without a Lisp
If you have lost several teeth, you may speak with a lisp or have difficulty pronouncing certain words. This is because your teeth are partly responsible for helping you form words. To see what we mean, try reading out loud to see how many times your lips or tongue come in contact with your teeth. A front teeth bridge helps resolve speech issues caused by tooth loss.
4. Maintain Your Face’s Natural Shape
Your jawbone will start to deteriorate without pressure from tooth roots. If left untreated, jawbone deterioration can lead to further tooth loss and even facial collapse. With each tooth you lose, your risk for facial collapse increases. A dental bridge prevents further tooth loss, so you can maintain good oral health.
5. Prevent Further Tooth Loss
Your teeth are held in place by roots and nearby teeth. This means that when you lose one tooth, nearby teeth start to tilt toward the open space. Teeth that move too much become loose and fall out. If you have recently lost a tooth, we recommend filling the empty space with a fixed dental bridge as soon as possible.
Dr. Ritzema DDS and his team are dedicated to helping you restore your smile after tooth loss with dental bridges and other restorative dentistry services. To schedule an appointment with our Grand Rapids dentist, call Complete Health Dentistry at (616) 458-7267.