Have you recently lost a tooth? Tooth loss affects more than just the look of your smile. It can also affect your oral health and quality of life. For example, losing a tooth can make it difficult to eat your favorite foods or talk with confidence. A dental bridge can restore both the function of your tooth and the appearance of your smile.

How Does a Dental Bridge Work?

Like the name suggests, a dental bridge “bridges” the gap left in your smile after losing a tooth. The dental restoration consists of a false tooth anchored on both sides by natural teeth or dental implants capped with porcelain crowns.

There are many health benefits associated with dental bridges, including:

1. Fixing your smile
2. Maintaining a balanced diet
3. Speaking clearly
4. Maintaining healthy jawbone tissue
5. Preventing further tooth loss

1. Fixing Your Smile

Many of our patients appreciate that tooth bridges look and feel natural. Indeed, a dental bridge for your front teeth in particular can significantly improve the appearance of your smile. A front teeth bridge not only gives you confidence, but can also help you avoid further tooth loss or even facial collapse.

2. Maintaining a Balanced Diet

After losing a tooth, you may experience pain while chewing. Dental plaque and food particles can also collect in the empty tooth socket and increase your risk for gingivitis or periodontal disease.

A dental bridge is a tooth replacement that lets you continue eating your favorite foods. After getting a dental bridge, you’ll be able to eat without pain and have an easier time maintaining a balanced diet.

3. Speaking Clearly

Your teeth play a vital role in how you form words in your mouth. For example, try reading this aloud and see how many times your lips or tongue come into contact with your teeth. It’s not uncommon for people with missing teeth to speak with a lisp or have difficulty pronouncing certain words.

Dental bridges make it easier for you to speak clearly with confidence. They can serve you just as well in your speech as your natural teeth once did.

4. Maintaining Healthy Jawbone Tissue

Your jawbone tissue needs stimulation from tooth roots to stay healthy. After tooth extraction, the jawbone starts to deteriorate, risking further tooth loss or even facial collapse.

A dental bridge helps keep your jawbone tissue healthy so you can maintain good oral health and keep the shape of your face.

5. Preventing Further Tooth Loss

Your teeth are held in place both by your tooth’s roots and surrounding teeth. This means that when you lose a tooth, nearby teeth start to tilt toward the open space. They may even become loose. A dental bridge can fill the empty tooth socket so nearby teeth are held in place.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

If you’ve recently lost a tooth, our Grand Rapids, MI, restorative dentists are here to help. We can fix your smile with a dental bridge and restore not just the function of your tooth, but also your confidence. Call GR Family Dental today at (616) 455-3020, or contact us online to request an appointment.

This blog post has been updated.