Nobody wants to think about the possibility of losing teeth as they get older, yet almost everyone ends up missing at least one or two natural teeth. Even the mouths of the most conscientious brushers and flossers can eventually suffer from tooth decay. Once one or more teeth have fallen out or been removed, it can lead to other serious problems like difficulty chewing, changes to the bite pattern, crowding, and lost self-confidence.
One simple and cost-effective way for patients to prevent these secondary issues from coming up is to be fitted for Porcelain Fixed Bridges in Bethesda MD. In addition to giving dental patients something to smile about, fixed bridges also restore their natural bite patterns. If one or more teeth are missing on one side of the mouth, it can lead to uneven chewing. Replacing the missing teeth with a fixed bridge allows for even wear on both sides of the mouth, avoiding problems affecting their bite pattern, such as temporomandibular joint disorder.
Missing teeth can sometimes lead to less painful, but equally serious, speech problems as well. Many patients begin to develop a lisp or another form of speech disorder. When coupled with effects on patients’ physical appearance, including the sagging cheeks that often result from multiple missing teeth, this can be extremely detrimental to self-esteem.
Unlike implants, another common way of dealing with missing teeth, fitting new dental bridges only require one trip to the dentist. No bone grafting is necessary to place the bridge, so it doesn’t matter how long the teeth have been missing. Additionally, many patients find implants to be cost-prohibitive, whereas the price-tag associated with a new fixed bridge is negligible in comparison.
Similarly to implants, Porcelain Fixed Bridges in Bethesda MD look just like natural teeth. Modern bridges are quite durable, so although they are not considered a permanent solution, they typically only need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years. Those interested in regaining self-confidence and taking better care of the teeth they have left can contact Aspen Hill Implant & Family Dentistry PC for more information about bridges and other dental prosthetics.
