Are you self-conscious about your crooked, overcrowded, chipped, or broken teeth? You might be thinking about correcting the problems you see with cosmetic dental procedures. But maybe you’re not sure because you might think that “there’s really no reason to fix my teeth except looking better”? However, there are very good reasons to address these issues beyond just cosmetic ones.
Surprisingly enough, some of these issues with your teeth that seem to be merely a matter of appearance can actually have a negative effect on your oral health and possibly even your overall health. Smile Dental Group is a skilled and experienced dental provider in West Lancaster, CA who can help you restore and protect your smile with cutting edge cosmetic dentistry procedures. Learn more about the important reasons to resolve these problems with your teeth from our team below.
Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease
Overcrowded or crooked teeth may lead to greater problems for your mouth. Teeth can move and may become overcrowded if there’s no room for them to go. When teeth have shifted too close together, cracks or fractures can occur, causing pain and, if left untreated, eventually infection.
Crooked, chipped, or broken teeth are also more difficult to clean. Plaque will form between teeth and along the gum line and begin to erode tooth enamel if teeth are not cleaned properly. Additionally, your gums can become infected and irritated, eventually pulling away from your teeth due to the inflammation of gum disease. This can loosen teeth and even cause them to fall out. What’s more, progressive gum disease is linked to systemic health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
Make Sure Your Teeth Wear Evenly
If teeth are not aligned properly, they can wear down unevenly, speeding up tooth decay and causing pain in your mouth. A common cause of excessive wear of teeth is an uneven bite, which can result from an overbite, underbite, a jaw injury, crooked or missing teeth, or even an uneven crown or molding fit.
If an uneven bite is not corrected, teeth can be worn down to their dentin — the more sensitive layer beneath the enamel. Dentin is soft and erodes even faster than regular tooth enamel and is more sensitive than enamel. Once the dentin is exposed, a person’s teeth can quickly be worn down to their stumps, meaning that bridges, crowns, root canals, implants and even dentures may be required to restore them.
Improve Overall Health
Gum disease is linked to an increased risk of several major overall health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s. An uneven bite, fractured or overcrowded teeth, or even missing teeth can lead to gum disease because they are more difficult to keep clean. Therefore, correcting what seems like a cosmetic problem can actually keep your body healthy.
Improve Your Smile in West Lancaster, CA
Smile Dental Group is an experienced dental provider who offers many different types of conservative, effective treatments to meet your dental needs. Call (661) 383-0186 to schedule a consultation with our office today or schedule with us online to keep your smile healthy and your confidence high!