Are you self-conscious about your crooked, overcrowded, chipped, or broken teeth? Perhaps you’re considering restoring your smile with cosmetic dental procedures but feel as if “there’s no reason to spend the money to fix my teeth except looking better”? However, there are good reasons to restore your teeth beyond merely cosmetic ones. Surprisingly enough, some dental issues that may appear to be merely cosmetic can actually impact your oral health and even your overall health. Dr. Patrick Ousborne and Dr. Rikki Esterson of Dental Excellence in Towson, MD are skilled and compassionate dentists who can help you to restore and preserve your smile with cutting edge dental procedures. Learn more about the important reasons to fix dental problems from the Dental Excellence team below.
Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease
Overcrowded or crooked teeth may be a sign of deeper problems at work beneath the gums. Teeth can shift in your mouth and may become overcrowded if they move too close to each other. When this happens, teeth can crack or fracture. Overcrowding teeth can cause pain and, if left untreated, eventually infection.
Crooked, chipped, or broken teeth are also challenging to clean. If teeth are not cleaned properly, plaque will form between teeth and along the gum line and begin to erode tooth enamel. Also, your gums can become infected and inflamed, drawing away from your teeth and causing them to be less stable. What’s more, progressive gum disease is linked to systemic health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
Ensure Your Teeth Wear Evenly
If teeth are not aligned properly, over time they will wear unevenly and cause premature tooth decay or pain. A common cause for excess tooth wear is an uneven bite, which could be the result of an overbite, underbite, a jaw injury, crooked or missing teeth, or even an uneven crown or molding fit.
Excess tooth wear can lead to several more serious dental health concerns because teeth can be worn down to the more sensitive layers under the enamel, called the dentin, and dentin erodes even faster and is even more sensitive than cracked enamel once exposed. If left untreated, a person’s teeth can be worn down to their stumps, meaning that bridges, crowns, root canals, implants and even dentures may be necessary to remedy the issue.
Improve Overall Health
Gum disease is linked to overall health issues such as increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s. An uneven bite, fractured or overcrowded teeth, or even missing teeth can lead to gum disease simply due to their increased difficulty to clean. Correcting what seems like a cosmetic problem can actually keep your body healthy.
Improve Your Smile in Towson, MD
Dr. Ousborne and Dr. Esterson offer many different types of conservative, effective treatments to fit your needs. Schedule a consultation with our office online or call (410) 514-6553 today to keep your smile healthy and your confidence high!