If you have experienced tooth loss or the wearing down of your teeth from grinding, the structure of your mouth as a whole can change. One result of this is called bite collapse, or a loss in your vertical dimension, which can affect not only the way your smile looks but also the ability of your teeth to effectively bite and chew food daily. However, a loss in vertical dimension may be fixed through the addition of crowns and bridges in Lansing, MI, with the help of Dr. Scott Stone of Smile By Stone Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.

Benefits of Crowns & Bridges for Vertical Dimension

Crowns and bridges are two very common cosmetic dentistry procedures that are often thought of as a means to improve the appearance of your smile. While this is certainly true, there can be other oral health benefits to crowns and bridges in Lansing, MI, especially when it comes to restoring vertical dimension. While both are used to restore teeth either from loss or damage, there are some crucial differences between crowns and bridges.

For starters, crowns are used to restore the appearance of existing teeth by adhering a cap to the exterior surface of the tooth. In this way, a crown can cover up any physical abnormalities, including chips, cracks, discoloration, or worn down areas from grinding forces. The latter is the primary focus for restoring vertical dimension, as dental crowns can repair the gap in your top and bottom row of teeth that have been caused by teeth grinding.

Bridges, on the other hand, are used to replace a missing tooth by adhering a new synthetic tooth between two crowns, adhered to the adjoining teeth on either side of the gap. Bridges can prevent your teeth from shifting in your mouth when gaps are present, which may also prevent bite collapse over time.

Restoring Vertical Dimension In Your Smile

If you are worried about teeth grinding or tooth loss causing a loss in vertical dimension in your smile, consider reaching out to Dr. Stone of Smile By Stone Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to learn more about crowns and bridges in Lansing, MI. For questions or to schedule an appointment today, please call (517) 482-5546.