Most people replace missing teeth to improve their appearance when smiling or talking. Even though these are good reasons to replace missing teeth, another reason to do so is to make sure speech is not affected.
Speaking requires coordination between a person’s muscles and oral structures like their lips, tongue, teeth, vocal tract and cheeks. Even though some of these oral structures play more significant roles than others, all of them play a role in producing speech. When one of the oral structures does not function properly, speech may be affected.
A way to understand how missing teeth affect speech is by looking at the development of children’s teeth. If a child has already begun speaking and articulating words, the child’s speech is affected when the baby teeth start to fall out and the permanent teeth have not yet erupted. Words that the child could pronounce properly are now distorted because of the missing teeth.
Teeth are necessary for people to be able to articulate certain words, some of which become distorted if the person has missing teeth.
Sounds that are classified as strident sounds are caused by the friction of airflow being pressed against a speaker’s teeth. These sounds include:
Other sounds that can also be affected by missing teeth include sounds articulated from the front of the person’s mouth, between the upper teeth and lower lip. This includes both voiced and voiceless sounds like the “th” in “thirst” or “the.”
Missing teeth can be replaced with a variety of treatment options, the most popular of which include:
These are used to replace missing teeth when a person has lost some natural teeth or all of them. This allows them to improve the appearance of their smile, chew food and speak properly. However, dentures are not very durable and sometimes move around in the mouth, which affects the person’s ability to articulate properly.
These have become more popular in recent years for being more durable than dentures. Dental implants can also be customized to match the color of the remaining natural teeth in the mouth. However, not everyone is an ideal candidate for dental implants because the procedure requires having healthy gum tissue to hold the implants in place.
Dentists use dental bridges to fill in gaps in the mouth when a patient has one or more missing teeth. This procedure involves having an artificial tooth held in place by attaching dental crowns to the teeth adjacent to the gap in the mouth.
Most people replace missing teeth to improve their smile, but replacing the teeth is also important to a person's speech as well as oral health, which is why dentists recommend not waiting for an extended period of time before replacing them. If you are missing one or more teeth, schedule an appointment with a dentist to get your teeth replaced.
Request an appointment here: https://frankforddentalcare.com or call Frankford Dental Care at (215) 302-1746 for an appointment in our Philadelphia office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Clear braces and other orthodontic advances make teeth straightening treatment more attractive to many patients. From clear aligners to ceramic braces, these innovative treatments allow patients to align their smiles without noticeable metal brackets and wires. Thanks to these alternatives, teeth straightening has become more accessible to those who want to avoid traditional metal braces.Traditional…
Both dental bridges and implants are popular, effective tooth replacement solutions. However, there are cases in which a general dentist may recommend a dental bridge over implants. This may be due to the number of teeth missing, their location, and the strength of the underlying jawbone, among other factors. Understanding how each of these treatments…
A dental bridge is a restorative treatment that fills the gap left by a missing tooth. These restorations feel similar to natural teeth and prevent additional oral health issues from arising due to gaps in the smile. Qualifying for dental bridges is also easy. Most patients find they qualify, and if they do not, they…
A full mouth reconstruction restores oral health, functionality, and aesthetics for patients with extensive dental issues. This process combines multiple restorative, cosmetic, and sometimes surgical procedures to address concerns such as missing teeth, decay, gum disease, or bite misalignment. No matter the issue, a full mouth reconstruction is tailored to the individual's unique needs, offering…
Clear braces and other orthodontic advances make teeth straightening treatment more attractive to many patients. From clear aligners to ceramic braces, these innovative treatments allow patients to align their smiles without noticeable metal brackets and wires. Thanks to these alternatives, teeth straightening has become more accessible to those who want to avoid traditional metal braces.Traditional…
Both dental bridges and implants are popular, effective tooth replacement solutions. However, there are cases in which a general dentist may recommend a dental bridge over implants. This may be due to the number of teeth missing, their location, and the strength of the underlying jawbone, among other factors. Understanding how each of these treatments…