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When most people think about missing teeth, they picture the aesthetic ramifications. While missing teeth can certainly change the appearance of your smile, there are also several dental health reasons why replacing missing teeth is so important.
Irving S. Lebovics, DDS, understands that missing teeth can be stressful, and that patients aren’t always sure which treatment option is the best fit for their needs. Today, let’s explore why it’s so important to take steps to replace missing teeth with dental implants or other treatments.
Let’s begin with the most obvious outcome of missing teeth. A gap in the smile of a six-year-old is adorable. But in a fully grown adult, missing teeth are not nearly as cute.
Many people who lose one or more of their natural teeth feel self-conscious about their smile. If this happens to you, it could be difficult to feel comfortable in work, social, or romantic situations. The aesthetics of a missing tooth are among the most popular reasons why people seek treatment.
Missing teeth change your bite, which is the way your upper and lower teeth fit together when you bite down or chew food. A misaligned bite can make it challenging to eat foods that are fibrous or on the hard side.
Unfortunately, hard and fibrous foods are some of the healthiest options. So if you end up avoiding foods like seeds, nuts, fibrous vegetables, and lean proteins, your diet will almost certainly suffer. Over time, this can lead to nutritional deficiencies that can affect your overall health and wellness.
The healthiest smile is one in which your upper and lower teeth fit together without placing undue stress on any specific tooth. When you lose a tooth, you also lose the support that each tooth provides within your upper or lower arch of teeth.
This can allow adjacent teeth to shift out of their normal position, which can quickly cause issues with alignment. Your smile could become less attractive, but more importantly, your teeth can begin to experience excess wear or strain because of the new alignment.
Perhaps the most impactful side effect of missing teeth has to do with the bone tissue in your jaw. Each of your natural teeth are anchored into the underlying bone. This secure attachment keeps teeth in place throughout your lifespan.
But it’s important to understand that the bone in your jaw is a living tissue. It requires ongoing stimulation in order to thrive. Each time you bite down or chew, you stimulate that bone, keeping it healthy and strong. Losing a tooth means losing that stimulation, and your bone can begin to wear away in a process called resorption.
This can weaken the connection between nearby teeth and bone, leading to a cascade of additional tooth loss.
If you have a gap in your smile, you have several options for treating it. For some, a dental bridge is a good approach. This treatment uses dental crowns to attach an artificial tooth to the adjacent teeth, effectively “bridging” the gap in your smile.
If you’re missing several teeth, a partial denture could help. These devices are custom-crafted to fill a gap in your smile with artificial teeth. The device can be removed for cleaning, and today’s dentures look just like natural teeth.
A full set of dentures can replace all of your natural teeth. This path might include removing any remaining unhealthy teeth, followed by a period of healing before your new dentures are ready.
Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement option. While more expensive than other choices, dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. They anchor within your jawbone, which means your bone health doesn’t suffer.
If you have questions about your tooth replacement options, we are happy to sit down with you and review your choices. Just call our office to schedule a visit with Irving S. Lebovics, DDS. You can also access our online booking tool at any time that’s convenient for you.