Four Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ignore A Missing Tooth

WHILE MANY PEOPLE readily acknowledge the aesthetic problems of a missing tooth, they don’t know about the health risks that it poses. The longer you let a gap in your teeth stay, the more problematic it can become.

1. Shifting Teeth And Misalignment

When one tooth is lost, your other teeth move to fill the gap. This can cause issues with your bite and the alignment of your teeth.

2. Open Spaces In Your Gums Increase Infection

Basically, a missing tooth leaves an open wound in your gums, with deep pockets for bacteria to hide in. This causes gum disease, which will result in receding gums and possible more lost teeth.

3. Lost Bone Structure In Your Jaw

The bone mass in your jaw is dependent on the connection with your teeth. Once a tooth is gone, the jaw’s bone mass deteriorates. This causes instability for the surrounding teeth and it can lead to a visible loss of bone structure in your face.

4. Dental Implants Are A Great Solution

Up until a few years ago, the most common solution was a bridge. A bridge is helpful in preventing shifting teeth, but it doesn’t address the lost bone mass or the increased infection risk.

Modern dentistry has developed another method of dealing with missing teeth—a method that’s taken off, thanks to its high functionality, high success rate, and the fact that it’s a permanent solution: dental implants!

For a dental implant, we first plant a small post, or rod, into your gums. This imitates the function of your natural tooth’s root, reaching down and fusing to the jawbone. Once the rod is well-established, we put a permanent crown over it, which looks and functions just like your natural tooth.

Leaving An Empty Space Is Bad For Your Mouth’s Health

Whether or not we recommend dental implants for your case will depend on a number of factors. However, our team wants to make sure that you realize that finding a solution for missing teeth isn’t an option- it’s something that needs to be done. The longer you wait, the more problematic it will be. So if you have a missing tooth, be sure to talk to us about your options.

If you have any questions for our team, let us know! Write a comment below, or give us a call.

Thanks for your trust in our practice!

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