The Dangers of Not Replacing a Missing Tooth

Are you missing a tooth? There are many reasons why teeth go missing and just as many excuses for not replacing them. Patients often avoid tooth replacement due to cost or when the absent tooth doesn’t jeopardize their smile appearance. However, it is important to know that regardless of where your missing tooth is in your smile, there are still significant drawbacks to neglecting replacement. In fact, just one missing tooth can lead to threats within your smile appearance, your oral health and your dental function.  A timely replacement is crucial.

Smile Appearance

The missing tooth doesn’t have to be in the front of your smile to create cosmetic disruption. Over time, the adjacent teeth will migrate towards the open space. This can eventually lead to misalignment throughout your entire row of teeth.

Chewing and Speaking

We need a complete set of teeth to chew our food efficiently and speak properly. When your natural teeth go missing and they are not replaced, you may find yourself avoiding certain foods that your body needs to stay healthy, including fibrous fruits and vegetables and certain proteins. In addition, some patients find that they talk differently when one or more teeth are lost. This is a drawback that is difficult to hide.

Dental Health Issues

As mentioned previously, existing teeth can shift out of place when there is an open space in your smile. Unfortunately, this can create tight spaces and crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean. Often, this creates an open invitation for decay and gum disease – which can lead to frequent dental bills.

Jawbone Loss

The jawbone is the underlying support system for your teeth. In order for this bone to retain its density and form, it needs to be stimulated on a frequent basis. This occurs through chewing or biting down. However, when there is no tooth root to stimulate the jawbone, it can atrophy or resorb over time. Dental implants are the only form of tooth replacement that can solve this issue, as they are designed to replace the tooth as well as act as an artificial tooth root that is anchored in the jawbone. Waiting too long to get dental implants can lead to the necessity of bone grafting.

At 1899 Dental Implant, we want to help you avoid these serious consequences of missing teeth. Our dentists offer the leading tooth replacement solution using dental implants. Whether it is cost or convenience that is holding you back, we are confident we can accommodate you so that you can enjoy a restored, confident and healthy smile once again.