Teeth fall out for a variety of reasons but are most commonly lost through trauma, tooth decay, or gum disease. Teeth can also be missing from birth due to genetic propensities that run in families. You may be weighing the hassle and cost of getting a new tooth with the risk of doing nothing. The oral surgeons at Innovative Implant and Oral Surgery outline some of the health problems you may encounter when living with missing teeth.
Health Problems Associated With Missing Teeth
A number of health problems could ensue if you fail to replace your missing teeth:
You might have difficulty eating.
Without teeth in the right places, it could be difficult eating steak, raw fruits and vegetables, and nuts. The inability to eat a healthy, balanced diet could lead to other health problems like heart disease or anemia.
Your other teeth could misalign.
When a tooth is missing, the other teeth adapt over time, shifting into the gap space. Over time, this shifting can lead to a crooked smile, misaligned jaw, bite problems, and joint pain.
You may start to suffer from headaches and jaw pain.
The temporomandibular joints connecting your jaw to your skull can become misaligned when your teeth shift out of position, causing headaches, jaw pain, and facial discomfort.
You could lose other teeth to decay.
When the teeth shift, it becomes more difficult to reach all the enamel surfaces when brushing or flossing. The formation of plaque increases your risk of tooth decay and gingivitis, which can lead to future tooth loss.
Your face shape could change.
The presence of teeth in your mouth supports your jaw and stimulates bone growth. Even an artificial replacement tooth will provide the structure and stimulus your body needs to continue building underlying bone. If you fail to replace a lost tooth, the jaw bone will shrink, potentially giving your face a “sunken-in” appearance.
What Are My Options for Tooth Replacement?
Here in our Bucks County offices, we have a number of tooth replacement options available to you. Our commitment to pain-free dentistry and knowledge of different types of sedation and anesthesia gives you the broadest range of treatment preferences. We also specialize in affordable, same-day care.
Prior to coming in for a consultation, you may want to consider these popular tooth replacement options:
Dental implants
Dental implants made of strong titanium posts inserted into the jaw combined with a natural-looking porcelain crown provides the most permanent solution for tooth replacement. Like a natural tooth, implants stimulate jaw bone growth and feel real. You can replace one tooth, multiple teeth, or a whole arch. Dental implants are an option as long as there is sufficient healthy bone present.
Dental bridges
Traditional bridges involve prosthetic teeth attached to your natural teeth to fill the gap. A bridge does not support new bone growth, but it is a less invasive option that can last for a number of years. With All-on-4 arches, natural-looking dental crowns are anchored by four implants.
Need to Replace a Missing Tooth?
Contact us to learn more about the many tooth replacement options we offer at our Bucks County offices in Feasterville and Newtown, PA. Whether you need a single tooth replaced, multiple teeth done in a single day, or bone and soft tissue grafting under anesthesia, our skilled oral surgeons and compassionate front-end staff are here to provide you with a smile that lasts forever.