The Risk of Not Replacing a Missing Tooth

Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, there are many people who lose one or more of their permanent teeth at some point in their lives. Whether it was an accidental injury or advanced decay, losing a natural tooth anywhere in your mouth can trigger consequences.

What Can Happen When a Tooth Goes Missing

Unless it was a baby tooth, wisdom tooth or a tooth intentionally removed for orthodontic reasons, missing teeth need to be replaced. Even just one missing tooth can bring setbacks to your oral health, dental function and appearance – including the following:

#1 Cosmetic Compromise
It’s the most obvious drawback of a missing tooth – that unsightly gap left within your smile. This can be a major threat to your self-esteem, especially if you have an empty gap in the front of your smile.

#2 Speech and Chewing Difficulties
Each tooth has a functional responsibility in terms of our chewing and our speech. Therefore, when one or two go missing, you may find it difficult to say certain words and chew your food properly. This is a long-term consequence that can significantly impact your quality of life and nutritional health.

#3 Shifting Teeth and Cleaning Challenges
When a tooth is extracted or falls out, the neighboring teeth will naturally begin to migrate towards the open gap. This process begins sooner than you may think. In result, you may be left with a crooked smile, bite misalignment or tight spaces that are difficult to keep clean. It is not uncommon to become vulnerable to decay and gum disease due to these cleaning challenges.

#4 Bone Loss and Premature Aging
There are also issues that occur beneath the surface of a missing tooth. Your jaw bone needs sufficient stimulation from your tooth roots in order to retain its density and form. When a tooth is absent, the jawbone will gradually begin to atrophy or resorb within the body. This leads to a sunken appearance in the lower face, which many people refer to as premature facial aging.

Dental Implants Can Solve the Setbacks of Missing Teeth

The only sure way to prevent all of these risks is to replace your missing tooth with a dental implant. Dental implants involve a titanium post that is surgically placed into your jawbone. It creates an artificial tooth root that properly stimulates the underlying bone. Once the implant heals and fuses to the surrounding bone, a dental implant restoration (crown, bridge or denture) can be secured on top.

Alora Dentistry is proud to serve the Napa community with complete services in implant dentistry. We want to restore your smile and help you avoid the disruptive setbacks of missing teeth. Call us today to learn more about why dental implants are the superior solution in teeth replacement.

Posted on Behalf of Alora Dentistry

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