Our teeth play a key role in many activities of our daily life, like eating or speaking. But there are a lot of people who do not realize how important the health of their teeth is. It's crucial to remember that your teeth are not invincible. Missing teeth can eventually trigger numerous dental problems. They can also affect both your appearance and overall well-being. Luckily, the negative effect of missing teeth can be avoided, which is why it’s essential to replace them.
Keep on reading to discover 5 reasons why it's important to replace your missing teeth ASAP.
1. Prevent negative effect on overall well-being
Missing teeth can impact your ability to consume certain types of foods. Tooth loss can also lead to difficulty chewing. Eventually, you’ll start to avoid your favorite crispy and hard foods. This can impact your overall health through your diet, causing a deficiency in different food groups, nutrients, and vitamins. Let’s not forget about the psychological effect of missing teeth. Tooth loss can lead to anxiety and loss of self-confidence when you speak or smile.
2. Prevent jawbone deterioration
If you have a missing tooth, the neighboring teeth start shifting to close the gap. This shifting can lead to misshapen or misaligned teeth. This can also result in jawbone deterioration. The teeth in your mouth are important not only for chewing and speaking but also for stimulating your jawbone. Without proper stimulation, your jawbone will start to lose its volume and density. This is a severe issue, as it leads to a loss of structural support in your mouth, making the remaining teeth more vulnerable and resulting in troubles with proper dental hygiene, which puts you at risk of serious dental diseases.
3. It becomes more expensive with time
If you avoid replacing your missing teeth due to financial difficulties or dental anxiety, you should know that treatment may become more expensive with the time. The complications of tooth loss can make the tooth replacement procedure more difficult. For example, it may be harder to place dental implants if the volume and density of your jawbone have degraded. A bone graft surgery may be required to support the dental implant. If you need to replace several teeth, you may also require more implants to fully restore the proper function and appearance of your teeth.
4. Prevent facial changes
Jawbone deterioration can also lead to changes in the structure of your face, making it look aged. The more missing teeth you have, the closer your upper and lower jaw become. The lower part of your face will eventually start to collapse and will become shorter, making you look sad and old.
5. Multiple options to replace missing teeth
Modern dentistry offers several options to replace missing teeth like dentures, bridges, and implants. However, dental implants are considered the most popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and restore their function. A dental implant can substitute the root of your missing teeth, preventing you from bone loss and associated issues like misshapen and misaligned teeth as well as changes in facial structure. Dental implants are also the most durable solution. With proper dental hygiene and routine dental checkups, they can last you a lifetime.
The bottom line
Don’t let missing teeth cause additional dental problems like misaligned and crooked teeth. Avoid jawbone deterioration by undergoing a restorative dental procedure like dental implants. Remember that timely treatment is essential to prevent the problem from getting worse. Consult a dental specialist to determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants.
