Missing teeth can impact your self-confidence and make you want to hide your smile. However, missing teeth aren’t just an aesthetic problem for your mouth. If you’re missing teeth, you have an increased risk of other oral health problems. Dr. Caleb Robinson, a dentist in New Philadelphia, OH, discusses why you should replace missing teeth, as well as tooth replacement options.
The Perils of Missing Teeth
First, missing teeth have an impact on your self-esteem, particularly if they’re in the front of your mouth. Instead of laughing and smiling normally, you may focus your time on trying to hide your missing teeth instead. It’s possible that you’ll start to avoid socializing and going out in public because you don’t want anyone to see your missing teeth. Facial sagging is also a problem due to bone loss from losing the tooth root.
But missing teeth can also cause further health problems. People that are missing teeth are at a higher risk for gum disease, bone loss, tooth decay, and losing further teeth. When there are holes present due to tooth loss, your other teeth will shift and move to try and fill it. This leads to crooked teeth and the problems associated with them.
Lastly, depending on where the missing teeth are located, you may not be able to eat some of the foods you want or need to. This can make it hard to eat a fully balanced diet. You might not be getting the nutrients you need. Foods like fruits and vegetables aren’t normally soft and can be difficult to eat when you’re missing teeth anywhere in your mouth.
Tooth Replacement Options
If you’re missing one or multiple consecutive teeth, a dental bridge is an economical option. The bridge is supported by your natural teeth, natural teeth strengthened with dental crowns, or dental implants. With the first two options, the bridges are removable. You’ll have to take them out to clean them and you probably won’t have your full bite function back. Bridges can also harm your natural teeth.
For a full arch of missing teeth, dentures are the most economical option. Removable dentures are one of the most common options for tooth replacement. They adhere to your gums with adhesive. However, dentures can be hard to get used to. They don’t feel like natural teeth in your mouth. You also will have to have a specific diet as you won’t have back the full function of your teeth. For both bridges and dentures, you’ll also still experience bone loss.
Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. They’re the only option that replaces the tooth root. With this, they stop and even reverse the bone deterioration in your jaw. You get the full function of your teeth back and can eat any foods you’d like. They’re considered a permanent dental restoration, so as long as you follow a normal oral healthcare routine, they should last you for life!
Replacing Missing Teeth at Your New Philadelphia, Ohio Dentist
Do you have a missing tooth or teeth that need to be replaced? Call us or schedule an appointment online.