Missing teeth can happen to patients of any age, for any number of reasons. The most common cause of tooth loss is untreated decay. When tooth decay is allowed to grow, it eats away at tooth structure, eventually making the tooth hopeless and in need of extraction. Since oral health is directly related to overall health, it is important to restore missing teeth, even if it is in the back of your mouth and cannot be seen by others.
Why should I replace a missing tooth?
One missing tooth can cause a domino effect, quickly leading to additional missing teeth! As your teeth shift to fill the space, they become misaligned and can cause malocclusion (a bad bite) which can pose difficulties with eating and even speaking. There is also a risk of damaging healthy remaining teeth or developing jaw disorders such as TMJ. When your teeth shift, the roots of those healthy teeth can become weak, which can affect the health and integrity of surrounding teeth and lead to further tooth loss.
When your teeth shift, they can become crowded as well and crowded teeth are significantly more difficult to properly clean teeth as opposed to those that are properly aligned. When the teeth are not well cared for, the patient risks developing periodontal disease which can also contribute to additional tooth loss.
Periodontal disease is an advanced form of gum disease which results from an accumulation of tartar buildup in the gum pockets surrounding the teeth. When plaque at the gum line is not removed regularly, it hardens into tartar which can invade the gum pockets and cause the gum tissue to recede from the tooth structure. Root exposure can make the teeth very sensitive. Untreated periodontal disease can eventually lead to bone loss.
When the jawbone begins to deteriorate, it is no longer able to support the teeth and can lead to further tooth loss and changes in facial structure.
Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables can become difficult with missing teeth which can lead to more serious medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. The existing correlation between gum health and heart disease is well documented so caring for your teeth, even missing ones, is incredibly important.
What treatment options are available to replace missing teeth?
Many may think that if they are missing teeth that they will eventually have to rely on a traditional denture but that is not the only option! There are a number of ways to replace missing teeth including a dental bridge, dental implants, and dentures.
A bridge is a permanent restoration used to replace a few teeth in one area of the mouth. Two crowns are joined together by a fake tooth, or pontic, and is cemented in place using neighboring teeth as anchors.
A denture can be used either for one area of the mouth or for a full arch, even both arches. Dentures are removable for easy care and maintenance!
Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth with an individual implant crown or even a full arch of teeth on one or both arches with an implant-supported denture. Implant prostheses are incredibly natural-looking and are much more comfortable than traditional replacement options.
If you have missing teeth or teeth that need to be extracted, speak with your dentist to understand what treatment options are available and which will be best for you.