What is the Problem with Missing Teeth
Tooth loss is often just an unfortunate part of the aging process though the most common cause of tooth loss is severe decay that has been left untreated. Other issues such as periodontal disease can also contribute to tooth loss. Missing teeth not only negatively affects your oral health but can also have an impact on your overall health. Cosmetic concerns are not the only reason to replace missing teeth. Below, we will review some of the other reasons that you should consider replacing missing teeth.
Crooked Teeth: Left untreated, a missing tooth can cause surrounding healthy teeth to shift, in an effort to close the space. This is a problem for a few reasons: healthy teeth can become loose as they shift and cause a breakdown in bone mass; gaps in other areas of your mouth can form; the teeth can become crowded and difficult to clean. Crooked teeth are much harder to clean properly than straight teeth so when the teeth become overcrowded, the patient is at a higher risk of gum disease. Orthodontic treatment is not only for cosmetic purposes, it has huge benefits to oral health as well.
Malocclusion: A bad bite can result from shifting teeth negatively changing the way your teeth come together when you bite and chew. Malocclusion can lead to jaw disorders such as TMJ, damage to tooth enamel, tension headaches, tooth sensitivity, and even fractured teeth. Bruxism is the unconscious clenching and/or grinding of the teeth which a lot of us already do in our sleep but having a bad bite can cause bruxism even in waking hours.
Bone Loss: Tooth roots help support bone health by stimulating bone growth and regeneration. As exercise helps your body produce and maintain muscle mass, chewing helps stimulate bone mass. A missing tooth can contribute to bone loss in the jaw since the area no longer has a tooth to stimulate bone growth. Bone loss quickly leads to additional tooth loss and changes in facial structure.
Additional Tooth Loss: Losing one tooth can create a domino effect on surrounding teeth. Since the jawbone relies to regenerate and stay strong and healthy, other teeth are more likely to fall out as the bone begins to deteriorate in the area of the one missing tooth. Leaving a missing tooth untreated increases your chance of losing more teeth by 30%!
Prevention is always preferable to treatment and is, of course, less costly! Restoring one missing tooth is much cheaper than treating other issues that can arise from missing teeth. Resulting gum disease can lead to other, more severe medical issues such as heart disease and diabetes. If you have a missing tooth, it is never too late to look into replacing it, no matter what treatment option you and your dentist decide is right for you and your lifestyle! Replacing missing teeth is not only beneficial for cosmetic reasons but also for the overall health of the patient.