Missing teeth are more common than many people realize. If you have lost a tooth, you may feel self-conscious about your smile, but you are not alone. An estimated 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, and 36 million people have lost all of their teeth. Experts expect these numbers to grow over the next two decades.
While many people worry about how a missing tooth affects their smile, missing teeth can also create serious dental health problems. Patients in the Spokane Valley, Washington area trust Dr. Bryan McLelland, and the experienced team at Liberty Oral & Facial Surgery for dental implant solutions.
Several tooth-replacement options exist, including dentures and dental bridges. Although these treatments offer benefits, dental implants provide the most stable, durable, and long-lasting solution for tooth replacement. If you are missing one or more teeth, a dental implant often provides the best long-term option. When you do not replace a missing tooth, several dental health problems can develop over time, some of which may surprise you.
Proper Chewing Difficulties
Even a single missing tooth can make chewing difficult. Hard or crunchy foods can slip into the empty space where a tooth once sat, which may cause gum discomfort or even bleeding. When multiple teeth are missing, chewing food properly becomes even more difficult.
Chewing plays an important role in digestion. When you cannot chew food properly, your body may struggle to absorb the nutrients it needs for overall health.
Shifting Teeth
Your teeth support each other and help maintain proper alignment. Even small movements can affect your bite.
When you lose a tooth, the gap weakens this natural support system. Without a replacement such as a dental implant, the surrounding teeth may begin shifting inward toward the empty space. As the teeth move, new gaps can develop and additional shifting may occur. Over time, this process can create significant bite problems and may even contribute to future tooth loss.
Bone Loss
Your jawbone depends on stimulation from the roots of your teeth. When a tooth root disappears, the jawbone no longer receives that stimulation. As a result, the body may begin to reabsorb the bone, which can eventually create a sunken appearance in the face.
Dental implants help prevent this problem. Because the implant is placed directly into the jawbone, it functions like a natural tooth root. The implant fuses with the bone through a process called osseointegration, creating a strong and stable anchor. This connection stimulates the jawbone and helps maintain its strength.
Other tooth-replacement options cannot provide this benefit because they do not integrate with the jawbone.
ISSUES WITH SELF-ESTEEM
While we have discussed several ways in which a missing tooth can impact your dental health, one crucial aspect to consider is your mental health. When you lose a tooth, it can compromise your self-esteem. People who are embarrassed by their smile tend to hide it. While once smiling and happy, these individuals can withdraw unto themselves and try to stay in the background so that nobody will see their incomplete smile. Teeth replacement options such as a dental implant provide a completely natural-looking tooth replacement option that nobody will even know exists. You will be back to your happy and smiling self in no time!
Having even a single missing tooth can impact your life in so many ways. Because of this, there is no need to delay getting it replaced with a dental implant offered by Dr. Bryan McLelland and Dr Brenen Olsen and the friendly team at Liberty Oral & Facial Surgery. Schedule a consultation by calling (509) 822-2774 .
