It’s interesting how losing teeth can impact kids and adults differently. When kids shed their teeth, there’s excitement associated with it, but if the same thing happens to adults, it’s a stressful experience. That being said, tooth loss is common in adults; around 69% of individuals aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth, as reported by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Losing teeth in adulthood comes with a great deal of pain and embarrassment. The good news is that tooth loss, a cosmetic issue, is treatable today, thanks to new-age restorative dentistry solutions. We recommend you consult an experienced dentist in Garland TX and consider replacing an extracted tooth without delay.
To avoid further oral health problems, such as tooth decay, bacterial infections, and gum disease, restorative dentistry can protect your dental health and preserve your beautiful smiles caused by tooth loss. One of the best solutions is replacing your missing tooth. Let’s discuss the importance of tooth replacement and what may happen if you don’t do it on priority.
Impact of Missing Tooth and Consequences of Not Replacing It
Tooth loss can cause significant dental problems and other health issues, and if you don’t replace it on time, be ready to face some serious consequences. Some of them include –
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Problems in eating and speaking
Missing teeth can pose hurdles in eating, chewing, and speaking. For example, many of us have experienced how our chewing and speaking patterns suddenly change due to tooth pain. We even try avoiding certain kinds of foods or reducing verbal communication. While the former may lead to nutritional deficiencies, the latter may affect our personal or professional relationships. Besides, speech challenges may give rise to unwanted social situations and misunderstandings, thus affecting our emotional well-being.
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Causes orthodontic problems like teeth misalignment
If you delay the replacement of your missing tooth, it can lead to other orthodontic issues, such as changes in the alignment of the adjacent teeth. When you don’t fill your dental gaps, the neighboring teeth will gradually start shifting from their original positions and come toward each other. It eventually causes multiple cosmetic dental problems, like teeth crowding, overbites, underbites, uncomfortable dental pressure, and teeth crookedness.
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Increases risks of oral infections and gum disease
A missing tooth that has been left untreated can lead to bacterial infections and gum diseases. As a result, the surrounding teeth also get infected gradually due to constant exposure to bacterial accumulation. It may create a negative dental cycle, thus increasing the risks of further tooth loss for the adjacent teeth.
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Causes bone loss in the jaws
The effects of tooth loss are not limited to your teeth and gums but also extend to the tooth bones beneath your gum line. Due to prolonged exposure to bacteria and wear and tear in the missing tooth cavity, the area around your jaw may start experiencing bone and mineral loss. Moreover, you may experience facial collapse after tooth extraction since bone loss may start changing your smile and facial structure, causing a sunken, aged look.
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May affect self-confidence and mental well-being
Finally, missing teeth may impact your mental health since a smile is often associated with self-confidence and self-esteem. Many people refuse to smile or laugh their hearts out due to misaligned or missing teeth. If you replace teeth with dental implants, you can regain confidence in smiling before the world.
Best Ways to Replace Missing Tooth
Let’s talk about the remedies now! Some of the best tooth replacement and restoration approaches include –
- Dental Implants: Dental implants are the new-age solution for missing teeth as they offer the look and feel of natural teeth. In fact, it can preserve your tooth functionality and jaw structure by replacing the lost tooth’s roots with an artificial titanium root. After implanting an artificial yet fully-functional tooth, a crown is placed to make it look like a natural tooth. The best part about dental implants is that they can last a lifetime.
- Dental Bridges: A dental bridge is an artificial tooth attached to your surrounding teeth. In this process, the dentist will attach the bridge of the “anchor” teeth with top crowns to look like a natural tooth. Dental bridges need replacement every 5–7 years or as advised by the dentist. The good news is many dental insurance policies may cover dental bridges.
- Partial or Full Dentures: Dentists often recommend partial or full dentures when you have multiple missing teeth. This procedure effectively replaces and restores all lost teeth by attaching an artificial tooth to a gum-colored plastic material. Unlike the above two procedures, users must take their dentures out every night for routine cleaning. However, while dental implants and dental bridges involve surgery, dentures are non-surgical and cost-effective.
Key Takeaways
Replacing a lost tooth is quite easy if you consult a certified prosthodontist. Although you can visit a general dentist first to understand the condition, the extent of damage, and tooth implant cost Texas. Eventually, they may refer to a more specialized person, such as a prosthodontist. A prosthodontist is a specialized dentistry professional offering tooth replacement and tooth restoration solutions.
