There are many reasons as to why you should replace your missing tooth, and they range from health to aesthetic. In the same vein, it is important to note that leaving them untreated may result in short as well as long-term ramifications. One of the most obvious reasons you should replace missing teeth has to do with the appearance of your smile. Besides leaving an unsightly gap, the missing tooth can also alter the way you speak, chew or bite. Over time, it will affect the growth of neighbouring teeth, creating misalignment issues that can lead to a host of dental maladies, including bone loss and gum problems.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons as well as potential hazards:
Prevents Current Teeth from Moving
If the gaps between your teeth are not filled, it can cause neighbouring teeth to shift towards the vacated space and away from their proper positions. This brings about irregular growth of teeth, it will cause misalignment issues and affect your bite. Simply by filling the gap, your replacement teeth can prevent your existing teeth from moving into spaces that they are not supposed to.
Prevents Jaw Bone Loss
When you have missing teeth, it can cause changes in the jawbone structure. The jawbone no longer receives stimulation and can begin to break down or deteriorate. This is the process of bone resorption and it occurs as a result of your body adjusting to reduced jawbone use.
In some cases, bone width can decrease by 25% after the first year of tooth loss.1
Dental implants can help replace missing teeth and prevent bone resorption, it may even promote healthy bone growth.
Balances Your Bite
Gaps in teeth can create neighbouring teeth to shift, leading to a misaligned bite. When you have a misaligned bite, your teeth cannot function normally.
Depending on how serious the misalignment is, you may experience issues like: Discomfort when chewing or biting; speech impediments like lisps; mouth breathing; frequently biting the inside walls of your cheeks; and changes in facial appearance. More serious cases can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a dysfunction characterised by jaw pains, frequent headaches and neck stiffness.
Preserves the Integrity of the Bone Structure
Just like the muscles in your body, bones may start to deteriorate when they are not being stimulated. When your teeth are missing, your jaw bone lacks the necessary stimulation that comes from biting and chewing.
Dental implants and All-On-4® full arch implant restoration help to replace missing teeth and stimulate jawbone growth. This type of restorative treatment helps to prevent the jawbone from reducing in density and strength and in turn, it helps to preserve the integrity of the entire bone structure. When your jawbone structure is preserved, your overall facial structure and appearance is preserved.
Missing teeth? Perhaps it is time to consult a professional dentist for advice on the various teeth replacement treatment options, including dental implants, dental crowns and bridges and All-on-4® treatment. Contact Face Value Dental on (07 3221 0677 or visit http://www.facevaluedental.com/dental-implants-brisbane for more information.
References
1. Karring T, Kostopoulos L, Schropp L, Wenzel A. Bone healing and soft tissue contour changes following single-tooth extraction: a clinical and radiographic 12-month prospective study. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2003; vol. 23(4): 313-323.