Missing teeth cause problems that stretch beyond aesthetics, including serious health complications. Here at Fresh, dentist Marcus Spry has been treating patients for dental implants and bridges for a number of years and has extensive experience in this area. Dental implants are the most effective and durable way of replacing a missing tooth.
Jaw bone loss at site of the gap
Consider that when you exercise your body you help to keep muscle tone – jaw bone mass is preserved when you stimulate through biting and chewing. If you are missing a tooth, the area where your tooth stood will no longer received the same amount of stimulation and will begin to disappear (a process otherwise known as resorption).
Neighbouring teeth will become misaligned, shift and loosen
If you do not have adjacent teeth, teeth will begin to shift into the vacant gap created by your missing tooth. Drifting teeth will also destabilise your tooth roots.
Change of facial structure
Your facial structure relies heavily on the structure of your teeth. When you have a missing tooth for too long, your facial muscles can begin to droop and cause a change in your facial appearance which can lead to a huge loss of confidence.
Disruption to your daily life
A missing tooth can cause chronic headaches as your remaining teeth do not have opposing teeth to bite down on to. Remaining teeth can begin to over erupt and damage opposing gums and cause pain. Overtime this will cause stress to your Temporo Mandibular Joint, causing dull headaches.
Speech and chewing problem
It is fairly obvious that if you have a missing tooth you are going to have some trouble breaking down food though many people do not realise that missing teeth also affects the way you speak which can cause some embarrassment and confidence issues. Overtime digestion can be affected as your mouth cannot break down foods correctly.
Sinus expansion
This is particular to teeth that are lost from the back upper jaw. When this occurs, the sinus cavity located above can expand, eroding your jaw bone.
If you would like to arrange a consultation with us here at Fresh Dental, please do not hesitate to contact us.
