5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Ignore Missing Teeth

You lose more than just your smile when you lose teeth. Apart from aesthetic value, missing teeth can result in serious oral health problems. However, since you can’t see the back teeth when smiling, you might think that losing one or more teeth may not be a big deal. Despite this, ignoring missing teeth may only worsen your dental condition.

This is why Perris patients with periodontitis or those with multiple missing or loose teeth should consider dental implants. As long as it’s performed by a qualified, experienced professional, this treatment will restore the natural stability and function of your teeth. Read on for a few important reasons why missing teeth should not be ignored.

What happens if you don’t replace a missing tooth?

In the event of a tooth extraction, healing may take some time. Upon recovery, you should decide what type of restorative treatment you will need, as ignoring it can lead to:

1. Shifting teeth & misalignment

A missing tooth is usually perceived as an aesthetic issue. Yet, without replacing your teeth, they may shift out of alignment in an attempt to fill the gap. As the remaining teeth move, the roots are disturbed, ultimately compromising their integrity and structure. As a result, you may develop a bad bite that negatively impacts your oral health.

2. Jawbone loss

Although it may not be obvious to you, maintaining the shape and mass of your jawbone requires stimulation. And bones are stimulated by the chewing function of teeth. After losing a tooth, the surrounding bone does not receive enough stimulation, thus losing mass. With time, bone mass loss can alter the shape of your face. Moreover, it can weaken your jaw, reducing its capacity to support your remaining teeth.

3. Gum disease  

Having a gap where your tooth used to be serve more than just as a reminder – in fact, it’s an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Food leftovers can get trapped there as you eat, causing oral bacteria to thrive. Unless you diligently clean your gums, harmful bacteria may multiply, cause irritation, and early gum disease. In other words, if you lose a tooth, your chances of developing an infection are much higher than if that tooth remains intact.

4. A change in the bite

Losing a tooth can change the way your bite works, putting too much pressure on your other teeth, your gums, and your jaw joints. It might result in you chewing only on one side of your mouth, or altering the way you bite in some other way. Jaw pain and other serious conditions may result from these changes over time.

5. Speech difficulties

The loss of a single tooth may not have a drastic effect on the bone structure that supports the teeth, however, if you lose several, your bone density may be reduced and your gums damaged. In this case, you may find it difficult to speak clearly. It’s not uncommon for people to slur their speech and have difficulty making certain sounds, such as those made by the tongue touching the teeth.

Get a free consultation for dental implants in Perris

No matter if you’re looking for same-day dental implants or you;d rather have a traditional dental implant placement, here at Temecula Facial Oral Surgery, Dr. Tsvetov is able to perform your procedure painlessly and efficiently. Moreover, for an anxiety-free experience, you can choose between local and general anesthesia, or intravenous sedation. After the procedure, you can rely on us for detailed instructions on proper aftercare as well as important dental implant information to ensure a successful healing process. We’re located close to Perris Elementary School District, so feel free to stop by anytime.