Why Replacing Lost Teeth is Important?

Losing a tooth can indeed affect the daily life of an individual. It can hamper your confidence and lead you to smile and communicate with people less. This will also cause other problems, such as being unable to eat foods you enjoy, and can have an impact on your nutritional profile. It’s necessary to replace the lost tooth so as to avoid any health hazards that it might pose at a later stage of life.

Let us look at the causes, and options provided by the dentist for tooth replacement and why replacing lost teeth is important.

Why Do Teeth Fall Out?

There are many reasons why a tooth may fall out. It can be age-related and, for young adults, the reason for the same may revolve around gum disease, injury, or tooth decay. Let us look into this further:

Gum Disease

Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a serious issue where the soft tissue of the gum is damaged due to infection, and it can even damage the underlying bones if not treated at the right time. It can be the reason for the loosening of teeth or even the fall out of teeth. It is a very common issue and can be efficiently treated. Gum disease is primarily caused by poor oral hygiene. You may also find this interesting: Best 9 Practices For Healthy Teeth and Gums.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is damage to the enamel or the tooth’s surface. The bacteria that breed in the mouth due to poor oral hygiene start producing acids that are not good for the enamel. It leads to cavities or holes in the teeth and causes pain, infection, and even tooth loss.

Read to know: Common Symptoms of Tooth Decay

Injury

Dental injuries happen due to accidents or sports injuries. The majority of tooth injuries are where there is minor chipping off of the tooth. Injuries can also arise due to structural differences in the jaw bone. It is quite difficult for an injury to dislodge your teeth completely, but it is nevertheless a serious injury if it happens.

Why Should I Replace Missing Teeth?

Missing teeth can cause problems beyond just your smile. Here's why replacing them is important:

Each Tooth is Important

Losing a tooth hampers the self-confidence of a person to a great extent and that’s why replacing lost teeth is important. The visual appeal of a full-set smile helps in encouraging a person’s social, professional, and emotional requirements.

To Maintain an Even Bite

For an even bite, there is a need for the proper upper crust and lower parts of the teeth to align correctly. When there is a missing tooth, other teeth scoot and shift to fill in the space left by the missing tooth, which leads to a complete misalignment of the mouth. This leads to uneven bites, which can significantly affect the jaw bone structure and overall oral health in the long run. Uneven bites and movement can also cause impending headaches and migraines. It can also lead to a change in the entire facial profile.

Retain the Function

Smiling is not the only use for teeth. Other functions include chewing food, speaking, and so on. When there is a missing tooth, it impedes and has detrimental effects on the overall health of the patient. The air flows through the gap caused by the missing tooth, which makes it difficult to carry on conversations and speech. It can eventually also lead to permanent speech impairment.

To Prevent Overgrowth of Opposing Teeth

One of the reasons why replacing lost teeth is important is it prevents the overgrowth of opposite teeth. Existing teeth are misaligned and shifted to fill in the space left by adjacent teeth. It may also happen when the upper tooth grows longer in order to fill in the space of the missing tooth right below or opposite it. When there is the absence of the opposite tooth, there is no opposing force that stops the upper tooth from growing. Replacing the tooth will stop such advancements and help maintain a steady structure just like the normal tooth structure.

To Prevent Bone Loss

When the tooth is lost, the jaw bone is no longer stimulated with the chewing motion, and once that stops, the tissue will be absorbed by the body and used elsewhere. This is known as resorption. This will lead to a change in the entire facial structure. To avoid this, it is important to seek the help of an orthodontist and get yourself good dental implants. This will help prevent bone loss.

Dental Replacement Options Your Doctor May Recommend

It is essential to choose the right tooth replacement procedure. Some of the options are:

Dental Implants: These are the most popular solutions against fallen teeth. They are the best option for dentures and bridges. It will give you a natural look and is often suggested for people who are looking to replace tooth loss. It’s a small titanium post that is fixed onto the bone socket of the missing tooth. Gradually the jaw bone gets adjusted to the fixture.

Fixed Bridges: It is suggested that you choose dental bridges when there are multiple replacements of teeth. They are also used above dental implants to make the healing process faster.

Full dentures: this a complete dental procedure where both the upper jaw and lower jaw teeth are removed and replaced with complete dentures. It might take some time to get used to it and it also needs to be taken care of in the first few weeks.

Read to know: Benefits of Fixed Dentures over Removable Dentures

Cosmetic dentures: This term refers to the full range of dental procedures. This includes dental procedures needed to reshape the patient’s teeth, improve their smile, and correct any flaws. It is done to bring back the visual and aesthetic appeal of the smile.

you can check out this article on Things to Consider When Choosing a Cosmetic Dentist.

To know more and book an appointment, Do contact us now.