Missing Teeth: More than Just a Gap in Your Smile
While it is true that the most obvious effect of missing teeth is a gap in your smile, missing teeth can cause other problems that you might not be immediately aware of. For example, did you know that for every missing tooth you have you lose 10 percent of your chewing ability? Read on to get a better idea of how a missing tooth can affect your life.
Surrounding Teeth
A missing tooth usually means more stress for the remaining teeth, and untreated gaps can lead to bone loss over time. In addition to that, if you are missing a tooth on the lower jaw, the opposing tooth on the top can grow longer to fill the gap in a process known as superuption or extrusion. This could lead to teeth tilting and move out of place by drifting into the space that was left by your missing tooth - a disaster for your beautiful smile!
Digestive Health
If you are missing teeth, you can’t enjoy all of the foods that you are used to eating - bad for your health and bad for your mood! Say goodbye to caramel apples, saltwater taffy, crunchy carrots and even gum. And because the variety in your diet is reduced when a tooth is missing, digestive problems are unfortunate yet common.
Decay and Hygiene Problems
The shifting of your teeth may cause new hygiene issues as it may be difficult to brush and floss like you normally would. This leaves your mouth more vulnerable to gum disease and tooth decay.
Facial Aesthetics
People with more than one missing tooth may also have issues with a collapsed bite which causes a loss of vertical dimension. This could make your face appear shorter, as the distance between the tip of your nose and your chin would decrease.
The good news is that you don’t have to suffer anymore! Dental implants can help you avoid all of the problems listed above and let you live your life normally again. It’s never too late for a dental implant, give us a call at Prosthetic Dentistry of202-244-2101 to find out about this life-changing procedure.
Related Patient Success Stories
Explore similar patient success stories demonstrating our expertise in advanced prosthetic dentistry.
Temporary Crowns Restore Patient's Smile in Just One Day with an Immediate Smile Makeover
A patient from Potomac, Maryland, came to Elite Prosthetic Dentistry with the chief complaint of pain from a failing dental implant and its significant impact on her appearance.
Multi-Faceted Treatment for Patient Unhappy With Her Artificial-Looking Crowns, Teeth and Gums
Many patients come to Elite Prosthetic Dentistry unhappy with the appearance of their smile. However, this particular patient presented with multiple interconnected problems that together created a smile she found deeply unsatisfying.
Treating Kevin’s Collapsed Bite with a Complete Smile Makeover with New Dentures
Dentures are sometimes not created to the ideal aesthetic and functional scheme. When improperly fabricated, dentures can make an individual appear almost a generation older than their actual age. They can have a poor fit that feels loose and unstable when eating or speaking, and they can actually accelerate bone loss over time.
Related Articles
Deepen your knowledge with additional insights on this topic.
Dental Implants If a Single Front Tooth is Replaced with an Implant, can it Look Natural?
A single front tooth implant can look completely natural with precision placement, custom abutments, and hand-crafted porcelain crowns. Washington, DC.
Dental Implants What is Precision Implant Placement (PIP)?
Learn what Precision Implant Placement (PIP) is and how meticulous planning ensures optimal implant positioning for long-lasting results in Washington, DC.
Dental Implants What is the ideal Surgical Guide for Precision Implant Placement?
CBCT-based surgical guides allow virtual implant planning for precise positioning in optimal bone, ensuring predictable results in Washington, DC.