Do You Know What Happens When You Lose A Tooth?
Missing teeth? If you are, then you’re probably missing a few other things like your natural smile, confidence and maybe even the ability to eat your favourite foods without discomfort.
Those with teeth missing often feel self-conscious about their appearance. Missing teeth could also lead to muscle strains, the inability to speak clearly and unease in social situations.
The effect of tooth loss varies from person to person and depends on what’s actually been lost. The crown of the tooth is the part that you normally see, but when the tooth root (the unseen part of the tooth) is gone, the bone around the lost tooth may gradually recede and the remaining teeth may shift, because the job of the root is to anchor the tooth in the jawbone, providing stability and support for the crown.
When more than one tooth is lost, the jawbone can shrink, giving the face a much older appearance. Moreover, the chewing efficiency can be impaired and over time, become even more difficult. While there are a number of ways to replace a tooth’s crown, a dental implant is the only way to replace (the root and the crown), or the entire tooth.
Implanted replacement teeth look, feel and function like natural teeth because they’re securely anchored to the jawbone. Since dental implants integrate into the structure of the bone, they help prevent the bone loss and gum recession that can accompany bridgework and/ or dentures.
Dental implants offer other benefits as well. They don’t sacrifice the quality of adjacent teeth like a bridge might because the neighbouring teeth aren’t altered in order to support an implant. Dental implants help make eating and speaking comfortable again. Misplaced dentures and messy pastes and adhesives will become a thing of the past for denture wearers.
Although initially more expensive than some other treatment options, dental implants are a wonderful long-term investment in dental health.
Most dental implants will last a lifetime with proper care. Over time, other treatment methods like bridgework and/ or dentures may require alterations, adjustments or outright replacement.
Replacing lost teeth restores self-esteem and confidence. Since each patient presents with unique conditions, it’s important to talk to the dentist about the treatment options that are best suited for you.
Yours for better dental health,
Dr. Russell Grover