Particularly if it’s just a single missing tooth, you may feel like it isn’t important to get it replaced. But there are many reasons why you should replace a missing tooth. At Premier Dentistry at Millennium Park, we highlight reasons why you should replace missing teeth and offer options to replace them, like Chicago, IL dental implants.
Why Replacing Missing Teeth is Crucial
Even one missing tooth can cause cosmetic and health problems. When a tooth goes missing, the jawbone in the area starts to deteriorate. You can lose up to 25% of your supporting bone structure in the first year of a missing tooth. The appearance of facial sagging sets in, even if only one tooth is gone. Because of the deterioration and the hole that’s left from the tooth, the rest of your teeth try to fill the space that’s left, causing odd gaps and crooked teeth.
Depending on where the teeth are missing in your mouth, you may develop issues with eating or speaking. This can impact your social life and make it harder for you to do everyday tasks. When you have a hole where teeth are missing, it’s natural for you to want to try and hide it or cover it up.
When you’re missing teeth, you’re more likely to develop other oral health problems. One missing tooth is more likely to cause more missing teeth. The other teeth in your mouth are more vulnerable to things like tooth decay and gum disease. The remaining teeth in your mouth have to pick up the slack of teeth that are missing. They take on wear and tear faster and can be more likely to crack or break.
Losing teeth also impacts your bite. A misaligned bite impacts how the teeth come together and puts more pressure on the jaw joints and facial muscles. This can lead to painful TMJ disorders. TMJ issues can cause headaches, pain, and tension throughout the face, neck, and even down into the shoulders. Your jaw can become hard to open and close, as well as pop or click.
Tooth Replacement Options
Luckily, our office offers multiple methods of replacing missing teeth. In particular, we recommend dental implants. They’re often considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. Titanium posts are placed in the jawbone and can support a variety of restoration options. Depending on the number of missing teeth, you can choose a dental crown, fixed bridge, or fixed denture.
Dental implants are the only option that replaces the tooth root. This stops further jawbone deterioration and can help to reverse some of the damage that’s already occurred. Implants give you back the look and feel of natural teeth as well, with no extra maintenance. You just have to brush, floss, and visit the dentist regularly.
But implants aren’t the only option. A dental bridge can replace one or more missing teeth, using natural teeth to support it. Dentures and partial dentures are available as well. Removable dentures are most known as an option to replace a full arch of missing teeth. However, a partial denture can replace fewer missing teeth.
Chicago, Illinois Dental Implants and Tooth Replacement
Replacing missing teeth is important for your oral health. Call us or schedule an appointment online to get started.