What Your Lost Teeth Didn’t Tell You About Dental Implants
Most adults start out with a full set of 32 teeth. Whether due to injury, tooth decay, gum disease, or another oral health problem, many have lost at least one permanent tooth by age 45, and 25% of Americans over the age of 65 are missing all of their teeth. If you’ve lost a tooth (or several) to something other than the tooth fairy, read on to find out why it’s important to replace lost teeth and why dental implants are one of the best ways to restore your smile.
Why Replacing Lost Teeth Is Crucial
Many falsely believe that replacing missing teeth is purely a cosmetic practice. Often, people who are missing a molar that isn’t readily visible, assume there’s no reason to replace it. This belief, however, is a misconception. Sure, teeth missing toward the front of the mouth pose a cosmetic concern, but missing a tooth anywhere in your mouth can cause additional problems. For example, your back teeth are meant to bear most of the occlusal forces of your bite, if you are missing one or more back teeth, the remaining teeth not only shift around and alter the bite, but are forced to bear the same load (in other words the same bite force is distributed over fewer teeth. As a result, teeth are more susceptible to fracture and a ‘domino effect’ of tooth loss can begin.
Jaw Bone Degeneration
When you bite down, the pressure of your upper tooth on lower tooth stimulates and strengthens the section of jaw bone directly beneath or above those two teeth. When a tooth goes missing, the bone beneath the missing tooth no longer receives pressure. As a result, a person’s jaw bone will begin to degenerate and shrink directly below the empty space, or spaces, in the mouth where teeth are missing. This not only causes problems with a person’s bite alignment, but can also alter a person’s physical appearance.
Speech Problems
Although the tongue receives most of the credit, teeth also play an important role in speech and enunciation. Individuals who are missing teeth often have trouble speaking as clearly as they used to.
Difficulty Eating
Missing teeth can also lead to significant difficulty during mealtimes.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Thankfully, several methods for replacing lost teeth have been developed and, with modern dentistry, are incredibly effective at comfortably restoring full sets of teeth. Depending on each individual’s specific dental needs, teeth replacement treatments range from full dentures, partial dentures, and bridges to of course, dental implants.
A dental implant replaces a missing tooth’s root and acts as an anchor to hold a replacement tooth (crown) in place. They are typically installed during at least two separate appointments. Dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth, can replace one or several lost teeth, and are the most natural-feeling option for tooth replacement. Since implants are anchored in the jaw bone, unlike dentures and bridges, they prevent bone loss, and they never damage neighboring teeth.
Restore Your Smile — Schedule a Consultation with Cardinal Dental Today
If your mouth no longer holds a full set of teeth, we welcome you to schedule a smile restoration appointment at Cardinal Dental. Our dentist will work with you to determine the best treatment method to improve both the appearance and functionality of your teeth.
Click here to learn more about implants.
If you have any questions or schedule an appointment, contact us today.
