It is common knowledge that missing teeth can impair your smile, make you feel self-conscious while having your picture taken, and even influence how you talk or the food that you choose to consume.
However, if you have been missing teeth for a significant amount of time, there are concerns that you should be aware of in addition to the difficulties associated with your appearance.
The Dangers Inherent in Having a Tooth or Teeth Missing
In addition to the aesthetic issues, the following should be brought to your attention if you have been missing a tooth or teeth for an extended period and have not yet replaced them.
- Bone Loss
Your teeth are just as dependent on the health of your bones as the rest of your body is. Your teeth are better able to stay in place when your jaw bone is robust and solid.
It keeps them from moving around. When you chew your food, you help maintain the bone in your jaw by stimulating it and providing it with support. This is similar to how exercising helps you keep the muscle in your body.
If you are missing teeth, this may cause bone loss in your jaw. This is because the space left by the missing tooth does not have another tooth to make contact with, which helps to stimulate the bone. If you have bone loss in your jaw, it is important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible.
The jawbone in this area is going to deteriorate over time if you continue to have this empty space there. This will happen naturally. In addition, this might cause the teeth that are around the affected tooth to become more susceptible to decay.
- Increased Potential for Health Problems
If you have a missing tooth and wait too long to have it replaced, you increase your chances of developing gum disease. Gum disease is the culprit that may lead to many other significant health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and even cancer. Gum disease can potentially cause cancer.
How can an absent tooth contribute to the development of gum disease? Because the empty space that was formerly occupied by your natural tooth might now serve as an entry point for germs to penetrate your gums, which can lead to periodontal disease.
And ultimately, these bacteria will cause gum disease, which is an inflammation of your gums, which can result in loose teeth, loss of teeth, and even more bone loss. Gum disease may also be referred to as periodontitis. Want to schedule an emergency appointment? Our 24 hour emergency dentist cardiff at any time of the day.
- Raise The Likelihood That You May Lose Further Teeth
When you lose a tooth, it may have a domino effect on the health of the teeth that are next to the space left by the missing tooth.
Recent research indicates that your chance of losing further teeth is increased by thirty percent if you do not replace a tooth that has been lost. In case of an emergency, schedule a visit to our out-of-hours dentist in Cardiff.
- Make Your Teeth Seem As Crooked As Possible
When one of your teeth falls out, the teeth next to it may begin to move into the gap left by the missing tooth. Because of the lost tooth, the teeth that were previously aligned will become crooked as a result of this, which may present an additional cosmetic problem for your smile.
Additionally, it may cause problems with the cleanliness of your teeth as well. Because it is more difficult to efficiently floss when your teeth are closer together, this may lead to an increase in the number of sticky bacteria that builds up and develops on your teeth, which can result in gum disease.
- Issues Occurring with Your Bite
The way your teeth bite together may alter as they continue to move throughout time. And a bad bite may encourage bruxism, which is the habit of grinding one’s teeth, or even when this can lead to bruxism, which is the habit of grinding one’s teeth, or a jaw issue such as TMJ disease, bruxism can be a result.
These problems may cause damage to the enamel of your teeth, headaches from stress, sensitivity in your teeth, and other problems.
How to Address the Issue of Having Missing Teeth
It will come as good news to learn that there are various treatment options available that help restores the health and function of your mouth.
Dental Bridges
Bridges are dental prostheses that are supported by adjacent teeth and may be used to replace a single tooth or many teeth. They can be used in both restorative and aesthetic dental treatments. Both in appearance and performance, they are quite like your real teeth.
Dentures
Dentures are removable dental prosthetics that may be used to replace individual teeth, several teeth, or even a complete arch of teeth. Your dentist in cardiff will assess which kind of denture will work best for you based on your unique oral health needs.
They are an alternative for tooth replacement and gum loss that does not include any invasive procedures and is rather inexpensive.
Dental Implants
Implants consist of an anchor that is surgically implanted into your jaw bone and then covered with a crown to offer the most secure tooth restoration possible. Receiving implants requires that you have this procedure done.
Dental implants are designed to feel and look much like natural teeth, so with correct maintenance and care, they may last a lifetime. They also give a realistic experience for the patient.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, the effects of missing teeth extend well beyond the superficial appearance of your smile. They have an impact on your general health and have the potential to develop into more severe and expensive dental problems.
If you are missing a tooth and it has been some time after the loss, you may want to think about scheduling an appointment with us so that we can discuss potential tooth replacement alternatives with you, such as dental implants. Opt for the dentist in cardiff we have to offer if you experience sudden pain.
