Missing teeth are more than a cosmetic problem. Yes, they can be embarrassing, but there are other problems that they can cause down the road. These issues are ones that many people do not think about when they choose to ignore the fact that they have one or more missing teeth, especially if they are in the back of the mouth where no one can see them. Understanding these problems may help you decide to look into your options for tooth replacement.
Chewing and Digestion Problems
You don’t realize the benefit of your posterior teeth until some of them are missing. Suddenly, chewing your favorite foods can be very difficult. Even foods that you would not think would require extensive chewing need the support of those teeth. Obvious foods, like steak, chicken, and pork need those teeth to properly chew them up. If you do not have them and end up swallowing the food less than chewed up, you could cause yourself digestive distress because your body processes food much better when it is properly chewed. This can cause a chain reaction with your physical health, making you feel ill and even undernourished as a result.
Smiling becomes Embarrassing
You might not think that missing rear teeth would cause embarrassment while smiling, but they do! The changes might not be immediately evident, but over time, if those teeth are not replaced, your remaining teeth will begin to shift to take over the area that is left without teeth. This means that your once straight smile can now become compromised. If your smile changes enough or your teeth become crooked, you could end up embarrassed over your smile.
Loss of Facial Structure
Have you ever seen an elderly person that has that sunken in look on their face that tells you immediately that they do not have any teeth? This occurs as a result of not replacing missing teeth. Those teeth once stimulated the jaw bone. Now that they are gone, there is no stimulation occurring to that area, which causes the bone to get resorbed by the body.
With shrinking bone come shrinking gums and a complete change in the structure of your face, especially if missing teeth were located on the bottom arch of your mouth. Now you could have crooked teeth as well a sunken in face, giving you a look that embarrasses you even further.
Missing teeth can age a person rather quickly, no matter how young or old they may be. If this is not something you want to deal with, it is important to talk about possible replacement options for your missing teeth right away. The quicker you act, the less damage that occurs. There are numerous replacement options including dental bridges if you have healthy teeth surrounding the missing teeth, as well as partial dentures and dental implants.
Every patient has a different reason for the missing teeth and will therefore be eligible for different types of replacements. In addition, if there are other oral health issues, such as gum disease, the illnesses will need to be treated before their replacement can occur. There are many factors that go into replacing missing teeth, but in the end, you will have a strong facial structure, be able to chew, enhance your digestive health and be able to smile without embarrassment!
If you are ready to take control of your smile, please call our office today. We will help you get on track with proper treatment and take the necessary steps to ensure that you can the tooth replacement option that is right for you!
