Teeth can fall out because of serious decay, trauma, or gum disease. Sometimes, teeth may be removed to alleviate painful symptoms, control an infection, and protect the surrounding teeth from damage. When a tooth falls out or has been extracted, it leaves behind an empty tooth socket.
At this point, you may be wondering if you need dental implants in Hollywood, FL, or another tooth replacement option. You may also choose to let the site heal and not take further action. But replacing a missing tooth is necessary for your oral health. Indeed, here are reasons you should not leave a missing tooth unreplaced:
Prevent Bone Loss
Once you lose a tooth, your jawbone also loses stimulation from the force of chewing. Eventually, this leads to your body absorbing the jawbone tissue and using it elsewhere. This process is called resorption, which starts around 6 months following a tooth loss. Bone loss can lead to a change in facial shape over time. You can prevent this by replacing your missing tooth with an implant. A dental implant is the only restoration option that can prevent bone loss. It is surgically placed into your jawbone and acts like the root of a tooth.
Maintain an Even Bite
To keep your bite even, your lower and upper teeth arcs must be complete. If you have a missing tooth, there is a gap between your teeth. Eventually, this will result in the remaining teeth shifting towards the gap. When this happens, you can experience a serious misalignment. An uneven bite leads to different issues that impact your teeth and jaw. By replacing a missing tooth, you get rid of the gap and prevent the shifting of your teeth, preserving your bite.
Prevent Opposing Teeth from Overgrowing
Because of the gap left behind by a missing tooth, the opposing teeth may also shift. For instance, if you lose a bottom tooth, the tooth above this tooth may grow longer in order to fill the opposing gap. Often, this happens because the missing tooth allows the opposing force to keep the opposing tooth’s growth. By replacing the missing tooth, the opposing tooth is exposed to the fake tooth’s force.
Retain Function
Apart from smiling, your teeth allow you to bite, grind food, and speak. But all of your teeth must be present to perform these functions optimally. If you lose a tooth, this impacts your ability to bite and chew some foods. Also, the gap changes how air flows when you speak and can change how you speak.
Restore Your Smile
A missing tooth can force you to hide your smile. Without a complete set of teeth, your smile won’t be perfect. Replacing the missing tooth can restore your bright smile. Keep in mind that having a beautiful smile has a lot of emotional, social, and professional benefits. A complete smile offers a sense of assurance and self-confidence that can benefit your work performance, relationships, and success.
Prevent TMJ Disorder
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the muscles located on your head’s side. They help with chewing and rotating the jaw. Changes to the TMJ and the entire system they are linked with can lead to physical pain. A change that can result in TMJ disorder is missing a tooth and not replacing it. While a dentist can diagnose and treat this disorder, prevention is the best treatment.
Overall, replacing a missing tooth is essential to maintain the function and look of your smile. You can avoid severe dental problems and preserve your oral functioning. Getting an implant to replace your missing tooth can prevent bone loss, preserving the structure of your face.
