When missing teeth can have an impact on your oral health and day-to-day life, explore the importance of replacing lost teeth.

Losing teeth in adulthood is more common than many people realize. As you age, you become more susceptible to tooth loss, even with regular care. Of individuals over the age of 65, 17% (1 in 6) have lost every single one of their teeth!

It's perfectly normal to be missing teeth at some point in your life, but what do you do once you lose one? Do you immediately get a tooth replacement, or do you take the "comfortable in my own skin" approach and sit tight?

Before you take the second option, you need to understand that replacing lost teeth helps more than just your appearance. If you're weighing the options after losing a tooth, we'll explain how getting a replacement can benefit not only your social health but your physical health as well.

For information about the tooth replacement process, call your local dentist in Corning, NY with any questions.

The Importance of Replacing Lost Teeth

Missing teeth do more than open gaps in your mouth. They may not seem like they do much when you're not eating, but your teeth are constantly working to manage the structure of your mouth. When you lose a tooth, your jaw, gums, and other teeth no longer have a valuable helper in the ongoing effort for good dental health.

As a gap opens up after losing a tooth, you may experience immediate pain that will usually dissipate over time. But even after you stop feeling constant discomfort, that missing tooth will continue taking a toll on your teeth alignment and jaw health.

Even though they're still planted in your jaw, the teeth surrounding the gap will start to shift and fill it in. That will eventually cause issues with your bite, as the top and bottom rows of teeth no longer line up. Meanwhile, the shifting teeth can loosen and expose themselves to damage, which could mean more missing teeth in the future.

Below the teeth, your jaw will feel the effects of a missing tooth as well. Your jaw needs constant stimulation to promote new cell growth and remain strong and healthy. When you lose a tooth, your jaw loses that stimulation, and it can start to wear down, losing mass and volume.

Between shifting teeth and jaw deterioration, there are plenty of mechanisms in place to prompt substantial negative health effects. Here are some of the significant drawbacks that make tooth replacement so vital.

Facial Shift

As your teeth and jaw start to change after missing a tooth, your overall facial structure will shift. Your mouth and cheeks may start to shrink or droop in certain places. The condition, called facial collapse, shortens your face and pushes out your chin, causing you to look much older.

Pain and Infection

Open holes created by missing teeth increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. The exposed gum allows bacteria to enter, leading to infection and inflammation that can spread to the rest of the gums and teeth.

Teeth movement creates further potential for disease and infection. Crowded teeth can make it harder to keep your teeth clean. Leaning, overlapping, and tight teeth are difficult to floss, and they open more access points in the gums for bacteria to invade as they move around.

While sensitivity is common right after losing a tooth, shifting teeth can make you experience recurring pain. Tooth replacement might be necessary to avoid jaw pain or radiating stress that causes neck discomfort and chronic headaches.

Dietary Restrictions

Missing, loosened, and misaligned teeth will cause issues with your bite. You may lose some of your ability to chew as a result. Your teeth won't have the support to handle the normal bite force, so you may have to cut out some of your favorite foods.

Bruxism and TMJ Disorder

A misaligned bite from missing teeth can cause bruxism, an involuntary grinding of the teeth. Constant grinding will wear down the protective enamel of your teeth, causing pain and sensitivity. You may also end up with inflamed gums and loose or fractured teeth.

Bruxism can later lead to issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the hinge that opens and closes your mouth. Teeth grinding stresses the joint, leading to various TMJ disorders that cause jaw pain, limited mouth movement, and referred pain such as migraines and backaches.

Speech Trouble

Teeth play an important part in speech, working alongside our tongue and lips to help us form particular letter sounds. Gaps between teeth and a crooked bite can cause several speech problems, including:

Slurring words
Lisps
Whistling
Spitting while speaking

Replacing missing teeth will help you regain clear speech, especially on words where the tongue makes contact with the teeth.

Depression

Even before the physical side effects start to pop up, the mental and social effects can make you suffer as soon as you lose a tooth. Many people with a gap in their teeth think it's unsightly, and it doesn't take much for them to become self-conscious about it. You may find yourself smiling less after losing a tooth, and your self-esteem can take a hit as you start to focus on it during everyday interactions.

The discomfort and cosmetics of a missing tooth can severely dampen anyone's mood, and it will only get worse as later speech problems spur more reasons to lose confidence. If you don't fix missing teeth, worsening self-image issues can lead to depression.

Visit Your Dentist in Corning, NY to Discuss Tooth Replacement

Replacing lost teeth may seem like a hassle, and it can even be scary if you're concerned about dental procedures. But avoiding the talk with your dentist can set you up for serious issues down the line, even if you are comfortable with the look of a missing tooth. By understanding your options and taking steps to fix missing teeth, you can help lead a happier, healthier, and pain-free life.

Are you ready to discuss tooth replacement options with your dentist? Talk to the dentist Corning, NY families trust to handle their dental needs. Contact our team at Finger Lakes Family Dental to learn how we can help restore your smile.

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