Teeth can be lost for several reasons, with the most common causes being trauma, tooth decay, and gum disease. Some individuals may also be born without certain teeth due to genetic factors that run in families. If you’re considering the hassle and cost of getting a new tooth versus doing nothing, it’s essential to understand the potential health issues associated with missing teeth. The oral surgeons at Topeka Oral Surgery highlight several health problems that may arise if teeth are not replaced.
Health Problems Linked to Missing Teeth
Failing to replace missing teeth can lead to various health issues:
Difficulty Eating:
Missing teeth can make it challenging to chew certain foods, such as steak, raw fruits and vegetables, and nuts. This can result in an unbalanced diet, potentially leading to health problems like heart disease or anemia.
Misalignment of Other Teeth:
When a tooth is missing, surrounding teeth may shift into the gap over time. This shifting can lead to a crooked smile, jaw misalignment, bite issues, and even joint pain.
Headaches and Jaw Pain:
As teeth shift, they can misalign the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) that connect your jaw to your skull. This misalignment can cause headaches, jaw discomfort, and facial pain.
Increased Risk of Tooth Decay:
With shifting teeth, it becomes more challenging to clean all surfaces properly when brushing or flossing. This can lead to plaque buildup, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which may result in further tooth loss.
Changes in Face Shape:
Teeth support your jaw and stimulate bone growth. Even an artificial tooth helps maintain this structure. Without replacement, the jawbone can shrink, leading to a sunken appearance in the face.
Options for Tooth Replacement
We provide a range of tooth replacement options designed to meet your specific needs. With our emphasis on pain-free dentistry and our knowledge of sedation and anesthesia, you can expect a comfortable experience.
Popular tooth replacement options:
1. Dental Implants
Made of durable titanium posts inserted into the jaw, dental implants paired with natural-looking porcelain crowns provide a permanent solution for tooth replacement. They stimulate jawbone growth and feel like real teeth, making them suitable for replacing one or multiple teeth, or even a full arch, as long as there is enough healthy bone. It is impossible to get a cavity on a dental implant.
2. Dental Bridges
Traditional bridges consist of prepping the tooth in front and behind of the missing tooth. Then a three unit bridge is cemented on the both anchor teeths that were prepped. It is possible to get decay under the crowns which would lead to making a new bridge. This is commonly caused from routine wear and tear.
Need to Replace a Missing Tooth?
Contact us to explore the various tooth replacement options available at Topeka Oral Surgery. Whether you need a single tooth replaced, multiple teeth done in a single day, or bone and soft tissue grafting under anesthesia, our experienced oral surgeons and caring staff are here to help you achieve a lasting smile.
