The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

If you've lost one or more teeth, you might be wondering if replacing them is truly necessary. They aren't stopping you from eating, even if it is unpleasant and you have had to avoid certain foods. Unfortunately, even a single tooth loss can have far-reaching consequences beyond what you're currently experiencing. Luckily, dental implants in Decatur can help.

How Important Is It to Replace Missing Teeth? 

Replacing Missing Teeth: What Are Your Options?

It's unattractive to have a missing tooth. It can also be inconvenient or unpleasant to have a gap in your teeth. A missing tooth is not only unsightly, but it can even be dangerous to your oral health.

This is why, among other options, replacing the tooth with a dental implant, a dental bridge, or removable partial dentures is critical. Your dentist will discuss the best options available to you. It should never be an option to choose no replacement. Here are four reasons why restoring a lost tooth is so important for your oral health. 

TMJ disorder

Temporomandibular joints, or TMJ, are the muscles on the side of your head that help you chew and rotate your jaw. Changes to these muscles and the systems to which they are linked can cause a great deal of physical discomfort. The loss of a tooth and the failure to replace it is one alteration that might cause a TMJ condition.

Shifting and Lose Teeth

When your teeth are arranged in a neat row in your mouth, they can keep each other aligned and stable. If you are missing a tooth, however, you run the risk of your teeth shifting. A change in your bite, as well as gum disease and dental decay, can result from teeth drifting out of place.

Your Face Could Change Its Shape

Even the loss of a back tooth can cause your mouth to shift, making your face appear older. Losing a tooth can cause bone deterioration and muscle drooping over time because every part of your face is connected. Replacing the missing tooth helps to keep the others in place, so your face does not change dramatically.

Missing Teeth and Mental Health

We’ve all been there to know how difficult it is to chew with a gap in your grin if you've ever lost a tooth. While this pain may be overlooked for a while, it may become unbearable in the long run. And, while losing a tooth can be amusing as a child, it's not so much fun as an adult. 

Some people may notice that losing a tooth alters their speech patterns, leading to a loss of confidence. It may take some time to get used to your new tooth, but it's only temporary, and it's far preferable to the constant agony of a gap in your smile. Patients who have dental implants report that they not only look but also feel natural.

Options You Might Consider for Replacing Missing Teeth

While it's important to replace missing teeth, how you replace them is just as important. Removable partial or full dentures, for example, are frequently viewed as a temporary solution that may help accelerate jawbone loss.

Dentures are not long-term dependable because they are held in place by natural suction and pastes or adhesives.

Dental bridges are a typical solution for missing teeth, whether one or multiple. However, they require healthy surrounding teeth and will need to be replaced in a few years. Food debris and bacterial plaque can build beneath bridges, compromising the health of the abutment teeth that hold the restoration in place.

How Dental Implants Can Aid in the Development of a Better Smile

Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that can restore both the function and appearance of your smile. Unlike dentures and bridges, dental implants are designed to last the rest of your life without needing to be repaired. 

The implant post, which is surgically inserted into your jawbone, will function similarly to a tooth root, stimulating and strengthening it. Dental implants can also be repaired with a custom-made dental crown, bridge, or full set of teeth. If you have one or more missing teeth, dental implants are usually the best option because they are the most durable.

The Dental Takeaway

In comparison to previous generations, today's dental technology is quite advanced, so if you have a missing tooth that needs to be replaced, your dentist will be the one to advise you on the best treatment option. The most important thing is to act quickly in order to keep your smile looking healthy and beautiful. The sooner you act, the sooner you'll be able to smile confidently once again.

Do You Want to Learn More About Dental Implants in Decatur?

It's necessary to see a qualified and experienced dentist who can provide you with a superior and dependable dental treatment. You can expect high-quality care when you visit the Texas Oral Surgery Group. Please contact us today!