As dental health care has advanced over the centuries, people have realized that tooth loss isn’t something that has to be inevitable. In fact, with proper care and maintenance (and appropriate dental treatment, when necessary), most people have an excellent chance of avoiding tooth loss altogether. However, it still remains a problem for a majority of people, and at our El Paso, TX, dental office, helping patients recover from tooth loss is one of the more important personalized services we offer. That includes educating patients about the importance of addressing their tooth loss as soon as possible, and how to reduce their risks of losing more teeth in the future.
Why replacing it matters
Not every lost tooth is obvious, especially if it occurs towards the back of your bite. When it isn’t noticeable, you might wonder if replacing it is really important. As long as no one sees it, does it really matter? The truth is, it does matter a great deal, especially to your long-term oral health. The loss of a tooth affects much more than your smile’s appearance, it also takes away from the support system that the rest of your teeth rely on. It also means that your jawbone won’t receive as many nutrients; without the tooth’s root, the stimulation in your jaw is diminished every time you bite and chew.
How it affects your other teeth
In addition to diminished jawbone stimulation, which can cause your jawbone to shrink over time, tooth loss also has a direct impact on the stability and integrity of your remaining natural teeth. The gap in their ranks will cause your remaining teeth to shift as they try to take up the slack in your bite. This shifting can make them more susceptible to damage from excessive bite pressure, infection from harmful oral bacteria, and increasingly worse bite balance. The more your teeth shift, the greater the cosmetic impact your lost tooth will have, as well.
The best way to replace the tooth
When it comes to replacing a lost tooth, the best solution is the one that not only restores your smile and your bite’s function, but also addresses a maximum amount of the complications resulting from tooth loss. In many cases, dental implants provide that optimal solution. With a custom-designed restoration to fill out the visible portion of your smile and one or more posts to replace your lost teeth roots, dental implants offer the most lifelike prosthetic option for avoiding the many consequences of lost teeth.
Schedule a visit if you’ve lost a tooth
The problems of tooth loss might seem obvious, but it can have more consequences than you immediately realize. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We also have offices in Chaparral, Canutillo, and Vinton so we can easily serve patients throughout all surrounding communities.