You might not think that having a missing tooth would be such a huge problem, but there are actually a few reasons as to why you should take the necessary steps to have them replaced. There are several ways in which this can be done, with this most popular option being either dental bridges or dental implants.

Both of the aforementioned treatments are available from us here at Quorn Dental Practice & Implant Clinic. These are highly-effective treatment options that also provide sterling results every single time, and there are many reasons as to why you should undertake such dental treatment, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Remaining teeth can move, shift & become loose

Without any other teeth nearby to keep them in place, your existing, in-tact teeth will start to shift and move on their own. Although this will happen gradually, you will likely notice a difference in just one or two years of having a missing tooth. This is especially an issue if you are missing a tooth that sits directly in between your existing ones.

If your teeth start to move, they will lose their chewing functionality, causing food to settle in the gaps that have been created. As a result, and because the gaps have become harder to access and clean, any food that remains trapped there could cause cavities and tooth rot, leading to further tooth loss.

In addition to this, teeth could become loose if neighbouring teeth are missing. This is because the jaw becomes more weak and, therefore, less able to accommodate the root. To mitigate this, replace your missing teeth with a dental implant for maximum effectiveness and to ensure the jawbone remains strong and study.

2. It can cause your face shape to change

This is more the case if you have more than one tooth missing. Generally, those who are missing several teeth, or whole rows of teeth, will experience a change in face shape. This could be anything from sunken cheeks to an inclined droop of the muscles around several facial features, including, even, the eye sockets.

This can cause one to look older than they are, or it could change your appearance altogether, depending on the severity of your individual case. By replacing the teeth that are missing, either with dentures, dental implants or dental bridges, you will be able to restore your facial structure back to its natural appearance, such as that when you still had all of your teeth.

3. It could weaken your jawbone

We have already touched on the issue of a weak jawbone, but why does tooth loss cause a weakened jawbone? The jaw will become stronger, or maintain its strength, with the action of chewing. If one tooth is missing, then this might not be such a huge problem for you. However, if you have more than one tooth missing, then whole sections of the jawbone could become weakened as a result of a lack of chewing action.

A weakened jawbone as a result of tooth loss is also referred to as resorption, and it often starts to occur around six months after the tooth, or teeth, have been lost. Despite there being other options available to replace missing teeth, the only thing that will strengthen the jawbone and prevent the weakening of it would be the installation of dental implants alone.

4. It will start to affect your appearance

We have briefly touched on this with regards to how missing teeth can affect your appearance, but where it can cause your face to appear sunken, there are other issues with missing teeth and aesthetics. If your teeth are missing from the front, then it can affect your appearance quite obviously.

This is when people will struggle to find the confidence to smile, eat or even talk when they have a tooth (or teeth) that is missing. Dental implant treatment is the only effective way of replacing a singular tooth that is missing, especially when it’s situated at the front of the mouth. On the other hand, dental implants can be used to replace more than one tooth if your budget allows for it.

5. It might make eating more difficult

Missing teeth can make chewing far more difficult. Not only will it take you much longer to eat meals, but food can become trapped in the gaps that have been formed as a result. This could irritate the gums, cause tooth rot and even result in gum disease if you do not change your dental hygiene routine to match your situation.

For example, you will need to spend more time flossing to be able to remove food particles, together with using mouthwash twice a day, both in the morning and at night, as well as after meals.

Another issue with missing teeth and eating food is the fact that it could affect your digestive system over time, especially if you are struggling to chew. You will be swallowing large chunks of food that the body will find more difficult to digest, thus causing your digestive issues, potentially. This is just another reason to seek treatment for missing teeth.

6. Remaining teeth will experience more wear, causing them to deteriorate quicker

You will no longer experience even wear across your teeth if some of them are missing. Your existing teeth will experience far more wear and tear which will, in turn, cause them to deteriorate far quicker than they would have done should you have all of your teeth. To keep your remaining natural teeth in good condition for as long as possible, you should seek dental treatments for missing teeth in order to spread the wear and tear more evenly.

7. It enables complete tooth function

If you replace the teeth that are missing, either using dentures, dental implants, dental bridges or other dental treatments, you will be restoring complete tooth function throughout the mouth. This means that you will be able to eat, laugh, smile and talk again with complete and restored confidence. Essentially, all of the issues you have been experiencing as a result of missing teeth will be rectified.

Quorn Dental Practice & Implant Clinic is pleased to provide patients throughout Loughborough with dental implants, dental bridges, crowns and other dental treatments that will rectify the issue of missing teeth. We will strive to provide you with effective treatment options that will suit your lifestyle, enabling you to eat, smile, talk and laugh again with complete confidence. For further information about how we can help you today, get in touch with a member of our professional, dedicated team – we are always pleased to hear from you.