If you look in your mirror and notice teeth missing here and there, you are not alone. Studies have found that an estimated 178 million Americans are missing one or more teeth. This article explains the dangers of not treating missing teeth and your permanent teeth replacement options. So, stay with us.

What Are the Causes of Missing Teeth?

You may lose your initial teeth as you age; the adult teeth will replace them. A wide range of conditions can cause tooth loss or raise the risk of it.

Genetics

Inherited malformation of your jawbone may prevent the appearance of your secondary teeth. This congenital tooth loss can occur in Hypodontia, Oligodontia, and Anodontia. The most common form of agenesis is hypodontia, in which one to five adult teeth never form. Oligodontia develops when six or more teeth are absent. In anodontia, there is a complete absence of a set of teeth.

Injury

Injuries and other kinds of trauma can lead to tooth loss. If you lose an entire tooth in this manner, immediate medical attention is required.

Gum Disease

Another reason for missing teeth is gum disease, which leads to pockets between gums and teeth. Your teeth and bones will decay due to this condition, leading to tooth loss.

What Happens When You Do Nothing About Missing Teeth?

You may have never thought that something as simple as your missing tooth can drive serious health issues, but it can by giving bacteria a chance to build up on your gums and travel to other parts of your body. You may experience diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, or heart disease. Here are just a few disadvantages of missing teeth:

Misaligned Teeth

When you lose a tooth, the neighboring teeth may drift, making it difficult to bite and chew. This condition can lead to unstable teeth and more loss.

Jaw Bone Loss

Jaw bone loss is one of the most critical consequences of tooth loss. The stimulation of chewing and biting helps with your jaw bone mass. When you have a missing tooth, the free space can no longer receive such stimulation, and the jaw bone begins to fade.

Chronic Headaches

When you have tooth loss, the remaining teeth lose their opposite neighbor to rest against and may start to cause damage to the gum. This condition, except for gum and facial pain, causes stress at the jaw joint and chronic headaches.

Altered Facial Features

When you have missing teeth, your face does not benefit from their support, so your facial features may become deformed. You may suffer from sunken cheeks and wrinkling skin around the mouth.

Inability to Talk Properly

A lack of teeth can make it difficult for people to pronounce specific words correctly. You may also sound weird while speaking.

Inadequate Nutrition

You cannot bite and chew appropriately without pain when you lose your teeth. You will have to eat less or consume only soft food. This prevents you from receiving the required nutrients and affects your overall health.

Sinus Expansion

If you lose one of your teeth from your back upper jaw, the sinus cavity above will expand and deteriorate the jaw bone. It would be best to pay attention to the consequences of ignoring your missing teeth, which can affect your appearance and threaten your health.

If You Are Not Convinced…Listen to the Professional

In this video, Dr. Maryam Horiyat, DDS., explains the dangers of not replacing your missing teeth:

What Are Teeth Replacement Options?

There are various ways to replace missing teeth, but these are the most popular types of teeth replacement:

Dentures

This method uses prosthetic devices that are customized to look like natural teeth. Traditional dentures are removable, but other dentures, such as Implant-Supported Dentures or All-on-4®, can be clasped or bonded onto teeth and implants.

Dental Bridges

This involves an artificial tooth held in place by the remaining teeth on either side of the missing tooth. Often made from porcelain, dental bridges are designed to blend in with your natural smile; however, the surrounding teeth must be prepared to act as anchor teeth. However, this irreversible procedure can be eliminated with a single tooth implant.

Dental Implants

Considered the best solutions for missing teeth, dental implants fuse with your jawbone to make a new root for the replacement denture, crown, or bridge. Dental implants feel, look, and work exactly like natural teeth, and boast more than a 95% success rate. Aria Dental offers Zirconia Metal-free implants. Our implants are placed with American-Board Certified Periodontist, not just a general dentist.

Misconceptions Surrounding the Process of Dental Implants

There are quite a few things that could be more accurate about the process of dental implants, which make the procedure seem more uncomfortable, expensive, and complicated than it is in reality. Here are the five most common misconceptions and why they are untrue.

The Procedure Is Uncomfortable, Awkward, and Painful

The dental implant procedure should not cause excessive or unbearable discomfort. The recovery process is also a relatively quick and painless transition.

The Procedure Is Not Affordable

It takes a little research, but you can find an affordable option without sacrificing the quality of your dental implant procedure.

Dental Implants Will Limit the Kinds of Foods I Can Eat

For dental implant procedures, these food limitations will not extend past a short recovery period. After this, patients can chew on any food they usually would with their natural teeth.

Dental Implants Look Bad

Dental implants can imitate the look and feel of natural teeth. You don’t have to compromise your appearance for functioning replacements at all.

Young People Don’t Get Dental Implants

Many young adult patients needed tooth replacements for various natural or unnatural causes and now enjoy dental implants as the perfect substitute.

Are You Ready for Your Teeth Replacement Now?

In this article, we discussed the dangers of missing teeth and teeth replacement options since the studies show a high rate of missing teeth in the U.S. We also discussed misconceptions about dental implants as we consider them the best substitute. Backed by decades of experience, our professional staff at Aria Dental offers personalized solutions for your oral problems. Contact us to find out more about how we perform holistic implant procedures.