06 Jan How Missing Teeth Can Affect Your Oral Health
Missing teeth has far-reaching effects on your oral health. This is why it is important to evaluate your treatment options and choose one that meets your needs. For many people, the best treatment for tooth loss is dental implants. These durable prosthetics provide a lifelike tooth replacement that improves both one’s oral function and their appearance.
If dental implants interest you, we recommend scheduling a consultation with our oral surgeon to determine if you’re a candidate for this treatment option.
Following is helpful information on how tooth loss affects your oral health and wellbeing.
Lesser-Known Effects of Tooth Loss
While it might be obvious that missing teeth can affect your self-esteem and your ability to eat, there are number of lesser-known consequences to tooth loss.
One common concern with tooth loss is an increased risk for losing other teeth. Each tooth supports the tooth adjacent to it. Having an empty tooth socket can cause neighboring teeth to migrate out of position. Without proper support, teeth can collapse and even break.
Bone atrophy is another serious concern associated with missing teeth. Our jawbones are the foundation for our oral health system and provide substantial support to teeth. When the roots of teeth no longer keep bone active, the body will resorb it. Bone loss can affect the health of other teeth and contribute to improper bites (malocclusions).
The oral health system is intricate. One missing tooth can throw everything out of balance. Missing teeth means that the teeth that are still intact endure more force than they should during oral function. Excessive strain on existing teeth can cause accelerated tooth wear, which increases the risks for dental injuries and tooth decay.
Scheduling a Dental Implant Consultation
Choosing a tooth replacement method that suits your needs involves careful consideration. Since dental implants are the only treatment option that provides a structurally complete artificial tooth, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our oral surgeon. Our team can determine if you are a candidate for implant dentistry and develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Call Charlottesville Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center today to reserve an appointment.