Missing More Than Just A Tooth

So much education about dental health focuses on preventing tooth loss, but far fewer resources seem to be available about what to do after tooth loss. What are the actual consequences of tooth loss, and what can you do to mitigate them?

Keep reading to learn more!

The Health & Aesthetic Consequences of Tooth Loss

Losing what are supposed to be permanent teeth has a variety of effects on your health and appearance. These consequences aren’t mutually exclusive either, as some changes which may seem purely aesthetic can actually exacerbate the health changes.

• After losing a tooth, the support and stimulation your jaw relies on to keep its shape is weakened. This will eventually cause your jaw to shrink, altering your facial structure.
• The space a lost tooth leaves behind is also room for your remaining teeth to shift out of alignment, resulting in looser, crooked teeth. 
• The gap where a tooth used to be exposes very sensitive gum tissue, which means you’ll naturally avoid using that side of your mouth when chewing. That also means you’ll be putting uneven strain on your teeth, wearing the favored side sooner than expected.
• Newly exposed gums are at a higher risk for gum disease, and gum disease can further lead to decay of remaining teeth.
• Front teeth shifting out of alignment or going missing can cause significant impediments to your speech. The front teeth are integral to pronouncing many consonant sounds. Try saying, “This is my thirty-first violin lesson,” without letting either your tongue or lips touch your front teeth.

All Is Not Lost!

As you can see, there are a lot of long-term consequences to losing teeth, but thankfully, restorative dentistry can minimize these effects. With options such as dental implants, bridges, and partial dentures, we can find a solution just for you that restores your smile and improves your oral health. 

You deserve a beautiful, healthy smile, and we want to make sure you have one. If you’re ready to restore your smile, give us a call at our office located in Chesterfield, MI, and we’ll be happy to schedule your first consultation.