Everyone knows that missing teeth can impact your smile, make you uncomfortable in photos, and sometimes even affect the way you speak or eat. However, if you've been missing teeth for a long time, there are risks you should be aware of aside from cosmetic problems. You may want to consider getting dental implants in Broomall or the other solutions available to manage the following side effects of missing teeth.
Many people don't realize this, but having missing teeth can actually lead to bone loss in your jaw. The supporting bone that anchored your tooth wastes away, atrophies, because it it no longer stimulated by a tooth being there in function.
Bone loss can put you at an even greater risk for losing more teeth in the future. Your teeth depend on one another to stay in alignment, and when one is missing, the others shift, tilt, and weaken. Finally, the entire appearance of your face can be affected as your cheeks lose the support of the jawbone to maintain their shape.
Advanced gum disease, periodontitis, is one of the main reasons that people lose their teeth consequence of missing teeth It is usually painless and so often goes unnoticed by you. It causes loss of the bone that holds the tooth in place and is the main reason for bad breath as well. Learn more about gum disease treatment.
A full set of teeth in proper alignment is responsible for your ability to speak clearly as well as your ability to chew properly. Certain sounds like the “s” “f” “t” and “d” sounds depend on the relationship of your teeth to your tongue lips and the airstream from your lungs that makes speech even possible.
Of course, if you don’t have a full set of teeth that mesh properly you cannot chew well and you overtax the other parts of your chewing system—muscles and jaw joints. This leads to excessive wear, TMJ problems and other issues. There may even be foods that you avoid because you can’t chew them!
Your complete examination with Dr. White will help you to open the conversation about replacement methods which could include dental implants, crowns and bridges or dentures.
Call us today or schedule an appointment, and let Dr. White restore your smile.
