When you lose a tooth, you may feel embarrassed about the gap in your smile, but is this really cause for concern? The fact is, many people put off addressing minor tooth loss, and as a result, the issue could grow worse and lead to serious problems for your oral health! In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist discusses the dangers of tooth loss, and how we help with dental implants.
The Dangers of Losing a Tooth
When you lose a tooth, this means there is now an exposed space in your smile. This empty space could lead to surrounding teeth drifting from position, causing misalignment and impacting your oral health further. Missing teeth could also impact your bite’s balance, leading to a greater risk of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). The body also takes notes of a lost tooth root, and no longer provides the surrounding jawbone with regular doses of calcium and phosphorus. Without these nutrients, the bone tissue itself begins to break down, leading to further tooth loss and an older appearance.
Complications Over Time
Not only does misalignment lead to a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease, but the loss of jawbone tissue means further tooth loss. The more teeth you lose, the greater the likelihood of complications eating and speaking, which impacts your social life, quality of life, and even your nutritional intake, as you could be forced to rely mainly on soft foods. To avoid these complications, you need to seek treatment for your missing teeth!
Addressing the Gap with Implant Dentistry
Our team can replace individual missing teeth with a dental implant, which involves inserting a new biocompatible titanium root into the jawbone. It bonds with the jawbone to act as a new root, stimulating the growth of bone tissue to prevent the additional loss of teeth or an aged appearance. If you have several missing teeth, then multiple dental implants could support a bridge, partial, or full denture. If you’ve lost jawbone tissue, then we have mini dental implants that require less tissue to support. We also have same-day placement, in which we complete the entire process in one visit and you leave with a full and beautiful smile. If you have any questions about tooth loss or about retiring your smile’s function, health, and beauty with implant dentistry, then contact our team today.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATING TOOTH LOSS?
We don’t want the loss of natural teeth to negatively impact your overall quality of life and oral health. To learn more about the process of placing and restoring dental implants then call James Stewart, DDS, dental implant office in Livonia, MI, at (734) 425-4400. We also serve the residents of Farmington, Plymouth, Dearborn Heights, and all surrounding communities.