Many adults either lose a tooth, or have to get one removed during adulthood. In fact, roughly 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth and around 40 million Americans are missing all of their teeth. Due to the effects of natural aging and certain lifestyle factors, tooth loss is more prevalent in older populations. It is estimated that around 30 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 years old do not have any of their natural teeth. While this mostly impacts older folks, young people are also susceptible to tooth loss, or even the need to get teeth removed. When you have lost a tooth or have one removed, getting a replacement is necessary. Below you will find information on what happens if you wait to replace a tooth.
What Happens If You Wait to Replace a Tooth?
Failure to replace a missing tooth can lead to a variety of issues. This is because your teeth are intended to all work together. The following are some of the common effects of failing to replace a tooth.
Speech Issues:
Because your teeth are meant to work together to speak, missing one or more teeth can cause issues with your speech. This may be in the form of a lisp or just overall difficulty with certain words.
Nutrition Issues:
Just like with your speech, eating requires your teeth to work together with your tongue to chew and fully process your food. If you are unable to adequately chew your food or can only eat certain foods, this could impact your nutritional health.
TMJ:
Because a missing tooth can change your bite alignment, your TMJ can be impacted. Your jaw will overcompensate in some capacity to deal with the change in alignment, which can swell and irritate your TMJ. This can also cause painful headaches.
Jaw Bone Deterioration:
This is one of the most impactful effects of failing to replace your tooth. The integrity and strength of your jawbone is vital in order for you to be a good candidate for dental implant treatment. When your tooth has been missing for some time, the bone can deteriorate. The jaw bone that anchors your teeth in is stimulated through the process of chewing. This wards off deterioration as the stimulation of your teeth draws in minerals to maintain the bone’s strength. Without the tooth present, the bone can deteriorate.
Treatment for A Missing Tooth
Dental implants are an effective treatment if you need to replace one or more teeth. Dental implants in Encino involve surgically mounting a metal post into your upper or lower jaw (depending on the location of the missing tooth). The replacement tooth is mounted to the post, which helps keep it in place. The metal post is essentially a permanent base for the replacement. The implant is a long-lasting treatment option that looks just like a natural tooth. In order to be a good candidate, it’s vital to have a strong jaw bone. This is why getting a replacement tooth as soon as possible can ensure that you have the opportunity for replacement via a dental implant.
Encino Cosmetic Dentist
Dr. Marian Yassa at Encino Family Dental has worked with families on their dental health for years. She has worked with patients who have a wide variety of dental issues, including tooth loss. Dr. Yassa and her team at Encino Family Dental are eager to help you get back to smiling with confidence again. They offer a wide variety of treatment options to address tooth loss, including dental implants. Contact the best Encino cosmetic dentist today for an appointment!
