Replacing Missing Teeth: The Benefits
It can feel embarrassing to lose permanent teeth, and afterward, a patient may question whether it’s worth the time and cost to restore them. Patients who opt for tooth replacement receive important oral health and overall wellness benefits.
Maintaining Self-Esteem
Adults can lose permanent teeth for any number of reasons, including:
- poor oral hygiene
- gum disease
- trauma from an auto accident
- a sports injury
It’s common and nothing to be embarrassed about. But we do understand that losing a tooth can have a significant aesthetic impact, especially if it was a front tooth. If the tooth was in the back, the change might be only minor at first but later become a significant pain point.
Missing teeth can also affect speech, facial structure, self-esteem, oral health, and overall well-being. Here are a few examples:
- Front teeth, especially, are used to make a lot of specific sounds, like f- and th-. In jobs that require frequent interactions with coworkers and clients, speech impediments can also impede upward mobility. Struggling to be understood or repeating words over and over to say them correctly can lead to a lack of confidence when speaking, which can hinder communication.
- Teeth provide much-needed stimulation to maintain the jaw’s structure and shape. Without that stimulation, the jaw bone actually begins to shrink, increasing the size of an overbite and leading to prematurely sagging cheeks. Over time, many patients find themselves looking older than they actually are, and the early loss of their youthful looks further erodes their confidence.
- A shrinking jaw, gaps between teeth, and other aesthetic changes can combine to create a smile that many patients would prefer to hide. A confident smile is difficult to manage when missing teeth create significant cosmetic issues.
- All thirty-two teeth work together to keep the mouth functioning properly. If any teeth go missing, most people will start using only specific sections of their mouth, putting uneven stress and wear on their teeth and exposing them to further damage.
- Gaps in a smile aren’t just an aesthetic change either, as they leave room for the remaining teeth to shift. Even one missing tooth can lead to health problems that can end in additional tooth loss.
All Is Not Lost!
Fortunately, at Integrity Dental, we have solutions for patients missing one or more teeth. Restorative dentistry, including dental implants, bridges, and dentures, can be life changing. In fact, most of our patients admit they wish they had decided to replace their missing teeth sooner.
If you have a missing tooth or any other oral health concern, call Integrity Dental, located in Wellington, FL to schedule an appointment. No matter your age or the state of your oral health, we are here to help you reclaim your smile!
