110 What Happens if You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth

What Happens if You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?

If you have a missing tooth or teeth, you know how unpleasant it is. No one likes a gap in their smile, and it can make doing certain things like chewing uncomfortable. While these are real issues, the problems won’t stop there if missing teeth aren’t replaced.

What Happens if You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?
If you opt to not have a missing tooth or teeth replaced after they have been knocked out, have fallen out, or have been extracted, you’ll open yourself up to a variety of oral health problems that can be quite severe. Over time, they can cause permanent damage and expensive procedures to mitigate. Below are a few issues you will likely experience if you don’t replace a missing tooth or teeth:
* Oral health issues. When you have a missing tooth or teeth, your healthy teeth surrounding the area will start to move. A lot of people don’t realize our teeth help to hold each other in place. Over time, your teeth will migrate. This will lead to crooked teeth, crowding, and impacting of other teeth. It will also make it a lot more difficult to brush and floss. If your teeth are crowed, for instance, it may be impossible to get between them to floss. This eventually will cause tooth decay and gum disease.
* Problem with biting and chewing. Having a missing tooth or teeth makes it a lot more difficult to bite and chew. This is especially the case when they start to migrate.
* Teeth loss. There is a significantly high chance that you will continue to lose teeth if you don’t have a missing tooth or teeth replaced. If you get periodontitis, your teeth may become loose and fall out. If you get severe tooth decay, your teeth may become damaged to the point where they need to be extracted.
* Bone loss. Your teeth and jawbone have a close relationship. A lot of people don’t know this. If you have missing teeth, your jawbone will start to deteriorate in that area. You need to have a missing tooth or teeth replaced to ensure the structure of your jawbone.
* Lower self-esteem. No one likes smiling in the mirror only to see gaps in their teeth. Having a missing tooth or teeth can lower self-esteem and can affect your overall mood.

Teeth Replacement Options
Not that you have a better understanding of why you’ll want to replace your missing tooth or teeth, you will need to consider which teeth replacement option is best for you. Some of the options that may be available include:
* Full dentures
* Implant bridges
* Single dental implants
* Implant-supported dentures
* And more
In order to determine which is the right teeth replacement option to meet your specific needs, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your dentist. They will take a look at your teeth, gums, and jawbone to see which options are available to you. From there, you can discuss costs, insurance, and other factors.