The teeth in the back of the mouth are harder to floss and brush, which makes them more vulnerable to gum disease and tooth decay. While the loss of one of these teeth will have an adverse effect on a person’s chewing ability, many are hesitant to go through the effort of replacing a tooth that other people aren’t likely to see. Here’s how getting a denture, a dental bridge, or a dental implant can help preserve your oral and overall health.
How Can Tooth Loss Hurt My Oral Health?
During the chewing process, the teeth provide the jaw with the exercise it needs to stay healthy and strong. When a tooth is lost, this stimulation is lost with it, which will cause the bone structure that supported it to atrophy and recede. After tooth loss, the jawbone loses 25% of its width over the first year and 40% by the third year. As the bone structure diminishes, it can pull the neighboring teeth out of alignment, which makes them harder to clean, easier to injure, and more likely to be lost later.
To make matters worse, tooth loss increases the burden of chewing for the remaining teeth. The teeth are arranged in such a way that distributes the force of chewing more or less evenly among them. When a tooth is lost, the pressure it absorbed during chewing is shifted to the other teeth, causing them to endure more strain that can injure them over time.
How Can Tooth Loss Affect My Overall Health?
Since the molars and premolars in the back of your mouth play a crucial role in the chewing process, losing them can take a significant toll on your overall health. Loss of chewing ability can limit the variety of foods you can consume and how well you can chew them, which leads many people with missing teeth to deal with malnutrition or indigestion. Over time, failing to get enough of the nutrients you need can adversely affect every part of your body.
How Can My Lost Teeth Be Replaced?
There are several ways to replace missing teeth. These include:
- Dental implants: Considered the ideal way to replace missing teeth, dental implants look and function just like the real thing. Since they are placed directly into the jawbone, they provide stimulation to the surrounding skeletal structure, preventing or reversing bone loss.
- Dental bridges: Popular for replacing missing back teeth, dental bridges include one or several artificial teeth supported by dental crowns placed on the natural teeth on either side of the gap.
- Partial dentures: These appliances include an acrylic base attached to one or several artificial teeth that fill the gaps in the wearer’s smile.
Procrastinating about replacing missing teeth will only allow the problems caused by tooth loss to get worse. Consulting with your dentist can determine which tooth replacement method is right for you.
About the Practice
DentaCrafters offers the finest comprehensive dental care available in Falls Church, VA. Led by Drs. Nada Elsadig and Lan Duckett, the staff ensures that each patient receives personalized care according to their needs and preferences. Areas of expertise include general, cosmetic, emergency, and restorative dentistry such as partial dentures, dental implants, and dental bridges. To learn more about tooth replacement, contact the office online or dial (703) 241-5775.