Losing one or more teeth can be a stressful experience. Not only have you lost teeth, but you also have to look for restorative options. With all the stress, you may consider not getting a replacement option at all. However, this option can be just as damaging as losing a tooth. Missing teeth can have a significant impact on your oral health, as well as your overall well-being. 

There are several replacement options that your dentist can recommend to help avoid any negative effects. 

Negative Effects of Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can make it more difficult to chew your food properly, leading to digestive problems. If you cannot fully chew your food, it can make it difficult to digest fully. As a result, you can begin to experience nutrition deficiencies.  Additionally, missing teeth can affect your speech, causing you to slur your words or develop a lisp.

When you have a gap in your smile, the remaining teeth may shift out of place, causing misalignment and bite problems. Unfortunately, this can also increase your chances of losing more teeth. Additionally, gaps can also make it more difficult to clean your teeth properly, leading to further dental problems. 

Another problem with missing teeth lies with the bones that support your teeth. When a tooth is missing, the bone in that area of the jaw may begin to deteriorate over time. This can lead to further tooth loss and affect the overall structure of your jaw.

Missing teeth can increase your risk of developing gum disease. This is because gaps in your smile can make it easier for bacteria to build up and cause infection.

Finally, having missing teeth can create an emotional issue with your smile. Missing teeth can significantly impact your self-esteem and confidence, affecting your social life and even your career.

So, what can you do if you have missing teeth?

What are Your Replacement Options?

Fortunately, there are several options available for replacing missing teeth and restoring your smile. 

Dental implants are a popular option for replacing missing teeth. They involve placing a titanium post into the jawbone, which serves as a replacement root for the missing tooth. Your dentist attaches a crown or bridge to the post. This creates a natural-looking and functional replacement tooth.

A dental bridge is a prosthetic device that can replace one or more missing teeth. It involves attaching a replacement tooth or teeth to adjacent teeth and using dental crowns to anchor the bridge in place.

Another common replacement option is dentures. Dentures are removable prosthetic devices that can replace multiple missing teeth. They come in various types, including full and partial dentures. Additionally, your dentist can customize them to fit your mouth comfortably and securely.

In addition to these treatment options, practicing good oral hygiene and maintaining regular dental check-ups is important to prevent further dental problems. This can keep your teeth and gums healthy.