Have you lost a tooth and are wondering if you should replace it with a dental implant? Before you ask this question, it may be a good idea to consider a different question: what happens if I don’t replace my missing tooth at all? Learning about the consequences of tooth loss can help you make a better decision about how to replace a missing tooth. In most cases, dental implants are the best long-term solution for a missing tooth because they function and look just like real teeth.
What Happens After Tooth Loss?
Your oral structures—gum tissue, bone, and teeth—work together to give you an attractive smile and the function you need to bite and chew foods. If one of these structures is lost, such as a tooth, this directly affects the health and function of the remaining structures. Without a natural tooth, your bone and gum tissue at the site will resorb and shrink. This may not seem harmful, but over time this bone will cause surrounding teeth to sink and change your bite (occlusion). You may notice that your teeth are shifting out of place or you have started clenching and grinding your teeth. In the worst case, if this missing tooth shows when you smile or interferes with comfortable eating, it can cause additional feelings of self-consciousness and embarrassment.
How Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are made up of a titanium post that is surgically inserted into your jawbone, a dental crown, and a connecting abutment piece. The post will function just as a natural tooth root, providing necessary stimulation to the bone to keep it strong and healthy. The tooth crown is hand-crafted either by a restorative dentist or a skilled dental lab technician to be the proper color, shape, and size of your original tooth. The result is a new tooth that looks and functions naturally, that no one will be able to distinguish from your existing teeth! This dental implant will be strong enough to withstand the pressure of biting and chewing, in addition to not suffering decay or discoloration.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you have a missing tooth or need one extracted, you may benefit from a dental implant! Schedule a consultation with your local implant dentist today.
What Happens After Tooth Loss?
Your oral structures—gum tissue, bone, and teeth—work together to give you an attractive smile and the function you need to bite and chew foods. If one of these structures is lost, such as a tooth, this directly affects the health and function of the remaining structures. Without a natural tooth, your bone and gum tissue at the site will resorb and shrink. This may not seem harmful, but over time this bone will cause surrounding teeth to sink and change your bite (occlusion). You may notice that your teeth are shifting out of place or you have started clenching and grinding your teeth. In the worst case, if this missing tooth shows when you smile or interferes with comfortable eating, it can cause additional feelings of self-consciousness and embarrassment.
How Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are made up of a titanium post that is surgically inserted into your jawbone, a dental crown, and a connecting abutment piece. The post will function just as a natural tooth root, providing necessary stimulation to the bone to keep it strong and healthy. The tooth crown is hand-crafted either by a restorative dentist or a skilled dental lab technician to be the proper color, shape, and size of your original tooth. The result is a new tooth that looks and functions naturally, that no one will be able to distinguish from your existing teeth! This dental implant will be strong enough to withstand the pressure of biting and chewing, in addition to not suffering decay or discoloration.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you have a missing tooth or need one extracted, you may benefit from a dental implant! Schedule a consultation with your local implant dentist today.
