Tooth loss can occur in a few different ways. First, if you are hit in the face with a blunt object or if you are in some type of accident, you can lose one or more teeth. Second, if you have a cavity and you neglect to have it treated, the decay can become so severe over time that the tooth would need to be extracted. Another more serious cause is gum disease. As gum disease progresses, it can wear down the bone in your jaw. In time, you won’t have enough bone to hold your teeth in. This will cause them to become loose and fall out. If you have lost a tooth for any of these reasons, you should have the tooth replaced. If you don’t replace a missing tooth, it can result in several further problems that you would need to deal with.

Self Confidence Issues

Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you. If you lose a tooth, it can make you feel very self-conscious about your smile. If the missing tooth is in the front, it can make you less likely to socialize because you won’t want people to notice your missing tooth. If you have your missing tooth replaced, not only will you look better but you will feel better as well.

Changes In Your Bite

When you are missing a tooth, it can affect your bite. Your jaw can sit more on one side than the other depending on the side of your mouth where the tooth is missing. In some cases, your entire jaw can start to slant to one side. The best way to keep your bite straight and lined up after you lose a tooth is to have it replaced as soon as possible.

Healthy Teeth Can Become Decayed

When you lose a tooth, you will have a large space in your mouth. This is the perfect place for bacteria to live. As the bacteria spreads throughout your mouth, it can cause cavities to form. If the problem is left untreated, you can develop serious tooth decay which can cause you to lose more teeth in the future.

Digestion Issues

When you are missing one or more teeth, it will affect the way that you chew. If you don’t chew your food as well as you should, you can develop acid reflux. If you are unable to chew your food properly, it can also pose a choking hazard.

Teeth Shifting

When you are missing a tooth, there will be a hole in your mouth. When there is no tooth in that space, your teeth can shift. This can create more spaces in your teeth and your bite issues can become more severe. If you put a tooth in that space, your teeth and your smile will remain the same.

Speech Issues

If you are missing one of your front teeth, you could develop speech issues that you never had before. Your front teeth and your tongue work together to form many letters and sounds correctly. If you are missing a tooth, it can change the way that you pronounce words. A missing tooth can often result in a lisp or frequent spitting. If you want to be able to speak correctly, you should make it a point to have your missing tooth replaced.

Treatment For Missing Teeth

One of the most common treatments for missing teeth is a dental bridge. A bridge is made up of two or more crowns that literally create a bridge between the gap created by your missing tooth. The bridge is anchored in your mouth using the two healthy teeth on each side of the missing tooth. To have a bridge created, an Alpharetta dentist will take a mold of your mouth. When the bridge is made, the dentist will make sure that it is a perfect fit. After a few days, you would go back to the dentist to be sure that the bridge isn’t creating any sore spots. One of the biggest benefits of treating tooth loss with a bridge is the low cost. Of all the treatments available for tooth loss, dental bridges are the most cost-effective.

Dental implants and dentures are other options for missing teeth. Dental implants are surgical components that allow a crown or other prosthesis to sit more permanently in the mouth. Midway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry does not place dental implants but we do restore dental implants!

The sooner you replace a missing tooth, the better it will be for your appearance, your oral health, and your overall well being. For more information regarding tooth loss and the treatment available, contact Midway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.