The teeth play several crucial roles in communication since they help us form the words we speak and make up the smiles we use to signal good will and joy to other people. Tooth loss is an unfortunately common problem, but some people may be hesitant to commit to replacing missing teeth if other people aren’t noticing them. Here’s a brief guide to the consequences of tooth loss and the advantages of replacing the missing teeth in the back of your mouth.
The Consequences of Tooth Loss
In addition to the negative effects tooth loss can have for your self-esteem, it also leads to a range of oral and overall health issues such as:
- Increased chance of oral injuries: The teeth work together to spread the force of chewing evenly among them, and the loss of even one will shift the pressure it handled to the others. This can lead to chips and cracks in the remaining teeth as well as injuries to the unprotected gum tissue.
- Jawbone erosion: The teeth provide the jawbone with the exercise it needs to stay healthy and strong during the chewing process, and the bone structure supporting a tooth will atrophy and recede after it is lost. This can pull neighboring teeth out of alignment, which can lead to injury and further tooth loss, and eventually leave the mouth with a sunken and withered appearance.
- Trouble eating: The teeth in the back of the mouth play an especially important role in pulverizing food into a pulp that can be easily digested. The loss of these teeth can lead to indigestion due to inadequately chewed food or malnutrition due to healthy food becoming too hard to chew.
How Can I Replace the Missing Teeth in the Back of My Mouth?
Luckily, modern dental medicine has given us the ideal solution for tooth loss. Dental implants look, feel, and work just like real teeth because they are made from lifelike materials and surgically placed in the jawbone. This makes them visually indistinguishable from real teeth and able to restore up to 80% of the patient’s original chewing power, meaning that they can enjoy all sorts of foods that they couldn’t with traditional dentures or bridges. Dental implants can last for several decades or even a lifetime if they receive excellent care and hygiene.
Forgoing replacing missing teeth because other people can’t see them can lead to significant health consequences down the line. Consulting with your dentist can help you determine if dental implants are right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Lauri Barge earned her dental degree at Texas A&M College of Dentistry and underwent a General Practice Residency Program at Olin E. Teague VA Hospital. She now serves as a member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. Her office in Flower Mound offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implants. To schedule your consultation for dental implants, contact the office online or dial (972) 539-3800.