Why You Should Replace Missing Teeth

Dental Implants Before and After Photos

Many believe that replacing missing teeth is a choice made out of vanity. While filling the gaps will improve your aesthetic, there are other important reasons to replace missing teeth.

Missing Teeth Can Cause Other Teeth to Move

When you have a missing tooth, the teeth adjacent to the gap have a tendency to move toward it to compensate. Often, the upper teeth can even grow longer downward to fill the space of a missing bottom tooth, which is called extrusion or supereruption. Ultimately, missing teeth can throw your bite out of alignment, make chewing and speaking uncomfortable, and increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Missing Teeth Can Change Your Face Shape

As your bite gradually collapses and loses vertical dimension, the effects become outwardly apparent. When the gum tissue of the upper jaw can touch the teeth or gum tissue of the lower jaw, it can lead to a loss of facial tone and shape. A hollow appearance can occur when the facial muscles sink into the space. Your entire mouth shrinks, making your face appear shorter and even older.

Missing Teeth Can Increase the Risk of Gum Disease

The hole left by a missing tooth can collect bacteria and lead to chronic bad breath. It can become difficult to clean behind and around the surrounding teeth, which can increase the risk of gum disease. Visiting your dentist more frequently than biannually can help. However, replacing your teeth is a better alternative considering the disadvantages that missing teeth can cause.

The Best Solution for Tooth Replacement

A dental bridge is one solution to replace missing teeth, but the pressure of the bite still mainly falls on the surrounding teeth. Over time, this will lead to facial bone loss. Dental implants are the best solution for teeth replacement because they are secured into the jawbone to function like natural teeth. Regular stimulation of chewing is possible since the implant replaces the tooth root, which encourages the jawbone to stay intact.

To learn more about options for tooth replacement, schedule an appointment with Dr. Benjamin Fiss today. Contact our office at (312) 642-6631, or fill out our online contact form at your convenience.