![Illustration of a dental implant replacing a lost premolar](https://www.forestfallsdental.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AdobeStock_115205130-300x225.jpg)
If you’ve suffered from tooth loss, it’s normal to wonder about appropriate treatments. Fortunately, your dentist can replace missing teeth with dental implants to restore your grin. Of all the options, they’re the only one that contains a titanium rod that’s surgically inserted into your jaw. This functions like a root and keeps your jaw active.
Many patients who have lost one or more teeth hesitate to move forward with treatment, however, because they’re not sure it’s necessary. While it’s easy to see why you’d want to fill in an empty socket in the front of your mouth, why should you worry about one that no one can see? If you’re wondering, keep reading to learn more!
How Do Missing Teeth Impact Me?
Knowing how tooth loss impacts your overall well-being can help you understand why it’s important to replace a missing premolar or molar, even if it’s not visible. Some reasons you should consider rebuilding your smile with dental implants include:
- Preventing jawbone deterioration. Many patients aren’t aware that when their pearly whites fall out, their body begins to reabsorb jawbone mass that’s no longer necessary to support them. Eventually, it can weaken to the point that it can no longer maintain your remaining teeth and you could lose more of them faster. The longer you wait to replace a tooth that goes missing, the more damage is done. After the first year, you could lose 25% of the width of your jawbone. That number jumps to 40% if you wait up to three years.
- Avoiding additional damage. When a tooth is lost, its neighbors can wear down unevenly. Every time you chew, the force of your bite will be distributed unevenly which can weaken your teeth. This leaves them more vulnerable to chipping or cracking.
- Keeping your smile straight. Your pearly whites will naturally shift in your mouth to fill in the whole left behind. In time they can become overcrowded or crooked.
- Decreasing the appearance of aging. As your jaw deteriorates, it alters your facial structure. You could develop more deeply sunken cheeks and sagging skin which makes you look older.
- Improving your ability to eat. Your back teeth are essential to mash your food up into digestible pieces. By replacing your lost tooth, you’ll restore your capacity to chew.
Your back teeth are so essential to maintaining your overall health. If you aren’t breaking down food sufficiently, you could end up with other issues like gastrointestinal problems. Call your dentist today for a consultation to replace your teeth so you can look and feel great for years to come!
About the Author
Dr. Huy Nguyen is committed to providing families with top-quality dental care to build happy, healthy smiles. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Washington in Seattle. Then, he completed his Masters in Oral Health Sciences and Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry at Boston University. Now, he offers a full range of services to patients of all ages, including dental implants. Using state-of-the-art technology, he can refill your grin with lifelike, long-lasting restorations. If you’ve suffered tooth loss and would like a consultation, you’re welcome to request an appointment on the website or by calling (207) 846-3966.