When you lose a tooth in the front of your mouth, it takes away from the appearance of your smile. This is an extra motivation to replace your missing tooth right away. However, if you lose a tooth in the back of the mouth, this isn’t a priority – right? The truth is that you could run into a variety of oral health and aesthetic issues from missing back teeth. Continue reading to learn some reasons why you should replace the missing teeth in all areas of your mouth, even if you can’t see it.
Difficulty Chewing
When there is a gap in your smile, chewing becomes more challenging. You could even end up limiting your food options so you can have an easier time breaking up the food in your mouth. This can mean cutting out important nutrients from your diet. By replacing your missing tooth with a dental implant, you can regain up to 90% of your natural chewing power, therefore allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods once again.
Wear & Tear of Other Teeth
When you have fewer teeth in your mouth, chewing won’t be distributed as well. This means that your other teeth will be doing more work and ultimately will experience more wear and tear over time. The crown that is placed on the end of your dental implant is highly durable, like a natural tooth, so it will be able to take on some of the labor of chewing.
Misalignment Issues
When there is space between your teeth, the surrounding teeth will eventually shift around to fill in the gap. This can result in overcrowding, crooked teeth, and bite issues. When you fill in the gap with a dental implant, you can prevent the need for orthodontic treatment in the future.
Bone Loss
If you are missing a tooth, your jawbone isn’t being stimulated in that area anymore. Ultimately, your body will begin to resorb the bone, causing the structure of your face to change. This often means sunken cheeks and wrinkled lips, making you look much older than you are. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option out there that replaces the roots of the missing teeth, stimulating the jaw through regular chewing.
TMJ Dysfunction (TMD)
When the structure of your mouth changes, you are more likely to experience issues with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This can cause jaw pain and headaches. Replacing your missing tooth will prevent the structure of your mouth from changing.
It might not seem like a big deal to have a gap where no one can see it, but for the sake of your oral health and the future of your smile, it is in your best interest to seek a tooth replacement option. You will be showing off a complete smile in just a matter of time!
About the Author
Dr. Zach Kingsberg is a skilled dentist serving patients in the Dallas area. He enjoys treating children and adults alike and is always thrilled to help families improve their approach to oral health with proper brushing and flossing tips. If you are missing a tooth, he’d be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit his website and call (469) 333-2733.