Missing even one tooth can already seriously affect your self-confidence. Regardless of how many teeth you are missing, you must consider getting replacements. Aside from restoring your confidence, this helps preserve your oral health. While making the best choice can seem overwhelming, a dentist who specializes in aesthetic dentistry Chesterfield can help you make a choice. Your dentist can walk you through your options and help you determine the one that suits you. The following are reasons you should explore your teeth replacement options if you have missing teeth:
Prevent Bone Loss
Aside from being a cosmetic problem, missing teeth can result in severe health problems such as bone loss. If the bone in your jaw does not get support from your teeth, it can experience atrophy. Your jawbone must be constantly stimulated to avoid calcium resorption. Your teeth offer this stimulation, preventing bone loss.
Preserve Facial Shape
Your jawbone supports your facial shape. If your jawbone deteriorates and shrinks, your facial shape will change due to the structural and muscular change that occurs. The shrinkage of the jawbone forces your face to adjust to the underlying structure. Also, this can cause a change in your lips, which may make you look older than you are. You can preserve your look by considering a tooth replacement.
Prevent Your Teeth from Shifting
After you lose a tooth, you get a gap between your teeth. This can cause the rest of your teeth to shift out of position. Sadly, this can lead to many problems such as bone loss, pain, and bite issues, and gum disease. Talk to your dentist about your options to avoid these problems.
Maintain Your Chewing Ability
Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew food. If the missing teeth affect your chewing ability, you can be susceptible to digestion problems and pain. And you may not be able to enjoy your favorite food, compromising your ability to enjoy life.
Teeth Replacement Options
If you have missing teeth, you must look for the right replacement option. Speak with your dentist about the steps you can take to protect your oral health. Your dentist may recommend any of the following:
- Dental implants. These implants are surgically placed in your jawbone to stimulate it and secure the replacement teeth in place. The procedure is often completed by placing dental crowns on the implants.
- Dental crowns and bridges. Your dentists may recommend these options if you are missing just a few teeth.
- Dentures. These are a perfect option if you are missing an entire arch of teeth. However, they do not offer the stimulation that your jawbone needs. Still, dentures can benefit you if you lack bone density for supporting implants.
