When you lose a tooth in the front of your mouth, it can take away from your appearance. This is extra motivation to replace it as soon as you can. However, if you lose a tooth in the back of the mouth, you may be more inclined to put it off. The truth is that you could run into all sorts of oral health issues and even cosmetic problems from missing back teeth. Read on to learn some reasons why you should replace missing teeth in all areas of your mouth, even if they aren’t visible.
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 allow you to enjoy your favorite foods 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 a 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 absorb 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 out there that replaces the roots of the missing teeth, stimulating the jaw through regular chewing.
TMJ Disorder (TMD)
When the structure of your mouth changes, you are more likely to experience issues with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This can result in 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 your oral health and the not-so-distant future, it is in your best interest to replace it. You will be showing off a complete grin again in just a matter of time.
About the Author
After earning his dental degree from the University of Medical Sciences in Villa Clara, Cuba, and working as a general dentist for four years, Dr. Abdel A. More Duarte completed a specialist degree in Comprehensive General Dentistry and master’s in Community Oral Health. He also completed a three-year residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Later, Dr. More attended the International Dental Program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Currently, he is a proud member of the American Dental Association and North Carolina Dental Association. For more information on tooth replacement options or to schedule a consultation, visit his website or call (704) 844-0556.