One or multiple missing teeth can affect your whole smile. If you have just one missing tooth, it’s important to receive a dental restoration for the health of your gums and remaining teeth. Our office provides treatments for missing teeth in Sahuarita, AZ. Learn why it’s important to replace missing teeth and what oral health problems can occur over time from lost permanent teeth. Restorations like dental crowns, dental bridges, and dentures restore the appearance of natural teeth and bite function.
Missing Teeth Problems in Sahuarita, AZ
Tooth loss can negatively affect the smile. Some of the most prominent dental and aesthetic issues include:
- Bone Loss: One or more missing teeth can result in jaw bone loss. The jaw bone recedes when there is no support from natural teeth. Within a year of losing a permanent tooth, patients can lose 25 percent of their surrounding bone.
- Facial Sagging: After patients lose healthy jaw bone, they can experience changes in their facial structure. Without support from the jaw, they can experience facial sagging that contributes to premature aging.
- Shifting Teeth: Sometimes, teeth shift to close a gap left by one or more missing teeth. As teeth shift and overcrowd, patients may find it hard to chew comfortably. Crooked teeth also leave patients prone to TMJ disorders and decay.
- Gum Disease and Tooth Decay: Dental infections are one of the most common reasons for tooth loss, but patients can also lose teeth in accidents. As severe tooth decay leads to tooth loss, it can affect other healthier teeth. Even if patients do not have tooth decay, bacteria can collect in the gap left by a missing tooth. Patients with missing teeth are often more likely to develop gum disease or tooth decay. For more information on how we treat gum disease, see Periodontal Disease Treatment.
- Nutritional Problems: Lost teeth make it more difficult to bite and chew comfortably. Unless patients consume soft nutritional foods or drinks, they can lose nutrition provided by harder foods, including many fruits and vegetables.
Please contact our office if you have missing teeth and have noticed increased problems due to missing permanent teeth.
What are the Benefits of Dental Restorations?
Dental bridges, dentures, and single dental implants not only improve the appearance of the smile but restore function. Restorations balance the bite with false teeth custom-made to fit the natural shape and shade of teeth. Implant-secured restorations also make it much simpler for patients to eat the foods they love. Dental restorations like implants also support healthy bone and gum tissue. After an oral surgeon places the implant post, it fuses with the jaw bone tissue. Healthy bone and gum tissue promote overall health and help combat problems that can affect adjacent natural teeth.
Do you need a new dental restoration? Call our dental office for restorative treatment today at 520-412-9162. You can also schedule a dental consultation with Dr. Jordan Morris online.