Why putting off replacing a long term missing tooth is doing you damage
Many people lose a tooth and do not think twice about it: we think maybe they should
Online you’ll find lots of articles about why you want to replace a missing tooth. By the second or third sentence you find yourself reading a sales pitch for some miracle product or the amazingness of some tooth-replacement treatment that has revolutionised people’s lives.
Revolutionised is a strong word.
Maybe, if you have been edentulous (enduring total tooth loss) for 20 years and you get implant-supported dentures, then yes that may revolutionise your life. You’ll be able to eat and speak better. You’ll be able to enjoy your favourite foods and not feel so self-conscious about slippery, uncomfortable dentures.
However, if you’ve had a missing tooth for a year and you get a dental implant, that’s not going to revolutionise your life. It’s going to replace your missing tooth and restore form and function to your oral health.
Why you don’t want to put off replacing a missing tooth
At Brisbane Dental Implant Group we’ve helped patients who have lost one tooth and patients who are edentulous.
More often than not, people will shrug off losing a tooth. After all, it’s just one tooth, they’ve got 30+ left…
The thing about teeth is that many people do not realise how much they affect your overall health. When you lose a tooth, the bone that is responsible for ‘holding’ the tooth root starts to gradually dissolve. So two things happen:
- Firstly a missing tooth will cause, over time, the teeth around the gap to migrate into the gap. This can cause a misaligned bite, which can go on to cause jaw pain, neck pain and headaches. It can also be a contributing factor in TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder).
- Secondly a lost tooth will cause specific jawbone material to dissolve which can cause a sunken, aged appearance and affect the stability of other teeth. In the first year of tooth loss there is a 25% decrease in width of bone.
The debilitating effect of tooth loss on your jawbone is one of the reasons why many dentists today will avoid tooth extractions. It’s one reason why root canal therapy is being carried out by more and more dentists. They now know that there is nothing better for your oral health than your natural teeth.
After a natural toot the next best thing is implant dentistry. Implant dentistry replaces the whole tooth, providing bone stimulation and improving the function of your bite. That is why implant dentistry is so popular. It is the healthiest, most effective way to ensure your continued oral health after tooth loss.
At Brisbane Dental Implant Group, our team of dental professionals can work with you, explain to you and help you figure out what is the best form of treatment for your oral health needs. Our implant dentistry options can help restore form and function to your oral health. If you are edentulous we can restore your oral health with dental-implant supported dentures that will restore some quality to your life… we might even revolutionise your life.
If you would like to know more about implant dentistry and your oral health, or to book a consultation, contact Brisbane Dental Implant Group.
