Most people think of missing teeth as an aesthetic problem. Unfortunately, tooth loss causes more than just cosmetic issues. Losing teeth can have wide-ranging negative implications for patients’ oral and overall health, and waiting too long to replace them can make the situation even worse. Read on to find out about the top three risks of putting off replacing teeth that have fallen out or been extracted.
1. Gum and Bone Deterioration
In a healthy mouth, a person’s gums and jawbone anchor the roots of all the teeth firmly in place. When a patient has a tooth extracted, it leads to gum and jawbone deterioration. Finding the Best Dentist Near Me and scheduling an appointment for dental implant surgery is the best way to avoid this serious problem.
Wondering how missing teeth lead to gum and bone deterioration? It’s actually pretty simple. The presence of tooth roots in hard and soft tissues stimulates them to repair damaged cells. Without that stimulation, the body begins to reabsorb both hard and soft tissues, accelerating tooth loss and changing the structure of the sufferer’s face.
When patients experience upper jawbone deterioration, it creates an inward curve sometimes known as facial collapse. Lower jawbone deterioration contributes to receding chins and diminishes patients’ jawlines. These problems will only continue to get worse over time until the patient has the missing teeth replaced.
2. Increased Chance of Infection
Tooth loss can increase patients’ chances of developing potentially serious gum infections. It can also exacerbate existing problems with gum disease, which currently accounts for the majority of adult tooth losses. When someone loses one tooth, it leaves the roots and sides of the adjacent teeth exposed, making it easier for bacteria to take hold.
Empty dental sockets can also create an entry point for bacteria. To make matters even worse, they provide bacteria with an easy path to enter the bloodstream through exposed blood vessels in the dental socket. These bacteria can go on to cause potentially serious health complications such as heart and lung disease and inflammation of the heart valves.
3. Misalignment of Other Teeth
Teeth exert pressure on each other in patients’ mouths, and they all depend on support from adjacent tooth structures to stay in place. When patients are missing one or more teeth, it can cause problems with bite misalignment. The teeth on either side of the gap begin to drift inward into the empty space created by the missing tooth, causing uncomfortable pressure and sometimes creating problems with crowding.
Once patients start having problems with tooth misalignment, they’re at greater risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay, both of which can increase the chances that they’ll lose more teeth. The problem is, it’s harder to clean misaligned teeth efficiently, which means bacteria will be more likely to grow, thrive, and contribute to further tooth loss. Having dental implants placed as soon as possible after extraction will alleviate these concerns.
The Bottom Line
Patients have a few options when it comes to replacing missing teeth. Dental implants and implant-supported bridges offer the greatest benefits since they can prevent further deterioration of hard and soft tissues. These days, dental implants are more affordable than ever, so it’s worth scheduling a consultation with a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible after a tooth falls out or needs to be extracted. When you’re ready to get yours, you can reach out to this reliable cosmetic dentist in San Diego to get started.
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