All of your teeth have an essential role to play, and losing your teeth can drastically impact your life. It’s more than just a gap in your smile; missing teeth can have severe psychological and oral health complications in the future. Many people don’t get their teeth replaced because they don’t see the immediate effects, and this issue has become a problem that dentists and surgeons face each day with their patients. Thankfully, modern dentistry has allowed dentists to replace all of their teeth and even offer affordable solutions for replacement. Here are some reasons why patients may consider replacing their missing teeth.
Bone Loss
Bones require the same amount of stimulation as muscles to retain strength and grow over time. If those bones aren’t stimulated, they can cause atrophy or a loss of bone density. The bones in your jawline require constant stimulation to hold their density and keep the teeth strong and healthy. If a tooth is lost, the jaw bone underneath will begin to weaken and shrink in thickness. If multiple teeth are lost, then these effects become more pronounced and can lead to a wrinkled appearance to their jawline and facial structure, which psychologically can impact self-confidence and esteem.
Susceptible to Diseases
Losing teeth can also cause adverse effects to their health. A missing tooth can lead to poor nutrition, caused by an inability to eat healthy foods such as nuts, vegetables, and meats. A poor diet can impact the body in numerous ways, the most common being hypoglycemia, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, and obesity. Also, exposed gums can lead to a higher chance of bad oral health, which includes diseases such as gum disease, periodontal disease, and tooth decay.
Social Consequences
Missing teeth do more than impact your physical health. Psychologically, missing teeth can cause patients to avoid social situations, avoid activities they once enjoyed and overall can have a lower sense of self-esteem and confidence. Over time, when unchecked, can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Any adverse life event can cause people to doubt their abilities, and also create repetitions of the harmful environments. Replacing missing teeth can help change those environments, give you new perspectives about the world around you, and improve yourself for a better future.
Options For Replacing Teeth
If missing teeth have caused any of these effects, then you have options for replacing your teeth. Some options that dentists and surgeons provide for patients with missing teeth include:
Dental Implants
Bridges
Partials & Dentures
If you’re searching for a dentist to call home, then don’t hesitate to call Dr. Alireza Movassaghi at Torrance Dental Associates. Located in Alameda, CA, Dr. Movassaghi has served the local community across generations, giving children and adults healthy, happy teeth for years to come. If you are interested in an appointment for replacing your missing teeth, then call Torrance Dental Associates today for consultation and scheduling so you can have the smile you’ve always wanted.