Overview
when a child loses a tooth, it is considered normal because it’s just a temporal tooth that needs to give way to the permanent tooth to grow. When an adult loses a tooth, it is considered a nightmare because there’s no growing back; it’s forever gone! You can only settle for artificial teeth and the likes. The thing about losing a tooth is that it is a sign of an issue, if it’s not related to trauma, and if left not treated, it can result in other oral health challenges.
About Tooth Loss
- Gum disease and Cavities
Apart from ruining the beauty/aesthetics of your smile, gaps caused by missing teeth may automatically lead to gum disease and cavities. When teeth begin leaning towards the open spaces as a result of missing teeth, it will be difficult for one to reach the areas that are hard to reach when brushing and flossing. As a result, this can in turn, lead to bacterial deposits. These deposits have a way of affecting one’s health, leading to heart disease and diabetes. - Teeth Misalignment
Losing a tooth as an adult means giving room to teeth misalignment. Teeth generally are beautifully set in a way that they uniquely support each other. So, if a tooth gets missing, the rest of the teeth will grow haphazardly, leading to misalignment of the teeth. As a result of the gap created by the missing tooth, adjacent teeth tend to lean into the gap, and this, in turn, destroys the natural alignment of teeth, leading to bad bites, crooked smiles, jaw problems, and even headaches.
3. Bone Loss
When a patient loses a tooth, the jaw bone also loses the stimulation it needs to grow. The teeth and the teeth roots help support the jaw bone and stimulate growth. Hence, the lack of stimulation from the jaw bone may eventually shrink the jaw, which may prevent it from supporting the remaining teeth. The nightmare with this issue is that it will automatically change the shape of your face structure and your smile as well.
Diverse Options For Replacing Missing Teeth
The truth of the matter is that you cannot grow a permanent tooth once it’s gone, but you can replace one. Sounds relieving! Yes, you can certainly replace one. There are diverse options when it comes to tooth replacement. Gratefully, with the advent of technology and dental studies, it has been proven that a missing tooth/teeth can be replaced these days with prosthetics. So, if you have a missing tooth, you can go for any of these options:
- Dental Implants
A dental implant is a tooth replacement option after a tooth loss or extraction. It is a surgical fixture that is planted into the jawbone and allowed to join with the bone for a few months. It is essential to know that dental implant performs the job of replacing the root of a missing tooth. This implant, which is an artificial tooth root, serves to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. One of the best things about having a dental implant is the fact that it being attached to the jawbone, is almost like a natural tooth because it stands independently without affecting other teeth. Aside being independent, dental implant also has amazing stability. This process of attaching the dental implant and jawbone is known as “osseointegration.” Implants can last as long as a lifetime is properly cared for. - Implant-Supported Bridge
This type of dental implant is ideal for people with several missing teeth and want to get them fixed. One of functions of this fixed dental bridge is that it prevents other teeth from moving and also serves as a great improvement tool for eating and speaking. A dental implant bridge is suitable, more comfortable, and even offers better stability, compared to traditional dentures. Another advantage of this type of implant is that the bridge looks and feels like your natural teeth, making you have that sense of originality. - Implant-supported denture
This implant is recommended when a patient is looking for a secure solution for many missing teeth. They are carefully and professionally placed in areas of good strong bone and a thin denture prosthesis is screwed into place. The good thing here is that this solution restores your entire upper or lower jaw or even both, as desired. With proper care and oral hygiene, this type of implant can last for a very long time. - Denture
Dentures are the most cost-effective solution that give instant results and satisfaction for your missing teeth. They are not as expensive as the other methods. They are completely removable and can impeccably mimic your natural tooth colour.
Take care of your teeth as possible as you can to prevent them from removing because teeth, once you lose them, you can’t have them back. There are circumstances beyond our control such as accidents, which may lead to losing a tooth/ teeth. In such situations, tooth replacement can make you ‘whole again.’
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