What Happens If You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?

131 Missing Teeth – What Happens If You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth? (4 of 5)
It is relatively common for patients to have broken, damaged teeth, or teeth which are missing. When a patient is able to maintain a majority of their natural teeth, they are often not overly concerned with one missing tooth. Patients may wait a while to replace a missing tooth or decide not to replace it at all. Missing teeth should be taken seriously and patients should ensure they are replaced right away. The failure to replace missing teeth can cause serious dental and general health issues.

Traditional dentures used to be the only treatment option for replacing missing or damaged teeth. There are many negative side effects associated with dentures. Some of the most common complaints of dentures include that they are not comfortable, feel bulky in the mouth, are difficult to clean, limit a patient’s diet, and need quite a bit of maintenance. There are now other tooth-replacement options which resolve many of these issues. Most of the modern tooth-replacement solutions are stable, secure, and natural in their appearance. These solutions are also incredibly functional.

Dental implants are the preferred solution for replacing missing teeth. Some of the key benefits associated with implants include that they are secure, functional, and appear similar to the natural teeth. Well-maintained implants can last for decades without any issues.

Another excellent tooth-replacement option is implant-supported dentures. This solution can be used for a patient who is missing one or more teeth. Just like dental implants, this solution uses one or more implants as a base. The solution is permanent and requires a dentist to remove the dentures. Partial dentures can also be used to fill in a gap created by multiple missing teeth. Implant-supported dentures are typically created from traditional hard resin material or can be made as flexible partial dentures.

There can be serious consequences when missing teeth are not replaced. These issues are summarized below:
1. Bite or Alignment Problems: Gaps created from a missing tooth often results in shifting of the remaining natural teeth. Alignment issues can create bite problems and make it difficult to clean the teeth.
2. Shifting and Crooked Teeth: Missing teeth which are not replaced often result in shifting of the remaining natural teeth into the space. This can cause a weakening of the tooth’s root and ultimately result in the loss of additional teeth.
3. General Health Concerns: Patients who are missing teeth sometimes avoid consuming certain types of foods. Nutritious foods which are rich in fiber can be especially difficult to eat. Patients may experience a vitamin deficiency or have poor health. This can result in serious health issues including diabetes and heart disease, among other issues.
4. Bone Loss: When a patient has missing teeth, their jawbone is not stimulated. This lack of stimulation can cause the bone to deteriorate and resorb. As the jawbone changes, it can negatively impact the appearance of a patient.
5. Headaches: A patient with missing teeth may avoid chewing on that side of their mouth which can result in uneven use of the teeth. This can cause painful headaches and be quite uncomfortable.

Missing teeth should be taken seriously and replaced in a timely manner as they can cause serious problems.