Losing a tooth might be embarrassing, but there is more at stake than just appearance. Ignoring a lost tooth can have major medical and dental consequences. Missing a tooth can detract from the appearance of your smile, but even if you are missing a tooth in the rear that is not visible, you should consider correcting the issue.
Aside from the cosmetic attractiveness of a whole set of teeth, a missing tooth can cause oral health problems that can be avoided. Dental implants are some of the best options for lost tooth restoration. If you have lost teeth, speak to a dentist about dental implants in Las Vegas today.
Here are some reasons you should not ignore a lost tooth.
Gum disease
When there is a space between your teeth due to a missing tooth, bacteria, tartar, and plaque can enter your gum line. This increases your chances of developing gum disease. Once you have gum disease, you will likely develop serious medical illnesses like heart disease and stroke.
One is lost today, and more will be missing tomorrow.
One lost tooth may not seem a big concern right now, but imagine how you will feel if you miss two, three, or even four teeth. That might happen if you do not appropriately handle the first missing tooth.
Your teeth work together to stay in the proper position. When you lose a tooth, the teeth on either side of the gap lose their support. They frequently shift into the gap. The roots of these teeth eventually shift into the open space beneath the gum line. When this happens, the structure and stability of these moving teeth are jeopardized, putting you in danger of losing them. If you do lose them, the next teeth in line risk suffering the same fate.
Your straight teeth can shift and become crooked.
As previously mentioned, your teeth hold each other in place, but when one is lost, the other teeth struggle to stay in position. As your teeth shift, your straight smile may become crooked.
A reduction in bone mass
To stay healthy, your bones require stimulation. The pressure of your teeth biting and chewing stimulates your jawbone. Your jawbone will stop renewing and growing if you do not receive this stimulation. When a tooth is gone, your jawbone starts to lose mass and weaken. You may even notice a change in your face shape.
The best way to restore missing teeth is to get dental implants. For more information, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.
