Is it necessary to replace missing teeth?
Yes, it’s surprisingly important to replace a missing tooth… and not simply for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. Besides the fact that a lost tooth, especially at the front, can look unsightly, it can also cause pain, discomfort and embarrassment when chewing and talking and – even more worrying and less well known – it can endanger your surrounding teeth, increasing the risk of further tooth loss. Once you lose one tooth, you’re more likely to lose other teeth, like a domino effect.
What happens if you don’t replace a missing tooth?
Not replacing a missing tooth can lead to oral health issues as a result of your jawbone shrinking and your gums receding, putting teeth either side of the gap at greater risk of decay and plaque build-up and increasing your risk of getting gum disease. Neighbouring teeth may also drift and shift, moving into the gap and becoming crooked or crowded.
What can you put in place of a missing tooth?
The most technologically advanced way to replace a missing tooth is with a single dental implant: a tiny titanium screw is surgically placed in the jawbone to act as the missing tooth root to which a colour-matched tooth is then permanently attached, custom-made to blend in with your surrounding natural teeth.
What is the best option for missing teeth?
A dental implant is the closest thing you can get to having your lost tooth back, as it is designed – as far as possible – not only to function just like a natural tooth but also to look like one in terms of colour, shape and size. The added bonus is that because a tooth implant becomes integrated into the jawbone, it can also help to minimise any bone loss, as pressure from chewing triggers growth of new bone tissue.
Can missing teeth affect your health?
Yes. Not replacing a missing tooth can lead to oral health problems – notably tooth decay and gum disease – which, if left untreated, could impact your overall health. For example, tooth decay can cause inflammation and infections which could lead to heart disease and even a stroke in certain cases. Likewise, bacteria and germs from your mouth can reach your heart via the bloodstream, in extreme circumstances leading to endocarditis, an infection of the heart’s inner lining.
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