The Effects of Missing Teeth
Woodland, CA
 Your teeth perform numerous essential functions within your mouth. Losing even a single tooth affects all of these functions, making eating and speaking more difficult as well as affecting the quality of your smile. Tooth loss also leads to bone loss in the jaw, which has several other impacts on your mouth, your oral health, and your quality of life. At Beautiful Smiles, we can help to replace your missing teeth, and protect the integrity of your jawbone, with dental implants.
What Causes Tooth Loss?
There are several different causes of tooth loss. One of the most common causes is gum (periodontal) disease. When gum disease advances, your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, allowing bacteria to fall below the gum line. These bacteria then begin attacking periodontal ligaments and your jawbone, causing them to grow weak. As a result, the teeth become loose and eventually fall out.
Other causes of tooth loss include:
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Facial trauma
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Tooth decay
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Bruxism
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The Effects of Tooth Loss on the Jawbone
Losing your teeth has several effects. Many of these effects are noticeable immediately, including difficulty eating, trouble speaking properly, and the impact on your smile and confidence. Tooth loss also impacts the health of your jawbone. The teeth, specifically the roots, are important for stimulating the jawbone, which occurs every time you chew. This stimulation triggers the body to send essential nutrients required to keep the jaw strong and healthy.
When you lose teeth, the amount of stimulation the bone receives lessens, which results in fewer nutrients being sent. Over time, this leads to bone loss. The jaw grows weak and eventually begins to change shape. Your natural teeth begin to shift out of proper alignment, throwing off your bite. You may experience bruxism or develop TMJ pain. If you have lost several teeth, the resulting bone loss in the jaw can affect the appearance of your whole face, leading to sunken cheeks and lips, jowls, sagging skin, and wrinkles.
 How Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are a popular treatment for replacing missing teeth. They are unlike any other option available, using small titanium posts that are surgically implanted into the jawbone. Your natural jawbone fuses to the titanium as you recover from surgery, turning them into stable roots that hold your replacement teeth securely in place. The posts imitate the roots of your natural teeth. Along with supporting the replacement crowns, the posts provide stimulation for your jawbone when you chew.
No other replacement option can offer this benefit. Dental bridges and dentures only replace the visible portion of your missing teeth, and your jawbone continues to change shape even with the teeth replaced. With dental implants, however, the posts provide the stimulation that goes missing when you lose teeth, aiding in stopping and preventing the bone loss that normally occurs following tooth loss.
Learn More About Dental Implants
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation
If you have lost teeth, even just one, it is important that you have them replaced right away. Dental implants provide a natural, comfortable restoration for your missing teeth, while also working to prevent the bone loss that normally occurs after tooth loss. Call Beautiful Smiles today for more information and to schedule your consultation at (530) 206-9211. |
