What are the Consequences of Missing Teeth?

Missing teeth can affect your self-confidence

You probably know that there are consequences of living without teeth. Perhaps your smile doesn’t look as attractive as it once did. Maybe you instinctively put your hands in front of your mouth or avoid smiling and talking whenever possible. Missing teeth can affect your self- confidence and the way that you interact with others.

Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. About 35 million people are missing teeth in one or both jaws. And the problems that result from tooth loss are not just cosmetic. When you don’t have a fully functional set of teeth, eating could be difficult, sometimes next to impossible. In fact, nutritious foods like raw fruits and vegetables tend to be more difficult to bite or chew. That’s why poor dental health can lead to compromised nutrition.

Tooth loss leads to bone loss

But there’s another serious consequence that’s not as obvious as those we’ve been talking about. You may not know it but tooth loss leads to bone loss. When you lose your teeth, the bone on your jaw that used to surround and support them begins to melt away. The longer the teeth are missing the greater the bone loss. Why does this matter, first of all, the teeth and bones that support them also hold up your facial features.

When cheeks and lips lose that support the whole face begins to take on a collapsed aged look. That’s why toothless people often looks sad. Secondly, as you lose bone it may become more difficult for your dentist to successfully replace your missing teeth with dental implants.

Bone loss can increase the cost and amount of procedures needed

So what can be done about this? Plenty. Whether you’re missing one tooth, several teeth, or all of your teeth, dental implants can be used to fully restore your smile in the most natural way possible. Not only do dental implants look, feel and function like natural teeth, they are the only method of tooth replacement that can halt bone loss. This is because dental implants are usually made of titanium which has a unique ability to fuse with living bone and deliver the needed natural stimulation your natural teeth once provided.

Decades of research has confirmed that dental implants offer the best long term solution for tooth replacement with a success rate over ninety five percent.

Make an appointment today at Affinity Dental Clinics to learn how dental implants can give you back your smile and improve the quality of your life.

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