Why Replacing Lost Teeth Is important

One of our goals at our dental practice is for all our patients to keep as many teeth as possible for their entire lifetime.

As dental health awareness and technology have advanced over the years, we are happy to say that fewer people are missing all their teeth (dentists call missing all your teeth “edentulism”).

Still, people do lose a tooth, or a few, and do not think much of it.

There are many ways in which adults can lose teeth:

• Avulsion – Sometimes accidents knock teeth out, and for one reason or another they cannot be replaced
• Wear – grinding/clenching, using teeth as a tool (opening things, cracking nuts), etc
• Illness– Diabetes, cancer, etc
• Periodontitis– Gum disease is the #1 cause of adult tooth loss
• Loss of bone mass – Contributes to periodontal disease
• Xerostomia (dry mouth) – Insufficient saliva can lead to plaque and tartar buildup

Many of these causes of tooth loss can be prevented, but if they aren’t, replacing any teeth that might go missing is critical.

Your jawbones are similar to muscles in that they atrophy if you don’t stimulate them. Teeth are essential to this stimulation as the force of biting and chewing travels down the root of your teeth into the bone, helping to keep the bone dense.

When you lose even one tooth, the bone beneath the tooth begins to weaken, and its density decreases. If you are missing multiple teeth in the same area or all the teeth on your upper or lower jaw, this degradation becomes more pronounced and can lead to the face having a hollowed-out and shortened appearance that makes you look much older.

Patients who lose teeth also suffer adverse effects on their health and quality of life. Missing teeth can make it difficult to eat foods that might be difficult to chew, such as nuts, vegetables and meats.

Consequently, many patients with missing teeth suffer nutritional deficits. Missing teeth also have social consequences, as others may judge those missing teeth, and those patients who are self-conscious about their appearance or eating ability may avoid social activities.

If you are missing teeth, it’s critical that you explore your options for tooth replacement and get that replacement as quickly as possible. The longer you wait, the worse the problems with bone loss and other consequences will be.

Tooth Loss Solutions

The most effective solution to tooth loss is a tooth implant:

• Dental Implants work like natural teeth. Implants restore full chewing power and allow regular brushing and flossing.
• Dental Implants can last a lifetime. Implants are made from titanium, and they integrate with the jawbone.
• Dental Implants prevent bone loss. If an implant is not placed within the first year of losing a tooth, that bone area loses 25% of its volume, and bone loss continues as time goes by.
• Dental Implants support adjacent teeth. Missing teeth can lead adjacent teeth to shift into the gap. This can affect your bite, ability to chew, and appearance.
• Dental Implants help fight gum disease. The area left by a missing tooth can become a trap for food and bacteria, leading to gum disease.
• Dental Implants can prevent facial sagging and premature ageing. Dental implants can help you avoid excess wrinkles around the mouth, thinning lips, and sagging flesh by preventing bone degradation and filling the gaps in your smile.

If implants are not possible, other options include bridges and dentures.

Bridges

A bridge is a fixed solution that stays cemented in the mouth and does not come out. Sometimes, the teeth on each side of the gap need a crown or filling, and the gap and tooth can be addressed simultaneously. Bridges can replace one or two missing teeth and sometimes more.

Dentures

Dentures are removable appliances that can be partial or full; full dentures replace all teeth, while partial dentures are used when natural teeth remain.

Some benefits of dentures include:

• Dentures are often the most affordable choice.
• Non-invasive. Getting dentures is a painless, non-surgical, and non-invasive process.
• Modifying dentures is relatively simple.

Whichever answer is right for you, if you are missing a tooth or teeth, call your Campbelltown dentist, and we can help you find the proper treatment!

Missing Teeth Solution in Campbelltown

A Plus Dental believes in honesty, trust, individuality, compassion, and comfort. Our goal is to provide our Campbelltown area patients of all ages with caring, relaxing treatments in a comfortable environment.

When you choose us, you take the next step towards a beautiful, healthy smile with teeth that feel great in your mouth, even if you may have lost some!!

We have over 30 years of combined experience and treat each patient with the utmost care and respect.

FREE Dental Implants Consultation

Call your Campbelltown dentist on (02) 4627 3833 or visit us at Suite 3/300 Queen Street in Campbelltown.