When you lose a tooth as a child, it often came with a friendly visit from the Tooth Fairy. Unfortunately, losing any teeth as an adult is usually much less fun. Losing a tooth in adulthood can happen for several reasons that can include severe damage or decay, gum disease, injury, or overcrowding. If a wisdom tooth is removed (which is common), it does not need to be replaced. Losing a tooth in the front of your smile can make you feel like replacing it is urgent, but the reasons to replace a missing tooth go far beyond appearance. Adult tooth loss can result in a plethora of negative consequences. Replacing a missing tooth, even one that cannot be seen when you smile, is important for your health.
Loss of Bone Density
The roots of your teeth stimulate your body to send nutrients that keep the supporting jawbone strong and healthy. Even losing the stimulation from just one tooth’s roots can cause the body to stop sending these essential nutrients. Without these key nutrients, the jawbone tissue can start to deteriorate and the bone can become less dense. This can lead to tooth loss, if the supporting jaw becomes to weak. A softer jaw can also cause your smile to shift and your appearance to change.
Shifting and Misalignment
Tooth loss can create a gap in your smile; the teeth surrounding the gap can start shifting into the open space. This kind of shift in your smile can lead to misalignment.
TMJ Disorder
Missing teeth can lead to excessive pressure on the joints of your jaw, known as temporomandibular joints (TMJ). TMJ disorder can include headaches, jaw and facial pain, clicking and popping of the jaw, lockjaw, and more.
Minimizing These Consequences
Dental implants can provide a way to minimize the negative consequences of tooth loss. Implants can stabilize a dental restoration that can prevent shifting, but an implant can act as new tooth roots, which can help keep your jawbone fortified and strong.
Have you experienced tooth loss as an adult?
Restoring your smile can be a way to deal with some of the negative consequences of tooth loss. We proudly help patients from Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Scott, Youngsville, and surrounding communities. To schedule a consultation, contact us at our Lafayette, LA, dentist’s office at 337-237-6453.