Losing a tooth as an adult is a much different scenario than losing a tooth as a child. For starters, adult tooth loss usually is not accompanied by a dollar under your pillow from the Tooth Fairy. Adult tooth loss is usually the result of a negative experience, since most adult teeth (apart from wisdom teeth) are not designed to be lost from your smile. Many cases of tooth loss are actually preventable, but life happens and tooth can be lost. The loss of a tooth as an adult can lead to a gamut of dental health consequences besides just a gap in the smile.
Bone Loss
Without the lost tooth’s roots to stimulate your jawbone when you bite and chew, the bone will receive fewer nutrients from your body. Over time, your jawbone may grow too weak to support the rest of your teeth. In some cases, the bone may even begin to soften and change shape to due the loss of bone density. The best way to prevent bone loss, also known as bone resorption, is to replace your lost tooth’s roots with dental implants. An implant is a bio-compatible titanium post that is inserted into your jawbone to support your crown, bridge, or dentures, and recreate the stimulation that your jawbone needs to keep the nutrients flowing.
Smile Misalignment
For the most part, your teeth are supported by their roots’ foundation within your jawbone. However, your teeth also depend on each other to prevent shifting under the pressures of biting and chewing. When you lose even just one tooth, the teeth surrounding it can begin to shift towards the empty space. This shifting can adjust your bite’s alignment to cause problems for your smile.
Problems For The Remaining Teeth
When you lose a tooth, you may find yourself biting and chewing on the other side of your mouth. This imbalance in the workload can lead to oral health issues, like tooth decay, gum disease, and other destructive dental health issues.
Have you experienced tooth loss?
Replacing a lost tooth can help protect your smile from danger. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling E-Care Dentistry, PA in Olathe, KS, today at 913-210-1701. We also proudly serve patients from Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood, Gardner, and all surrounding communities.