What Dental Problems Can a Missing Tooth Cause?

Losing a tooth might be a fun experience for children, it is not the same for adults. If an adult loses a tooth, it can cause serious dental concerns. Tooth loss can be caused due to various reasons; however, the most common is either injury or tooth decay. At first glance, a missing tooth might not look like a big problem. However, the reality is that it could lead to further dental and health issues. It is recommended that you get the problem fixed as soon as possible, so visit Forest Park Dental Arts and book an appointment.

What Happens If You Don’t Replace a Missing Tooth?

A missing tooth should never be taken lightly because it can lead to a plethora of dental problems. Some of the problems that you can run into are as follows:

• Bone lossis the first thing to worry about in case of missing teeth. Teeth play an important part in supporting the jawbone. If a tooth is missing, the bone is no longer stimulated the bone becomes atrophied, similar to an unused muscle. Bone loss can then lead to further dental issues.
• Tooth shifting sounds impossible because, ideally, teeth are attached firmly to the jawbone. However, teeth can shift due to a number of reasons, like decay and gum recession. Gaps between the teeth can accelerate shifting. If one tooth starts to shift, others will soon follow. The entire process can be painful and impact your bite.
• Bite irregularities are another problem caused by missing teeth. Ideally, your teeth should all come together like a jigsaw puzzle when you chew. However, when even a single tooth is missing, the teeth can shift and lead to an irregular bite, which will cause problems while chewing and might even be painful.
• Difficulty chewingshould also become a problem as a consequence of missing teeth. To chew properly, we need our teeth to tear the food. With missing teeth, this is not as easy. If you are missing front teeth, it can even be difficult to take a bite out of fruit.
• Aestheticscan also be ruined due to missing teeth. Our teeth support the structure and shape of our faces. So, if a few teeth are missing, the face can look aged and sunken.
• Speech issues are also a worry if you don’t replace missing teeth. You need your teeth to pronounce certain words. So, if there is a gap between your teeth, you won’t be able to make certain sounds.

How Can I Fix a Missing Tooth?

Nowadays, there are many missing tooth treatments in Mississauga, ON, that you can use.

The first procedure a Mississauga dentist can perform is dental implant surgery. In this surgery, the dentist will replace the tooth root to make way for a false tooth. Keep in mind this procedure is recommended for single tooth replacement in Mississauga, ON, and might not work if you have multiple missing teeth. If you are missing a couple of teeth, you can get a fixed bridge to fill the gap too. The process of getting a fixed bridge is longer and requires multiple trips to the Mississauga dentist.

Can Missing Teeth Cause Anxiety?

There are studies that suggest that missing teeth can cause anxiety and depression. Anxiety is not the direct cause of missing teeth. Instead, if you have a missing tooth, it can affect your self-esteem and make you self-conscious about your smile. If you don’t get your missing tooth problem fixed, continuous low self-esteem and self-consciousness can take the form of depression and anxiety.

Best Treatment for Missing Front Tooth

For missing front teeth, the best missing tooth treatment in Mississauga, ON, is to get front tooth dental implants. The implant is a metal fixture that is fixed to the jawbone that acts as a support structure for the false tooth. Getting fixed bridges is another tooth replacement in Mississauga, ON, that you can go for. In this treatment, the dentist will place a dental bridge to the teeth on either side of the gap, which will then hold the false tooth. A less invasive form of this surgery is a resin-retained bridge.