Whether you have lost a tooth due to decay or injury, or you have had a tooth extracted because it is past saving, chances are that you will be feeling concerned about both the function and appearance of your teeth. Depending on the location of the gap in your mouth, you may find that you need to change the way that you bite or chew your food, and in some cases, your speech may even change as your tongue pushes against your teeth to form sounds.

In addition to this, you may become self-conscious about the gap in your smile, and this can cause you to lose confidence and affect your personal and professional life. However, these are far from the only issues that can occur if you don’t seek to replace your missing tooth with an artificial alternative. Here’s what you need to know about some of the main issues that can occur when you have a permanent gap in your smile. Here at The Center For Cosmetic & Family Dentistry in Destin, FL and Panama City Beach, FL we have permanent solutions to these problems. 

Shifting teeth and misalignment

It surprises many people to know that even once they have fully erupted, our teeth can shift around in our gums and change positions. This is the premise behind orthodontic treatment such as braces, that place gentle force onto the teeth to get them to move. However, when you have gaps in your smile your teeth have the space needed to migrate on their own accord. Once those nearest to the gap start to move into it, it opens up the possibility of all of the teeth in the arch beginning to shift, leading to more severe misalignment.

Poor oral hygiene

When teeth are misaligned, they are harder to clean properly, and this puts the patient at greater risk of developing decay and gum disease. These are bad news for both your oral health and even your wider wellbeing as patients who have poor dental health could be more likely to suffer from issues such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and more. 

Jawbone recession

Our jaws rely on the pressure placed onto the roots of our teeth to stimulate them and keep them healthy. When there is no longer a tooth root in place, the bone in the jaw can start to deteriorate and shrink and eventually this can affect the shape of our face. It also makes it difficult to get a solution to replace the missing tooth as if the bone is too weak, it will not be able to support a dental implant without a bone graft, and dentures or bridges may not fit as well as they could. 

Temporomandibular joint disorder

The temporomandibular joint is located on either side of the face and connects the lower jaw to the skull. If the teeth move out of position, it can cause the temporomandibular joint not to work as it should. If this happens, it can lead to jaw pain, headaches and other unpleasant symptoms. 

Dental implants: the solution to missing teeth

Fortunately, replacing a missing tooth is easier than ever thanks to dental implants, which help to combat all of the issues listed above. Dental implants have a unique design that comprises of a titanium post, which is inserted into the jawbone in order to stimulate it, replicating the effect of a natural tooth root. The visible part of the dental implant, a porcelain crown, sits on the top of the gums, preventing the neighboring teeth from shifting into the gap that has been created and giving patients a fully restored, attractive and functional smile. 

For more information about dental implants and why it is so important to replace missing teeth, please contact The Center For Cosmetic & Family Dentistry in Destin, FL and Panama City Beach, FL to learn more.