Did you know that your oral health and your overall health are closely connected? Damaged or missing teeth can negatively affect major systems throughout one’s body. In fact, the more teeth a person is missing, the more likely they are to have other health problems. Luckily, there are a variety of options available to replace a missing tooth or teeth and allow you to smile confidently again. Not only will it improve your esthetics, but it will improve your quality of life and overall health.
Potential Complications
Depending on the location of the missing tooth or teeth, it might not affect the esthetics of your smile, it can; however, cause a whole host of health problems including the following:
- Impact Speech and Eating. Because teeth are designed to work together, a missing tooth can impact eating and speaking. If you notice that chewing your food is becoming cumbersome, it may cause you to only use one side of your jaw to chew. This can lead to future complications in the jaw and facial muscles. Additionally, not chewing your food properly can lead to digestive issues like acid reflux and malnutrition from nutrients not being absorbed properly in the digestive tract.
- Cause Shifting in the Mouth. Teeth are not attached to bone by cement. Tiny ligaments anchor your teeth to the jawbone. When you lose a tooth, shifting in the mouth often occurs. Teeth that surround the empty space tend to drift towards the opening and move out of their proper positions. This leads to a condition called malocclusion, which means misalignment of the teeth. Misaligned teeth cause issues such as tooth sensitivity, tooth grinding, and difficulty chewing.
- Bone Loss Leading to Disfiguration. Missing teeth can change the shape of your face. Often times, missing teeth can lead to bone loss along the jawline. This loss of bone can cause a sagging appearance around the mouth. Since the bone tissue no longer receives support from the tooth, it can weaken over time, which is why sagging faces are common among those who wear dentures.
Seek Treatment Immediately
For those patients who are missing permanent teeth, the most proactive solution is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Farahmand of OF Dental Care. There are a variety of treatment options available for people with missing teeth including dental implants, dentures, and crowns/bridges. The team at OF Dental Care will help review your options and determine the best course of action to treat your particular situation. For further information or to schedule an appointment with the highly revered dentist is Arcadia, Dr. Farahmand, DMD, please contact OF Dental Care at 626.254.1948 or visit www.OFDentalCare.com.