Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg, PA
Tooth loss may interfere with your ability to chew, although it may not seem to bother you otherwise as long as no one notices. However, it could cause embarrassment if the missing space is visible when smiling or speaking. Thankfully, our Bloomsburg cosmetic dentists at Hamilton Dental Care share on the blog today ways to restore your smile. But first, we’ll answer the question, are missing teeth a big deal?
The Problem with Missing Teeth
Missing teeth pose several threats to you and your oral health.
- Jawbone Recession – Removing a tooth means that the jawbone no longer receives stimulation from the tooth’s root. Therefore, it begins receding or shrinks slowly over time. Eventually, this could lead to gum recession around your existing teeth, additional tooth loss, and tooth misalignment.
- Drifting Teeth – Teeth like their neighbors. Removing a tooth, even just one, causes other teeth to slowly drift out of alignment, leading to other oral health problems like an uneven bite or crooked teeth.
- Uneven Bite – Although you might not notice changes in your bite pattern at first, eventually, a missing tooth causes other teeth to become crooked, which could affect how they come together when you bite. Unfortunately, additional tooth loss exacerbates this problem.
- Difficulty Chewing – Getting a tooth pulled likely affects your ability to chew certain foods. Missing a single back tooth could mean you have to chew on one side, which can get tiresome for your jaw muscles. If you’re missing a front tooth, biting into foods like sandwiches or crunchy fruits and vegetables may be challenging or impossible.
- Jaw Joint Discomfort – Your teeth are designed to evenly distribute biting and chewing forces. But when one tooth is pulled, it alters the biting pressure. While you may not feel the change at first, it could lead to jaw joint pain due to an uneven bite and crooked teeth.
Thankfully, you can replace missing teeth to restore your smile and confidence and protect your oral health against the damages listed above.
How can I replace my missing tooth?
Deciding to replace a missing tooth may happen as soon as your tooth is pulled or years later.
Some of the most common tooth replacement methods include:
- Dental Bridges – This procedure bridges the gap of your missing tooth by installing a custom-made single-unit bridge that attaches to either side of the space. The single unit is crafted to look like three separate teeth with a pontic or fake tooth in the middle that rests along your gumline. Dental bridges are made with a durable metal substructure and a porcelain overlay that looks like real tooth enamel. The results look natural and blend with your surrounding teeth.
- Dental Implants – Dental implants are among the best tooth replacement options. A titanium post is placed into your jawbone to replace your missing tooth’s root. A few months later or once the jawbone fuses to the implant, the dentist attaches a crown that looks just like a natural tooth. Implants are sturdy, permanent, and resemble the look and feel of a natural tooth more than any other tooth replacement option.
- Dentures – In cases of significant tooth loss where all teeth on a single dental arch are missing, custom dentures may be a suitable option. Unlike cheaply made dentures, our Bloomsburg cosmetic dentists consider your natural face shape and specific bite dimensions when designing custom dentures so that they look and feel natural. For a secure fit, you can opt for implant dentures, which are specially made dentures that snap onto dental implants embedded into your jawbone.
Replace Missing Teeth in Bloomsburg
Replacing your missing teeth not only restores your smile but your confidence too. Hamilton Dental Care offers options for you whether your tooth loss occurred recently or years ago. Please find out more by scheduling a consultation with our Bloomsburg implant dentists. Call (570) 387-0533 or visit us online to start your smile restoration journey today.