Every tooth is important for your health, speech, and teeth alignment. Losing a permanent tooth is a dental emergency. When you lose a tooth, it’s vital to schedule an appointment soon after so your dentist can minimize the damage and protect the rest of your teeth and jawbone.
At Sitwell Dental, we provide same-day dental implants and dental implant surgery. Take a closer look at why replacing a missing tooth is so important and your options when you lose a tooth.
Is It Okay to Not Replace a Missing Tooth?
It is essential to replace missing teeth. Even if there isn’t lingering pain or a risk of infection, the gap can significantly affect your surrounding teeth and your jaw’s overall structure.
A dentist can assess your gums to see if immediate dental implantation is an option. They may recommend a personalized treatment and healing regimen for a few months to allow your gums to recover before getting a bridge or implant.
The Risks of Not Replacing a Missing Tooth
There are several risks to your dental health, peace of mind, and overall health if you have missing teeth. What happens if you don’t replace a missing tooth? Risks include:
- Difficulty chewing and talking, whether you’re missing a side tooth or front tooth—missing molars on both sides can exacerbate this problem
- Self-consciousness, especially if you’re missing a front tooth
- Shifting teeth as your remaining teeth move into the gap, which can cause misalignment and change your bite
- Increased risk of gum disease
- Increased risk of tooth decay from trapped particles and microorganisms
- Jawbone deterioration and changes in how your face is shaped
These problems can compromise your long-term oral health. It can also hurt your cardiovascular health because poor oral health can hurt your heart.
Treatment Options for Missing Teeth
Your dentist can walk you through different options for treating missing teeth and protecting your teeth, jaws, and gums. Consider each option to find the right fit for your lifestyle, long-term health, and budget.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are often the ideal solution for front and back teeth replacement in most scenarios. Dentists surgically insert metal posts (a new “root”) into your jawbone and then install a natural-looking, permanent artificial tooth on the post. Dental implants are strong, mimic natural teeth, and can last for decades.
Bridges
Your dentist can insert a replacement prosthetic tooth into the gap and support it by adding crowns to the teeth next to the gap. The adjacent teeth help hold the prosthetic in place and prevent shifting.
Dentures
Partial dentures can fill in the gap of a missing tooth. Dentures have a base that looks like your gums and an artificial tooth, with clasps that help hold the dentures in place. This is a budget-friendly option, especially if you have a large gap of multiple missing teeth. The side effects of having no teeth are more severe, so your dentist may recommend full dentures.
Talk to your dentist about what options are the best fit for you based on the position of the missing tooth, the condition of your adjacent teeth and jawbone, and other considerations.
Why Timely Replacement Is Crucial
Missing teeth can immediately affect your oral health. Your gums need prompt care and treatment for healing and protection. Your teeth can also start to shift into the gap quickly, making it much more difficult to fix with a prosthetic. It’s always best to schedule an appointment with a dentist or dental surgeon as soon as possible so you can create a plan and receive the right care. Your dentist can also assess whether your other teeth are at risk and what to do next.
Schedule an Appointment With Sitwell Dental Today
Sitwell Dental offers comprehensive dental implant services to restore your smile and protect your oral health. You can talk to our team about different implants and prosthetics for a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. Contact us today to schedule your appointment or to learn more about our services.
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