Tooth decay is extremely common. Unfortunately, tooth decay can lead to tooth loss when not properly treated, and you will be left with a gaping hole in your mouth.
Many individuals believe they do not need to replace missing teeth, especially if the missing tooth is in the back of their mouth where it cannot be seen. However, it is crucial to your oral and overall health to replace all missing teeth.
Fortunately, there are many options for replacing missing teeth, with dental implants being the most functional and permanent.
What Will Happen if I Do Not Replace My Missing Teeth?
1. Bone Loss
Missing teeth can lead to bone loss, which causes damage to your other teeth. If you wait too long to replace your missing teeth, you could lose so much bone that your other teeth will lose support. Additionally, patients with severe bone loss are not candidates for dental implants.
It is important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible to prevent any bone loss.
2. Chewing Becomes Difficult
For most people, the majority of chewing takes place with the back teeth. If you are missing teeth in the back of your mouth, it can be difficult to chew your favorite foods. You may experience pain or notice that food is always getting stuck in your gaps. This can cause severe discomfort and bad breath. Dental implants can fill the gaps in the back of your mouth, making it easy and comfortable to eat all of your favorite foods.
3. Infection and Shifting
Since gaps in the back of your mouth can trap food, not replacing missing teeth can put you at a higher risk for infection and gum disease. Additionally, gaps in your mouth can cause your teeth to shift and crowd your other teeth.
What Are My Tooth Replacement Options?
Thankfully, when you lose a tooth, you have various replacement options. You can choose dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants. All of these are viable options to prevent bone loss, shifting, and infection. However, dental implants are the most functional and permanent tooth replacement option.
With dental implants, you are not restricted and can eat almost anything. Unlike dentures, dental implants are not removable and do not need to be removed when sleeping.
Whatever tooth replacement options you choose, you can feel confident that you are making the right decision for your oral health.
Interested in Learning More About Dental Implants in Beverly Hills?
If you are interested in learning more about the importance of replacing missing teeth, please contact our office at (310) 273-0111 or by filling out our online contact form.