4 Health Consequences of Losing a Single Tooth

Not only does losing a tooth put your other teeth at risk, but an incomplete smile can negatively impact your mood, self-esteem, and quality of life. Fortunately, whether you’ve lost one tooth or more, our Calgary holistic dentists can help remedy the situation by using dental implants, which will help enhance oral function and improve the appearance of your smile.

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Even today, with the great advancements in dentures and dental implants, losing even one tooth can be difficult and concerning. It makes performing daily activities, such as eating and speaking, harder and it can put you at a higher risk of developing certain health problems.

Some of the main causes of tooth loss include:

• Poor oral hygiene. Failing to brush and floss your teeth regularly is one of the major causes of tooth loss.
• Aging. Tooth loss is more common in older patients due to weakened teeth and gums.
• Smoking. Not only does smoking increase your risk of serious diseases, such as oral cancer, but smokers are also more likely to have periodontal disease and develop deep pockets between gums, which can lead to tooth loss.
• Neglecting regular dental visits. Dental disease, if left untreated, will only get worse. Cavities and gum disease, without prompt and effective dental treatment can lead to tooth loss over time. 

Do You Have One or More Missing Teeth? Dental Implants Can Help Restore Your Oral Health

Dental implants are for patients who are missing one or more teeth. They look, function, and feel like natural teeth and help to preserve and maintain the surrounding jawbone. At our Calgary dental clinic, our holistic dentists can assess your oral health to determine if this is the right procedure for you and help restore your dental and overall health.

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4 Ways Losing a Single Tooth Can Harm Your Health and Quality of Life

Tooth loss in adults is often caused by tooth decay, gum disease or trauma and although it can be corrected with restorative options such as dental implants or bridges, many people opt to forego treatment and live with the loss.

However, the reality is that failing to replace one or more lost teeth can be detrimental to your health and the function of your smile.

Here are four ways losing and failing to replace a single tooth can harm your health and quality of life:

1. Bone Loss

Teeth help to stimulate and support the bone of your jaw and if you are missing teeth, the bone that once supported them is no longer stimulated. As a result, it begins to break down or resorb, which can have serious consequences for patients.

Consequences of Loss of Jawbone

Jaw bone loss can lead to dental problems if it is not managed. For example, the jawbone is vital for supporting dentures and as it deteriorates, it may be hard to find a comfortable fit. If a patient has only one missing tooth, then bone loss can make a dental implant difficult or even impossible to place.

In addition to this, jawbone loss can cause facial changes; lips and cheeks can develop a dunken or dropped appearance over time if teeth are missing inside the mouth.

2. Shifting Teeth and Impacted Bite

Although your teeth are firmly attached to your jaw bone, they can shift or move over time for a number of reasons, including gum recession or tooth decay. This issue of shifting can be accelerated significantly if you are missing even one tooth.

The gap creates a vast space into which adjacent teeth can shift, which in turn creates space for the other teeth to shift. In a domino effect, your entire bite can be impacted.

3. Bite Irregularities

Missing one or more teeth can cause bite irregularities that impact the health of your remaining teeth, your gums, your jaw muscles, your jaw joint, and head and neck.

How? The manner in which the chewing surfaces of your teeth come together determines occlusion (your bite). Missing teeth can lead to the shifting of other teeth, drastically impacting how your teeth come together when you bite.

An improper bite can lead to a variety of problems, such as:

• Further tooth loss
• Sensitivity
• TMJ pain
• Muscle pain
• Unnatural wearing of the teeth

While orthodontics can help correct malocclusion, it can be a lengthy treatment process, which is why it’s recommended to replace any missing teeth as quickly as possible.

4. Difficulty Eating and Speaking

We rely on our teeth for the tearing and gnashing of the food we eat. Depending on the location of your missing tooth (or teeth), you may experience difficulty eating. In addition to this, failure to chew adequately can impact digestion, resulting in other health problems, such as acid reflux.

Missing Teeth Can Lead to Speech Difficulties

Missing teeth can make it difficult to pronounce certain words. In addition, you may experience whistling or slurring when speaking.

How Dental Implants Can Help Restore Your Oral Health
 

A dental implant is a long-lasting, effective and natural-looking way to replace a missing tooth. Dental implants look, feel and act like a real tooth and, if properly cared for, can last a lifetime.

Dental implants are extremely beneficial because they:

• Behave like natural teeth
• Can last a lifetime if you take care of them properly
• Keep the adjacent teeth stable
• Prevent facial sagging and premature aging
• Prevent bone loss

3 WAYS DENTAL IMPLANTS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE

Our Calgary Holistic Dentists Are Providing Urgent Emergency Dental Services During COVID-19

During this difficult time of COVID-19, our SW Calgary dentists are taking every step necessary to protect the health and well-being of our patients, staff, and community. While we have suspended all non-emergency dental treatments, we are prepared to assist you with any urgent conditions or concerns to protect your oral and overall health.

For any urgent dental care advice, contact us at 403-245-9099 or send an email to jackie@drkorol.com

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