A Smile No More: The Loss of a Tooth

Having a missing tooth can lead to malnutrition! When teeth are missing, it can make eating regular meals significantly more difficult and sometimes even impossible. You cannot stay healthy without the proper calorie and nutrient intake.

In addition, a missing tooth can alter your bite, leading to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. TMJ disorder affects the jaw joint, the surrounding muscles, and the associated nerves. Its symptoms include jaw pain, ear discomfort, facial pain, and headaches.

Missing teeth can also lead to gum disease, and gum disease is associated with an increased risk of other medical conditions.

According to a study, gum disease can affect pregnancy. The study also suggests that gum disease imposes a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory diseases, chronic kidney disease, and cancer.

Depending on various factors, such as your chosen treatment and the complexity of your case, it may take a few weeks to a few months.

• Production of conventional dentures typically takes two to three weeks.
• A dental bridge procedure can also take two to three weeks.
• A single dental implant treatment may take anywhere between three to nine months to complete.
• All-on-4 dental implants, on the other hand, may take 3 to 6 months to complete.
• Dental implants can take longer if bone grafting is necessary.

Please book a consultation appointment at Dental @ Niddrie. Our friendly team can assess your needs and discuss treatment options with you, including timelines.

Having missing teeth can affect the way you speak. The space created by the missing teeth makes it hard to enunciate words properly, leading to unclear pronunciation and speaking difficulty. In many cases, it can also cause you to mumble more and make it more difficult for others to understand you when you talk.

The following can help you prevent further tooth loss:

• Visit your dentist regularly so that they can check your oral health and address any dental problems that can lead to tooth loss.
• Have regular dental scaling and cleaning to remove dental plaque.
• Practise good oral hygiene, such as brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once daily. It can significantly reduce your risk of teeth damage, preventing tooth loss.
• Avoid chewing on hard foods such as ice. It may cause chipping of the tooth or tooth loss.
• Avoid using your teeth as a tool when opening packages or bottles. It can damage your teeth, leading to tooth loss.
• Wear custom mouthguards when playing sports or if you grind your teeth at night to protect your teeth from damage that can lead to tooth loss.

It is common for those with missing teeth to shy away from tougher or crunchier foods or those that require biting. Additionally, because certain foods may be more challenging to eat without all of your teeth, individuals are more likely to opt for softer substitutes, which may not be as nutritious or healthy. 

The length of life for a replacement tooth depends on various factors. These factors include the type and quality of restoration used and how well you take care of it with proper oral hygiene habits, such as regular brushing and flossing.

For example, high-quality dentures can last up to 7 years if taken care of properly. The crown of an implant can last up to 15 years, depending on how you take care of it. They would then usually need replacements due to daily wear and tear.

It’s important to know that although replacement options for missing teeth are relatively safe, there are risks associated with these options. For example, dental implants may result in chronic bleeding during the procedure. An infection can also develop if you do not take care of it properly.

Visit our clinic to learn more about the risks associated with missing teeth replacement.

The remaining teeth will eventually shift to occupy the space created by the missing tooth or teeth. It will result in the development of bite problems. Also, your jawbone can start to shrink, which is known as bone resorption. With this, the risk of gum disease will increase.

Furthermore, gum disease causes the gums to recede, creating pockets where bacteria can breed. It will then weaken the teeth adjacent to your missing teeth, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

Depending on the replacement option you choose, a variety of maintenance requirements may be necessary. For example, dentures should be removed and cleaned daily, soaked in specially-formulated cleansing solutions regularly, and checked for wear and tear about every six months.

Implants are vulnerable to plaque buildup, but with proper brushing, flossing, and regular professional cleaning appointments every 6-12 months, your implants can be properly maintained for years to come. Lastly, bridgework requires diligent brushing around adjacent teeth to avoid decay between the artificial tooth and its anchoring points. 

Your dentist can provide further instructions regarding patient-specific maintenance requirements to keep your new smile looking beautiful for years to come!