A missing tooth can ruin your smile, but you have options to fix this problem. Dental implants are one of the best solutions because they are permanent and very natural-looking, but they require you to replace a few teeth to support them correctly. Here are four reasons you should replace missing teeth with dental implants.
Reason #1. To Prevent Bone Loss
Bone loss is inevitable in the jawbone, but as we age and lose teeth, this process speeds up. When a tooth is lost, the bone begins to shrink and collapse. This can lead to many dental problems like gum disease and poor oral hygiene because brushing your teeth correctly with only one or two teeth becomes difficult. It also leads to loss of taste buds due to the inability of saliva from other areas of the mouth to reach these spots. Lastly, it would be best if you replace missing teeth not only for aesthetic reasons but also because it will affect your health.
Reason #2. To Maintain an Even Bite
Maintaining an even bite is one of the main benefits of dental implants, but that’s not all. Even bites are essential for a healthy diet and overall oral health. Reports show that uneven bites can lead to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), which cause pain in the jaw joint and muscles, difficulty chewing, and other mouth problems.
In addition, the constant pressure applied by an uneven bite can cause wear on your teeth and gums, leading to tooth decay or gum disease. By replacing missing teeth with dental implants, you can help maintain your balanced bite. Moreover, dental implant treatment could be the answer if you suffer from TMJ due to an uneven bite.
Reason #3. To Prevent Overgrowth of Opposing Teeth
Missing teeth can lead to overgrowth of opposing teeth and cause problems like crowding and a misaligned bite. If you have a missing tooth, it’s important to replace it as soon as possible. This will help avoid more serious issues from occurring later on in life. Without the missing teeth or dental implants, an opposing tooth may erupt into the empty space created by losing a neighboring tooth and either overlap or push out another tooth. When these things happen, your jawbone starts to deteriorate due to lack of use which leads to bone deterioration which can make chewing difficult.
Reason #4) To Retain Function
Missing teeth can affect the health of your mouth and overall well-being. When you don’t have teeth, it can become difficult to chew food and keep your teeth clean. The lack of chewing ability can cause misalignment of your remaining teeth, and bacteria from improper dental hygiene can lead to gum disease or tooth decay. Dental implants allow you to eat anything confidently and maintain a healthy mouth. In addition to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are usually covered by insurance, so this is an affordable option for those looking for a permanent solution.
In Essence
Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth and improve oral health. As technology improves, dental implant procedures have become safer and less invasive. Dentists can now place dental implants without having to extract the healthy tooth or teeth that remain in your mouth. There is an easier recovery time, which means you can chew food normally after only a few days instead of waiting weeks or months like before.