A single lost or damaged tooth can influence your daily life. Even though it may be at the back of your mouth and not visible from the outside, over time it can start affecting your appearance, self-esteem, your oral health and even your health in general.
Physical Consequences
- Shifting Teeth
Over time the teeth next to the missing tooth will move
towards each other to fill the gap. This can cause the teeth to become misaligned, putting extra strain on the jaw, causing difficulty chewing and an increased risk of tooth decay. The treatment for this would be teeth straightening which will likely end up more expensive than a single tooth replacement.
- Headaches or migraines
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) that connect your jaw to your skull can be put under strain when your teeth shift out of position, often causing headaches and other pain and discomfort.
- Digestive Issues
Missing teeth can lead you to not chew your food properly which can lead to digestive issues such as acid reflux and malnutrition from nutrients not being absorbed properly in the digestive tract. You may also look to avoid certain foods that are too difficult to eat. Getting your tooth replaces restores your full chewing function so you can go back to enjoying the foods you love.
- Bone loss
A lack of teeth can severely reduce the density of jawbone because it is no longer stimulated when chewing. This leads to a shrinking jaw line which makes you look older than you really are.
Mental Consequences
- Low self confidence
Society casts a negative light on people with missing teeth. Characters on the TV that are supposed to be poor or unintelligent often have at least one missing tooth. These perceptions spill out into reality where nearly anything can be said on social media. Even the toughest skin will weaken over time.
- Self-doubt
As life expectancies continue to rise, you could be living with the stigma and difficulty speaking or eating for decades, even if you lose a tooth at age 50 or 60.
Do not allow this to happen, you have the power to change your appearance.
Restoring your smile
The most common treatment to replace a missing tooth is a
dental implant. A dental implant is inserted into the jaw bone and a crown placed on top to give the closest possible restoration to having your natural tooth back. The process will take between 3-6 months to complete, depending on whether you need additional bone grafting.
The result is a tooth that looks and feels just like the one you lost. Here at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre we are pleased to be able to offer finance to help you spread the cost of your tooth replacement, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent you from achieving the smile of your dreams.
A dental implant is an investment in your oral health, helping to protect your remaining teeth and giving you back your smile.
If you would like to find out more about replacing a missing tooth call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01622 682 029
