Why you should replace missing teeth

If you’re missing teeth you may be wondering if it’s necessary to have them replaced. 

Whether you suffer from single or multiple teeth loss, it’s important to know that missing teeth is teeth loss is more than just a cosmetic issue. It can increase your risk of oral health issues and affect your everyday life. 

We had a chat with one of our Principal Dentists, Andrew Molloy to ask him a few questions about why you should replace missing teeth. 

As a dentist, what are the main reasons you would recommend replacing missing teeth? 

Even if it isn’t causing you any pain or discomfort, there are many benefits of replacing missing teeth. Some of the main benefits include: 

To improve the aesthetics of your smile:

If you’re missing teeth in the front of your mouth there’s a big chance you feel self-conscious when you smile. Missing teeth can affect your self-confidence and affect all areas of your life. Replacing any missing teeth will improve the aesthetics of your smile and give you added confidence in situations where you’d otherwise feel embarrassed or shy away from expressing your true self. 

To improve functionality:

Depending on where the missing teeth are located, it may affect your chewing functionality. Chewing food without teeth can lead to gum irritation and even cause the jaw to start to deteriorate or cause TMJ.  It can also lead to a speech impediment, especially if you’re missing front teeth. 

Replacing missing teeth will restore this functionality and help ensure you are chewing your food properly. Replacing front teeth will help you to pronounce sounds and avoid speech impediments. 

To stop misalignment:

If you have a space in your mouth, other remaining teeth may start to move into this gap. Due to changes in pressure inside your mouth, surrounding teeth may tilt and fill this space and cause misalignment.  

Replacing missing teeth will help keep your remaining teeth aligned and healthy. When teeth move it can create areas where it’s hard to floss or brush. Plaque can build up in these areas, leading to gum disease if it’s not removed. 

To prevent bone loss:

Continually chewing and putting pressure on your gums where there is a missing tooth can cause bone loss. The bone can deteriorate over time.

If left too long, it can cause irreversible damage and even cause other teeth to fall out due to weakness in the gum. Treatment such as dental implants, which need a strong bone structure for support, may no longer be an option if you’ve been chewing with missing teeth for a long period of time. 

What kind of options are available to replace missing teeth? 

The options to replace missing teeth will depend on how many teeth you have lost. At the Practice, West End, we offer dental implants, dentures and bridges to improve your smile and the functionality of your mouth. 

Dental implants:

Unlike dentures, dental implants can’t be removed. At The Practice we offer both single and multiple dental implants. We use image guided or computer guided surgery to strategically plan and place implants into the exact position and avoid jawbone structures such as nerves. 

Our experienced dentists will create a custom-made crown and fit it to your tooth. The dental implant is designed to look and feel as natural as possible and there is little risk of complications due to the advanced technology we use at our state-of-the-art dental clinic. It normally takes three to four months for the bone to grow and heal around the implant

Dentures:

For some patients, dentures are the best option. At The Practice we offer a fine selection of full and partial dentures to replace missing teeth and give you the smile you’ve always wanted. 

Bridges: 

Dental bridges are another option for replacing missing teeth. Bridges are made up of crowns that are fitted over the adjacent teeth, with a false tooth to replace the missing one. At The Practice they can be made from ceramic, zirconia or gold. 

Ready to replace your missing teeth? Contact The Practice for more information and to book your first consultation. Book your appointment online, or call (07) 3733 3223.