Risks Of a Missing Tooth

By Sheri Salartash, DDS, MAGD

Dynamic Dental Wellness

. https://dynamicdentalwellness.com/

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Risks Of a Missing Tooth

What happens when you leave an empty space instead of replacing a missing tooth? Well, when a gap is left by a missing tooth, the surrounding teeth tend to shift because that tooth is no longer helping to keep everything in line. Ultimately, teeth may become crooked or new gaps may appear between teeth.

Your smile is just one of the factors that are affected by the gaps from missing teeth. If you’re missing too many teeth, the skin around your mouth will not be supported, which will create jaw deterioration. The skin will start to sag, making your appearance look older than what you are.

Every time you lose a tooth, it can negatively affect your overall health. The longer you postpone the replacement of a missing tooth can increase your chances of losing more teeth, as well as other issues.

Bone loss and gum disease are other risks from losing a tooth. A missing tooth can trigger bone loss in your jaw, due to the missing gap in your mouth. The tooth no longer has another tooth to contact, which helps stimulate the bone. The open pocket from the missing tooth can create gum disease, since it becomes an accessible gateway for bacteria to enter your gums.

Discuss your options with an experienced dentist. Taking action as soon as possible is the best way to minimize these risks on your oral health.