Why Is It Necessary To Replace Missing Teeth?

By Dr. Jay McCarl, Dr. Clayton McCarl, and Dr. David McCarl

Replacing a missing tooth is important for several reasons. When you lose a tooth, your jawbone gradually loses strength and firmness, causing bone loss and changes in facial features. The loss of even one tooth can cause an unstable bite and chewing problems. Because remaining teeth often shift, proper cleaning becomes more difficult leading to periodontal problems and tooth decay.Teeth that have shifted no longer fit together properly, which can create excessive wear, headaches, and many other problems. There are also concerns associated with the appearance of a smile with missing teeth. First impressions are made at a glance and nothing makes a better impression than a beautiful smile. Most adults feel extremely self-conscious about a gap in their smile.

A dental implant restored with a crown looks, feels and functions like a natural tooth. Dental implants are safe, reliable and effective for single and multiple tooth restoration. Implants are made of a biocompatible titanium alloy and are placed in the jawbone, where they fuse to the bone, replacing the root of the tooth.In many cases, a temporary crown can be placed on the tooth immediately and replaced with a permanent crown.Implants typically last a long time (they won't decay), and they are the best restorations in cases where the neighboring teeth are healthy and properly aligned.

With the recent advances in minimally invasive dental implants, more patients are candidates for permanent tooth replacement. Mini dental implants are popular because of their immediate use and also because they are less invasive, less expensive, and heal faster than traditional implants. The most common use of mini dental implants is stabilization of dentures.

The bottom line for many dental implant patients is that for the first time since they have had dentures, they can actually talk and chew without being afraid that their dentures will fall out or shift causing sores in their mouths. Patients are able to remove and replace the denture easily so that they can clean their gums and dentures daily.

Every dentist should listen to their patients' concerns and goals for dental health and present a range of treatment options so the patient can choose a plan which best suits their dental needs.