The Importance of a Healthy, Whole Smile
Our teeth are made to fit together in a way that supports food digestion, promotes clear speech, and protects us against harmful bacteria. However, dental issues such as misalignment or gaps caused by missing teeth can compromise your bite and jeopardize the integrity of your oral health. For this reason, your Farmington Hills, MI dentist provides dental implants to Michigan patients in Livonia, Birmingham, Novi, Westland, and the surrounding areas as a way to restore their smiles and protect their health.
Losing teeth is more than just a cosmetic issue. In fact, tooth loss can dramatically impact your health in a variety of ways. Keep reading to learn about the consequences of prolonged tooth loss and why it’s important to seek dental care right away.
1
Loss of Functionality
If you have one or more gaps in your smile, this will impact the function of your teeth. Even just a single missing tooth will change the alignment of your bite over time. This can lead to difficulty chewing some of your favorite foods or even speaking clearly. Patients can also suffer from nighttime teeth grinding due to the shape of their bite.
2
Increased Risk of Oral Infection
Empty sockets that are used to hold your teeth are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria. These bacteria can spread and build up throughout your gum tissue and result in infection. Even worse, these bacteria can travel to other parts of your body and even reach your arteries, increasing your risk of cardiovascular issues.
3
Weakening of the Jawbone
When you lose a tooth, that area of your jawbone no longer receives the stimulation it needs for healthy bone growth. Over time, this will cause your jawbone to deteriorate and your surrounding teeth to shift due to a lack of support. The more you allow this deterioration to progress without treatment, the more challenging it will become to restore your smile with dental implants.
4
Premature Wrinkling
As a result of your weakened jawbone from tooth loss, your face will develop premature wrinkles and your cheeks will also appear hollow. If you’re missing all of your teeth, the lower part of your facial structure can collapse entirely, making you appear much older than you really are.
5
Reduced Self-Confidence
Gaps in your smile can be a huge confidence killer. No one wants to feel self-conscious about smiling, and untreated tooth loss can impact how well you make a first impression. That’s why it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible, while there’s still time to overcome the effects. Otherwise, you may start to avoid social situations such as family gatherings or outings with friends.
6
Increased Likelihood of Pain
Losing a tooth can increase the likelihood of experiencing sensitivity in your empty sockets. These sockets aren’t meant to be left unprotected and can become prone to debilitating pain and infection. Thankfully, dental implants are designed to replace your natural tooth root and protect your socket from any irritation.
7
Anxiety & Unhappiness
Beyond the physical impact, losing teeth often affects you psychologically as well. Feeling insecure with your smile can result in you becoming shy and certainly avoiding social situations. Dentists surveyed by the Academy of General Dentistry revealed that over 86% of their patients suffering from tooth loss report feeling social embarrassment. This can greatly impact your ability to form relationships and meet new friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do dental implants differ from other tooth loss solutions?
Unlike other restoration options like dental bridges or dentures, dental implants are the only tooth loss solution that is designed to replace missing teeth from root to crown while preventing jawbone deterioration.
Dental implants don’t need to rely on neighboring teeth to be placed and, instead, are inserted into your jawbone beneath the gum line for a stable fit. This is what gives them the ability to keep your jawbone healthy and stimulated. Our implant dentist highly recommends them for patients looking for a permanent solution. During your complimentary consultation, Dr. Shlafer can help determine your eligibility for dental implants.
Are dental implants safe?
Yes! As long as your implant surgery is carried out by a skilled and trained dentist like Dr. Shlafer, getting dental implants is perfectly safe.
Dental implants have a 90% to 95% success rate overall and are the only restoration that stimulates jawbone regrowth and stops your jawbone from deteriorating, making them the longest-lasting and healthiest choice.