Are you missing one or more missing teeth? Missing teeth are actually more common than you may think, in fact over 175,000,00 people in America are missing at least one of their teeth. The American College of Prosthodontists also expects this number will continue to grow over the next few decades. But did you know that neglecting to replace missing teeth can result in additional dental complications among other things?
Tooth Shifting
When a tooth is missing, other teeth surrounding the area will often begin to shift and become misaligned. This can also lead to patients’ experiencing bite issues due to the upper and lower jaw no longer meeting properly.
Decay of the Remaining Healthy Teeth
Due to the shifting and misalignment of teeth, proper dental care can also become difficult. This will increase the risk of plaque buildup, bacteria overgrowth, tooth decay and even periodontal disease. Ultimately this can result in even more tooth loss in your mouth.
Dietary/Digestive Problems
When it comes to eating, everything starts in the mouth. Having missing teeth can limit the foods we can consume and also cause issues with chewing. Not properly chewing food can result in digestive problems such as acid reflux and heartburn.
Face Alteration
Along with the shifting of teeth when a patient has missing teeth, bone loss and facial alteration can occur. This is due to the bone being resorbed, altering the face by making it look sunken-in and misshapen.
Speech Alteration
Many patients, depending on which teeth are missing, experience speech alteration and problems. This is often due to how the teeth and tongue are used to pronounce certain letters and words.
