How to Avoid the Complications of Missing Teeth

According to an article in the New York Times, almost 70% of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 have least one missing tooth. By the time the average American reaches 50, he’s lost 12 teeth. After age 65, a quarter or more have lost all of their teeth. Of course, the best way to avoid the complications of missing teeth is to keep all of your natural ones. However, despite good homecare and routine dental check-ups, most of us will have to decide how to manage a missing tooth at some point in our lives.

There Are Many Complications that Arise When You’re Missing Teeth

Before we examine how to overcome the issues, it’s important to understand what problems arise as a result of missing teeth.

1. Bone Loss- When teeth are lost, the bone that once surrounded the root begins to be resorbed by the body. If it’s just a single tooth, the jawbone may wind up with a dip, but as more are lost, the entire mouth can take on a sunken appearance.
2. Empty Spaces Collect Food- Gaps between your teeth, as well as the depression where the tooth was, tend to collect food. This increases the chances of decay on neighboring teeth, can lead to periodontal disease, and is a source of bad breath.
3. Shifting Teeth- With nothing to bite on and to hold the space open, teeth throughout the mouth begin to drift. Tooth misalignment makes it difficult to clean properly, and it’s often unsightly.
4. Difficulty Eating- Many people who are missing teeth have trouble eating. Because of this, nutrition, as well as overall health, suffers.
5. Loss of Confidence- Between appearance and bad breath, people often begin to avoid social situations, or find themselves covering their mouth and smiling less.

Options in Missing Tooth Replacement

There are a myriad of options available if you’d like to restore your smile. Certain factors like overall health, which teeth need to be replaced, and finances will likely come into play as you decide which solutions are best for you.

Bridges

If only one or two teeth are missing, a bridge may be used to fill the gap. In this procedure, teeth on either side are typically fitted with crowns, and a false tooth is affixed between them. There are several variants of bridges, so if you’d like to learn more, please see rosewangdental.com for an in-depth explanation and videos.

Dentures

Another common replacement option is removable dentures. They can be designed to replace an entire arch of teeth, which is called a full denture, or to replace just a few, which is referred to as a partial denture. More information is available on our Dentures Page.

Implants

The ideal solution for missing teeth nowadays is to place a dental implant, because it mimics a natural tooth in terms of form and function. With dental implants, a metal implant is anchored into the jawbone, and after it is given time to integrate, a false tooth is attached to the top. The process is described in greater detail on our Dental Implant Page. It’s also possible to use dental implants in conjunction with a bridge.

Implant Supported Dentures

As the name suggests, implant dentures are a hybrid of the two procedures. In this procedure, four to six implants are used to permanently secure a denture in place.

Nashua Missing Tooth Specialist

There isn’t a one-size-fits all approach when it comes to restoring smiles. At Rose Wang Dental and Associates, we can guide you through all the options available, and help you choose the best one for your particular needs. Please contact us at rosewangdental.com to schedule a consultation.