If you are missing teeth, there’s no reason to feel ashamed. Tooth loss is actually quite common: at least 180 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, while over 35 million are missing all of their teeth! The loss of teeth is no laughing matter, and not just because showing off a toothless grin can be unappealing. Untreated tooth loss can attract periodontal disease and other oral infections that can complicate your dental health. Areas of the jaw affected by missing teeth can also begin to deteriorate, which if left alone can even change the shape of your face. Dental implants can help reverse bone loss and can assist in safeguarding your oral wellbeing.
Health Benefits of Dental Implants
Missing teeth leave behind large gaps in your smile. These are especially likely to catch food particles while you eat, and any food debris left unaccounted for can attract bacteria. Furthermore, gaps can be challenging to clean and require extra attention when you brush and floss. If dental hygiene is inadequate, the result can be a periodontal infection or another oral disease that can cause further health complications. Excessive deposits of plaque invite bacteria which will bring about tooth decay, which entails the gradual wearing away of the various layers of tissue which make up the teeth.
If tooth loss is dealt with early, the gums and jaw may be healthy enough to allow a simple replacement of the lost tooth root with a dental implant. However, if left untreated for too long, having dental implants placed may first require a bone graft or a soft tissue augmentation procedure. If the deterioration of the bone or gum tissue is too extensive, then an even more complicated treatment may be necessary. Similarly, if tooth decay is allowed to progress for long periods of time, the damage to the teeth may be so severe that the only option is removable. Whatever the case may be, leaving missing teeth untreated may only cost you more money, more time, and more pain down the road.
Jawbone Loss and Dental Implants
In order to remain strong and healthy, jawbones need to be regularly exercised. It gets this exercise throughout the day thanks to activities as common as speaking and eating. The pressure and force of these movements is transmitted to the jawbone through the teeth, causing the bone tissue to tear. Trauma to the bone will incite it to regenerate, repairing the damaged area and strengthening it — very similar to a muscle. Unfortunately, when you’re missing teeth, the affected surface areas of the jaw may not receive the workout they need to remain in good condition.
Jawbone deterioration is a possible consequence of tooth loss, especially if the missing tooth is not quickly replaced. When the jaw isn’t sufficiently exercised, the bone tissue begins to depreciate and weaken. This can affect other adjacent healthy teeth as well, and the damage can very well spread. Keep in mind that the jaw acts like a frame, giving your face its shape. Untreated bone loss can gradually worsen until the face begins to deform, which gives it a sunken appearance. The skin may also wrinkle around the jawline, since the loss facial volume will turn some of it into excess.
Dental implants can eliminate jawbone loss by replacing the missing artificial tooth root and by using permanent replacement teeth to take the place of their lost natural counterparts. In fact, by stimulating bone regeneration, implants can even restore the natural appearance of your face. A fabulous aspect to dental implants is that they provide these benefits while requiring no additional or unique maintenance — they’re cleaned just like natural teeth.
Oral Health and Overall Well Being
While there is yet a lot to explore in this particular area of medical science, there is strong evidence that shows a correlation between poor oral health and a poor overall well being. For example, if harmful bacteria in your mouth are allowed to spread, this can result in endocarditis, which is an infection of endocardium — inner lining — of the heart. Similarly, those who suffer from gum disease are twice as likely to experience cardiovascular disease, such as clogged arteries and heart disease. Bone loss in the jaw is also associated with Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis. Finally, women may have a more difficult time conceiving if they have oral health problems, and gum disease has been connected to premature birth and low birth weights.
There are undoubtedly many other factors behind these diseases, and you should not ignore other ways of helping to minimize the risk of contracting these general health complications. Nevertheless, it is important to keep a clean mouth. Brush at least twice a day and floss daily. It is also recommended that you routinely visit the dentist’s office to have any plaque cleaned off, which will help you avoid cavities and the infection of the gums.
Dental implants can help protect your oral health by eliminating large gaps between teeth and by eliminating jawbone deterioration. In fact, they are the foremost solution to tooth loss, precisely because of the many benefits they offer and the various advantages they have over alternative tooth replacement treatments. Start on the path towards a gorgeous smile and contact Bayview Smile Design today!
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