Even a single missing tooth can create numerous long-term problems with your dental health. If you have missing teeth, you should consult with your dentist or prosthodontist about dental implants to prevent these health issues from developing. If you are not a good candidate for traditional implants, another approach such as All-on-4 can give you a new smile and maintain your oral health.
Why Should I Replace a Missing Tooth?
A single missing tooth might not seem like a serious issue, but in fact it can have long-term detrimental effects on your health. If there is extra space in your mouth, your other teeth will automatically move to fill the space, shifting out of their proper position. This causes misalignment, which in turn can lead to other problems including:
- Abnormal wear
- Misalignment of the bite
- Misalignment of the jawbone
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
- Eventual tooth loss
With dental implants, you can replace even a single tooth, which will prevent your other teeth from moving out of position. This will help you maintain your dental health in the long term.
Choosing Dental Implants
The best option for tooth replacement is dental implants. Implants not only replace your tooth, but also replace the tooth root. With an artificial tooth root in place, your jawbone will continue to regenerate. With other tooth replacement options such as dentures, the jawbone eventually atrophies. You can work with an implant dentist or prosthodontist to determine the best approach to replace your missing teeth.
Dental implants are the best option, but not all patients will be good candidates for an implant procedure. You might not be a good candidate for implants if you have any of the following issues:
- You are a smoker
- You are diabetic
- You are taking certain medications for osteoporosis
- You have gum disease
- You have an autoimmune disorder
- You lack sufficient bone density in your jaw
If your jawbone won’t support traditional implants, ask your dentist about All-on-Four. This technique uses four implants to anchor a removable denture, providing the advantages of implants for those who have experienced some loss of bone density. Contact our team for more information!
