Losing a tooth is tough and can hinder your dental health. However, there’s a way to create a more balanced mouth with natural-looking results. But what are the non-cosmetic or aesthetic reasons why you should restore your smile? We offer various options to give you a more confident smile. Learn about why it’s important to replace lost teeth and your options for replacing missing teeth in Charlotte, NC below.
Why Should You Replace Your Missing Teeth?
Gaps from missing teeth can cause more problems than you may expect. Missing teeth can result in:
- Tooth decay
- Shifting teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Facial sagging
- Problems with speech
- Difficulty biting and chewing
- Jaw bone loss
If you have only one missing tooth, you may not think that missing that tooth is an issue. This may also be true if your lost tooth isn’t in the smile zone. But missing teeth are more than just a cosmetic issue. The truth of the matter is that replacing your missing teeth is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your health. The following are just a few of the reasons why you should replace your missing teeth.
Improved Appearance
Of course, the most obvious reason to consider replacing your missing teeth is to restore your mouth’s natural look. When teeth are missing, the surrounding teeth can begin to move out of place and cause your face to look unbalanced and sunken in. Your face starts to sag and can make you look older. However, our dentist can restore your mouth to its natural proportions with a bridge, denture or dental implant.
Improved Oral Health
Missing teeth strongly impact your oral health. When you lose a tooth, the bone in that area immediately starts to deteriorate. This can lead to gum disease and other dental health issues. Bone loss can also impact the teeth around it, making them more likely to have problems such as crooked teeth.
When you have a gap in your smile, the teeth around it start to shift and try to fill that gap. Not only will you have missing teeth to treat, but you may have to treat crooked teeth as well. Replacing these teeth can help to improve your overall oral health and reduce the risk of developing more serious oral health problems.
Improved Bite
Missing teeth lead to an uneven bite as well. If you are missing a few teeth and are unable to bite properly, you may be at risk for developing jaw pain and other issues. When you close your jaw and bite down, the pressure does not distribute evenly across your teeth. Teeth are more likely to chip or crack because they’re taking on more pressure now.
An uneven bite is a cause of TMJ disorders too. TMJ issues cause pain and a loss of function throughout the jaw joint and face. Replacing these teeth can help you to bite and chew properly, reducing the risk of further health issues.
Improved Quality of Life
Finally, replacing your missing teeth can help to improve your quality of life. Being self-conscious about your teeth and the inability to eat certain foods can have a dramatic impact on your confidence and your overall quality of life.
By replacing your missing teeth, you can improve all of the above areas and greatly improve your quality of life. So don’t put it off any longer! Continue reading to find out what tooth replacement options we have available for you.
Missing Teeth Treatments in Charlotte, NC
The following are restorative treatments that we provide at Dentistry of the Queen City to help you replace missing teeth.
Dental Implants
Made of titanium posts, dental implants are a stable solution that acts as artificial tooth roots. Dental implants are surgically inserted and are then allowed to heal over a period of months. Then a permanent dental crown is attached for the final restoration. Dental implants can also be used to secure dental bridges or dentures and partial dentures.
Dental implants are often considered the best choice for tooth replacement. This is because they’re the only solution that replaces the tooth root as well as the crown. This helps to prevent the jawbone from deteriorating further, as well as potentially reversing some deterioration that’s already occurred. They also give you back your full bite function and are considered a permanent restoration.
Dental Bridges
This treatment effectively replaces one or more teeth with the aid of dental crowns and, at times, dental implants. Dental bridges can be removable, but an implant-secured dental bridge often provides a more secure fit. Many patients also find that secured dental bridges make it easier for them to bite and chew.
Dentures & Partials
Patients who are missing multiple teeth or whole arches of teeth can benefit from full and partial dentures. Like dental bridges, dentures can also be secured with dental implants. Dentures and partials also restore the form and function of teeth.
At Dentistry of the Queen City, we offer both removable and implant-secured dentures. Removable dentures are cost-effective but don’t give you back your full bite function. They require adhesive to stay in the mouth and need to be readjusted or replaced in the future because your jawbone will continue to deteriorate.
Implant-secured dentures are a fixed solution that gives you back more bite function. Unlike removable dentures, they don’t have to be removed to be cleaned every day. You can simply brush the dentures as you would normal teeth. Since they’re secured by implants, you also have less worry about your restoration slipping or falling out of the mouth.
Replace Missing Teeth with our Dentist in Charlotte, NC
Replacing a missing tooth or teeth not only enhances the aesthetics of your smile but improves your oral health too. Tooth decay can cause multiple teeth to fall out, and even one missing tooth can result in overcrowding as a result of shifting teeth. However, you can replace missing teeth with stable and brilliant-looking results.
Do you want to fill in the gaps left by missing teeth? Call Dr. Reece at 704-486-8911 or schedule an appointment online. He will work with you to find the restorative treatment that aligns with your needs, budget, and dental goals.