Do You Really Need to Worry if You Are Missing One Tooth?
Posted on 7/26/2021 by Dr. Castellon
You may be surprised to learn that missing even a single tooth can have significant consequences for your oral health. Whether an injury resulted in the loss of a tooth or you had a tooth extracted due to disease or decay, it is very important to replace your missing tooth with a crown, bridge, or dental implant in order to prevent the following problems.
Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Missing a single tooth leaves a hole in your smile where food particles, bacteria, and plaque can build up. This puts your oral health at risk since bacteria and plaque lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, so replacing your single missing tooth now could actually help prevent further tooth loss in the future.
Remaining Teeth Shifting
When one tooth is missing, your remaining teeth will gradually begin to shift position in your mouth. Not only does this create more gaps in your smile that are susceptible to decay and gum disease, but it also changes your bite. When your bite is not aligned, there is an uneven distribution of pressure on your teeth and jaw, which leads to wear and tear for both. You might also have difficulty chewing, chipped or cracked teeth, and symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, and popping or clicking sounds in your jaw.
Difficulty Speaking
Yet another issue that can result from missing a single tooth is difficulty speaking. Your teeth and tongue work together to form the various sounds involved in speech, so missing even one tooth can make it hard or impossible to produce certain sounds. This can be frustrating and embarrassing, and along with the aesthetic concerns of missing a tooth, it might make you self-conscious about speaking in public.
Luckily, there are many options available for replacing a missing tooth. Call us today to discuss the possibilities.
Dental Blog | Dallas Prosthodontics - Dallas, TX Drs. Castellon and Buskin are offering this educational blog as a resource to our patients and the community. We hope that this blog will help you. Learn more. Dallas Prosthodontics, 6029 Belt Line Road, Suite 120, Dallas, TX 75254 \ (972) 503-7200 \ dallasprosthodontics.com \ 9/30/2024 \ Related Phrases: Prosthodontist Dallas TX \
You may be surprised to learn that missing even a single tooth can have significant consequences for your oral health. Whether an injury resulted in the loss of a tooth or you had a tooth extracted due to disease or decay, it is very important to replace your missing tooth with a crown, bridge, or dental implant in order to prevent the following problems.