No one wants to lose a tooth, but when you really think about it, it’s not hard to imagine that it probably won’t be that big of a deal. After all, there are 31 other teeth remaining, right? How big of a deal could loosing one, or even two, really be?

Well, unfortunately, there are a wide number of long-term consequences that can come from tooth loss, and some can be quite serious. The good news though is that dental implants could help you to both avoid and prevent many issues, while effectively restoring your bite and your smile in a way unlike any other procedure. So don’t hesitate to get beautiful smiles with the Cosmetic dentist in Roseville.

Not only can missing teeth be unsightly, but it can also have a huge impact on your ability to eat and speak, while also potentially altering the shape of your face. Furthermore, it can make cleaning the surrounding teeth difficult, cause them to become loose, and increase the risk of tooth decay.

Ultimately, our teeth all work together to support one another, so if one or more are suddenly lost, the rest of the system they work together to provide begins to fall apart, impacting not only the health of your mouth, but also your health in general.

So before we get onto the consequences of tooth loss, let’s first take a brief look at some of the ways in which people can loose their teeth. Periodontal disease is a fairly common method, and it occurs with those who practice poor and inadequate levels of oral hygiene. Sticky plaque can build up on the teeth, bringing with it symptoms including swollen gums, bad breath, and bleeding. Trauma is another common cause of tooth loss, along with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, autoimmune issues and osteomyelitis.

So now that we know some of the most common causes of tooth loss, what are some of the consequences?

Missing teeth can have a huge impact on your smile:

We’ll start off with the obvious: missing teeth can and will obviously have a huge impact on your smile. This can lead many to feel self-conscious and to lose their confidence, and it can have a huge impact on self-esteem and mental health.

Missing teeth can cause difficulties when eating:

One of the biggest issues you’ll have to contend with when missing teeth is eating, especially when it comes to certain foods. Therefore, depending on which teeth are missing, you may need to make some alterations to your diet. Meat for example requires a lot of chewing by the back teeth, which will obviously become an issue if those teeth are missing. Likewise, biting into an apple is going to be near impossible if you’re missing your front teeth. Sometimes food may also not get chewed so thoroughly, and can therefore be a struggle to swallow and take longer to digest.

Missing teeth can cause structural changes to your face:

If you’ve ever seen someone remove their dentures, then you know the impact some missing teeth can have on the shape of the face (think Javier Bardem in Skyfall, although maybe less grizzly). All it takes is for a couple of teeth to be missing for a noticeable—and even sometimes dramatic—change in the face and cheeks.

Bone resorption is another complication that can arise with missing teeth. This causes the contours of the jaw to shrink, which can result in a gaunt and sunken looking mouth and face, leading to a much older appearance.

Missing teeth can bring about issues with speech:

Gaps in between teeth can have a big impact on your speech, and you’ll likely begin to find difficulties when pronouncing certain words. You may notice whistling sounds when you say certain words too, along with spitting.

Many of the sounds we make are done so by pressing our tongue against our teeth, or at least by moving our tongue around our mouths. With even just one tooth missing, the delicate balance of the mouth is disrupted. When you think of it like this, it’s no surprise that speech will become so impacted by even the smallest change.

Missing teeth can allow surrounding teeth to drift:

As anyone who’s had braces knows, teeth are more than capable of moving if given enough impetus to do so. Therefore, as soon as a tooth is missing and there’s nothing pushing back against the adjacent teeth, they’ll very quickly start to drift in that direction.

As this begins to happen, it could soon lead to issues with cleaning, which could in turn then lead to a higher risk of decay and periodontal disease.

So how can dental implants Turkey save the day? Well firstly, dental implants aren’t the only solution for fixing missing teeth. You’re probably already somewhat familiar with dentures and dental bridges, although neither option though can compare to the sheer resilience and natural feel and function of a dental implant.

Unlike other options, dental implants work as a permanent solution to replace the root of a missing tooth. This is achieved by inserting small titanium screws into the jawbone, where they fuse and become one with the surrounding bone as they heal, and provide a strong and solid support for the ceramic or porcelain crown that’s placed on top.

All of the above mentioned consequences of missing teeth could easily be avoided or prevented with dental implants. They can restore your smile, fix any issues you had while eating, prevent any structural changes to your face, and allow you to continue speaking properly. Not only this though, but they’re also a long-term solution for ensuring a good quality of oral health, and as long as they’re cared for properly, they’ll last a lifetime.

As many as 98% of all dental implant procedures are successful, making it an incredibly reliable and predictable procedure for just about anyone with missing teeth.