The Unseen Repercussions of Tooth Loss

Posted by: Dr. Sirakian Categories: Uncategorized

When one loses a tooth, it is easy to see the aesthetic issues that can pose for an individual. A missing tooth can cause various psychological and social consequences depending on how a person handles such an event.

There are a number of unseen effects of tooth loss that can have a direct impact on oral and overall health. After tooth loss occurs, it is common to see a decrease in the width of the alveolar bone—which contain tooth sockets. Loss of the alveolar bone can trigger loss of the jaw bone, which in turn can cause facial reconfiguration and make an individual more prone to jaw fractures and other serious facial injuries, not to mention chewing restrictions and speech impairment.

Many Americans are missing at least one tooth. These teeth are usually back teeth, which are the first adult teeth to appear in the mouth, and subsequently the first to fail as a result of decay or other injury. However, thanks to advancements in dental technology, missing teeth can be replaced by teeth implants, which can be used to help a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. Implants help support surrounding teeth and help maintain the jaw bone and prevent further bone loss.

Dental implants also function the same as natural teeth, which can improve overall health. With chewing no longer an issue, diets stabilize, and one starts to regain the self-confidence they had prior to losing a tooth!

If you have a missing tooth and think you can benefit from dental implants, contact your local dentist today.

Falling Asleep Without Brushing

Have you ever gone to sleep without brushing your teeth? You may think, “Oh it’s just this one time,” but after reading this you will never have that “one time” again! We all know that we are supposed to brush and floss our teeth at least twice a day, but what exactly happens when two […]

5 Foods for a Healthy Smile

When we eat, we rarely think about how our favorite foods affect our teeth. Well, we should! Different foods can have effects on our oral health. Here are some types of foods that are recommended for a healthy smile, and some that we advise to steer away from. Follow these guidelines, and your smile will […]

The Top 7 Reasons We Avoid the Dentist

For as many jokes as there are about the dentist, it’s really not a scary place! The fear that is present in our minds even before we enter the office has no reason to be there! Modern medicine ensures that treatments are generally painless, so what else is there to worry about? In this article […]

What You Need to Know About Grillz

Dental grills (also known as “grillz”) might draw attention to your teeth and your smile, but they are actually terrible for your teeth. If you have ever seen a music video featuring someone wearing grills, then you are likely looking at dental grills that are made from gold, silver, or another precious metal. While expensive […]

Xerostomia: What is it, and how do I fix it?

It’s a feeling we’ve all experienced at some point or another: a parched, gritty, can’t-get-water-fast-enough sensation that’s unpleasant at best and dangerous at worst. Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a medical condition that we tend to write off as mere dehydration. While taking a big gulp of water can help in the short-term, if your […]