It's so easy to take your oral health for granted, but if you end up losing a tooth, you'll realize how important it is to save your pearly whites.
At Serpentine Dental Care, we practice preventive and minimally invasive biomimetic dentistry to reduce the need for removing teeth. However, we know that sometimes losing a tooth is inevitable due to inadequate dental care, the progression and re-treatment of previous dental work or trauma.
In this blog we will discuss some common and far reaching implications of tooth loss, extending beyond oral health care concerns. We hope this serves as a reminder to keep your mouth healthy and seek appropriate dental care early, to minimize the consequences of tooth loss.
1. Appearance and change in facial features: Missing teeth can cause bone and tissue loss. The remaining teeth may shift and the facial structure may change.
2. Difficulty eating: Tooth loss can restrict your ability to bite into and chew certain foods properly, potentially affecting your nutritional intake and overall digestion. This limitation can significantly impact your diet and overall quality of life.
3. Altered speech: Losing teeth can result in speech difficulties or alterations, affecting your communication abilities and potentially impacting personal and professional interactions.
4. Self-confidence and emotional well-being: Missing teeth can lead to feelings of self-consciousness, embarrassment, social anxiety, shame or depression. There may be a reluctance to smile or engage in social situations. The impact on self-image may have a negative effect on self-worth and emotions.
5. Impact on Social and Professional Life: Individuals may feel self-conscious about their smile or worry about potential judgment from others. Tooth loss can potentially hinder professional interactions, opportunities and growth.
6. Financial Considerations: The financial implications of replacement options for lost teeth can be substantial. Additionally, untreated tooth loss can lead to further dental complications, necessitating costly treatments down the line.
7. Long-term Oral Health Impact: Ignoring tooth loss can lead to a cascade of oral health issues, including further tooth loss, gum disease, and compromised oral function.
What are the options for replacing missing teeth?
Dental implants, bridges or dentures are all options for treating missing teeth, and what is best for you depends on your individual situation.
Contact us today to discuss:
1) Saving your teeth - with advanced biomimetic dentistry, certain teeth that would previously have been considered 'unrestorable', can be saved.
2) Options for replacing your missing teeth.