Does a Single Missing Tooth Change the Shape of Your Gums?
Posted on 6/22/2020 by Hilton Israelson, DDS
There are a lot of people in the United States who have missing teeth. In fact, over 120 million people in the United States have at least one missing tooth, and over 30 million Americans are missing all of their teeth. You may be thinking that there is really no problem that people have a missing tooth. There's no problem with missing one tooth, right? Even one missing tooth can cause problems. Keep reading for more information about missing teeth.
Why is Even One Missing Tooth A Problem?
Many people believe that one missing tooth is not an issue. However, one missing tooth can be a problem. First, when you are missing a tooth, your tooth root is implanted into your jaw. When the tooth is missing, the jawbone begins to deteriorate in that area. Your jaw believes that particular area of your jawbone isn't needed, so it begins to remove bone mass. Over time, this leads to the deterioration of your jawbone and it can change the shape of your face.
Also, your gums act like the framework for your teeth. When you lose a tooth, the gum tissue that held that missing tooth begins to shrink. Depending on the reasons you lost the tooth, you could lose more teeth after that first tooth loss. If you lost the tooth due to gum disease, you are at risk of further infection and tooth loss.
If you have lost teeth, we can help. There are restorative dental procedures that we can use to restore the look of your teeth, and the health of your gums. In fact, with implants, your mouth will think you never lost a tooth at all. Why not give us a call today, so that we can talk to you about restorative dental practices and missing teeth?