Missing Teeth
Causes of Missing Teeth
There are many different causes of missing teeth; injury, gum disease, and tooth decay are among the most common causes. Besides cases resulting from dental emergencies, which need urgent dental care, there are cases where people are born without specific teeth, this condition is known as congenitally missing teeth. This condition is usually hereditary and the most common teeth missing are wisdom teeth, upper lateral incisors, and second premolars or bicuspids.
Tooth Loss Problems
Besides aesthetic reasons, missing teeth can cause a lot of problems, for instance, imagine not being able to enjoy meals, or getting passed over for a job because self-confidence was lowered, due to missing teeth. Here are some more examples of difficulties caused by tooth loss:
- Chewing can be difficult for those missing a tooth and can even cause poor nutrition from not eating specific types of foods.
- Shifting teeth excess room in the mouth which can cause teeth to move to compensate. This can cause long-term issues like bite misalignment. This can also make brushing more difficult if teeth are overcrowding leading to tooth decay.
- Speaking difficulties can occur from tooth loss, which can lead to embarrassing scenarios or take away self-confidence.
- Bone loss can be caused in the jaw due to atrophy. This can lead to a change in facial structure, which usually looks older due to the face shrinking inwards and the skin around the jaw sagging.
- Mental health such as depression and anxiety have been linked with tooth loss. Lowered self-confidence can also be caused from embarrassment felt from tooth loss.
Solutions for Missing Teeth
Luckily, there are a few different ways to repair smiles and self-confidence. Our doctors will help find the best option for missing teeth and come up with the best solution that works for each patient depending on their circumstances.
- Dental Implants are commonly used to replace a single tooth or many different missing teeth. These replacement teeth are designed to look, feel, and function like a natural tooth. Dental implants are usually the best solution for tooth loss.
- Bridges are another option for treating tooth loss. They are supported using the surrounding teeth, however, bridges do need to be replaced after a certain time period.
- Dentures are an alternative option if dental implants are out of the question. While dentures do not reverse the effects of missing teeth like dental implants, they do allow for functional chewing and aesthetics of a healthy smile.
The team at Family Care Dental is dedicated to making smiles complete again. We will help choose the best tooth-replacement option based on our patient’s needs. Stop living with the emotional and physical discomfort caused by tooth loss. Contact our offices today to schedule an appointment.
