Why You Should Replace Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can lead to significant dental problems and negatively affect the appearance of your smile. If you have recently undergone a tooth extraction near San Jose, you should consider replacing your missing tooth. There are different options available to replace missing teeth, such as dental bridges or dental implants. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of visiting a dental office to replace missing teeth and the benefits to your oral health.

Prevent Alignment Issues

Whether you are missing one tooth or multiple teeth, having a gap between teeth can cause remaining teeth to drift. The teeth closest to the site of the missing tooth can begin to lean in towards the gap. Meaning, even if you had a straight smile before, a missing tooth can create a jagged, uneven smile. While this can ruin the aesthetic of your smile, it can also disrupt the functionality of your teeth. It may lead to problems with eating and chewing. As teeth move position in your mouth, this can lead to problems with your overall bite. Teeth and their position within your mouth also play an integral role in forming speech, so missing teeth can affect the way you speak. When the missing space is filled with a dental implant or bridge, drifting is prevented.

Preserve the Shape of Your Face

When a tooth is missing from the mouth, the bone structure that once supported the tooth begins to shrink. With the lack of pressure from the tooth to stimulate the bone, it begins to reabsorb almost immediately after the loss of a tooth. Over time, this can cause the gum to cave in. Without an implant to take the place of the missing tooth to preserve the bone, food can become impacted in adjacent teeth. This can lead to dental problems such as gum disease and tooth decay. As the bone structure changes in your mouth, it can lead to changes in your jaw line, making a visible change to your facial structure.