Your smile is one of your greatest assets. It can communicate your level of confidence and happiness, as well as provides functional capabilities such as biting, chewing, and eating. As such, it is imperative you take good care of your teeth, because once they are gone, they will not come back. In some cases, infection, accident, or other circumstance may cause one or more teeth to become compromised and leave you with a gap in your smile. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS prosthodontist discusses the negative impact of gaps in your smile and why it is important to replace lost teeth.
Increased Risk of Infection
Tooth loss is a complex phenomenon and one that can be initiated by a variety of concerns. Among the various oral health threats out there, however, tooth decay is the most common. Indeed, decay will begin as a small cavity on a tooth and quickly spread to the roots, eventually compromising the entire structure before you know it. Once it progresses past a certain extent, your only feasible option for preserving your oral health is to have the structure removed.
Bear in mind, however, that just because an infected tooth is no longer in the picture, that does not mean that the infection itself is done wreaking havoc. Indeed, oral bacteria can reside within the sensitive gum tissue where the structure once was, and without care, will begin to affect surrounding teeth in a similar manner.
For this reason, our team recommends learning about your replacement options. Contact our team today to learn more about this process and what your steps may be.
How it Affects Your Function
In addition to an increased risk of infection, leaving a gap in your smile will also impact your oral function capabilities. You see, each tooth is present to absorb its fair share of bite pressure, and if even a single tooth is missing, this compromises your bite’s function. This also will lead to strain, difficulty biting or chewing, and even tension.
As such, our team recommends looking into replacement options such as a dental implant or other form of restoration. To learn more about this process, give our office. Call today.
Benefitting from a Complete Smile
A dental implant differs from other restorations of the past, as they are designed to not only function as an artificial tooth, but the biocompatible post functions as a root as well. This not only helps the structure absorb the pressure of your bite, but allows for a lifelike, complete smile that you can once again enjoy.
Schedule Your Visit
Contact Dr. Stuart Dexter, Prosthodontist in Prairie Village, KS at 913-362-8200 to schedule your next appointment with our team and learn more about the need for dental prosthetics with respect to your bite and oral function.