The Dangers of Missing Teeth
& How Dental Implants Can Help

How Missing Teeth Can Affect Your Health & Life

Are you missing one or more teeth? Have you dealt with untreated tooth loss for a while? At Zajac Dental, Oakville Implant Dentist Dr. Pawel Zajac, wants you to understand that replacing a missing tooth with an implant solution is one of the most important steps you can take. 

Missing teeth can cause a wide range of problems that can affect your oral health, overall health, and quality of life. In this guide, we’ll explore the dangers of untreated tooth loss including how it can impact your health, quality of life, and the solutions available to restore your smile.

The Impact of Untreated Tooth Loss

Even if you’re missing one tooth, it’s best to seek a replacement. The reasons to find a replacement for your missing teeth are numerous and include everything from protecting your remaining teeth to preventing bone loss. See the ways that missing teeth have a significant impact on your life.

Shifting of Teeth

When you lose a tooth, the surrounding teeth may shift to fill the gap, causing misalignment and crooked teeth. Misaligned teeth can affect your bite and make it difficult to chew properly, leading to potential jaw pain and headaches.

Jawbone Deterioration

The jawbone relies on the stimulation of teeth to maintain its density and strength. When a tooth is missing, the jawbone can start to deteriorate, which can lead to a sunken and aged appearance. This process is called resorption, and it can also lead to difficulty wearing dentures or getting dental implants.

Gum Disease

Missing teeth can make it difficult to clean your teeth properly, which can increase your risk of gum disease. Gum disease can lead to further tooth loss and other serious health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. Those with gum disease may also deal with bad breath and discomfort in the gums.

Sinus Problems

Missing upper teeth can cause a range of sinus problems, including pain, congestion, and infection. This is because the sinuses and the upper teeth are located in close proximity to each other, and the loss of teeth can lead to changes in the pressure within the sinus cavities. 

Speech Problems

Missing teeth can have a significant impact on your speech. Your teeth and tongue work together to form certain sounds and words. If you’re missing teeth, it can affect your ability to pronounce words correctly, causing you to slur, mumble, or even avoid certain words altogether.

Digestive Issues

Chewing is a crucial part of the digestive process. When you are missing teeth, it can be difficult to chew your food properly. This can result in larger food particles being swallowed, which can put a strain on your digestive system. Over time, this can lead to digestive issues such as acid reflux, bloating, and even malnutrition if the body is not able to properly absorb nutrients from the food.

Low Self-Esteem

People with missing teeth may feel self-conscious about their appearance, leading them to avoid social situations or hide their smile. This can result in feelings of isolation and loneliness, as well as anxiety and depression. Additionally, people with missing teeth may have difficulty speaking and eating, which can further affect their self-confidence and quality of life.

Why You Should Choose Dental Implants at Zajac Dental

Dental implants are still the most recommended solution for addressing the various problems caused by tooth loss. Our Oakville implant dentist will work with you to ensure dental implants are the best choice for your oral health. Choosing dental implants can help:

• Prevent Dental Shift: Dental implants fill the gap left by a missing tooth, preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting and causing misalignment. This helps maintain proper bite and can prevent potential jaw pain and headaches.
• Preserve Jawbone Density: Implants provide the necessary stimulation to the jawbone, preventing it from deteriorating and maintaining its density and strength. This helps prevent a sunken and aged appearance and allows for better support for dentures or other implant solutions.
• Improve Chewing and Digestion: Implants allow for proper chewing and digestion of food, reducing the strain on the digestive system and preventing issues such as acid reflux, bloating, and malnutrition.
• Promote Oral Health: Implants are easy to clean and maintain and act just like your natural teeth, reducing the risk of gum disease and further tooth loss. This also helps prevent serious health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
• Improve Speech: Implants can restore missing teeth, allowing for proper pronunciation and avoiding issues with slurring, mumbling, or difficulty speaking.
• Prevent Sinus Problems: Implants for upper teeth can help maintain the proper distance between the sinuses and teeth, preventing changes in pressure that can cause sinus pain, congestion, and infection.
• Boost Self-Confidence: Implants can improve the appearance of your smile and boost self-confidence, leading to a more active and fulfilling social life.

Dental Implants vs Non-Implant Tooth Replacement Options

While Dr. Zajac offers multiple tooth replacement options, dental implants are often recommended first. This is the case for many reasons including the following:

Dentures

Dentures are removable prosthetic devices that replace multiple missing teeth. They can be either full or partial and are typically held in place by suction or adhesive. However, dentures can slip or shift, causing discomfort and difficulty eating or speaking. They also require frequent maintenance and replacement, and may cause bone loss in the jaw over time.

Bridges

Bridges are fixed prosthetic devices that replace one or more missing teeth by attaching to adjacent teeth or implants. While they are more stable than dentures, they require the removal of healthy tooth structure from adjacent teeth, which can weaken them. Bridges also require frequent maintenance and replacement, and may not be suitable for patients with significant bone loss.

Partials

Partials are similar to dentures, but are designed to replace multiple missing teeth in one arch. They are typically held in place by metal clasps that attach to adjacent teeth. However, like dentures, they can slip or shift and require frequent maintenance and replacement. They may also cause discomfort and difficulty eating or speaking.

Overall, dental implants offer several advantages over other tooth replacement options, including improved stability, durability, and preservation of healthy teeth and bone structure. They may be the best choice for patients who want a long-term solution that mimics natural teeth and improves their quality of life.