As a dental clinic dealing in dental implants in Richmond, one of the most frequently asked questions many people ask us is whether they really need to replace their missing teeth. Usually the thinking behind this is that if a person has all their teeth bar the missing one, is it really going to matter in the great scheme of things? This is especially true if the missing tooth is located at the rear of the mouth where it can’t be seen.
The truth is that irrespective of where the tooth is located in the mouth, it’s important to get it treated as soon as possible. In other words it shouldn’t be left. The reason for this is that when a tooth is lost it can trigger off a series of events that can lead to more oral problems further down the line. Let’s take a look…
Bone degeneration
It’s unfortunate that almost immediately after a tooth is missing, the bone tissue that once supported the tooth root starts to degenerate. The reason for this is that it’s no longer stimulated and therefore like a muscle, will deteriorate when not in use. This continues gradually until it no longer properly supports the surrounding teeth causing them to also become weakened.
Drifting teeth
In addition to bone degeneration the remaining adjacent teeth will start to gravitate naturally towards the gap causing them to become misaligned.
Aged appearance
When back teeth are lost the opposing teeth will overlap more than they normally would. This can then have an impact on the opposing upper/lower teeth as they can no longer properly bite down As the bottom set closes together the upper teeth will do the opposite and start to drift apart causing an eventual decrease in the height of the face leading to pinched-in cheeks and premature ageing.
That said, what do I need to do?
If you do happen to experience tooth loss, then the best advice would be don’t ignore it! Treatment should be considered at the earliest possible time. Whether this is through a bridge, dentures or indeed a dental implant. In Richmond here at Sheen Dental, Dr Harmit Kalsi and the team are on hand to advise you of the best possible solution. Why not contact us today on 020 8876 5277 or visit our website at www.sheendental.co.uk to see just what we can do for you.