Losing a tooth as an adult does not come with the joy or money from a tooth fairy’s visit. Losing a tooth as an adult can be traumatic and lead to some serious consequences. Tooth loss as an adult can be caused from injury, severe decay or damage, gum disease, or a wisdom tooth extraction. In a situation like a wisdom tooth extraction, there is no need to replace the missing tooth. However, in most other instances of losing a permanent adult tooth, replacement is important. A visible front tooth may feel more important to you to replace, but any missing adult tooth can lead to difficulties in your smile and functions of your mouth. Replacing your tooth can restore your abilities and decrease your risk of bone loss. 

Restore appearance and abilities

A missing tooth in the front of your mouth can leave a big void in your smile. This void may cause you to feel self-conscious. Depending on which tooth or teeth are missing, chewing food, biting, and speaking can all become difficult. When you avoid chewing on the side of the mouth where the tooth is missing, you can start to overuse your other teeth. This overcompensation can leave the other teeth vulnerable to decay or damage. A tooth missing in the front of the mouth can cause a lisp or speech impediment. Replacing the tooth with a crown, bridge, or dentures can restore your abilities to talk, chew, and bite. It can also restore your smile’s full appearance. 

Decreasing Risk Of Bone Loss

When a tooth is gone, the tooth’s roots also go, which leads an empty space in the jawbone. This loss in the jaw can lead to bone loss or bone resorption. Without stimulation from the roots of the tooth, the body begins to strip minerals away from the bone leading to a loss of bone density. This can put your remaining teeth in danger, as their supporting jaw bone weakens. Over time, the appearance of the face can change as the jaw can soften and change shape. A dental implant can cause the stimulation to keep bone resorption from happening. 

Talk to your dentist about replacing your missing tooth

Replacing a missing tooth can prevent future problems. To schedule a consultation with Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call us at 903-455-5750. We proudly serve patients from Hunt County, Greenville, Royce City, Sulphur Springs, and all surrounding communities.