When we lose a tooth, we do not consider it a serious thing. However, the long-term consequences may be serious. Delaying the replacement of missing teeth can make treatment more complicated and expensive. The jaw bone enters a resorption process, the adjacent teeth begin to move, and the entire mouth is affected.
Consequences of tooth loss
- When a tooth disappears, the migration phenomenon or the unwanted movement of the adjacent teeth occurs. In addition to the unsightly aspect, migration can create difficulties in maintaining good oral hygiene that can lead to gum disease and dental caries.
- Loss of a mole prevents mastication on that part. This leads to a much higher pressure on the opposite side, which can lead to teething cracks in time. If the missing tooth is not replaced, over time, the opposite tooth begins to grow, leaving the root visible.
- One important effect of the loss of one or more teeth is that one of the functions of the teeth is to maintain the height of the face. When they are absent and bone resorption occurs, the face loses its height and the distance between the nose and the chin decreases.
- The worst effect of untreating a tooth is bone resorption and bone loss. Loss of a tooth causes the bone to retract 25% in width in the first year and 4 mm in height in the next
Dental implants are the best solution to stop the progression of tooth loss problems. Dental implants are inserted directly into the maxillary bone and they merge with the maxillary bone in a process called osteointegration. This process prevents bone loss and stabilizes the bite. The good part is that a tooth or more teeth can be replaced with dental implants. However, the longer you wait, the more complicated and costly the treatment with dental implants will be.
