Nine Reasons to Replace Missing Teeth

If you lose a tooth, it’s important to replace it quickly, and here is why.

1. A missing tooth allows your remaining teeth to shift position, affecting appearance and your bite, so replacing it is essential.
2. When you lose a tooth, the teeth opposing it will gradually move out of place, over erupting unless they have a replacement tooth to bite against.
3. Unwanted tooth movements mean you may bite down harder on some teeth than others, potentially chipping or cracking or wearing them down excessively.
4. A change to your bite can affect your jaw joints, causing them to become painful and inflamed, a condition called TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder.
5. Healthy teeth help protect your jawbone, but your jawbone gradually resorbs when they are lost. Restoring a tooth with a dental implant protects against bone loss.
6. Teeth help support your facial muscles, and without them, your facial features can collapse inwards, prematurely ageing your appearance.
7. It’s more difficult to speak clearly without teeth.
8. Tooth loss can affect your dietary choices and negatively impact digestion.
9. When you know your smile doesn’t look its best, it can affect self-confidence.