Should I Replace My Missing Teeth? Yes – And Here Are the Reasons Why!

If you’ve lost one or more teeth in Rancho Peñasquitos, 4S Ranch, or anywhere else in San Diego, you may be wondering if you need to replace your teeth. Is it really a big deal if you lose some teeth?

The answer is “yes.” And in this blog from Carmel Mountain Dental Care, we’ll explain why you should start exploring restorative dentistry and your options for replacing your missing teeth as soon as possible. ‍

1. Missing Teeth Cause Your Teeth to Shift

Firstly and most importantly, losing one or more teeth can cause major issues with the alignment of your teeth and your bite. This is because after you lose a tooth, the nearby teeth will start to move toward the empty space in your smile, in an attempt to close the gap in your smile.

This can ruin your smile and bite alignment, particularly if you’ve had orthodontic work like braces in the past. Replacing your tooth is the only way to prevent this issue from happening. 

2. You’ll Feel Less Confident About Your Smile & Appearance

Losing one or more teeth, especially your front teeth, will make you feel very self-conscious about your appearance, particularly in professional settings or when meeting new people. There is definitely a social stigma associated with missing teeth, so you may avoid smiling or laughing, or may hide your teeth in social situations.

Replacing your teeth with partial dentures, a dental bridge, or dental implants will allow you to restore the natural beauty of your smile, and feel proud of your appearance once again. ‍

3. You May Have Trouble Speaking Clearly & Eating Your Favorite Foods

Losing teeth can cause a lot of inconveniences in your day-to-day life. Losing several teeth can make it harder to speak clearly, for example. You may sound “slushy” or have trouble pronouncing certain words correctly, especially if you’ve lost some front teeth.

Also, losing teeth makes it harder to eat your favorite foods. Losing a few front teeth, for example, will make it harder to bite into foods like bagels or apples, while losing back teeth makes it harder to eat fibrous and tough foods like fresh vegetables and some types of meat. ‍

4. Tooth Loss Can Cause Bone Resorption, Weakening Your Jaw Bone 

When you lose a tooth, the jaw bone underneath it will start to weaken. This is because normally, the root of your tooth sends pressure and stimulation to the jaw bone when you chew and bite.

When the jaw bone is no longer being stimulated, it will begin to weaken. To prevent this, you need a dental implant. Unlike other tooth replacements like dentures and dental bridges, dental implants replace the missing tooth root and stimulate the jaw bone, preventing bone loss entirely. ‍

Explore Your Tooth Replacement Options at Carmel Mountain Dental Care

If you’ve lost one or more teeth in San Diego, Carmel Mountain Dental Care is here for you. Our doctors can help you explore tooth replacement options including dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants. Contact us online or give us a call at (858) 484-4880 to schedule an appointment today.