A lost tooth or teeth will not only affect the appearance of your smile. There are several repercussions on your overall dental and oral health. Some of the most significant effects include:
Bone resorption – the jawbone will naturally begin to shrink due to lost stimulation from the missing natural tooth. Eventually affecting external facial appearance and leading to a raft of other debilitating symptoms, such as the degradation of attaching ligaments and muscles and temporomandibular disorder.
Bite malalignment – neighbouring teeth shift to attempt to cover the gap left by a missing tooth. This causes crookedness and occlusion malalignment, leading to reduced function and increased risk of developing gum disease as teeth become difficult to efficiently clean.
Replacing a lost tooth with a dental implant helps to mitigate potential consequences and is beneficial for oral health. A dental implant consists of an artificial tooth root, made of biocompatible titanium, which is surgically inserted to the jawbone. Eventually, the bone integrates with the implant, creating a strong and sturdy artificial tooth root. After this stage, an implant crown (the visible ‘tooth’), bridge or denture can be attached to the root.