for patients
What happens when we lose a tooth?
Our teeth are held in our jaws by the bone that surrounds them. This bone is maintained at a normal level by chewing forces transmitted through our teeth.
When a tooth is lost, the supporting bone begins to atrophy. This results in noticeable changes in bone height and width in the area of tooth loss. This can also result in the cheek and lips collapsing giving a more aged look.
Teeth in front and back begin to drift into the empty space, which can result in food being trapped, decay, and gum disease. These neighbouring teeth must now also receive greater chewing forces to make up for the tooth that is lost, which can result in tooth fractures.
How can we avoid this?
The consequences of tooth loss can be avoided by replacing the tooth in a timely manner. Missing teeth can be replaced in a variety of ways:
Dentures
Fixed bridge
Dental implant
You may be a candidate for one or all of them, depending on the circumstance. We do know, however, that in today`s dentistry, dental implants are becoming the treatment of choice for replacing missing teeth.