While adult tooth loss has lessened since the 70s, it's still a prevalent issue, according to the NIH.

Having a full set of teeth is fundamental to chewing food well, maintaining facial structure, and more. Still, many people might not realize that replacing teeth is essential.

Losing a tooth can create several long-term issues if left untreated. That's why replacing missing teeth with dental implants and other solutions can provide many health benefits. Read on to learn more about why you should restore the appearance of a complete smile.

Why Is Replacing Missing Teeth Vital?

When a tooth is missing, the entire mouth can suffer consequences. You could end up dealing with the following:

• Changes in bite alignment
• Speech difficulties
• Jawbone deterioration

Missing teeth can also make it hard to have confidence during social interactions. Are you wondering why it's so important to replace them?

Preserving Oral Health

The loss of a tooth leads to the deterioration of the surrounding structures, such as the gums and jawbone. As the condition progresses, you could experience further tooth loss.

Such a domino effect can make future dental procedures even more complex. Replacing missing teeth helps maintain oral health by preventing bone loss and keeping the remaining teeth in their proper positions.

Restoring Functionality

Every single tooth plays a role in chewing and speaking. Even one missing tooth can make it a struggle to eat certain foods.

Plus, the gap can affect your speech. Replacing the tooth restores normal function and allows you to chew and speak with ease.

Aesthetic Appeal

A full, healthy smile is essential for boosting self-confidence and enhancing one's general appearance. Missing teeth can create noticeable gaps that affect your facial structure and appearance. Dental implants and other tooth replacement options restore the aesthetics of your smile, which in turn positively affects your self-esteem.

Health Benefits of Replacing Missing Teeth

One of the most significant oral health benefits of replacing missing teeth is preventing bone loss. It's a process that's called bone resorption. It can cause sunken facial features and can even cause nearby teeth to shift from their proper place.

Over time, untreated bone loss can lead to more severe oral health problems, including further tooth loss and jawbone damage.

Dental implants are a tried and true solution for preventing bone loss. Implants act like natural tooth roots by stimulating the jawbone. Doing this preserves its structure and maintains the integrity of your facial appearance.

Maintaining Proper Bite Alignment

Remember that your remaining teeth can shift into the gap of a missing tooth, leading to an improper bite. This misalignment can cause difficulties, such as the following:

• Chewing
• Speaking
• A higher temporomandibular joint disorder risk

It's vital to prevent these potential complications and ensure that your teeth can function as needed.

Reducing the Risk of Gum Disease

Gaps can become homes for food particles and bacteria, leading to an elevated risk of gum disease. The exposed gums are more vulnerable to infection, which can cause the following:

• Gum inflammation
• Periodontal disease
• Further tooth loss

Replacing missing teeth does more than restore the gap. It also provides a barrier that helps shrink the risk of gum-related issues.

Dental implants and other replacement options also create a smoother surface that's easier to clean, contributing to better oral hygiene.

Aesthetic Benefits of Replacing Missing Teeth

For many people, the aesthetic value of replacing missing teeth is just as important as the oral health benefits. A complete set of teeth enhances the beauty of your smile and contributes to a more youthful, attractive appearance.

Missing teeth are known to result in a sunken or aged facial structure. This happens because the jawbone deteriorates, and the facial muscles lose support.

Addressing missing teeth with dependable options can restore the fullness of your face for a more balanced look.

Confidence Boost With Teeth Restored

There's no doubt that smile restoration can work wonders for confidence. It's an unfortunate fact that most people with missing teeth feel self-conscious about how they look. Such self-consciousness can affect their interactions with others and lead to a general lack of self-esteem.

By investing in solutions to missing teeth, people can start feeling confident again. It makes it much easier to enjoy socializing without worrying about how one's smile looks.

Whether it's a single missing tooth or many different gaps, restoring your smile can make you feel more comfortable in personal and professional settings.

Missing Teeth Solutions That You Can Count On

There are several effective solutions for replacing missing teeth, depending on how many are gone and your individual oral health needs. Are you wondering what might be right for you?

Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the most advanced and popular solutions for replacing missing teeth. An implant is a titanium post that is placed into the jawbone through surgery. It acts as a replacement for the tooth's root. From there, the surgeon will attach a dental crown to the post.

Implants are respected as a permanent solution that looks and works just like real teeth. They're highly effective at preventing bone loss and preserving the structure of your jawbone.

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge features at least one artificial tooth. Such teeth look great and are anchored in place by crowns. Bridges can restore your smile and bite function, although they don't prevent bone loss. Instead, they're a good option when many adjacent teeth are missing, and implants aren't possible.

Dentures

Full or partial dentures are a tried and true solution for taking care of multiple missing teeth. It's an affordable and non-invasive solution for restoring your smile.

While modern dentures are more comfortable and natural-looking than in the past, they may need adjustment over time as the jawbone shape continues to change.

Replacing Teeth Enhances Both Your Smile and Well-Being

Replacing teeth is an investment in both your oral health and your aesthetic appearance.

Tersa Oral and Facial Surgery can provide you with dental implants and other exceptional solutions. Our dental team has garnered over a decade of real-world experience. You can also depend on our prestigious certifications and memberships, which include the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the National Board of Dental Anesthesiology.

Now is the perfect time to schedule a consultation with the Tersa team.