Missing teeth can cause numerous problems. At the most basic level, the loss of teeth from the front regions can cause self-consciousness and social anxiety, making you want to hide your smile, which can negatively affect your mental health. But missing teeth (whether the gap is visible or not) can also lead to several dental problems in the long-term and short-term. You may develop a lisp because of missing teeth, lose your ability to speak clearly, or even have to avoid certain hard foods. All of these problems occur shortly after the loss of your teeth.
In the long term, missing teeth can also change the structure of your dental anatomy. When you experience tooth loss, the jawbone tissues underneath the missing tooth’s empty socket start degenerating, leading to the gradual loss of the jawbone, which, in turn, leads to facial sagging. The surrounding teeth may also start drifting closer towards the gap, thus leading to misalignment problems, which, in turn, increases the risks of cavities, bacterial infections, and gum disease. As such, even one missing tooth can lead to numerous dental problems that necessitate expensive and complex procedures.
If you have missing teeth, you need to carefully consider your teeth replacement options. Your dentist may offer the following options — dental bridges, complete/ partial dentures, or dental implants. All of these teeth replacement options have their unique pros and cons, but dental implants are widely considered the best solutions for the replacement of teeth.
