There are many reasons why you may have a missing tooth or teeth, and if you do, you will want to plug the gap as soon as you can. Doing so can prevent further complications from occurring and can help to maintain your overall oral health. If you have missing teeth or are about to get one extracted, speak to your dentist about the options you have available. You can also talk to your dentist about the dangers of not doing anything about it. Some of the consequences are listed below that may see you plugging the gap quickly.
Missing Teeth Can Affect Your Mental Health
You can find that when you suddenly have a gap in your teeth, it can make you self-conscious and affect your confidence. Depending on which tooth you have lost, it can also affect how you speak, making you feel even more self-conscious and reluctant to talk in front of strangers. It can make people withdraw into their shells and make them less sociable, which can dramatically affect their overall mental health.
Your Remaining Teeth Can Move
Leaving a gap in your gums can also cause the rest of your teeth to spread out. Sometimes, they can also become loose as there is less pressure holding them in place. Having a gap in your teeth means your mouth is no longer balanced, throwing everything off, so you will want to select a suitable option to plug the hole that is left. You can visit the reputable Crows Nest dentist, for example, to see the available options and fill the gap before something worse happens.
Your Face Could Change Shape
You can also find that your face can change shape slightly when you do not address missing teeth, changing the way you look. The jawbone can deteriorate over time, and the muscles sink into the face, affecting the way you look and potentially impacting your confidence.
You Can Develop TMJ Disorder
Another potential effect of not plugging the gap of missing teeth is developing TMJ disorder. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joints which are at the side of your face underneath your ears. The missing teeth can affect these joints and how your jaw functions, therefore you may need to contact a TMJ specialist – Toorak Dental Studio for treatment.
Your Available Options For Missing Teeth
There are various options available for you when you have missing teeth, depending on your preference and budget. A common method of dealing with missing teeth is dentures, which you will need to remove every night and clean thoroughly, as well as clean the rest of your teeth. You can also opt for a dental bridge, which fixes a crown to either side of the gap and holds it in place, and you clean your teeth in the usual way as normal. You can also choose dental implants, which are the more expensive option, but they are hard to wear and last a long time. The implants are screwed into the jawbone, and they are the best way to replace missing teeth, with no additional cleaning required other than cleaning your teeth normally.
