You may think that missing just one tooth cannot possibly be too harmful to your oral health. However, the truth is that even a single missing tooth can have serious consequences for the health of your teeth and gums down the line. There are many benefits of replacing a single missing tooth with a dental implant.
Implants Prevent Your Teeth From Shifting
When you are missing teeth—even a single tooth—your remaining teeth will shift position over time. This shifting creates gaps in your smile that are vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease because they trap food particles, plaque, and bacteria. This, in turn, leads to further tooth loss in the future. Additionally, shifting teeth cause bite issues and uneven distribution of pressure on your jaw, which leads to jawbone deterioration. A dental implant acts as an artificial tooth root, stabilizing your jaw and preventing your other teeth from shifting.
Implants Stabilize Other Restorative Work
A single dental implant is also a great way to stabilize other restorative dentistry such as bridges, crowns, and dentures. If you are only missing one tooth, a dental implant will help permanently anchor a crown or bridge in place, making it more durable and long-lasting. And even if you are missing most or all of your teeth and wear dentures, a single dental implant can make your dentures more secure and prevent them from slipping around.
Implants Can Make You More Confident
Missing a tooth can greatly decrease your self-confidence. Not only do you feel self-conscious about the appearance of your smile, but you might also have difficulty speaking or eating, which can be embarrassing and frustrating. Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant will improve the look of your smile and restore your ability to speak and eat with ease. Plus, dental implants prevent against jawbone deterioration that causes sagging skin and facial collapse, meaning that dental implants can give you a more youthful appearance. Contact us for more information about dental implants.
Dentist Tigard, OR | Dental Blog - Lincoln Center Smiles Dr. Saklofsky has created an educational blog as a resource for our patients. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please share it to social media, then call (971) 317-9499 to make an appointment. Lincoln Center Smiles, 10500 SW Greenburg Rd, Suite 3, Portland, OR 97223-1406 | (503) 598-0898 | sakdental.com | 9/4/2024 | Page Phrases: dentist Tigard OR |
You may think that missing just one tooth cannot possibly be too harmful to your oral health. However, the truth is that even a single missing tooth can have serious consequences for the health of your teeth and gums down the line. There are many benefits of replacing a single missing tooth with a dental implant.