A single missing tooth can be easy to ignore at first, especially if it’s at the back of your mouth. Most people might leave the gap thinking it’s a simple cosmetic problem. However, over time, the effects of this missing tooth can impact more than just the aesthetics of your smile.
At our Harlow-based dental practice, the Lister House team often sees patients who come to us years after losing a tooth, with these effects already having taken place. That’s why we preach the importance of restoring teeth for life-long smiles!
Here’s our list of the main things that can happen when a tooth isn’t replaced:
Teeth Will Start To Move
When a space is left by a missing tooth, the surrounding teeth can begin to shift. Over a few months or years, the neighbouring teeth can tilt into the gap, causing your bite to change. This makes cleaning harder and increases the risk of decay and gum disease.
The Bite Becomes Uneven
Moving teeth can create an uneven bite, which can cause strain on the jaw joint and lead to pain, a clicking jawbone, and even tension headaches.
The Bone Begins To Shrink
Tooth roots keep the jawbone strong. But when a tooth is missing, the bone that used to hold it is no longer stimulated. Over time, this can cause the bone to become thinner and shallower, altering the shape of the face and making it more challenging to replace the tooth later on.
Chewing Gets Harder
Even if you can manage with one missing tooth, the reality is that chewing becomes less efficient. And if you have multiple missing teeth, this can make it difficult to break down food altogether, affecting your diet and digestion.
Replace Your Missing Teeth in Harlow
Here at Lister House Dental Centre, we offer multiple affordable and reliable treatments to replace missing teeth and restore your smile, including:
- Dental Implants: a fixed, permanent restoration that is surgically implanted into the jawbone to act like a natural tooth root and tooth.
- Dental Bridge: a replacement for missing teeth that is fixed to the neighbouring remaining teeth.
- Denture: a removable plate to replace one or more missing teeth that’s secured via adhesives.
“Delighted to share this review on behalf of my father-in-law, who has had a fantastic experience receiving dental treatment at Lister Dental Centre. Dr. Raj Mehta has been incredible for the entirety of the implant treatment. Particular care and consideration were taken to ensure the procedures involved were as gentle and pain-free as possible. My father-in-law was fully informed and felt completely at ease, understanding each stage. The final result is natural and stable, a clear example of high-quality dentistry. We would fully recommend the practice, and of course, Raj.”