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Posted on 5/20/2019 by Salem Dental Arts |
 If you have one tooth missing, you may not think it's that big of a deal. This is especially true if it's in the back. But even one small missing tooth will greatly impact your jaw. The longer the space where the tooth was is empty, the more serious the problems become. That's why you need to come in as soon as you lose a tooth so we can look at potential solutions. If you don't, here are some of the things that will happen to your jaw. Bone Loss OccursWithout a tooth over that part of your jaw, there's nothing that necessarily has to be supported. This triggers the body to begin absorbing some of the jawbone under the empty socket. The jaw is also not being nourished in this area because there's no tooth root. The root contains blood vessels, fibers, and nerves that provide the jaw with stimulation. Without that, the body sees no reason to devote resources to that part of the bone. Your Face Changes With less nourishment, the jaw bone actually shrinks. This will make that part of your face actually look hallow and can cause wrinkling. Your mouth will start to town downward, too. Overall, it will give you a much more aged appearance. A Weakened Jaw Leads to More ProblemsWithout a strong jaw bone, you're going to face issues eating, especially if you're wearing dentures. Without a nourished bone beneath the dentures, they will slowly start to fit differently. They will eventually be too loose because there's not the same amount of bone holding them in place. That, in turn, will lead to difficulty in how you bite and eat. If you're missing a tooth, the longer that space is empty, the worse the problems will be. Contact us today to discuss getting an implant to replace the lost tooth. |
