You’re missing a tooth. A back tooth. No one can see it, so you might be thinking there’s no point in filling the gap with something like a dental implant. Out of sight out of mind, right?
Let’s pretend for a moment that your mouth is a stage. Would you ever say something like that to the backstage crew? No! The front-of-house actors might see all the action and be who people recognize, but the backstage is the backbone of the performance. Without them you have no props, no mechanics, no pizzaz! Everything would fall apart. Well, your back teeth aren’t that much different!
Skeptical? Keep reading to learn more about the consequences of not replacing a back tooth.
No Back Tooth, No Dental Support
Your natural teeth are anchored to your jawbone through dental roots and nerves. This is how your pearly whites actually stay in place, but it’s also how your brain knows to send nutrients to your jawbone.
When you lose a tooth, that part of your jawbone doesn’t get stimulated. Your brain essentially stops receiving communication from the bone, so it diverts resources elsewhere. Gradually, the bone mass around your empty dental socket will recede. But you kind of need your jawbone to support your teeth. The longer you go without a replacement, the more you lose, and the teeth you have left could start falling out.
Your Teeth Will Shift into Chaos
As your teeth’s main support system recedes, they’ll start to shift along with it. This could result in both misaligned teeth and a misaligned bite. Unappealing aesthetics won’t be the only thing you’ll have to worry about, either. When teeth are disturbed like this, they exert pressure on each other and on the jawbone, causing aches, TMJ problems, headaches – all kinds of dental discomforts, basically.
Why You Should Replace the Gap with A Dental Implant
The real trouble with tooth loss is that your natural teeth are very precisely positioned. Losing even one back molar can throw everything off and trigger a snowball of complications. Technically, you could reasonably make use of dentures or a dental bridge. However, dental implants are the only replacement that will help keep your jawbone intact.
During a dental implant placement, your dentist will anchor a titanium post to your jawbone. Sounds familiar, right? Titanium works incredibly well with bone. During your recovery period, your jawbone is making efforts to fully integrate with the titanium post. When this process is complete, both your bone and the implant will stay rooted in place. You gotta admit, that’s pretty cool.
Remember that the longer you wait to fill your dental gap, the more bone mass you could lose. If a dental implant sounds like the perfect casting choice for your smile, call your dentist!
About the Author
Dr. John White is an expert when it comes to dental implants, having had advanced training in the subject. As a lifelong student, he also knows how important it is to stay informed about your oral health. If you have questions or concerns about a gap in your smile, call 828-684-3020 or visit his website for more information.