The Many Dangers of Missing Teeth (and What to Do About Them)

A smile is often considered one of the most powerful tools you possess, but if your smile is marred by missing teeth, it can quickly deflate your self-esteem. Beyond the cosmetic concerns, the absence of teeth can pose significant dangers to your physical and mental health.

Continue reading as  Dr. Lovely Manlapaz Teodoro highlights the risks associated with missing teeth and what you can do about them.

Dangers of missing teeth

Edentulousness ー a term that refers to missing either some or all of your teeth ー isn’t just embarrassing. It can expose you to a host of dangers such as:

Diminished jawbone density 

According to Wolff’s Law, when you’re missing a tooth (even just one), the jawbone in that area tends to lose density. This is also known as jawbone atrophy or osteonecrosis of the jaw. When your jaw bone dentistry decreases, it can lead to changes in facial structure and contribute to a prematurely aged appearance. Dental procedures like implants can help preserve bone density and maintain a youthful facial profile because they stimulate your jawbone to keep growing.

Shifting teeth

Teeth work in harmony to maintain alignment. When one is missing, neighboring teeth may start to shift, and that can lead to misalignment and bite issues. This not only affects your smile but can also result in jaw pain and difficulty chewing. 

Digestive issues

Believe it or not, missing teeth can impact your digestive health. Chewing is the first step in the digestive process, and missing teeth can impede proper chewing. This can lead to digestive issues as larger, less adequately chewed food particles enter the digestive tract, and that’s a recipe for indigestion. 

If you can’t chew well, missing teeth can impact your nutritional intake as well.  If you can’t chew certain foods because you’re missing molars, for example,  you might not benefit from nutritious foods such as apples, celery, or lean chicken. 

Speech impairment

Gaps caused by missing teeth can affect your ability to pronounce certain words correctly and cause speech impairments. Words that use the unvoiced /th/ sound are especially difficult if your anterior teeth are missing.  Examples of these words include “theater” and “thank.” Dental prosthetics or implants can contribute to restoring proper speech patterns. 

Psychological impact

Beyond the physical implications, missing teeth can affect your mental wellness. You may experience a decrease in self-esteem and also an increased reluctance to engage socially due to concerns about your appearance. Embarrassment can also impact your performance and confidence at work.

An estimated 58% of edentulous people struggle to accept tooth loss, and this directly increases the risk of depressive feelings.

What to do about missing teeth

The good news is that restorative dentistry offers solutions to the cosmetic and functional problems caused by missing teeth 一 form and function! Dr. Lovely Manlapaz Teodoro encourages you to visit The Dental Center of Hercules to explore all of your restoration options from dental bridges to implants to fixed dentures.  

A dental bridge

A bridge is a dental restoration in which your prosthetic tooth is supported by two neighboring teeth. This is ideal for people who are missing one or two teeth but don’t want an implant. 

Dental implants

Dental implants are surgically implanted restorations that include a post, an abutment, and a crown. Your post fuses with your jawbone and creates a sturdy foundation. Dental implants can replace a single tooth, a full arch, or your entire mouth.

Fixed dentures

Fixed dentures are a cross between traditional removable dentures and dental implants. Fixed dentures give you the coverage of dentures with the support of a dental implant. To make fixed dentures work, you have a few dental implant posts supporting a full arch of teeth. This ideal is for people who are missing all of their teeth and want the sturdiness of dental implants.

Restore your smile today

Safeguard yourself against the dangers of missing teeth and call us at 510-254-3328. You can also book an appointment online any time day or night.