Side-Effects of Tooth Loss

Losing a tooth — whether by accident or a planned dental extraction — can permanently affect your future smile. Depending on where the tooth is located in your mouth, here are some of the common side-effects of tooth loss:

• Cosmetic Concerns – Do you have a visible gap in your smile? Then you may feel too self-conscious to pose in photos, talk to new people, or even laugh around your friends.
• Tooth Movement – When you take a book off of the shelf, the ones next to it eventually start to lean. The same thing happens when a tooth is removed. Every tooth in your mouth is impacted (even the ones on the opposing arch.)
• Increased Tooth Decay and Gum Disease – When teeth start leaning and tilting, they’re at a statistically higher risk of developing a cavity or gum disease around them.
• Irregular Wear Patterns – From flattened, chipped enamel to broken dental work, your other teeth will have to start compromising for the chewing that needs to take place. If you’re avoiding chewing on one side of your mouth because of a missing tooth, the other teeth will get overused.
• TMJ Disorder – Uneven chewing patterns gradually lead to compromised TMJ movements. Repeated atypical motions can lead to internal joint damage.

Replace Your Tooth as Soon as Possible

To prevent the complications of tooth loss, the best thing to do is replace your tooth right away. Something like a dental implant, bridge, partial, or even a temporary flipper can be used.

At Dunwoody Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we want to help you enjoy beautiful, functional teeth at every stage of life. Call us today to reserve an exam.