How Does Your Mouth React to Missing Teeth?

It’s no secret how tooth loss can make your mouth look. Most patients agree that a smile full of teeth is more attractive than one that’s marred by the gaps of missing teeth. However, it’s not always obvious how the loss can affect the rest of your oral health, including the teeth that remain and the jawbone that supports them. Besides appearance, missing teeth can drastically alter the harmony of your bite, causing your dental health to slowly decline long after your teeth are lost.

Why Teeth are Lost

Adult teeth, frequently referred to as permanent teeth, are meant to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. When they don’t, there’s a good reason, which can range from a number of diverse issues, including;

• Cavities that consume the tooth when allowed to progress
• Accidental trauma that knocks a tooth out of its socket
• Gum disease (the leading cause of adult tooth loss) that destroys the gums and jawbone supporting your teeth

The Teeth that Remain

Have you ever bit down as hard as you can to see how strong your jaws are? On average, the human bite can produce up to 200 lbs of pressure on the back molars. Luckily, molars are designed to withstand such force, just like your other teeth should absorb their fair share of bite pressure. When a tooth is lost, those that remain have to take up the slack, and the additional pressure can lead to cracks, fractures, or further tooth loss.

Your Supportive Jawbone

To last forever, permanent teeth require an extremely stable support system. The roots of your teeth are embedded within your jawbone, which sustains your teeth by supplying them with minerals and nutrients. Your body sends your jawbone the required amount of nutrients when the roots are stimulated by biting and chewing. Losing one or more teeth results in a diminished supply of nutrient-rich blood, and your jawbone can eventually shrink from the deficiency. Replacing lost teeth with an appropriate amount of dental implants can help stem jawbone deterioration, although preventing tooth loss is more effective at preserving your smile.

About Your Park Ridge Implant Dentists:

Though we can rebuild your smile if it’s compromised by cavities, gum disease, or tooth loss, preventing such issues with improved dental hygiene can help you avoid the need for complex restorative treatment. Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas are highly-skilled general, restorative, and implant dentists serving the Park Ridge and surrounding Chicago communities. To schedule an appointment, call Loukas General Dentistry today at (847) 696-1919.