When you have to remove a back tooth, you may be tempted to leave the space there. What’s the big deal? After all, no one will be able to see that you have a missing tooth, right? Replacing it will just cost you the money that could be spent on that special thing you’ve been saving up for.
But there’s actually more to it.
Consequences of Having A Missing Tooth
While it seems logical to leave a back tooth missing, doing so has several consequences that affect aesthetics, function, and even your speech.
-
Harder to Clean
Even losing just one tooth changes the way that you have to brush them. To properly clean between the space you’ll need to angle the toothbrush a certain way to effectively remove the plaque.
-
Teeth Shift
When a tooth is missing, the remaining ones naturally drift toward the space to try and close it. This is something that occurs over time, but it does most definitely happen. As a result, you’re left with open spaces between all of your teeth. In turn, they’ll pack food and are aesthetically unappealing.
-
Remaining Teeth Have to Work Harder
Our mouths are designed in a way where every tooth plays a specific role. When you lose a tooth and don’t replace it, the remaining ones need to do the work of the missing tooth. This means they have to work harder and can become worn down by doing so. Excessive wear, chips, or even breaks can occur on the remaining teeth.
-
Facial Features Change
Another big role that our teeth play is supporting the shape of your face. When you begin to lose teeth, your cheeks sink in. This change adds years to your appearance and makes fine lines and wrinkles of your face more prominent.
-
Speech Can Become Impaired
Since our teeth are partly responsible for allowing you to pronounce words correctly, losing one or more of them can cause your speech to become altered or impaired.
The Best Time to Replace a Missing Tooth
When you’re told that you need to have a tooth extracted, our Phoenix, AZ dentist can take that time to speak with you about your tooth replacement options. As long as there is no severe infection, the best time to replace a missing tooth is right away.
Tooth Replacement Options in Phoenix, AZ
This day and age there are several tooth replacement options available for every situation and budget.
If bone loss is an issue, a dental bridge is a viable solution for replacing your missing tooth.
A dental implant looks and functions just like your natural teeth and in most cases is considered the best tooth replacement option.
A removable partial works great for filling in several spaces. This appliance snaps around your remaining teeth and fills in the voids with prefabricated teeth that coordinate with your smile.
If you have a missing tooth and want to get it replaced, then give Phoenix dentist, Dr. Benbahani of Central Valley Dentistry a call. Our team look forward to finding the right tooth replacement solution for your smile!
