Consequences of Untreated Tooth Loss in Melville, NY

Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Tooth Replacement

Teeth are an essential part of our body that plays a crucial role in our daily lives. However, missing teeth can severely affect our oral health, jawbone, and overall well-being. Whether you have lost a tooth due to decay, injury, or age, it is essential to understand the consequences and available treatments, one of which is dental implants.

At Implant and General Dentistry of Long Island, Dr. Dean Glasser, our Melville implant specialist, offers durable implants to restore your smile and oral health. Discover why implants are one of the best ways to address tooth loss. 

Consequences of Missing Teeth

Difficulty Eating and Digesting Food

Teeth play a crucial role in chewing food and breaking it down into smaller pieces that can be easily swallowed and digested. When you lose a tooth, it can be challenging to chew your food properly, leading to digestion problems and malnutrition. This can cause a ripple effect on your overall health, leading to weight loss, weakness, and other health issues.

Speech Impediments

Your teeth play a vital role in forming sounds and pronouncing words. Missing teeth can cause speech impediments such as slurring, lisping, or difficulty enunciating certain words. This can lead to communication problems and social isolation, affecting your personal and professional life.

Jawbone Deterioration

When you lose a tooth, the jawbone that supports it begins to deteriorate. This can cause the adjacent teeth to shift and lead to further tooth loss. Over time, jawbone deterioration can also change your facial structure, making you look older and more sunken.

Gum Disease and Tooth Decay

Missing teeth can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay, leading to further tooth loss. When a tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth can shift, causing spaces and gaps where food particles can get trapped. This can lead to plaque buildup, gum disease, and tooth decay.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge connecting your jawbone to your skull. Missing teeth can cause an imbalance in your bite, leading to TMJ disorder, which can cause pain, clicking, popping, and stiffness in the jaw. This can also cause headaches, earaches, and neck pain.

Self-Esteem

Missing teeth can affect your confidence and self-esteem, leading to social anxiety and isolation. It can also affect your professional life, as speaking or smiling confidently in public can be challenging. This can lead to missed opportunities, lower self-confidence, and lower quality of life.

How Dental Implants Can Help

Dental implant solutions are one of the most durable and long-lasting tooth loss options. Here are just a few ways you can benefit from implant restorations:

• Improved Chewing: Dental implants function like natural teeth, allowing you to chew food properly and improve your digestion.
• Enhanced Speech: Dental implants restore your ability to form sounds and pronounce words, eliminating speech impediments.
• Preserved Jawbone: Implants are placed directly into the jawbone, stimulating bone growth and preventing further deterioration.
• Prevent Facial Sagging: Dental implants support your facial muscles, preventing sagging and giving you a more youthful appearance.
• Boost Confidence: Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, restoring your smile and improving your self-esteem.

Frequently Asked Questions