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Tooth Loss & Your Health

The Consequences of Missing Teeth

Over 120 million Americans suffer from tooth loss. In addition to affecting the appearance of your smile, missing teeth can impact your health in a variety of ways.

Explore our guide to learn more about the consequences of tooth loss.

1

Loss of functionality.

Tooth loss can determine what you eat and how you speak. This is because missing teeth affect the strength of your bite, making it more difficult to chew certain foods. They can also cause you to slur your words, hurting your ability to communicate with others.

Dental implants are stable and highly durable, giving you the ability to eat and speak with total confidence.

2

Increased risk of oral infection.

Missing teeth create gaps in your smile and these empty spaces often become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. This increases your risk for serious dental issues, including tooth decay and gum disease. The bacteria can also travel through your blood vessels to your arteries, resulting in cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks and strokes.

By replacing missing teeth with dental implants, you can protect your smile from bacteria and avoid any related health complications.

3

Weakening of the jawbone.

When you lose a tooth, the connected area of your jawbone loses its source of stimulation. This causes your bone tissue to rapidly lose density, eventually causing your surrounding teeth to shift.

Dental implants are the only tooth restoration that stimulates healthy jawbone growth, protecting your long-term health.

4

Premature wrinkling.

When your jawbone deteriorates, the skin around your jawline becomes loose and starts to sag. This results in hollow cheeks and premature wrinkles, adding years to your appearance.

By keeping your jawbone dense and strong, dental implants help you maintain a youthful and attractive appearance.

5

Reduced self-confidence.

Missing teeth can impact your confidence and make you reluctant to smile around others. This hurts your ability to socialize and make good first impressions.

Dental implants are customized to match your natural teeth for a stunning appearance. With proper care, your smile can remain healthy and beautiful for a lifetime.

6

Increased likelihood of pain.

All of your teeth have nerve tissues inside that are left uncovered if you lose a tooth. This leads to increased sensitivity in your mouth and possibly severe pain.

Dental implants replace your natural tooth root to protect your nerve tissues and guard you from pain.

7

Anxiety and unhappiness.

Smiling and laughing release endorphins in your brain, a chemical that helps you feel positive and relaxed. If you’re unhappy with your smile, it can negatively influence your overall mood.

Dental implants are a permanent, natural-looking tooth replacement that will help you regain confidence in your smile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dentures provide the same health benefits as dental implants?

Dentures cannot match the health benefits that come with dental implants. Implants fill the socket left by missing teeth, whereas dentures can trap bacteria in these hard-to-clean areas and promote infection. Dental implants help naturally strengthen the jawbone, but dentures can cause additional wear and hasten jawbone deterioration. Good hygiene habits are also easier to maintain with dental implants than dentures. Instead of a complicated nightly procedure, care is as simple as brushing and flossing your restorations.

Simply put, there’s no competition between dental implants and dentures. Along with all the benefits of their natural feel and appearance, dental implants have reliable advantages for protecting your oral health.

How do dental implants help preserve my jawbone density?

Missing teeth cause the jawbone to deteriorate because it’s no longer receiving stimulation from natural teeth. Luckily, dental implant treatment can reverse these effects. In a process called osseointegration, titanium abutments fuse naturally with the jawbone after an implant procedure. Your restorations will stimulate the jawbone just like natural teeth, encouraging healthy bone growth and restoring lasting structural stability.

What if I’ve been told I’m not a good candidate for dental implants?

While certain health factors may delay the process of dental implant treatment, most patients can take steps to improve their candidacy.

Don’t assume that you aren’t eligible to receive dental implants—candidacy doesn’t require your oral health to be perfect. If you’ve been told by another dentist that you aren’t eligible for implant treatment, consider seeking a second opinion from Dr. Grubb. He’ll personally evaluate your case and establish whether you can safely receive dental implants. If supplemental procedures would improve your case, he’ll make appropriate treatment recommendations and guide you through the process.