Did you know that losing just one tooth could lead to further tooth loss? The oral system consists of a variety of hard and soft tissues that work together to support teeth. When one area of the system’s function is disrupted by an oral health condition or missing a tooth, the entire mouth is affected. This is why our oral surgeons strongly encourage patients to replace missing teeth.
Why Missing a Tooth Increases the Risk for Further Tooth Loss
Teeth support one another. When a tooth is lost, the socket is empty. Over time, teeth neighboring a tooth socket, lacking structural support, will collapse into or slide over into empty sockets. When a tooth is not upright, in its proper position, the roots become weak and the tooth will eventually fall out.
Why Replacing Missing Teeth is Important
Not only is replacing a missing tooth important to maintaining the structural integrity of neighboring teeth, replacing a tooth is important for maintaining the health of gums and bone. When a tooth is missing, the gums will pull away from teeth and the jawbone will atrophy. Bone atrophy is caused by a natural process where the body reabsorbs bone mass. This occurs because the tooth’s roots are no longer present in the jawbone.
Why Dental Implants are the Most Natural Option
Dental implants permanently replace the visible portion of a tooth and the structure of teeth below the surface. With a titanium post that is surgically embedded into the jaw, dental implants will ultimately function as a tooth’s roots do. A crown is then attached to an abutment to fill in the empty tooth socket, which provides a durable biting surface and support to nearby natural teeth.
Candidates for dental implants should possess good oral health and enough bone to support the titanium post. To determine if this procedure is right for you, our team welcomes you to schedule a dental implants consultation with our skilled team of oral surgeons.
Contact Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery today to reserve your appointment.
