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Why should I replace my
missing teeth?
 Cosmetics
Humans are the only animals
that express friendliness when they show their teeth. We call this
smiling. Many people are embarrassed by the loss of a front tooth
but are not as concerned by a missing back tooth. However, the
dark space left by the missing teeth may be visible when you laugh or
smile. This can lead to self-consciousness and can dramatically
alter some people's normal behaviour when they interact with other
people. Replacing missing teeth can greatly improve one's
appearance and smile, and enhance self confidence.
Function
We need teeth to chew our
food efficiently. For each tooth lost two teeth go "missing
in action", the tooth lost and its opposing tooth in the opposite
jaw. This functional loss leaves the remaining teeth to do more
work. In turn this can cause excessive wear or even stress
fractures on the remaining teeth. Losing your back teeth can
eventually cause your front teeth to wear down.
Teeth can move position
(drift), tip over or get longer (over erupt), if their adjacent or
opposing teeth are lost. This can also lead to grinding down of
the remaining teeth because the upper and lower teeth no longer fit
together comfortably when you close your teeth together.
Gum disease
Drifting, tipping
and over-eruption also cause gum problems. This occurs mostly due
to the increased difficulty in cleaning around the teeth and from food
impacting between the teeth as they drift apart. Eventually more
teeth may be lost.
What can be done to
replace missing teeth?
Dentures
Bridges
Implants |
