Sagging face from tooth loss

Many dental patients are aware of some of the health issues that can arise from the loss of teeth including impaired speech, loss of ability to chew, and a decrease in nutrition. But an important factor that Comfortable Care Dentistry wants to bring attention to regarding tooth loss is the deterioration of bone where the teeth once lied. Although the appearance of a lost tooth can have significant psychological and social consequences it is the bone that supports the teeth that can have serious functional, health, and aesthetic affects that needs to be addressed quickly.

When a tooth is lost the lack of stimulation in the alveolar bone causes it to diminish, resulting in more future health and social issues. Within the first year of tooth loss the bone can decrease 25% in width and up to four millimeters in height in the next few years. This can result in the loss of more teeth, the impairment of the ability to chew and speak, the loss of function, and results in a more aged look as the aesthetics of the face can change as well.

Teeth are usually lost due to old age, trauma, or poor dental care that causes them to decay. The longer a patient waits to take measures to replace the tooth, the more of a chance they have at suffering the consequences associated with bone loss. There are several options to replace missing teeth including dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants. The most common method of replacing teeth was the fixed partial denture, or fixed bridge. A fixed bridge is attached to the two surrounding healthy teeth and a prosthesis is placed in the middle to replace the missing tooth. Current research has shown that although the fixed bridge may help to replace a missing tooth, the surrounding teeth are more susceptible to tooth decay, root canal problems, and gum disease.

The dental implant is now the most highly recommended tooth replacement procedure as it is serves to replace missing teeth and avoids debilitating bone loss. The dental implant replaces the tooth’s root by a process called osseointegration where the implant fuses with the jawbone and creates a restoration that is natural looking and feeling.

If you have recently lost a tooth or would like to schedule a consultation with Milford’s Dental Implant Dentist, contact us today.