Treating any dental health concern that develops is the key to minimizing the problem’s overall impact on your oral health. For example, if you develop gum disease, then treating it early will prevent it from increasing your risks of losing one or more teeth. When it comes to tooth loss, however, the potential impacts to the rest of your smile are much more significant than most other oral health concerns. Today, we examine why, and what makes it so important to replace lost teeth as soon as possible for the good of your immediate and long-term oral health.
Even a single lost tooth matters
When your tooth loss only involves the loss of a single tooth, replacing it might not seem as urgent a concern as if you had lost several teeth. However, many people end up having to replace multiple teeth because they’ve neglected to replace the first one that was lost. A single lost tooth can have compounding, negative impacts on the rest of your oral health, including the foundation of your smile, that increase your risks of losing more teeth in the near future. If you lose one tooth, then the best way to lower your chances of losing more is to replace the lost tooth as soon as possible.
The effects aren’t always things you see
The specific effects of tooth loss that lead to further tooth loss aren’t always things you immediately notice. For instance, the visible loss of your tooth’s crown structure can have different effects on the alignment and integrity of your remaining teeth. However, the loss of your tooth’s root, which rests underneath your gum tissues, can also lead to detrimental effects within the jawbone structure that supported it. Without the root in its place, this area of your dental ridge can lose bone mass and density over time because it’s no longer being stimulated.
The sooner you replace them, the better
The most effective way to stop the loss of mass and density in your jawbone is to replace the root of your tooth as part of your smile restoration plan. Dental implants accomplish this by providing a biocompatible, root-like post that can be inserted into your jawbone in place the lost tooth root. This gives your replacement restoration a more lifelike way to remain in place, and makes it more able to preserve your smile as well as restore its immediate function and appearance.
Learn more about tooth replacement
Preventing tooth loss is important, but if it occurs, you can still preserve your smile if you replace your lost teeth as soon as possible. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX, today at (936) 441-4600. We serve patients from Conroe and all neighboring communities.
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