Tooth loss is surprisingly common. Some studies estimate that over 50% of Americans are missing at least one tooth. The most common causes of tooth loss include:

Gum disease
Tooth decay
Accident/injury

Here’s the problem. Most people believe that losing a tooth is a problem. While this is true, it’s more accurate to say that a lost tooth is the start of many problems. Lost teeth can make you look and feel older, more self-conscious about your appearance, and have many far-reaching effects on your health as well.

The most common treatments for missing teeth are dentures and dental implants. Let’s learn more about the effects of missing teeth and examine the pros and cons of different tooth replacement options.

What do your teeth do anyway?

Chew food

Primarily your teeth help you eat and chew. But different teeth serve different functions. The incisors and canines, located towards the front of the mouth, help tear and cut food. In contrast, the molars, at the rear of the mouth, are used to grind food.

Speak naturally

So many of us take the ability to speak clearly and easily for granted. It’s just something we don’t think about very often. While your lips and tongue help form sounds, your teeth play a major role as well. Lost teeth can lead to difficulty producing some sounds and lead to speech impediments.

Preserve facial structure

One of the least well-known functions of your teeth, but perhaps the most important. Think of your tooth as being something like a tree. There’s the part you see — the top of the tree and the crown of your tooth. Then there are the roots that stabilize the tree and that hold your tooth in place. But the tree’s roots also prevent soil erosion. The roots of your teeth serve a similar function, preventing bone loss in the jaw, a process known as resorption.

What happens when you lose a tooth?

As soon as a tooth is lost, your mouth starts to adapt to the change. You may begin to find it difficult to eat and speak naturally. You may also find that bigger gaps between the remaining teeth are acting as magnets for bits of food, making it harder to brush and floss effectively.

Over time, as bone loss in the jaw continues, you may begin to notice changes in your facial structure. Often this is described as a “sunken” appearance or like you just bit into a lemon.

Is tooth loss inevitable as I get older?

With great brushing and flossing habits, a healthy diet and lifestyle, regular visits to the dentist, and a bit of luck, it’s very possible to keep all your teeth for your whole life. For example, gum disease is the leading cause of preventable tooth loss. By catching gum disease early and treating it promptly, you can minimize your risk of losing a tooth.

Sometimes though, whether it’s caused by a dental health issue or an accident like biting down on a hard bit of food, a tooth just can’t be saved. In this case, it’s important to see a dentist and decide what to do.

Dentures or implants?

Dentures used to be the most common way to replace lost teeth. In fact, before the true consequences of lost teeth were fully understood, sometimes people would have their teeth removed just so they could have dentures! Today, however, we know that it’s generally best to work towards keeping your natural teeth healthy and preventing tooth loss whenever possible.

Dentures

When we talk about dentures, we’re referring to “traditional” dentures, sometimes known as “plates.”. Dentures can replace a single or multiple missing teeth - if all teeth are replaced, they are referred to as complete dentures, and if a few teeth are replaced, they are called partial dentures. For years, they were considered the only option for replacing missing teeth. Unfortunately, they have numerous drawbacks:

Sticky - Dentures use messy adhesives to adhere to your gums
Prone to slipping - Because they’re not permanently attached, dentures aren’t always 100% secure
Affect speech and eating - Dentures can make it difficult to chew and eat certain foods like corn on the cob or apples
Don’t look like real teeth - Traditional adhesive dentures don’t look as natural as your real teeth
Hassle to clean - Dentures must be removed to be cleaned using denture cleaning tabs
Don’t preserve bone structure - With adhesive dentures, bone loss is inevitable and can lead to changes in your appearance

Implants

Advancements in materials and dental technology have made dental implants the best choice for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants can be used to replace anything from a single missing tooth to a full arch of missing teeth. The advantages of implants include:

Rock-solid and stable - Implants take the place of your natural tooth’s root and are placed securely into the jaw itself — no slipping and sliding
Custom-made with natural appearance - Your implant features a custom-made restoration that’s designed to look, feel, and function just like one of your natural teeth
Low-maintenance - Implants can be brushed and flossed just like natural teeth
Prevent bone loss - Because implants are placed into the jaw, they actually help preserve bone (like the natural tooth!)

3 parts of your dental implant

Implant - The implant itself is analogous to the root of a natural tooth. It’s what forms the solid foundation for the abutment and final restoration
Abutment - The abutment is attached to the implant and acts as a base for the restoration
Restoration - This is the part of the implant you can see. Depending on the number and location of missing teeth, the restoration might be a custom made crown, bridge, or even denture. That’s right, implant-supported dentures offer the advantages of implants with none of the drawbacks of dentures

What are All-on-4 implants?

All-on-4 is one of the most high-tech tooth replacement options available. Using as few as 4 implants, it’s possible to replace all of the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. This is often a great option for people who are tired of traditional dentures and want something more stable and durable.

Ready to learn more?

If you have one or more missing teeth, the best thing you can do is see a dentist. The sooner the better! Bone loss in the jaw is irreversible. The faster you get your missing tooth repaired, the fewer complications you’ll experience.

Schedule your appointment at Batchelor Dentistry today.

Restoring Missing Teeth: Dentures vs. Implants