You know that a smile with missing teeth isn’t esthetically pleasing, but you may not realize just how vitally important a full set of healthy teeth is to oral and overall health. Today, let’s discuss the importance of renewing and replacing teeth.
First, let’s start with some statistics on tooth loss. It has been reported that 69% of adults have lost at least one tooth, and 50 million Americans have lost all of their teeth. I find these numbers staggering. In addition, if a tooth isn’t replaced, up to 20% of adjacent teeth will be lost in the next four 4 to 8 years. Here are some additional things you might not know about missing teeth:
- People with incomplete smiles don’t live as long as those with a full set of teeth
- Gaps in a smile can cause existing teeth to drift out of position, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease
- Jawbone deterioration occurs if a tooth isn’t replaced
- Bites can become misaligned and contribute to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, including headaches, earaches, and the inability to fully open and close your mouth
These are just a few of the issues associated with missing teeth. So, as you can see, it’s crucial to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. There are comprehensive therapies that will restore teeth and renew smiles. Dental implants can be used to replace single teeth and to secure dentures and bridges.
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