Replacing Missing Teeth Is as Important for Your Oral Health as Your Aesthetics

At Cannon Oral Surgery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we’re passionate about the many ways that modern dentistry can enhance lives. When it comes to replacing missing teeth, we offer some great options. 

Missing teeth affect more than just your looks. They can also affect your dental and overall health. Let’s take a closer look at what happens when you lose one or more natural teeth. 

Your teeth work as part of a connected unit

Each tooth sits next to at least one other tooth. This span of teeth forms your upper or lower arch of teeth. When you lose one or more teeth, you also lose the support that the missing tooth gave to the entire arch. 

This can leave your remaining teeth at risk of shifting out of position, altering the way your upper and lower teeth fit together when you bite or chew. You can end up putting undue pressure on some of your remaining teeth, which can cause damage and even more tooth loss. 

Replacing a missing tooth preserves the structural support that keeps your smile healthy. 

Missing teeth can lead to bone loss

Each of your natural teeth is anchored within the underlying bone tissue. Whenever you bite down or chew, you stimulate that bone tissue, keeping it vital and healthy. Losing a tooth means losing that daily stimulation. 

Your bone tissue will begin to wear away beneath or above a missing tooth. This process is known as resorption, and can eventually give your mouth a “caved-in” appearance. It can also weaken the connection between your remaining teeth and bone, causing more tooth loss down the road. 

Dental implants not only replace the visible portion of the missing tooth or teeth, but also anchor directly into your bone tissue, keeping it healthy and strong. 

Missing teeth limits the foods you’re able to enjoy

Gaps in your smile can make it hard to enjoy certain foods. You might find yourself avoiding things like seed, nuts, and fibrous vegetables. Even chewing lean proteins can be challenging when you’re missing multiple teeth. 

Limiting your diet in this way can leave you without the nutrients your body needs to thrive. Replacing those missing teeth restores a normal, healthy bite. Nutritional deficiencies can increase your risk of numerous chronic health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension. 

Missing teeth can negatively impact your overall health

More and more research suggests a link between your oral health and overall health. If you have extensive dental decay or gum disease in addition to missing teeth, taking control of your dental health is critical. 

When teeth and gums are decayed or diseased, the barrier between the environment within your mouth and your bloodstream is compromised. That means that some of the bacteria that live within your mouth can enter the rest of your body, where they can cause widespread harm. 

Not everyone who needs to replace one or more missing teeth also has gum disease or dental decay. Your dental exam is the perfect setting to learn more about any steps you need to take to preserve your dental health. 

Ready to explore your tooth replacement options?

If you’re tired of living with missing teeth, we offer several solutions. Dental implants consist of a metal post that replaces your tooth’s roots. 

The post portion of the implant secures directly to your bone and delivers ongoing stimulation to keep your jawbone healthy. An artificial crown replaces the visible portion of your natural tooth, restoring not only the appearance of your smile but also enabling you to eat a wide variety of healthy foods. 

We also offer All-on-4®, a dental implant system that anchors an entire upper or lower arch of teeth using just four individual implants in the top or bottom jaw. With this approach, you can replace all of your upper or lower teeth at once. All-on-4 is a great option for people who lack sufficient bone density to support multiple implants.  

When you’re ready to learn more about these permanent tooth replacement options, scheduling a face-to-face consultation is the best place to begin. You’ll sit down with Dr. Cannon to discuss your treatment goals and learn more about various treatment paths, including treatment timing and expense. 

Give us a call at 423-541-9000 to schedule a visit to Cannon Oral Surgery. You can also spend a few moments on our online booking page to check appointment availability.