Sciota, Pennsylvania
While we normally think of teeth as what we see when a person smiles, our pearly whites also have a very important job. Digestion begins in the mouth, and teeth are responsible for breaking down food into manageable pieces so the body can digest nutrients from the foods we eat.
So what happens when someone is missing a tooth?
Missing teeth can wreak havoc on a person’s self-confidence, but the risks extend beyond aesthetics. Whether lost because of decay, gum disease or injury, choosing not to replace a missing tooth can carry serious consequences for your dental and overall health. Today, our family dentist in Sciota shares several risks associated with missing teeth and how restorative dentistry can help.
Difficulty chewing and poor digestion
Missing teeth, especially the molars that grind and break down food, prevent a person from properly chewing. Large pieces of food are difficult for the digestive system to break down, which can lead to uncomfortable issues like indigestion and bloating and health problems like nutrient malabsorption. Missing molars can also make it difficult for someone to enjoy healthy, crunchy, high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables.
Poor food choices
When healthy foods are difficult to chew because of missing teeth, a person may turn to soft, processed foods that are high in sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats. This leads to nutrient deficiencies, weight gain, heart disease and other health problems.
Choking hazard
The inability of teeth to properly break down food increases the risk of choking, especially on meat or crunchy vegetables that need to be crushed and ground before entering the digestive tract.
Oral health issues
When a tooth is missing, the jawbone that once held that tooth is no longer stimulated. The body naturally begins to reabsorb the bone since it isn’t being used. At the same time, teeth begin to gradually shift to fill the gap left by the missing tooth, often leading to a bite misalignment. This can cause pain in the jaw and lead to serious dental issues like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD), a disorder of the jaw joints and surrounding muscles that control jaw movement.
How can restorative dentistry help?
Our Sciota family dentist offers several options to replace missing teeth, including:
- Dental implants — Revolutionary, permanent tooth replacements that look, act and feel like natural teeth.
- Dentures — Custom-fitted, removable replacements for multiple teeth.
- Bridges — Aptly named, they bridge the gap left between teeth from a missing tooth.
Restorative dentist in Sciota, PA
Missing teeth can alter a person’s appearance and make them feel self-conscious about smiling. But they also carry health risks so it’s important to replace them as soon as possible. If you’re missing a tooth or multiple teeth, our team at Quiet Valley Dental can help. Call us at (570) 865-7850 or reach out to us online to schedule a consultation today.
