Losing Teeth & The Problems Of Missing Teeth

Posted on Mar 02, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Contrary to what many older adults think, losing natural teeth is not a normal part of the aging process. Periodontal (gum) disease is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss and is easily preventable with simple measures applied on a daily basis.

Those with the highest susceptibility to gum disease are…
•    Males over the age of 35
•    Adults who fail to have professional dental care
•    Not brushing teeth
•    Smoking
•    Having diabetes, high blood pressure or rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Teeth most commonly lost because of gum disease are in the front of the mouth rather than back teeth.

Although health issues such as diabetes and arthritis can make you more vulnerable to develop gum disease, this doesn’t mean you cannot take measures to overcome risk factors. Too, instances like smoking and twice-daily tooth brushing are choices you make.

Missing teeth compromises the appearance of a person’s smile, causing them to become self-conscious about smiling.  While the esthetic repercussions of missing teeth are significant, dental challenges caused by missing teeth are even more problematic. The space left by missing teeth needs to be filled to avoid teeth drifting.  Drifting teeth have a long list of challenges to oral health and the appearance of your smile, including:

• Compromised chewing efficiency
• The tooth above or below the missing tooth growing too long
• Neighboring teeth moving out of alignment
• More challenges with food accumulation, which promotes bacterial growth
• Uneven chewing patterns, which strains jaw joints and can lead to worn teeth, tooth fractures and chips, clenching and grinding, and headaches
• Loss of jaw bone mass in the extracted area
• Facial changes and biting/chewing problems in the area of tooth loss
• Increased incidences of accidental tongue biting & ulceration

When a tooth is lost, it is imperative that the tooth be replaced, preferably soon after. Dental implants not only restore the look and feel of a natural tooth, they recreate the presence of a tooth root in the jaw bone. This helps halt bone loss and protects your facial structure and the natural alignment of your bite.

If you have lost teeth, contact us about regaining the look, feel and function of a confident smile through dental implants. Call (828) 274-9440 for a consultation.

Tooth Replacement Is Important To Image & Health

Posted on Feb 02, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

When it comes to teeth, some American adults assume that missing one, two or a few won’t upset the apple cart. But it does.  Even though your missing teeth may not be visible in a smile, the gap disrupts the natural balance necessary for proper bite alignment.

For example, if you are missing two lower teeth in the back, the upper teeth that once ‘met’ these teeth begin to grow longer. The lower tooth next to the area of missing teeth begins to tilt out of position due to bone resorption. This ‘shrinkage’ of jaw bone occurs when natural tooth roots are no longer present in the bone to provide stimulation. Without them, the bone declines in mass and height.

In addition to chips and tooth fractures, improper bite alignment contributes to jaw joint disorders, which can lead to sore jaw joints, headaches, clenching or migraines. However, when missing teeth leave a gap in your smile, the social perception of others can have a negative impact as well.

Although it is assumed that there are minimum social consequences for individuals missing visible teeth, a study shared by the National Institutes of Health (published in their U.S. National Library of Medicine) shows differently. The study measured 200 college students’ “Social perceptions of individuals missing upper front teeth.” In the study, volunteer students with a medium age of 21 years rated five photographs, each depicting tooth presence or absence. The photos ranged from those clearly having all their teeth to those missing as many as four upper teeth. The students rated the photos on attractiveness, health, education, satisfaction with life, active social life, aggressiveness, intelligence, trustworthiness, friendship, potential of dating, and how likely they would be to live as a neighbor.

The findings suggested a person missing visible teeth was more negatively perceived on all social traits than a person with a full smile. Results were strongest when students were proposed to be linked to the individual who was clearly missing teeth in a personal way, such as their likelihood of dating or living as neighbor. Both men and women agreed on perceptions of social traits, seeing missing teeth as creating significant barriers to personal and social success.

If you are missing natural teeth, whether they are visible when you smile or not, replacement is recommended for the well-being of other teeth as well as how you are perceived in the world in which we live. We advise Dental Implants for tooth replacement for their ability to recreate the presence of tooth roots in the jaw bone, halting bone loss. They are also the closest thing to natural teeth when it comes to biting strength and stability, chewing comfort and self-confidence.

Begin with a consultation to discuss treatment options. For example, if you are missing 2 to 3 teeth in one area, one implant may be all that’s necessary to support a bridge of teeth. Call (828) 297-9440 to schedule a convenient time.