DentistryMissing Teeth? Here Are 5 Big Reasons Why You Should Replace Them

Losing a tooth isn’t great — but living without it is *a lot* worse

Losing a tooth can happen to anybody, at any age.

Whether it’s from decay, gum disease or an unfortunate sporting injury, tooth loss is more common than you might think. In fact, Australian adults have an average of 4.5 missing teeth, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. And what’s more surprising is that many adults who are missing teeth choose to simply live without them.

While replacing missing teeth may be expensive, trying to live without your lost teeth can actually come at a *much* bigger cost. And we’re not just talking about the cost to your physical health, but to your emotional health too.

Are you on the fence about whether or not to replace your missing teeth?

Here are a few things you should consider first…

The way you eat and speak could change

Your teeth are designed to work together. So, when a tooth is missing, it can cause serious issues in how you eat and speak. It can become painful or difficult to chew your food, so you may find yourself avoiding foods you once loved or only chewing on one side of your mouth to avoid your missing tooth. Speaking can also become a challenge. For example, if you lose a front tooth, you’ll struggle to make certain sounds when speaking, such as words with a “th” sound like “teeth” or “three”.

You may start to look different

If you’re missing a back tooth, you may be thinking that no one will notice and it won’t affect your appearance at all. And sure, maybe no one else can see your missing teeth right now. But over time, tooth loss can actually cause the whole facial structure to change. You know how we mentioned that you might change the way you chew to compensate for your missing tooth? This will gradually affect your jaw and facial muscles, changing the shape of your face. Plus, when you don’t replace a missing tooth, you’ll start to experience bone loss in your jaw. This can cause your cheeks and lips to sink inwards, making you look a lot older than you really are.

 

Your risk of oral health problems may increase

If you don’t replace a missing tooth, your other teeth will start to move out of their proper position into the gap left behind. This shifting can cause your bite to become misaligned and can often snowball into other oral health issues like teeth grinding, clenching or sensitivity. The movement may also cause your remaining teeth to become crooked, making them more difficult to clean. This then increases your risk of cavities, tooth decay and gum disease.

You may struggle with negative emotions

Dr Daniel Adamo from Dental Implants on Miller in Sydney says, “Many dentists will discuss the biological implications of missing teeth but fail to talk about the devastating impact it can have on your emotional wellbeing. Since it’s not often talked about, many people suffer in silence with the negative emotions that come with tooth loss… This can become the main reason why they avoid seeing their dentist for help.”

And it’s true, studies have found that tooth loss can have a huge emotional toll. It can open the door to many negative emotions, such as depression, anxiety, shame, guilt and low self-esteem.

Your social life may suffer

When you’re not feeling your best, this can have a domino effect on your relationships and your social life. If you’re feeling self-conscious or embarrassed about your missing teeth, you may avoid smiling or speaking, especially in public or when you’re around new people. You may also start to withdraw from the social activities you once enjoyed or even avoid social interactions altogether.

What’s the best way to replace missing teeth?

Thankfully, all is not lost. There are many different options for replacing missing teeth. Permanent solutions like dental implants or All-on-4 are considered to be the best option as they are the closest thing possible to your natural teeth.

But, at the end of the day, the right tooth replacement option for you will depend on your unique circumstances. The best thing you can do is speak with an experienced dentist for personalised advice on restoring your smile.

Bio: DR DANIEL ADAMO

Cosmetic Dentist

BDS Dip.Clin Dent (Oral Implants)

Dental Implants on Miller

102/506 Miller Street, Cammeray NSW 2062, Australia

Over the past 25 years, Dr Daniel Adamo has restored thousands of smiles with dental implants and All-on-4. Having already founded two very successful dental practices, Daniel now welcomes a new chapter at Dental Implants on Miller — his recently-launched luxury dental practice in Cammeray, Sydney.

Combining cutting-edge technology with a human touch, Daniel has refined his treatment process to ensure every patient can reclaim their smile in complete comfort with individualised care. His clinic has also been recognised by Nobel Biocare as one of a limited number of Centres of Excellence. This attests to Dr Adamo’s surgical experience and training, as well as the quality of the implants he uses.

As one of Sydney’s most experienced All-on-4 dental Implants dentists, Daniel has seen first-hand how life-changing dental implant treatments can be. Helping his patients get both their smile and their life back is his greatest reward.