Truths and Myths about Replacing a Missing Tooth

If you have a missing tooth, you have some important decisions to make. You probably feel some embarrassment and possibly some pain. Fortunately, there are multiple options to replace the tooth and restore your smile. You may be confused by what makes the most sense for your needs. Your dentist can help you choose the right option. You can also sift through the facts and falsehoods about these treatments.

Causes of tooth loss

Young children love losing teeth, but for teens and adults, this is not an ideal situation. A missing tooth is often the result of a hard blow to the face. This could be from an object hitting the individual or from the person falling to the ground or against something hard. Car accidents and sports injuries can cause these incidents. Even people with good oral hygiene can be the victims of these circumstances.

However, poor brushing and flossing can be a culprit in missing teeth. These omissions can cause gum disease and tooth decay, both of which can weaken teeth. Eventually, bone loss can occur, and the teeth can become loose. The teeth could fall out on their own, or the dentist may need to pull them.

Myth: it is OK not to replace a missing tooth

It might be hard to imagine a person not worrying about a missing tooth if it is in the front. Because of its visibility, people will notice this readily. But some individuals dismiss the need to replace a tooth if it is in the back where it will not affect the smile as much. The problem with this attitude is that one missing tooth could cause other teeth to drift. It could cause changes to the bone structure and shape of the person’s face.

Myth: artificial teeth do not look real

Patients may hesitate to replace a missing a tooth because they do not want it to stand out. The truth is that dental implants, bridges, and dentures are natural-looking. The dentist will take impressions of the mouth to ensure that the new appliance looks like the other teeth in shape, size, and color. Teeth-replacement options should blend in nicely with the natural teeth.

Truth: replacing a tooth restores the mouth’s functions

Putting an artificial tooth in place of a missing tooth does more than reviving a person’s smile. A bridge, denture, or implant will help the patient chew properly once more. People with missing teeth often have impairments in their speech. The replacement should take care of that.

Truth: replacing a tooth can be long-lasting

Replacing a missing tooth is not a short-term solution. Rather, getting a new tooth is meant to endure for years. Implants can last for the rest of the patient’s life. Dentures and bridges can do their jobs well for a decade. The effectiveness will depend largely on how well the patient cares for the appliances.

Know what is right, and fix that tooth

There is no reason why you should live with a missing tooth. End the embarrassment and discomfort today by talking to your dentist. As you understand what is fact and what is fiction about these treatments, you can move forward feeling at ease. Restore your mouth and smile, and make an appointment with your dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://hemetdentalcenter.com or call Hemet Dental Center: Brian Stiewel DDS, INC. at (951) 707-4366 for an appointment in our Hemet office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Options For Replacing Missing Teeth in Hemet, CA.

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