Many people can live comfortably with some degree of tooth discoloration or crooked teeth, though it is a rare individual that is missing one or more of their teeth who can say that it does not negatively affect their daily life. Not only are missing teeth aesthetically undesirable, they will eventually lead to a number of further complications, some of which are irreversible. While the aesthetic factor is usually enough to prompt a patient to replace the missing teeth, let us take a brief look at some of the other problems that missing teeth can lead to.

• Further dental problems – These will be inevitable. Not only will your risk for tooth decay increase dramatically, changes in the way your jaw force is distributed while you chew will cause your teeth to shift and become crooked. Expect considerable amounts of jaw pain as this occurs. These same changes in jaw force may also case damage to surrounding teeth. In addition, bone structure around the missing tooth will eventually deteriorate, which will make future repair via dental implant difficult, if not impossible.
• Malnutrition – If your missing teeth do not allow you to chew your food properly, then this can lead to varying degrees of malnutrition. Furthermore, difficulty chewing certain foods may then lead to physical discomfort and avoidance of certain foods.
• Speech difficulty – A full set of teeth is essential for clear, crisp, and concise speech. While one missing tooth can be compensated for to some degree, a number of missing teeth will inevitably affect your ability to speak.
Your options

For the reasons outlined above, it is crucial that you see a dentist as soon as possible in the occasion that you lose a tooth. Quick intervention will eliminate the risk of many future dental and general health problems.

Dental bridges and implants are the best treatment options for missing teeth. Your candidacy for either of these treatments will depend on a number of factors that only a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist will be able to determine. Please see our bridges and dental implants pages for full information on those treatments. For those who are not good candidates for implants or bridges, full or partial dentures are available.

When it comes to the treatment of missing teeth, time is of the essence. If you live in Southern Oregon and are missing one or more teeth, please contact us today to arrange an appointment.