The immediate concern for people with missing teeth is how their smile appears to others. While this is a concern with significant consequences attached, there are other equally disturbing consequences that make finding suitable missing teeth replacement solutions a priority. A missing tooth solution that addresses multiple challenges patients face with traditional missing teeth replacement devices is dental implants in Ipswich. Not only does such a solution deliver an aesthetically-pleasing dental appearance, but tooth implants also work well to improve mouth health and function as well.
According to the Great British Oral Health Report, 73 percent of people have lost one or more of their back teeth while 76 percent have one or more teeth missing from the front dental arch.
Not replacing missing teeth can open up a myriad of unwanted issues for not only dental health but for psychosocial health too.
Ways missing teeth can affect health
Missing teeth negatively affects mouth health as well as dental function.
Firstly, there is the bite function that presents the challenge of not being able to bite and chew properly. Surrounding teeth have to absorb the impact of the gap or gaps in the dental arch, increasing the risk of damage due to wear and tear.
Gaps in the dental arch hasten on another problem: the open spaces invite neighbouring teeth to shift out of position. In this way, not replacing missing teeth creates an additional dental problem to be fixed: orthodontic issues.
When existing teeth leave their proper positions to occupy left open gaps, which results in crooked teeth, attaining optimal oral hygiene can be a challenge. This is because it is well-known that crooked teeth make effective brushing and flossing a trial.
Missing teeth remove the much-needed support and stimulation required by the jawbone to maintain bone quality. This is a serious issue that has cosmetic and functional concerns. Loss of jawbone quality threatens the longevity of remaining teeth and when over time, bone reabsorption begins to take effect, the face may take on a sunken, aged look.
Next to dental health, physical health can also be placed in jeopardy thanks to missing teeth. When biting and chewing poses a problem because there aren’t enough teeth to support this function, this calls into question how well the person’s nutritional needs are being met. The failure to provide the body with all the nutrients required on a daily basis to keep the body strong and healthy means the body is not as well protected to fight off illness or support proper functioning.
Poor psychosocial health may not have an immediate impact on longevity but in time, loneliness can take its toll. Missing teeth can adversely impact personal, social and professional relationships due to a loss in confidence. Because of the gaps in their smile, a person is more likely to avoid social contact out of shame and embarrassment. Not being able to laugh and smile with confidence may mean missing out on valuable, affirming relationships.
So, it can be seen from the above that missing teeth is not only a problem limited to oral health but impacts the wider body in a number of significant ways.