When you lose a tooth, the location of the lost tooth could play a role in how critical you feel it is to get a replacement tooth in place. There are a lot of people out there who, if a lost tooth is not in the visible “smile zone,” don’t think it is all that important to replace. However, replacing the tooth is usually a very high priority if it is highly visible. This thinking, however, is highly flawed. No matter where you lost a tooth, if it is not replaced, it could lead to oral health complications down the road. In Sunnyvale, California, the dentist, Dr. Zhao, and the team at Harmony Smile Dental would like to tell you more about dental implants for replacing lost teeth.
Shifting Teeth
When you lose a tooth, the resulting gap is something you will immediately think about. You do not want anybody to see that you’ve got a gap in your smile. While this is true, a gap in your smile will eventually be far more than just a cosmetic issue. Over time, your teeth (on both sides of the gap) will begin to shift into the gap. This will result in new gaps on the other side of these shifting teeth, giving more room for more teeth to shift. What was once a problem with a single missing tooth can eventually result in an absolute nightmare. Getting a dental implant to replace a tooth will prevent this because the gap will be eliminated.
Loss of Jawbone
We all know that we use our teeth to bite and chew, but did you know that the roots which lay beneath the gumline play a vital role in the health of your jaw? It’s true! The stimulation, which reverberates from the crown of your tooth down into the root, is then passed into the jawbone. This stimulation keeps the jawbone healthy. Without this stimulation, your jawbone will begin to deteriorate over time. Because a dental implant replaces the tooth’s root, it is the only tooth replacement option that has a direct effect on preserving your jawbone.
To learn more about dental implants, please visit Dr. Zhao. Please call (408) 738-1000 today to schedule your appointment.
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