Our Dental Blog

Things You Should Know if You’ve Lost a Tooth (or Several)

April 19, 2019
a girl holding her teeth in pain

Some things about your dental health are inevitable. For example, you might develop teeth stains even if you successfully prevent other issues, like cavities, with good hygiene and preventive care. Other things, however, only seem inevitable, such as the loss of one or more of your teeth. At our Kansas City, MO, dental office, our goal is to help you enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile even if you have lost one or more teeth. That requires knowing all you can about how the loss affects your smile, as well as choosing the most beneficial option to replace them.

You Shouldn’t Wait to Replace It

For many chronic dental conditions, like gum disease and tooth decay, losing a tooth can seem like the worst of it. However, tooth loss affects your smile in many different ways, and not all of them are immediately noticeable. For example, after you lose teeth, your remaining ones won’t be as stable or secure. They’ll be more likely to shift out of alignment, be exposed to excessive bite pressure and become damaged, or develop tooth decay. The longer you wait to replace your lost tooth or teeth, the greater these impacts will be on your long-term oral health.

Your Tooth Loss Might Not Be Over

Depending on the cause of your tooth loss, the condition behind it might also not be resolved just because the tooth is gone. If it was lost because the tooth was extensively decayed, then the infection from the tooth might spread through its root canal and into surrounding tissues and jawbone structure. If you lost one or more teeth to gum disease, then the disease can continue eroding your periodontal tissues and jawbone structure and increase your risks of losing even more teeth.

You Can Replace Lost Teeth (Even Their Roots)

In addition to worsening dental health, losing a tooth can directly increase your risks of losing even more in the future. This is due largely to the loss of your teeth roots, which are meant to stimulate your jawbone so that your body knows to send it ample minerals and nutrients. Fortunately, you can replace your lost teeth and their roots with the help of one or more dental implants. Made from biocompatible titanium, dental implant posts can support any size prosthesis, from a single crown to a custom bridge or complete denture, making them viable options for any patient who has lost teeth.

Learn More by Calling Us Today

If you’ve experienced tooth loss, then these are just a few of the things you should know about rebuilding and preserving your healthy smile. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, call Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.