Why a Missing Tooth Isn't Just an Aesthetic Issue

Tooth replacement is sometimes wrongly considered as only an aesthetic procedure, especially if the tooth in question shows up in your smile and/or doesn’t currently affect your bite, your ability to speak, or to chew. 

But actually, failing to replace a missing tooth can be bad for your oral — and overall — health. 

At Ueno Center Dental Specialists, we have a number of options for tooth replacement, including immediate implant placement. Our founder, Jeremy K. Ueno, DMD, and the rest of our team, can help you determine how best to replace your missing tooth. 

How missing teeth can affect your physical health

It’s actually extremely common for American adults to struggle with tooth loss. This problem is even more likely to occur in older populations and those affected by financial difficulties. People who already live with health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease are also more likely to experience this issue.

But missing teeth can also create additional problems for your oral health, such as the decay of surrounding teeth, gum disease, malocclusion, and even eventually bone loss in your jaw. If you don’t replace the tooth properly and quickly, your whole mouth could be affected.

In addition, allowing missing teeth to go untreated can worsen a number of non-oral health conditions like those we mentioned above as catalysts for tooth loss. 

This is often because gum disease can worsen or even create so many complications for your body, including for your respiratory and cardiovascular systems, your kidneys, and even during pregnancy.

Your mouth and your body have a connection. What goes untreated in one may cause problems for the other and vice versa. If you are missing a tooth, it’s important to consider your options for treatment, rather than just chalking the problem up to vanity.

How missing teeth can affect your mental health

In addition, people who lose a tooth may also experience mental health issues. You might brush this off because you believe that a chipped or missing chomper is just aesthetic and doesn’t really affect your life. 

But people who are missing one or more teeth actually have an increased chance of experiencing mental disorders like depression and anxiety.

Missing a tooth (especially one others can see) affects more than just your own view of yourself. It can make it harder to get a job, which can, in turn, affect your financial situation. 

We’ve already discussed how this can affect your physical health, but it can also make it harder to feel good about yourself and your life, as well as to seek help when you don’t. 

What to do about a missing tooth: Options and candidacy 

Learning the many implications of having a missing tooth can seem frightening, but there are a number of treatment options available. The one you choose may depend on factors, such as how many teeth you’re missing and how healthy your mouth is. 

One option is a fixed bridge, which uses the surrounding teeth for support and fills in the gaps. Another option, that you’re probably familiar with, is dentures, removable devices that can replace upper or lower arches, or both. 

If you are missing only one tooth and want something semipermanent, an implant is also a good option. But you need to have enough bone density, so if you don’t, bone grafts might help.

You will be able to discuss all of these options and more with a member of our team to determine which will best suit your specific situation. 

We can treat your missing tooth or teeth in a way that is safe and supportive for your oral, mental, and physical health, and we always recommend a visit with your provider to determine your options. 

Missing teeth can create real problems

Letting one or more missing teeth go without treatment can truly affect your long-term health in many ways. That’s why there are so many options to treat this condition and allow you to smile proudly, knowing you’re caring for more than just your aesthetic wellness. 

Call us at our Campbell, California, office today, or make an appointment online. We’re here to help.