Does It Matter If I Lose A Tooth? You may think that losing one tooth is “no big deal.” It is a big deal though and the dental implant dentists from Gendler Dental Center in Hopkins, MN explain why.

The loss of a tooth or more than one tooth is more than a cosmetic issue. Losing a tooth is cause for concern for many individuals because they feel self-conscious. The even bigger concern, though when you lose a tooth is the loss of bone that occurs as a result.

When you lose a tooth, your body immediately jumps into action and “removes” the bone in your jaw where the tooth was anchored to starts to resorb or “melt.” Studies have shown that we can lose as much as 40% of bone mass in the affected area in the first six months of losing a tooth. When you do the math, if you lose more than one tooth you will notice changes in the shape of your face and you will certainly look older than you truly are.

Wearing dentures will help you look better and have a better smile, but wearing removable dentures, because of missing teeth do not prevent bone loss — dental implants will preserve the bone in your jaw.

What can be done to address tooth and bone loss?

• Dentures won’t save the bone in your jaw, but will help you regain your smile and ability to chew. Partial dentures are a temporary fix and will help you chew foods. They do tend to slip and may not allow you to eat all of the foods you used to. If your remaining teeth are damaged or broken, your dentist may not be able to save them; partials require natural teeth to clasp onto.
• Dental implants address tooth loss and prevent bone loss. A dental implant will be placed where the missing tooth is. Dental implants stimulate bone growth. This process will help you keep from looking aged because of a missing tooth.

Your diet impacts your dental health

A healthy, well-balanced diet will help keep your teeth — and your body — healthy. Avoid carbonated drinks and sticky foods and visit a dentist regularly to avoid cavities. Brush and floss every day — more than once a day is best.

If you’re missing teeth and want to regain your smile and your health, call our office and schedule a dental examination and dental check-up. If you’re looking for a new dentist, we are accepting new patients and we make it easy for you to change dentists.