If you lose a pen or pencil from your drawer, you probably wouldn’t stress it much. Chances are, you have more, and can save a couple of bucks by waiting until you run out before buying a new one. What if, however, every time you lost a pen, the rest in your draw lost a bit of their value? The last one remaining wouldn’t function very well by the time you plucked it up and put it to use. Your teeth are like that; they’re all stronger when they’re group is complete, but their integrity can begin to slowly crumble the minute one of them is lost. Ignoring the missing tooth won’t save you time and money, but rather lead to more problems that can cost you more teeth and require more complex restorative treatment later down the line.
Why Did You Lose a “Permanent” Tooth?
We’d love to tell you that losing a tooth is natural for some people, and it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong—but it’s not, and you likely did. Unless you suffered accidental trauma, or need a tooth extracted to facilitate orthodontic or some other dental treatment, then you probably lost the tooth to an advanced dental disease. Whether it was a cavity or aggressive gum disease (the leading cause of tooth loss), the condition occurred due to inadequate hygiene and dental care. A cavity is an infectious hole in your tooth that grows larger as you ignore it, until it eventually consumes the tooth and kills its nerves and blood vessels. Gum disease destroys the gums and jawbone that support your teeth, until they have nothing left to stand on and fall out or require an extraction.
All for One and One for All
To function properly, your mouth should contain at least 28 adult teeth, not counting the four (or more) wisdom teeth that are frequently extracted for various reasons. When you bite down and chew your food, each of your teeth absorbs a certain amount of pressure. Their neighbors help keep teeth in their place when under pressure and avoid damage from excessive stress. If one is lost, the others will be responsible for taking up the slack, and can move towards the empty space to cover the discrepancy. Replacing your missing tooth or teeth is the only way to stop their brethren from migrating. If you replace their roots with one or more dental implants, you can also help stop the jawbone deterioration that often follows tooth loss.
About Downey Family & Cosmetic Dentistry:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, DDS, provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health and function and help them enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
