Just over one in three Americans have at least one missing tooth. There are adverse effects from missing teeth including malocclusion (an improper bite), which left untreated can cause headaches, muscle pain, the loss of more teeth, unnatural wearing of the teeth, tooth sensitivity, and even TMJ.
Teeth stimulate and support the jawbone, and vice versa. Missing a tooth affects the jawbone, and much like a unused muscle can atrophy, so can your jawbone. Missing one or more teeth — also called edentulism — will cause your teeth to shift overtime, since there is an open space between two teeth. As more teeth shift into different positions, eventually your entire bite can be misaligned and will need to be corrected.
Depending on which teeth are missing, you may have difficulty chewing certain kinds of foods. Missing front teeth causes issues with biting hard foods such as apples, while missing molars can make it difficult to grind up meat and other tough foods. Being unable to chew food adequately can lead to acid reflux.
Because of this, it is important to receive dental treatment. Dentures, partial dentures, implants and fixed bridges can be used for missing teeth. They can help to improve mastication (chewing), facial appearance and keep teeth from moving.
Sheen Dental Laboratory offers many options for dental crowns and bridges, including porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, and E-MAX crowns. Contact us today to see how we can help you!