No one doubts that every tooth in the mouth is important. The only exception is the “eight”. Their absence does not cause any functional disorders, does not affect the aesthetics of a smile or the ability to chew food. All other teeth are necessary so that the dentofacial apparatus can work as a single coherent mechanism.
With the help of incisors we bite off food, canines and premolars are used to grab food, molars are used to crush and grind food. The loss of any of these teeth inevitably leads initially to discomfort, various functional inconveniences, and later to deformation of the dentition.
Increased load on other teeth
In the absence of any teeth, their function is taken over by neighboring teeth, and accordingly, the load on tooth enamel, crowns and roots increases significantly. This leads to the fact that teeth begin to deteriorate many times faster. For example, when removing molars, the incisors have to take on a task not provided for by nature - grinding food. As a result, longitudinal and transverse cracks appear on the enamel, the edges of the teeth wear off and turn yellow.
Increased load over time turns out to be fatal for the roots, as it provokes their increased mobility. If you do not reduce the constant pressure, bone tissue will also begin to suffer from overload.
Secondary consequences of edentia
Cosmetic defects and digestive disorders become noticeable almost immediately. However, there are also hidden consequences of untimely dental restoration.
In the absence of support, the tooth, which is an antagonist to the removed one, gradually moves out of the jaw. Over time, the neck of the tooth is exposed, and the tooth itself begins to sway from the slightest load. This threatens not only its loss, but also infection of the tissues surrounding it, because the space between the protruded tooth and the gum becomes an ideal object for pieces of food to get stuck and bacteria to multiply. Similar processes occur when other teeth in a row are displaced to compensate for voids.
Frequent inflammation in the oral cavity negatively affects the immune system, cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system.
The absence of several teeth often leads to a sharp change in the bite and displacement of the lower jaw. This disrupts the functioning of the mandibular joint and provokes severe headaches and even disability.
For any degree of edentia, doctors advise planning implantation as early as possible. Missing teeth is not a cosmetic problem, but a complex problem! Call: +7 (8342) 222-888, sign up for a consultation, and our specialists will help you restore your dental health.
We live in a new way with new teeth: how life changes after implantation
Bone loss
After a tooth is removed, the bone tissue begins to atrophy. Bone volume decreases by 25% per year, and the process is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. Bone atrophy can cause adjacent teeth to become loose and even fall out.
Bone loss also creates problems with subsequent prosthetics. If a tooth is missing for too long, doctors have to perform a bone grafting procedure before installing an implant. This significantly increases the overall treatment time and cost.
Teeth become crooked
If one, or even more so, several teeth are missing, occlusion, the correct closure of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw, is disrupted. This is inevitable even if only one tooth is lost. The opposing tooth becomes unsupported and becomes loose. Teeth adjacent to the lost one converge in an effort to fill the empty space. The entire row of teeth gradually begins to move, the bite is disturbed, after which the impact on the jaw joint appears, causing headaches and neck and back pain.
If the teeth are not replaced with dentures, the gaps between them begin to increase, food will get stuck in these crevices, causing caries and other diseases.
Consequences of tooth loss and how to treat it
The long-term absence of one or more teeth leads to negative consequences for human beauty and health. Therefore, if you lose teeth, it is very important to consult a doctor in a timely manner for prosthetics.
There are not many lucky ones who managed to keep all their teeth intact by adulthood. The reasons for the loss of one or more teeth are most often injuries, dental diseases, and consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle. And here it is important to understand that if you do not make efforts to restore the dentition, this can have rather dire consequences. Starting with a seriously damaged appearance, and ending with deteriorating health and reduced life expectancy.
Consequences of missing teeth
Not only the loss of several or even all teeth, but also the loss of one tooth has a negative impact on the quality of life. Unfortunately, this problem is often perceived solely in the context of aesthetics. However, in fact, the lack of teeth has much more significant consequences, both for the condition of the oral cavity and for the entire body as a whole.
Digestive disorders Lack of chewing teeth leads to serious problems with chewing function, since the food taken is not ground properly. Over time, the digestive system begins to suffer, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract may develop. In addition, due to the inability to chew food properly, the diet becomes more limited. As a result, the body lacks the nutrients necessary for full functioning.
Malocclusion When one or more teeth are lost, a violation of occlusion inevitably occurs - the correct closure of the lower and upper teeth. Moreover, similar results entail the loss of even one tooth. Neighboring teeth gradually shift towards the vacated space, then almost the entire dentition begins to move. And if bite correction and prosthetics are not started in a timely manner, the process will begin to have a negative impact on the maxillotemporal joint. As a result, quite unpleasant painful sensations in the joint, pathological abrasion of teeth, headaches, and pain in the cervical region may occur.
Accelerated destruction of other teeth If teeth are lost, it is necessary to perform prosthetics in a timely manner. Otherwise, the displacement of teeth into the vacant space will provoke the appearance of enlarged spaces between the teeth. This will affect oral hygiene: food will begin to linger in the gaps, which will lead to the active development of pathogenic bacteria. As a result, the risk of caries and other dental diseases will increase.
Gum disease In place of lost teeth, jaw bone tissue deteriorates. However, along with them, the gums are also destroyed. At the same time, the epithelial layer becomes thinner, forming a deep groove in place of the gum. Such defects can seriously deteriorate the aesthetics of the dentition and complicate the further procedure of dental prosthetics.
Aesthetics and psychology The absence of a tooth or teeth in the smile area disrupts its natural beauty. Psychological problems become an almost automatic consequence. A person begins to feel embarrassed to talk in society, including when communicating with work colleagues, friends or relatives. This inevitably leads to a decrease in self-esteem and the emergence of psychological complexes, which turns into a serious stress factor. Ultimately, this can negatively affect not only the quality, but also the life expectancy.
Speech disorders The absence of one or more front teeth is not only psychological discomfort due to an ugly smile. Another unpleasant consequence is speech impairment, since the front teeth are used in articulation. Violation of normal speech function also often becomes a reason for ridicule from others and for the appearance of complexes and stress in a person.
Changes in appearance In place of lost teeth, the jawbone ceases to experience stress and gradually becomes thinner. That is why, when deciding on dental implantation, it is necessary to perform a procedure such as sinus lift - artificial bone tissue augmentation. Over time, degradation of the jaw bone can change facial features: the corners of the mouth droop, the lips sink, and the lower jaw visually becomes smaller. A double chin may appear, accompanied by the formation of wrinkles on the neck. As a result, a person sometimes looks significantly older than his age.
Restoring missing teeth
It is obvious that the possible consequences of tooth loss are quite serious. Therefore, it is very important to take timely steps to restore the dentition. Moreover, both orthopedic dentistry and implantology have many effective means for solving this problem.
Prosthetics for partial loss of teeth A wide range of modern solutions are used for partial prosthetics. The most commonly installed bridges and clasp prostheses, prostheses on implants. The most progressive method is dental implantation, which offers the most reliable and aesthetic solutions. It is even possible to immediately implant teeth, allowing you to solve the problem in the shortest possible time.
The key advantages of implant prosthetics include the long service life of the dentures and the absence of the need to grind down adjacent healthy teeth. And, most importantly, such a denture almost completely replaces a natural tooth, restoring not only the aesthetics of the dentition, but also its chewing function. The only drawback is the relative high cost of the implantation procedure.
Prosthetics for complete loss of teeth In case of loss of all teeth, removable or fixed prosthetics are possible. The cheapest option is considered to be removable acrylic dentures, which have many disadvantages. Modern removable silicone or nylon dentures are more expensive, but much more functional and easy to use. However, removable prosthetics are in any case inferior to fixed prosthetics according to all key criteria.
The main option for fixed dental prosthetics is the installation of orthopedic structures supported by implants. At the same time, complete implantation of all teeth is performed quite rarely, since it is an extremely expensive and complex procedure that has many medical contraindications. As a rule, clasp or other orthopedic structures are installed with support on implants. To achieve this, it is usually sufficient to install 4-6 implants in each jaw. This option is a compromise in price and functionality, and allows you to effectively restore the entire dentition.
Summary
The consequences of a long-term absence of one or more teeth can be quite sad. A person’s external attractiveness is lost, the quality of life in general deteriorates, and significant damage is caused to the body. Therefore, it is very important to take proper care of your dental health: take oral hygiene seriously and visit the dentist promptly.
If tooth loss cannot be avoided, there is no need to despair. Modern dentistry is quite successful in restoring both one or more lost teeth and the entire dentition. You just need to contact a specialist in time, without delaying or waiting for negative consequences.
Another reason for tooth loss. The most important. The reason of all reasons.
Periodontal disease, pocket, caries, cyst - these diseases are provoked by microbes. And we introduce germs to ourselves when we are too lazy to brush our teeth every time after eating, as well as in the morning and evening. Many years of smoking, eating junk food, lack of vitamins, and severe stress reduce overall immunity, which cannot but affect the condition of teeth and gums.
We chew nuts without thinking, neglect cleaning, and overeat sweet and salty foods. And microbes, day after day, year after year, do their nasty thing - they destroy our teeth and provoke diseases.
Therefore, the main advice that doctors of any specialty (not just dentists) give in unison is to lead a healthy lifestyle and get enough sleep. Find yourself a technique that relieves stress. And hygiene in general should become an integral part of your life. Take vitamins as prescribed by your doctor. And once every six months, go for an examination - it’s inexpensive and short-lived. In any case, dentures and dental implants are faster and cheaper.
