Remember to Take out Your Dentures Every Night

Poor oral health inevitably leads to tooth loss because of tooth decay or gum disease. But just one lost or damaged tooth can lead to a whole host of other dental issues. Fortunately, dental implants can solve just about any dental issue that involves missing or broken teeth.

1. Inability to chew foods comfortably

Broken teeth are often no better than missing teeth. This is because they can cause you pain and discomfort when you are chewing your food. Missing teeth, especially teeth that you use for chewing, like premolars and molars, also make eating a painful and uncomfortable experience. If you can't chew properly, then your health will likely suffer because your diet is limited to softer foods.

Dental implants can replace badly broken teeth and missing teeth. And once the healing period of several months has passed, you'll be able to chew a wider array of foods without any discomfort.

2. Loose fillings that keep falling out

If your fillings keep falling out or constantly feel loose, then your tooth is probably so badly damaged that fillings are no longer a good solution. Cavities in teeth can become so large that dental fillings are no longer sufficient to provide them with protection and stability. Instead of opting for another filling, you could extract the tooth and replace it with a dental implant.

One of the best things about dental implants is that they cannot suffer from tooth decay as natural teeth can. And porcelain, the most common material used for dental implant crowns, is harder than enamel. As such, you never have to worry about having a dental implant filled due to decay or damage.

3. Shifting teeth

A missing tooth can cause the adjacent teeth to move. Teeth adjacent to a gap move toward that gap over time, drifting out of their natural position. This shifting not only affects the quality of your smile, but also the ease with which you can eat and speak. When teeth shift out of position, the way they contact the opposing teeth changes. This can increase the risk of tooth breakage too.

If you lose a tooth, the best way to prevent shifting is to replace that tooth immediately with a dental implant. And if your teeth are already shifting due to a lost tooth, then you may need to undergo orthodontic treatment before you have a dental implant placed.

4. Bone loss

The root of each tooth relies on periodontal ligaments and bone to support it and hold it in place. And when a person chews their food, the stimulation provided by the chewing reminds the body to keep the bone around teeth strong and healthy. But, if a tooth falls out or you extract a tooth, the chewing stimulation is no longer present. Then the bone around the tooth begins to resorb.

As the bone resorbs, your facial structure may change. As a result, you may begin to look older than your actual age. After losing a tooth, if you place a dental implant into the gap, your body will not reabsorb the bone where your natural tooth was.

5. Ill-fitting dentures

If your dentures are always loose, wearing them will irritate your gum and bone tissue. Dentures gradually loosen over time due to bone loss caused by missing teeth. And ill-fitting dentures make it difficult to eat and speak comfortably. You can use dental implants to support your denture and keep it in place while you eat and speak.

6. Worn teeth

A common side effect of missing teeth is that you use your other teeth more than you should. This leads to accelerated wear and tear. As a result, your remaining teeth may need more dental treatment than usual. If you lose a tooth, you can prevent your other teeth from wearing out quickly by replacing that tooth with a dental implant.

Dental implants can solve a variety of dental issues. If you have missing or damaged teeth, or your denture is loose and uncomfortable, consider using dental implants to solve your dental issues.