Why you should always replace missing teeth

Ask any dentist and they will tell you that missing teeth should always be replaced. There are several reasons for this, not least the obvious aesthetic concerns caused by gaps in the mouth. At Old Windsor Dental Practice in Berkshire, we offer several options to replace your natural teeth, and will work with you to find the perfect solution to suit your needs.

missing-teethWhy missing teeth should be replaced

The first reason to replace missing teeth is that having gaps in your mouth can make you too self-conscious to smile. This can affect your personal and professional life, and can leave serious dents in your self-esteem. If you don’t smile at all in public, people can easily get the wrong impression about you.

When teeth are missing, any remaining teeth are likely to move into the gaps, getting crooked and twisted in the process and becoming more difficult to clean effectively. This means that your chances of developing tooth decay and gum disease are increased as there are more tricky-to-reach areas in which plaque can build up, thus ultimately increasing your chances of further tooth loss.

If you have lost all or most of your natural teeth, you may find that your speech and your ability to eat a healthy and balanced diet is affected. People restricted to a soft food diet may struggle to get proper nutrition, which can have serious detrimental consequences for your general health.

How missing teeth can be replaced

We offer a number of tooth-replacement options at our Berkshire clinic, and your dentist will work with you to find the perfect one to suit your needs.

Options include:

Dentures

Either standard removable dentures or dentures affixed to dental implants, used to replace some or all of your teeth.

Bridges

Bridges replace one or two teeth. They may be supported by adjacent teeth, or by dental implants.

Dental implants

The only permanent way to replace missing teeth, these bionic tooth roots can support dentures, crowns, or a bridge.