Tooth loss is a problem that many adults suffer from at some point in their lives. Still, the impact of tooth loss is highly underestimated and far from being a purely cosmetic issue. Dental implants are a long-term, permanent solution that can greatly improve your quality of life.

Seven problems due to missing teeth:

Missing teeth can be the result of trauma, tooth decay, gum disease or even malnutrition, which can lead to various functional and health problems. The most common tooth loss problems include:

1. Bone Loss

When there is no longer an active root in the tooth’s place, the bone beneath the missing tooth begins to be absorbed by the body. This process can be very serious and can get worse over time. Incidentally, most bone loss occurs in the first 6-12 months after a tooth is lost. And if left untreated, it can lead to the loss of even more teeth. Placing implants prevents bone resorption due to missing teeth.

2. Teeth displacement

Often, the natural teeth neighboring the missing tooth move to close the gap created by the missing tooth. This can make your teeth crooked and also make it difficult to clean between your teeth. Shifting teeth can also cause biting problems, destabilize adjacent tooth roots, and be painful. The placement of implants prevents tooth displacement due to tooth loss.

3. Speech difficulties

Missing teeth can lead to impaired speech, which in turn affects a person’s social interactions and self-confidence. With the placement of implants, the tooth is replaced perfectly, avoiding speech problems that were non-existent before.

4. Chewing problems

Chewing ability can also be negatively affected by tooth loss. It’s not just a matter of pain. Missing teeth can make you unable to eat certain foods and bite or chew them properly. This affects your nutritional intake, your enjoyment of eating and your digestion. With the placement of implants, you regain the ability to chew.

5. Poor nutrition and health

Over time, people with missing teeth or using poor dentures are more likely to be overweight and have poor eating habits. In part, this is due to lower chewing ability which makes people prefer unhealthy, easy-to-chew foods. Also, people with missing teeth often feel social discomfort and don’t want to expose themselves in public, making them less likely to go out and play sports. By placing implants, you can eat all kinds of food again and the social discomfort generated by missing teeth disappears.

6. Change in facial structure

Without teeth to support your face and mouth, your skin can start to sag and your facial harmony can suffer. When bone resorption is severe, the lips tend to droop into the mouth, which changes the person’s appearance and makes them look older than they really are. In turn, this change also has a negative impact on self-confidence. The placement of implants improves facial aesthetics and reduces the process of bone loss caused by missing teeth. However, it does not fully recover the lost bone structure.

7. Compromised mental health

People with missing teeth tend to cover their mouths when they smile or simply avoid smiling. They may feel embarrassed and have a sense of social discomfort due to missing teeth. This can lead to progressive social isolation, anxiety and even depression.