Sometimes when people lose a back tooth they wonder whether they should bother doing anything about it. After all, the gap doesn’t show when they smile and there are other teeth to do the chewing. Why not leave it be and save some money? Actually, there are several very good reasons to replace a back tooth with a dental implant from Prestige Dentistry in Palm Harbor and Trinity FL.
- The adjacent tooth (or teeth) may start shifting. If a tooth tilts, moves, or rotates, it can impact the bite. The unopposed tooth can also move, though it generally moves outward from the bone (over-eruption). Teeth that are displaced can become more vulnerable to gum disease, decay, or TMJ pain.
- The underlying bone will begin to atrophy. Without the tooth root, the jaw bone shrinks. This changes the dimensions of the face and gives it a sunk-in look due to a decline in supporting bone. The vertical shortening progresses and becomes more pronounced as you get older.
- There will be additional stress on the teeth that take over the chewing functions. This can bring about excessive wear, fracture, or pain.
If you have a missing back tooth and want to learn about dental implants, please call us at Prestige Dentistry in Palm Harbor and Trinity FL. People from Hudson, Clearwater, and East Lake come to us for implants and for comprehensive general dentistry services. Schedule an appointment today!
Contact Prestige Dentistry:
727-376-3763
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1641 Davenport Dr.
Trinity, Florida
34655
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(Trinity) (Palm Harbor)