A missing tooth can drastically change your bite, even if you can’t feel it at first. The longer a tooth is missing, the more likely shifting and bone loss are to occur. Dental implants in Roslyn Heights, NY, could help retain bone health and restore the strength of your bite. Whether you’re missing just one tooth or multiple teeth, implants can help you maintain a healthy mouth.
How Dental Implants Affect Your Bite
When you’re missing a tooth, there are plenty of options available to restore the look of your smile. However, many dentists recommend dental implants to help restore the strength and durability of your bite as well. Implants are often the treatment of choice for a single missing tooth. But they can also be used to help support bridges and other treatments for multiple missing teeth.
Reducing Shifting
If you’re missing a tooth, the rest of the teeth near it can begin to shift. Extra room or crowding can move your teeth out of alignment. When this happens, your remaining teeth can become more unstable. This can lead to an increased risk of those teeth falling out or becoming infected as well. A dental implant can help keep your teeth where they belong and restore your bite.
Maintaining Bone Density
While an empty socket can sit in your mouth for a few days without harm, over time, you can begin to lose bone density in your jaw. When your jaw loses its structure, it affects your health and your appearance. Missing teeth without treatment can lead to facial sagging. The loss of bone density in your jaw can also lead to uneven pressure when biting, which can result in jaw pain, TMJ, and other disorders. While some bone loss is okay, if you have an extensive amount of bone loss, you may not be able to get an implant at all.
Keeping Teeth Occluded
When you bite down, your teeth meet in the middle of your mouth. This may seem obvious and unimportant, but it’s actually a crucial part of how your teeth and gums develop. If there’s nothing for a tooth to bite against, it could continue to grow. This often leads to over-eruption, which can create problems for your gums. An implant with abutment and restoration can help provide a surface for your natural teeth to bite against.
Restore Your Bite With Dental Implants in Roslyn Heights, NY
If you’re missing even a single tooth, your entire bite could shift and cause problems. Dental implants can help restore your smile while keeping your jaw healthy and strong. At East Hills Dental Associates, we can surgically place a dental implant right from the comfort of our office. Call us today at (516) 253-6873 to learn more about our implant procedures and to see if dental implants could be right for you.