Your smile doesn’t grow spare parts. Therefore, if you lose something, like a tooth, replacing it is of vital importance to the continued good health and function of your smile. To help motivate you to seek prompt treatment for the loss of one or more teeth, your Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, explains what tooth loss means for your remaining teeth, as well as for your oral health as a whole.
How Remaining Teeth React
The camaraderie of a full set of teeth is about more than making your smile beautiful. All of your teeth work together to balance the power of biting and chewing, evenly displacing the pressure among all of your teeth. When you lose a tooth, its absence can disrupt the balance and your remaining teeth may shift to try and take up the slack. Unfortunately, while noble, this attempt to cover for their lost brethren can lead your teeth to an increased risk of dental disease, as well as exposing them to a host of other dental issues.
More Than the Eye Can See
Remaining teeth aren’t the only part of your oral health to suffer from tooth loss. Your jawbone, which supports and sustains your teeth through their roots, relies on the presence of health teeth to remain adequately nourished. Stimulated tooth roots are how your body knows how much nutrition to send your jawbone. The loss of tooth roots means a diminished nutrient supply, and when left unchecked, the deficiency can cause your jawbone to deteriorate and lose its ability to retain the rest of your natural teeth.
Learn More About Tooth Loss with Your Astoria Dentist
To learn more about the consequences of tooth loss, or to find out your options for replacing one, several, or all of your lost teeth, schedule a consultation with your Astoria dentist by calling our office today at (718) 728-8320. Located in the 11106 area, we proudly serve patients from Astoria, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding communities.
