Many of our patients visit our Dallas dental office to see what can be done about their missing teeth. Tooth loss occurs for a variety of reasons, including facial injury, gum disease, tooth decay, or genetics. With today’s advances in dental healthcare, you don’t have to deal with missing teeth for long. Regardless of why you are missing one or more teeth, Dr. Huckin can assist you in providing both functional and attractive treatment options to restore your smile.
Replacing Missing Teeth in Dallas
From dental implants to a full set of dentures, we can help patients restore their smiles. Restoring a missing tooth can help prevent further tooth loss and teeth shifting. Additionally, it can also help to improve your natural bite, speaking, and chewing patterns. An experienced restorative dentist in Dallas, Dr. Huckin offers his patients a wide range of tooth replacement solutions, including:
- Dental Implants- The most natural way to replace a single missing tooth is through a dental implant. This process involves a small titanium screw that is surgically implanted into the jaw bone. Once the implant fuses with the bone, a dental crown is placed on top of it. This allows the dental implant to look and function like a natural tooth.
- Dentures and Partials – Dentures and partials are used to replace a full arch or full set of missing teeth. Our dentures are made of high-quality dental porcelain and are designed to look like natural teeth.
- Dental Bridge- A dental bridge is commonly used to replace several consecutive missing teeth. In this process, Dr. Huckin removes a substantial amount of tooth enamel from adjacent teeth. These teeth anchor the dental bridge in place.
Following a thorough evaluation, Dr. Huckin will discuss these options with you to determine what will best meet your needs and goals for your smile.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Even if you’re only missing one tooth, it has a detrimental impact on your oral health without a replacement. When the tooth root is missing, the jawbone starts to deteriorate in the area where the tooth was. Your entire face starts to sag in this area as well. A sagging face can age you many years past your actual age. A replacement helps to fill your face back out and give it a more youthful appearance.
When a tooth is missing, the teeth around it want to fill in the gap. They shift around, trying to fill in the gap it created. If you’ve previously had teeth straightening treatment, that can be reversed because of the freedom the rest of the teeth now have to move around.
If you’re missing one tooth, you’re also more likely to lose more teeth. Missing teeth make you more likely to suffer from further oral health problems. You have more chances of plaque and tartar buildup, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
Depending on where your missing tooth is located, it can be difficult to speak or eat the foods you want to. You might have to change your diet because of your missing tooth. If the missing tooth is located in the front of your mouth, it can impact your self-confidence. You don’t want to show off your smile if you’re embarrassed by a missing tooth.
Missing Teeth FAQs
How common is it to have missing teeth?
Missing teeth is one of the most frequent developmental oral health problems. Researchers estimate that up to 20% of adults are born with at least one missing tooth.
Does losing back teeth change your face?
Your face shape will change if you are missing one or more teeth. Your remaining teeth will shift out of place to close the gap causing a misaligned bite, which may alter your smile and the shape of your face.
What happens to the jaw when teeth are removed?
When a tooth is missing, the bone that holds the teeth in place no longer receives the essential stimulation and begins to break down. Bone tends to degrade when the body no longer uses them.
At what age do adults start losing teeth?
Permanent tooth loss can happen to adults at any age, although it is most common to see partial and total tooth loss in adults around the age of 50 and older.
Request A Restorative Consultation
If you are missing one or more teeth we understand your desire to restore your smile as soon as possible. Not only are missing teeth a cosmetic issue, but they can have significant effects on your other surrounding, healthy teeth, and your daily quality of life. Rest assured that we have a variety of treatment options to meet your tooth replacement needs. For a compassionate, highly trained, and experienced dental health care team in Dallas, Texas, contact Dr. Huckin’s office today.