If you’ve recently lost a tooth, you may be wondering if you need to replace it right away or if you can wait. Besides the obvious inconvenience and embarrassment tooth loss can cause, you should also know that leaving a missing tooth untreated can lead to a variety of oral health problems. Here are a few of the top risks associated with missing teeth, and how dental implants in Berkeley, CA can help you avoid these risks.

Bite Changes

The way your upper and lower teeth fit together when you close your mouth is often referred to as your “bite”. When your bite is off, it can make it more difficult for you to speak and chew. A misaligned bite can also cause strain and discomfort in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Unfortunately, if you are missing teeth and don’t seek treatment, the remaining teeth in your mouth will slowly start to shift and fill in the gaps left by the missing teeth. Over time, shifting of the teeth will cause your bite to change. If you receive dental implants from a skilled periodontist, you won’t need to worry about changes in your bite, since the implants will fill in the empty tooth sockets and keep your remaining teeth from shifting out of their proper places.

Bone Loss

Your jaw bone requires the stimulation provided by your tooth roots to remain strong and dense. As soon as the tooth roots are gone, the jaw bone slowly begins to lose mass. You can prevent this from happening by receiving dental implants, since the implant posts are embedded into the jaw bone where they stimulate it each time you chew.

Difficulty Eating and Speaking

Depending on where your missing teeth are located, they could make it difficult for you to eat and speak normally. Implants can fully restore the function of your teeth so you can once again eat your preferred foods and communicate clearly.

Call Today

Ready to schedule your dental implant appointment with a leading periodontist? To reserve your appointment with Dr. Keith Chertok, call our cutting-edge periodontal practice today.