Do you remember how excited you felt as a child, when you lost your first tooth? You can probably recall, in vivid detail, the joy on your children’s faces when they lost their first teeth and were then visited by The Tooth Fairy. Unfortunately, when an adult loses a tooth, it is rarely a cause for celebration. On the contrary, most adults experience frustration, embarrassment and even fear, at the realization they have lost one of their permanent teeth. An incomplete smile can make it difficult to chew, speak, and even smile confidently. Fortunately, prosthetic dentistry makes it possible to rebound from the tooth loss both beautifully and functionally.

Why It’s Important to Seek Prosthetic Treatment

You might think that cosmetic concerns are the most pressing reason to seek prosthetic treatment. However, that is only one of several important reasons that you should complete your smile after tooth loss.

When several teeth are missing, or even when a single tooth has been lost, your remaining teeth can begin to shift, trying to fill the created gap. This can, in turn, create alignment problems for your entire smile, which could potentially lead to discomfort while chewing or even jaw-related conditions, like Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. One of the best ways to prevent misalignment of your teeth, is by promptly completing the smile after tooth loss.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to complete the smile, including dental implants, partial or full dentures, and dental bridges. To determine which is right for you, talk to your dentist about your goals for your smile, both functionally and esthetically, as well as how quickly you want to complete treatment, and how much you can afford.