Why Do We Need Dental Implants After Tooth Loss?
The integrity of the body is extremely important. As soon as one of our organs does not work properly, problems arise. Dental problems also affect our internal organs, and can lead to conditions such as being overweight.
Losing a tooth leads to premature ageing:
Tooth loss, often overlooked, leads to serious problems over time. Losing a tooth reduces bone density and can cause a change in bone size of up to 25% in a year. This ultimately leads to resorption of the jawbone, and the natural changes linked to ageing appear earlier on the face. We know that tooth loss can lead to "early ageing" of the face. An area left without teeth for a long time can, through resorption of the jawbone, cause the wrinkles around the mouth to deepen and the corners of the lips to sag, and can give a person a tired, aged appearance. The cheeks sag and the lips become thinner, giving the appearance of a person 5 to 10 years older. To preserve the jawbone, chewing forces must be transmitted to the whole bone, which can only be achieved by natural teeth or by dental implants, which act as tooth roots.
"Whether it is a natural tooth or a dental implant, every adult should have 28 teeth in their mouth."
The Quality of Chewing Affects All the Internal Organs
For a healthy, working digestive system, it is important to pay attention to oral health. Missing teeth can be the reason why it can be hard to lose weight or get rid of reflux despite treatment. "Because of tooth loss, problems that start in the mouth can lead to diseases of the stomach and digestive system. The quality of chewing affects all the internal organs, in particular the stomach and the pancreas. When food is not sufficiently chewed and ground before reaching the stomach, it arrives in the stomach without being properly broken down, which forces the stomach to take on the whole burden of digestion. This leads to excessive secretion of stomach acid and excessive work by the pancreas and gallbladder. Excessive work by the pancreas can lead to diabetes."
Reduced Oral Functions
Teeth play an important role in carrying out the basic functions of the mouth such as chewing, speaking and swallowing. Missing teeth can seriously affect the ability to chew in particular. Missing teeth prevent food from being broken down properly during chewing. This condition makes the digestive system's work harder and can cause stomach problems and digestive disorders.
In addition, the absence of teeth can also make it difficult to speak properly. For the voice to be correct when you speak, the teeth and lips must work in harmony. Tooth loss can lead to a distorted voice, which can harm a person's self-confidence.
Misaligned Teeth and Other Dental Problems
A missing tooth can cause the healthy teeth around it to shift. Teeth are naturally fixed and balanced. However, when a tooth is lost, the neighbouring teeth try to fill the gap. This can lead to teeth moving into the wrong position and to crooked teeth. The shifting of teeth can lead to an inability to maintain a good bite (occlusion), which can cause pain and joint problems when chewing.
Bone Loss in the Jaw
Teeth stimulate the jawbone, helping to keep it healthy. When teeth are lost, the jawbone no longer receives sufficient stimulation and begins to resorb over time. Resorption of the jawbone can lead to major problems, both aesthetic and functional. A resorbed jawbone can lead to further tooth loss, to deformation of the jaw structure and even to changes in the shape of the face.
Aesthetic Concerns
Missing teeth can directly affect people's aesthetic appearance. The loss of the front teeth in particular disrupts people's smile and way of speaking. People may feel embarrassed and lose confidence because of missing teeth. Aesthetic concerns can also have negative effects on social relationships. Because of tooth loss, people tend to smile less, talk less and withdraw from social life.
Psychological Effects
Psychological consequences are another important effect of tooth loss. Tooth loss can reduce self-confidence and lead to mental health problems such as depression. Avoiding smiling, aesthetic concerns and social isolation can have a negative impact on an individual's psychological health. In addition, general health worries can increase in people who are concerned about the health of their jaw and teeth when they lose teeth.
Effects on General Health
Tooth loss is not limited to oral health; it can also have negative effects on general health. Missing teeth can be a sign of certain health problems. Some diseases associated with tooth loss are heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and digestive problems. Bacteria that can form in the mouth can spread through the body via the blood and cause serious health problems.
Missing Teeth and Nutrition
Missing teeth can lead people to change their eating habits, especially as they affect the chewing function. Hard foods and foods that are difficult to chew may be less preferred. As a result, nutrient intake may not be sufficient, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies may occur. This can weaken the immune system and lead to more serious health problems.
Risk of Obesity
Missing teeth also increase the risk of obesity. Excessive work by the pancreas and gallbladder raises the glycaemic index. In this way, the starch molecules in food are converted into sugar, which triggers obesity.
Conclusion
Tooth loss is much more than just an aesthetic problem. Oral health can have far-reaching effects on general health and psychological wellbeing. To prevent tooth loss, it is important to see a dentist regularly, to adopt good oral hygiene and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If teeth are lost, restoration with implants or other dental treatments makes it possible to fill these gaps and to improve both functional and psychological health.
If you would like information about the treatment options for your missing teeth, you can call us or reach us directly via our WhatsApp line.
