Tooth Loss Is A Serious Problem For Many People Over 40 Years Old
Adult Tooth Loss Is A Serious Problem
Statistics reported by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are sobering: before they reach their 45th birthday, 69% of American adults will have lost at least one permanent tooth. Unfortunately, a great many of these same adults may not understand how detrimental even a single missing tooth can be to the health and stability of their remaining teeth. In fact, missing teeth can negatively impact your smile in three primary ways:
When you lose a tooth, your remaining teeth will begin to naturally shift toward the empty area left behind, throwing off the normal spacing along your dental arch. As a result, the teeth may become crowded or overlapped, creating hard to clean spaces where plaque can build up and increase your risk for developing gum disease and tooth decay. Furthermore, as your spacing and alignment shift, it can affect the way your top and bottom teeth come together (referred to as “bite” or occlusion). This phenomenon can lead to enamel erosion, teeth grinding, and excessive stress on the TMJ muscles.
Your teeth and jawbone have a reciprocal relationship. The jawbone anchors the teeth in place via tooth roots, while the roots stimulate the jaw and help maintain a healthy flow of calcium and phosphorus to the area. When you lose a tooth, the body senses the loss and stops sending these critical nutrients to the jaw. As a result, the bone begins to atrophy, leading to a sunken facial appearance and an increased risk of further tooth loss.
This is just a clinical way of saying missing teeth don’t look good! Even if you’ve lost one of your back teeth, that empty socket will show every time you laugh or speak. Missing teeth make you look older and unhealthy and can have a serious impact on your social, professional, and romantic interactions.