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Missing Teeth Can Impact Your Life
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| • | Chewing Unbalanced: A missing tooth can make chewing uncomfortable. Most patients with a missing tooth switch to chewing predominantly on the other side of their mouth. They are no longer chewing evenly across both sides as they should. This will put uneven wear on the dominant teeth. |
| • | Atrophy: All of our bones require movement to stay robust. Our jawbone gets this movement through the hundreds of fleeting touches of our teeth each day. The energy of these touches is transferred through the root and to the bone. When a tooth is lost, so is the root, meaning the bone is not exercised or moved. The bone will respond with atrophy or sorption, decreasing in size and robustness. With time, this will change your facial shape giving you an older appearance. |
| • | Changes to your diet: Your diet plays an important role in your overall health. Your body has grown accustomed to certain foods and generally does not like change. Missing teeth can make certain foods harder to chew. Many patients with missing teeth begin to omit foods that are harder to chew including meats, nuts, and more. |
| • | Changes to your smile: Missing teeth can be embarrassing. There are many social engagements that include our smile, but if you are embarrassed by your smile you may alter it to hide your missing teeth. You may change your smile to not include your teeth, or you may avoid social engagements altogether. Studies show that how we feel about our teeth plays a role in our self-esteem. |
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It may sound extreme, but missing teeth can play a significant role in your daily life and cause you to make changes without even realizing it. Missing teeth can cause changes in how you chew, what you eat, how you speak, your smile, and even your self-esteem. 
