There are any number of reasons why you might be missing a tooth – a nasty accident, decay, or perhaps certain teeth didn’t appear in the first place (known as congenitally missing teeth or hypodontia).
In truth, missing teeth is a pretty common problem – affecting around 1 in 20 of the adult population – but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.
Here the cosmetic dental experts at the Harley Street Smile Clinic, take a closer look and why you should act now to fill the gaps.
Why replace missing teeth?
– The feel good factor
How tight-lipped is your smile? The chances are if you have gaps in your teeth you’ll do anything you can to hide your smile away – avoiding photos, covering your mouth with your hands, even speaking less. Over time these changes in behaviour can really affect confidence levels and impact self-esteem.
– Damage to other teeth
Every tooth has its place – and purpose – in your mouth. If one is missing it can be detrimental to the surrounding teeth, causing increased wear and tear and movement.
– Enjoy mealtimes again
Do you have to pick carefully from the menu? Does a missing tooth mean you can’t enjoy some of the foods you once did? Fix the problem and you can enjoy a full and varied diet once more.
– Bigger problems
A missing tooth can put undue stress on other teeth, but the problems often run much deeper than this.
If a tooth is missing the gum and bone in that area is no longer stimulated, which can result in both the gum and jawbone receding. Not only does this make nearby teeth unstable – resulting in further tooth loss – but the changes in the jaw bone can also age the face by causing hollow and sagging cheeks.
What’s the solution?
It’s clear a missing tooth is more problematic than just not looking great. But the good news is there are plenty of things you can do about it.
Thanks to excellent advances in cosmetic dentistry, there are a number of popular solutions to fix a gappy smile. Making it look as good as new – and in many cases, even better!
Popular treatments for missing teeth include:
Dental implants
A dental implant is a metal post that is surgically fixed into the jawbone. Once positioned it acts as a support system for artificial teeth or bridges to be fixed to, providing an excellent solution for anyone who struggles with regular bridges or dentures and wants a more natural, secure fit.
Veneers
Popular due to their less invasive application, veneers are a thin ceramic shell bonded to the surface of a tooth. They are a great way to close small spaces between teeth, camouflage pronounced canine teeth and create a more balanced, symmetrical smile.
Dental crowns and bridges
If you have heavily filled or damaged teeth, veneers may not be a viable option – but there are plenty of alternatives including dental crowns and bridges.
Dental crowns are fitted (like a cap) over an existing tooth – improving their strength. A dental bridge is then used to fill the space caused by one or more missing teeth.
Talk to the team
Decided it’s time to action with your missing teeth but not sure where to start? Then why not talk to the team of specialists here at the Harley Street Smile Clinic?
Send us an image of your smile and we’ll get back to you with details on how we can help to improve matters and the treatments we would most recommend. We’ll even provide you with a free simulation, so you can get a true picture of what to expect from the finished results.
Don’t delay, get in touch with the team and start your road to a fuller, more beautiful smile today.
