There are many reasons you might have lost a tooth—or even several teeth. Perhaps you play in your local hockey league and took a puck to the face, knocking out a tooth. Maybe your tooth became cracked or infected beyond repair and needed to be extracted—possibly along with a nearby tooth.
If you are missing teeth, there can be all sorts of implications. Missing teeth can affect the way you eat, the way you speak, and the way you look. All of these can impact your day-to-day life. What's more, the longer you are without teeth, the more any teeth you have left may be affected too.
If you're missing a tooth or a group of teeth, you may be a candidate for a dental bridge. A dental bridge is an appliance that takes the place of a missing tooth or a group of teeth. They come in several different types. The one that's right for you will depend on your particular situation.
It's entirely possible that you have never heard of occlusal disease. Just because you've never heard of occlusal disease, however, doesn't mean that you can't have it. Occlusal disease is caused by a misaligned bite, when the jaw joints, mouth muscles, and teeth don't work together in perfect harmony.
It can be hard to lose a large number of your teeth, regardless of the reason. Whether you lost them due to an accident, disease, or the aging process, you will still need to decide what route to take to replace them.
Just hearing the words "wisdom teeth removal" may make you shudder. The thought of having teeth extracted is an uncomfortable one. However, it may make you feel better to learn more about this procedure.
Do you have pain in your jaw? Do you have difficulty chewing? Is there a clicking sound when you open and close your mouth? You could be experiencing a disorder of the temporomandibular joint, or a TMJ disorder.
Your teeth are incredibly important. They serve you in so many ways. They help you to eat, they help you to speak, and they are an integral part of your smile. Considering how vital a service your teeth provide you, it's a good idea to take good care of them.
It can be difficult to deal with missing teeth, whether they were lost due to an accident, infection, or some other dental complication. The missing teeth may affect your appearance, your eating habits, your speech, or how you feel about yourself—or any combination of these things.
So, you're at your dentist for your bi-annual check-up when they suggest you might need some bridgework done. Or perhaps you need some veneers. Maybe that tooth that's bothering you needs to be extracted and replaced with an implant.
