We live in an age where various treatment options are available for those who have missing teeth. While many people choose holistic implants in Palm Beach Gardens to restore their smile, others mistakenly believe that replacing teeth they’ve lost isn’t necessary. However, going without treatment for missing teeth has its share of consequences.
Potential Consequences of Missing Teeth
Facial Asymmetry
Since your teeth help maintain the distance between your nose and your chin, they help maintain the length of your face and preserve your jawbone’s structure. Losing your teeth causes facial asymmetry as the lack of support causes your mouth and cheeks to sink, shrink, and sag. Moreover, missing teeth will also cause your jawbone to shrink and rotate forward, making your face look shorter than it should be.
Shifting of Teeth
When you’re missing a tooth, the teeth surrounding it will shift out of their proper positions to fill the gap. Unless you decide to replace the lost tooth, the shifting of adjacent teeth will lead to dental misalignment, crowded teeth, and bite irregularities that can change the way you enunciate words or chew food.
Jawbone Deterioration
Since your natural teeth stimulate jawbone growth, tooth loss left unreplaced will lead to bone resorption. As your jawbone deteriorates and reabsorbs into the body, your remaining teeth will become loose or fully dislodged. What sets dental implants apart from other tooth-replacement options is that they replace the roots of your missing teeth, providing bone stimulation and preventing bone loss.
Gum Recession
Besides causing your jawbone to shrink, missing teeth will force your gums to pull back and recede. Unfortunately, gum recession exposes your teeth’s roots and increases your risk of tooth decay and infection. As your gums pull away from your teeth, pockets between the gum tissue and each tooth begin to form. Periodontitis develops when plaque and debris buildup in these gum pockets.
Considering Holistic Implants in Palm Beach Gardens?
At Prestige Periodontics, expect to experience a customized, therapeutic regimen tailored to address your specific oral concerns. Contact us today to schedule your dental appointment or consultation.
If you’re a smoker, you wouldn’t need anyone to tell you about tobacco’s long-term effects on your body. However, if you’re planning to replace your missing teeth with holistic implants in Palm Beach Gardens you may be wondering about your chances of having a successful outcome. To give you the information you need, we’ve compiled the most common questions smokers ask about dental implants.
Does Smoking Hinder Dental Implant Surgery?
Nicotine, tobacco, and smoke can have a negative impact on dental implant surgery. Cigarette smoking causes mouth dryness because the smoke burns the oral tissues and block the salivary glands. Since dry mouth can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, it weakens the gum and bone tissues that hold the implants in place.
After the procedure, the body needs extra oxygen to heal. Nicotine restricts blood flow that carries oxygen to your gums and bone. It doesn’t matter if it’s introduced through a nicotine patch or a cigarette – exposure to nicotine slows down the healing process and weakens the immune system defenses.
The dental implants are designed to fuse with the jawbone through the process of osseointegration to provide a stable foundation for the new teeth. Unfortunately, tobacco and nicotine prevent good integration of the implants and the surrounding bone. Research shows that the risk of osseointegration failure is much higher for smokers than nonsmokers.
Can I Smoke Before My Procedure?
To ensure best the chances of success, it’s best to stop smoking as far in advance of your dental implant procedure as possible. Consider quitting the habit at least two weeks before your appointment.
How Long Do I Have To Wait To Smoke After My Procedure?
It’s especially crucial to avoid smoking within the first 72 hours following your dental implant procedure. During this time, your body is producing blood clots that can help prevent bacteria and food particles from getting into the surgical site. However, if you want to reduce your risk of implant failure, it’s best to wait two to three months after your surgery before smoking a cigarette.
Do You Need Holistic Implants in Palm Beach Gardens?
At Prestige Periodontics, our goal is to make you love your smile. Request an appointment today to experience a customized therapeutic regimen tailored to address your specific oral concerns.
