Naturally, the effects of tooth loss vary from person to person and depend on what have been lost. Losing a crown means losing the visible part of your tooth and this may affect your confidence. However, if you lose the root as well, you have lost the unseen part of your tooth and although this may not affect you aesthetically, it is undoubtedly the most important part of the tooth.
The root anchors the tooth to your jaw bone, acting as a foundation for the crown. Without the root, the bone around the missing tooth will gradually recede, resulting in the remaining teeth to shift. If this is allowed to continue, chewing will become more and more difficult.
For those who have lost all their teeth in an upper or lower jaw, the long-term problems are even greater. The bone shrinks after tooth loss. This causes the nerves to become exposed and the dentures will lack support. Loose fitting dentures can cause further problems and lead to sore gum tissue and additional pain. |
