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BlogGeneral Dentistry

The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

St. Augustine, FL

Smiling with a missing tooth might not bother some individuals, but for others, it can be an immensely embarrassing situation to navigate. However, the true impact of missing teeth goes beyond aesthetics; living with lost teeth can have a significant impact on your oral health. Fortunately, at Palencia Dental, we offer a range of treatments to restore your smile and its functionality. Today on the blog, we’ll delve into the unsettling truths about missing teeth and the importance of taking action to address them.

Why is it important to replace missing teeth?

  • Restore Your Smile and Confidence: A complete smile can boost your self-esteem, allowing you to face social situations with ease.
  • Repair Your Bite Form and Function: Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew properly, which can lead to digestive issues and nutritional deficiencies. Restoring your smile also restores your bite’s functionality.
  • Maintain Your Face’s Natural Shape: Teeth play a crucial role in supporting the structure of your face. When teeth are missing, your face may appear sunken, making you look older than you are.
  • Prevent Teeth From Movement or Shifting: Adjacent teeth tend to shift into the gap left by a missing tooth, potentially leading to misalignment and further dental problems.
  • Correct Issues with Speaking or Chewing: Missing teeth can affect your ability to pronounce words correctly and chew food thoroughly.

Tooth Replacement Options

  • Bridges: A dental bridge can replace multiple neighboring teeth in the mouth. No surgery is required and the bridge is fixed permanently in the mouth, meaning it will not slip or shift like dentures can. Dental bridges restore your smile’s appearance and functionality and can last between 10 to 15 years or more with proper care.
  • Dentures: Dentures represent an excellent solution for individuals with multiple missing teeth. Whether you need to replace a complete set of teeth or just a few, dentures can be the best choice. Our precise measurements ensure a comfortable fit for your dentures with minimal slippage. Dentures can last between 15 to 20 years, depending on their quality, use and maintenance.
  • Implants: Dental implants offer a permanent, lifetime tooth replacement solution. The procedure involves surgically placing a titanium post into your jawbone, which replaces the tooth root and, once it fuses with the bone, prevents eventual bone deterioration. Once healed, a customized dental crown is affixed to the titanium post, providing a natural-looking and functional replacement. Dental implants look and function more like natural teeth than any other replacement option.

Restorative Dentistry in St. Augustine and Palm Coast in Florida

At Palencia Dental, we are committed to improving both your oral health and overall well-being. Regardless of how damaged your smile may be, our experienced team specializes in smile restoration. Our goal is to restore your smile and boost your confidence through effective cosmetic treatments tailored to your unique oral health needs.

Don’t let embarrassment or self-consciousness prevent you from addressing your missing teeth. Your oral health could be at risk for more advanced issues if left untreated. While it’s natural to feel uncomfortable about visiting a dentist for tooth replacement, our compassionate and skilled team is here to support you every step of the way. You don’t have to keep living with missing teeth. To explore tooth replacement options, schedule a consultation online or give us a call at 904-664-5254  today.