December 20, 2024

5 Consequences of Missing Teeth: What Happens When You Don’t Replace Them

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Close up of the results of the consequences of missing teeth

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If you have multiple missing or failing teeth, you may be at risk of unexpected consequences of missing.

You’ve likely experienced difficulty eating, dental pain, or other drawbacks that come from temporary solutions but did you know that studies have shown other health risks are connected to missing teeth?

If you’re missing teeth, stick around to learn about Christopher’s story overcoming his struggle with missing teeth and learn what you should watch for to stay healthy.

Ready for a permanent solution? See if you may be a candidate for permanent teeth in 24 hours with this 60-second quiz

Consequences of missing teeth close up

Causes of Missing Teeth:

The consequences of missing teeth that you experience could vary based on what caused your missing teeth in the first place. Here are a few reasons someone may experience tooth loss.

Poor Oral Health: Cavities, gum disease, and infections can lead to tooth loss.

Genetics: Some people are more prone to dental issues that result in missing teeth simply because of their genetics.

Injury: Accidents and sports injuries are common culprits of teeth being knocked out or damaged. This type of trauma can result in the loss of multiple teeth over time, not just the teeth immediately affected.

More: Teeth can also be lost due to medications, untreated health conditions, or age.

You won’t believe how this man lost his teeth!

Short and Long Term Consequences of Missing Teeth:

While there are many consequences of missing teeth, here are 5 that lead people to look for a permanent solution like full mouth dental implants.

Short Term Consequences

Digestive System Health and Secondary Health Concerns: Missing teeth can make chewing difficult, affecting digestion and overall health.

Food Choices and Nutrient Deficiencies: Difficulty chewing often limits food choices, leading to a lack of proper nutrition.

Long Term Effects

Mental Health Impact: Missing teeth may be a challenge for a person’s self-esteem, which could potentially lead to social withdrawal and depression.

Bone Loss: Without teeth to support, the jawbone deteriorates over time, potentially affecting facial structure.

TMJ Disorders: Missing teeth may alter the bite and strain the jaw, causing pain and dysfunction.

How Christopher Overcame the Consequences of Missing Teeth

For Christopher, dentures seemed like the answer to his missing teeth at first, but they quickly became a source of daily frustration. 

Poor fit caused constant pain, chewing difficulties, and embarrassment—especially after an incident where his dentures came loose during a family gathering. The emotional toll was even greater, impacting his mental health and relationships.

“Dentures destroyed my mental health,” Christopher shared. He described how they dominated his every thought, from worrying about bad breath to the fear of them falling out while speaking.

The turning point came when Christopher discovered full mouth dental implants. They weren’t just a solution, he was able to get them and his permanent within 24 hours at Nuvia. 

If he had gotten his new smile the traditional way, he could have had to wait up to 10+ months waiting for his final teeth and struggling with another temporary denture.

Today, Christopher feels confident and healthy, enjoying foods he had long avoided and no longer being weighed down by his teeth.

“Getting dental implants was the best decision I ever made,” he said. “They’ve transformed my life.”

Christopher smiling before and after consequences of missing teeth

Dentures: The Consequence of Missing Teeth Nobody Wants to Experience

Dentures are often seen as a quick fix for missing teeth, but for many people like Christopher, they can lead to more problems than solutions.

Physical Challenges: Dentures lack the stability of natural teeth, potentially causing difficulty chewing and even choking hazards. Christopher recounted several times when his dentures slipped, turning meals into stressful experiences.

Bone Loss: Unlike dental implants, dentures don’t stimulate the jawbone. Over time, this can lead to bone deterioration, facial changes, and an older appearance.

Emotional Impact: There can be a significant emotional strain of dentures for some patients like Christopher. 

Mental Health: For Christopher, the final straw was how dentures negatively impacted his relationships and mental well-being.

Dental implants provided Christopher with a permanent, natural-looking solution. Unlike dentures, they restored his ability to eat, speak, and smile confidently.

Curious how the cost of dentures stacks up against dental implants? Get the dental implant cost guide here.

Unlike dentures, dental implants and zirconia teeth are designed to last a lifetime with proper care. 

Dental implants may have a higher initial cost than dentures as they require a surgical procedure. But dentures need to be replaced over the years and may incur additional costs for maintenance and repairs. 

On the other hand, dental implants are a one-time fixed cost and can be paid with affordable monthly payment plans.

The consequences of missing teeth are far reaching and long-lasting. However, there is hope for a permanent solution with dental implants.

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Cost Guide

Dental Implant Cost Guide

2024 Cost Guide

This guide is designed to walk you step by step through the dental implant process and each dental implant type with their associated costs.

  • Different implant types and their average costs
  • 4 little known factors that affect pricing
  • How much will dental & health insurance typically cover for dental implants?
  • What 1000’s of average Americans are doing to make this treatment affordable.
  • And more...
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