What Happens if I Don’t Get a Dental Implant for My Damaged Tooth?

Your dental health is a critical part of your overall health. If you ignore a problem with your teeth, you may experience surprising consequences. Did you know that your teeth can affect your heart health?

At Oral & Facial Surgery of Mississippi, Dr. Michael Nichols and our staff want to help you live the healthiest life you can, including taking good care of your teeth. In many cases, that means removing a damaged tooth and replacing it with a dental implant. 

The statistics on dental implants are clear. More than 97% of dental implant procedures are successful, and that’s been true for more than a decade. In this post, we look at what can happen if you choose not to go through with a dental implant. 

1. The damaged tooth could cause problems

If your tooth is damaged, it probably hurts. If it doesn’t, the pain could start anytime. Aside from pain, you have a higher risk of infection with a damaged tooth because bacteria can get into the soft interior and multiply. 

2. Your other teeth move around

Having a damaged tooth removed but not replacing it is an option, but it’s not a great one. It leaves a space, and your other teeth can shift to fill that space. 

When your teeth move around, your bite — how your upper and lower teeth meet — changes. If your teeth become misaligned due to a change in your bite, it can cause cracks in your enamel, leading to more damaged teeth. 

3. Your jawbone begins to degrade

Every time you bite down, the roots of your teeth stimulate your jawbone. That causes more blood to flow to the bone, nourishing it and keeping it healthy. An implant acts as a prosthetic tooth root, providing that much-needed stimulation. 

4. The shape of your face can change

As your jawbone disintegrates and your remaining teeth move, the shape of your face may begin to change. Most people don’t like those changes. 

5. Cleaning your teeth may get harder

Shifting teeth may turn in odd ways, making it harder to brush and floss them effectively. If your at-home hygiene routine is compromised, you may develop more cavities and lose more teeth. 

6. You may have difficulty eating or speaking

Missing a tooth can make eating or speaking harder, depending on the location of the gap and whether your other teeth shift. An implant helps you eat and communicate clearly.

If you have questions about your tooth replacement options, call the Oral & Facial Surgery of Mississippi office in Flowood, Mississippi, today. A dental implant is considered the gold standard, but we offer other forms of tooth replacement that may work better for you.