If you’ve recently had a tooth extraction, you’re probably looking forward to getting that tooth replaced as soon as possible. Despite that sentiment, somehow you find yourself postponing the procedure for another day, another time, just because it doesn’t seem so urgent. But we’re here to tell you that it is. You should not delay getting a dental implant for a number of reasons, and some of those reasons are more significant than you realize.
5 Reasons You Should not Delay Getting a Dental Implant
1. Doing so could lower your confidence.
Let’s start with the clear and obvious issue. If you have a missing tooth, you’re probably self-conscious about it – even if it’s a gap no one else can see. Confidence is all about how you perceive yourself, after all, so if you know the gap is there, it’s probably taking a toll on your self-esteem.
2. Your teeth may shift.
If there’s a gap in your teeth, the rest of your teeth aren’t as tight and secure. As a result, they’ll start shifting. That could lead to two issues.
- Spaces between some of your teeth will get larger, causing an overall change in the structure of your teeth that might not be beneficial.
- In other areas, your teeth may end up getting squeezed together, causing more of a crooked appearance and making it more difficult for you to floss.
3. Your jawbone will deteriorate.
This is perhaps the most important reason why you should not delay getting a dental implant. The roots of your teeth dig into your jawbone, essentially solidifying and securing the jawbone. If a tooth and its root are missing, your jawbone, especially in that particular spot, will begin to deteriorate. If this happens, getting a dental implant may require a bone graft to replace that missing bone, which can be a costly step that will increase the duration of the dental implant process.
4. You will be uncomfortable.
When is the last time you were able to bite into a whole juicy apple, or chew that delicious steak on either side of your mouth? If your answer is, “A long time,” you don’t know what you’ve been missing.
After years of dealing with the gap in your teeth, you’ve probably learned to “live with it.” You’ve learned to avoid hard foods. You’ve learned to chew mostly on the other side of your mouth. You’ve learned to place your hand over your mouth when you laugh. But that’s not the way it should be. That’s not an ideal quality of life, and you won’t even realize how troublesome that gap was until you have that tooth replaced.
5. Your face might even change.
When your jawbone deteriorates, it leaves a space between your teeth and the inside of your cheek, resulting in a lack of cohesiveness. As a result, the skin of your jawbone may sag, especially if the gap is on your lower jaw.
Stop Delaying and Start Today
If all of the above sounds familiar to you, you’re clearly past due for that dental implant. Schedule an appointment for a consultation today, and we’ll start the steps necessary to replace that missing tooth.
Trust us, you’ll feel so much better in the end.
