Putting off tooth replacement might seem like a way to save money now, but it creates problems that cost far more in the long run. When you lose a tooth, your jawbone begins to shrink, your remaining teeth shift out of place, and your bite changes in ways that affect your whole mouth. These changes don’t just impact your appearance. They can lead to more tooth loss, jaw pain, and expensive dental work down the road.
At Marlen Elite Dental Wellness, we help patients in River Edge, NJ, avoid these hidden costs through restorative dentistry solutions. Dr. Marlen Martirossian uses advanced technology to replace missing teeth with options designed to preserve your bone, protect your remaining teeth, and restore full function to your smile.
Bone Loss Happens Quickly
Your jawbone needs stimulation from tooth roots to stay strong and healthy. When you lose a tooth, the bone in that area no longer receives the signals it needs to maintain itself. Bone deterioration can begin within just three months of tooth loss, with up to a quarter of the bone in that area disappearing during that time.
As bone loss continues, it changes the shape of your face. Your cheeks may look sunken, and your chin can appear more pointed. The loss of bone structure makes you look older than you are. This bone loss also makes future tooth replacement more difficult and expensive because there may not be enough bone left to support dental implants without additional procedures first.
Your Other Teeth Move and Shift
Teeth stay in their proper positions because they support each other. When one tooth goes missing, the teeth on either side start to drift into the empty space. The tooth above or below the gap may also begin to grow longer, trying to find something to bite against. These shifts create gaps and crowding in places where everything once fit together perfectly.
As your teeth move, your bite changes. You may notice that your teeth don’t meet the way they used to when you chew. This can cause you to favor one side of your mouth, leading to uneven wear on your remaining teeth. Some teeth may crack or break because they’re being subjected to more force than they should.
Chewing Becomes Harder and Less Effective
Missing teeth make it difficult to eat certain foods. You might start avoiding crunchy vegetables, nuts, or meat because chewing them feels uncomfortable or impossible. When you can’t chew food properly, you swallow larger pieces that are harder for your stomach to digest. This can lead to nutritional problems if you start limiting your diet to only soft foods.
The way you chew also affects your jaw joints. When you favor one side of your mouth or change your bite, you put extra stress on your temporomandibular joints. This can lead to jaw pain, clicking sounds, headaches, and difficulty opening your mouth wide. Treating TMJ problems later adds another layer of cost to the tooth replacement you still need.
More Teeth Become a Risk
When neighboring teeth shift into the gap left by a missing tooth, they become harder to clean. Food gets trapped in new spaces, and your toothbrush can’t reach all the surfaces it needs to. This increases your risk of cavities and gum disease in previously healthy teeth.
The teeth that take on extra chewing force when others are missing also experience more stress. They may develop cracks, wear down faster, or even loosen over time. Research shows that millions of Americans deal with missing teeth, and the longer they wait to address the problem, the more teeth they often end up losing.
Treatment Gets More Complex Over Time
The longer you wait to replace a missing tooth, the more complicated the treatment becomes. If bone loss has progressed significantly, you may need bone grafting before dental implants can be placed. If your other teeth have shifted, you might need orthodontic work to move them back into proper positions before replacement can happen.
These additional procedures take more time and cost more money than if you had addressed the missing tooth right away. What could have been a straightforward implant placement now requires multiple steps, more appointments, and a longer healing period. Some patients also find that their insurance coverage for these extra procedures is limited, leaving them with higher out-of-pocket costs.
Your Confidence Takes a Hit
Missing teeth affects how you feel about yourself. You might smile less often or cover your mouth when you laugh. During conversations, you may feel self-conscious about gaps in your smile or the way you speak. These feelings can impact your personal relationships and your confidence in professional settings.
The emotional costs of delaying tooth replacement are real, even if they’re harder to measure in dollars. When you feel good about your smile, you’re more likely to engage fully in social situations and put yourself forward for opportunities. A smile makeover that includes tooth replacement can restore not just your dental function but also your confidence in how you present yourself to the world.
Restore Your Smile at Marlen Elite Dental Wellness
At Marlen Elite Dental Wellness, we provide custom tooth replacement solutions using the latest technology and techniques. Our advanced diagnostic tools help us create treatment plans based on your specific needs and goals. Whether you need a single tooth replaced or a more comprehensive restoration, we design solutions for long-lasting results and natural-looking aesthetics.
Our practice offers a one-on-one approach, with every appointment dedicated exclusively to you. We take the time to explain your options thoroughly so you can make informed decisions about your care. With flexible financing available, we make it easier to get the treatment you need now rather than waiting until problems become more serious and expensive. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and discover how tooth replacement can protect your oral health and restore your confidence.
