When a tooth is painful or damaged beyond repair, having it removed may be the quickest and least expensive way to resolve the situation. Once the tooth is out and the pain is gone, the recommended follow up treatment may seem less urgent and easy to postpone.
Why spend more money when everything is feeling fine?
In most cases, follow up treatment to replace the missing tooth will save you a lot of challenges and costs in the long run. It will keep your teeth working in balance and help protect your overall health. Following your dentist’s recommendations is the smart thing to do.
To Protect Your Remaining Teeth – Often when one tooth is lost it can start a domino effect of losing other teeth. Why? Your teeth work as a balanced system and when there is an empty space neighboring teeth will tip over or grow out of the bone looking for the missing tooth that kept them in place. As teeth move, they put themselves at risk and create new areas where dental disease can begin.
To Keep Your Jaw Joints (TMJ) Healthy – Missing teeth can put a strain on the joints in your jaw, causing pain, arthritis, and other issues. TMJ problems can be difficult to treat and sometimes require major dental work or surgery to resolve, which can also be very expensive.
To Protect Your Digestive System – Ongoing dental issues related to missing teeth can make it difficult to chew. Chewing is the first phase of digestion and when you are not able to do it well, it can impact your ability to digest and take in the nutrients your body needs.
To Prevent Inflammation and Periodontal Disease – As teeth shift, new areas develop that can be challenging for you to keep clean. Bacteria in your mouth will gather there creating a higher probability that you will have cavities or periodontal gum disease. Gum disease is an infection and chronic source of inflammation in your body system and the bacteria can get into your blood stream easily when you swallow. This inflammation has been linked to autoimmune disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia and much more. Taking care of your teeth is taking care of your whole body.
With dental care, postponing recommended treatment can often lead to bigger problems, painful emergencies, and more expensive treatment. We encourage you to listen to your dentist’s recommendations, ask questions to get clarity, and think long term when it comes to dental care. It will save you money in the end.
If you don’t already have a dentist you trust, we would love to invite you to become a part of our happy patient family. We promise to take great care of you and yours.
KN Dentistry – Orange, CA – (714) 633-2562
We look forward to meeting you. Call (714) 633-2562 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
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