Your teeth were meant to last a lifetime, and the proper function of your mouth relies on the assumption that they will. If you lose one or more of them, then, your mouth’s continued good function may depend on replacing them as soon as possible and correcting any damage that may occur in the meantime. Today, we explore a common side effect of untreated tooth loss – TMJ disorder – that results from the imbalance in your bite.
Tooth Loss and Jaw Balance
Your teeth are strong because they have to be. In fact, teeth are your body’s strongest substance, and they have to be to withstand the incredible pressures of a human bite. Nevertheless, strength is not the only key to your teeth’s survival. When properly aligned, their arrangement is designed to distribute the pressure of your bite evenly to avoid excessive wear and damage.
A missing tooth, or several, can disturb your bite’s pressure displacement and balance, forcing your jaw to work harder and straining its joints and muscles. If left untreated, the imbalance can damage your jaw’s joints and muscles, leading to the severe discomfort of TMJ disorder.
Replacing Teeth for Better Bite Function
Replacing lost teeth and filling in your smile’s gaps can help restore proper balance to your bite, easing the stress on your jaw and reducing the risk of TMJ disorder. Securing your replacement teeth to one or more dental implants, which replace your lost teeth’s roots, can help preserve your continued good oral health by restoring the roots your jawbone needs to receive enough nutrients. Dental implants also help hold your replacement teeth as steady as natural teeth upon healthy roots.
