You may be thinking that the absence of your premolar tooth isn’t all that bad. After all, it’s located toward the back of your mouth and isn’t as visible as your incisors or canine teeth. But your local dentist warns that two big problems could be brewing, called tipping and super erosion. As you continue reading, he’ll explain what these conditions are and how dental implants in State College can prevent them from happening. You’ll also learn more about why every tooth in your mouth is vital to the health of the entire set.
Why Do I Need to Replace My Missing Premolar?
Although you may not feel the same sense of urgency to replace your back teeth because they aren’t as visible as those in the front, serious issues could develop, called tipping and super eruption. Both occur because your teeth rely on the healthy amount of tension that each contributes to the overall set. This tension is applied both laterally and vertically.
Thus, when there’s missing pressure, one or both of the following can occur:
- Tipping – In this situation, your adjacent teeth respond to the vacant space by collapsing in toward the area where the premolar would have been. In turn, this can cause a chain reaction of events, where the alignment of your other teeth is affected.
- Super Eruption – The absence of tension from above or below the opposing tooth can cause the latter to elongate in an effort to find the pressure needed. When it finds none, the tooth will continue to move and cause more problems with occlusion (the mesh between the upper and lower teeth).
- Bone Degeneration – A final problem that can occur as a result of a missing tooth, is bone degeneration. This is because your jawbone produces new bone cells in response to the tension provided by each of your teeth. Thus, when there’s an absence in an area, the production either slows or halts.
Dental Implants as a Remedy!
A way to prevent the above issues from happening is to visit your State College dentist for a dental implant. This is a surgically inserted titanium post that is attached to your jawbone and acts as the roots of your missing tooth. It will provide a sturdy foundation for your dentist to then attach a crown (a custom-created porcelain replacement) to and completely restore the ivory. The result is that you will not only have a full smile but more importantly, the healthy tension needed to prevent either tipping or super eruption.
So you now have a way to enjoy a healthy and more aesthetically pleasing smile by taking a proactive stance. Reach out to your local dentist to get the expert help you need today!
About the Author
Dr. Chris J. Devlin earned his dental degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. In addition, he attends hours of continuing education annually to further his knowledge of the changing complexities of dentistry. And for patients with dental fears, he’s offered safe IV sedation for over 25 years at his State College practice. Dr. Devlin can be reached for more information through his website.