- Effects of missing teeth – body
"Up to 45% of young people in Taiwan aged 25-39 have missing teeth." A patient once told me that "he only eats on the side with teeth for a long time." This is incorrect!
"Missing teeth" not only affect aesthetics, but can also easily cause serious "occlusion disorders"
Long-term use of one-sided chewing leads to uneven force distribution in the mouth. Chewing will be the first to show problems. Subsequently, facial asymmetry and muscle damage may occur, leading to temporomandibular joint disorders, and it can even become so severe that the mouth cannot open.
From the picture, you can see that before missing teeth, the bite and facial shape had incorrect height and a tilted face. After full-mouth rehabilitation, the facial shape not only became symmetrical, but the bite height also restored the correct proportion.
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The Impact of Missing Front Teeth – Psychological Aspect
The 'half-moon smile' has recently become popular, and a smile showing 8-9 teeth is the most charming!
When there are missing teeth in the current dental area, many people do not even dare to smile showing their teeth. Therefore, the most direct issue they face is a 'confidence problem.' Malocclusion not only leads to issues such as mispronunciation and incorrect articulation, commonly referred to as 'air leakage.'
This can further make people feel frustrated in social situations, which in turn affects career advancement. Many patients will then start to experience low mood, depression, and reduced self-confidence.
Does missing teeth increase the risk of developing dementia? Why?
"Missing teeth can increase the risk of dementia." According to medical journals, maintaining at least 20 healthy teeth is necessary to significantly reduce the risk of dementia, because chewing with your teeth can stimulate the brain and improve blood circulation in the brain.
If you have long-term gum inflammation or cavities, it increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Missing teeth can prevent people from eating normally, leading to poor absorption, and even cause communication and social difficulties. When teeth are missing for a long time, the foundation that supports the teeth begins to shrink, which will make future dental implants more costly and complicated.
Reference: "Tooth Loss and Risk of Dementia in the Community: the Hisayama Study," The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Published online March 8, 2017. Takeuchi K, Ohara T, Furuta M, et al.