See that gap in your smile where a tooth should be? What seems like a small problem can have a major impact on your life over time. A missing tooth could compromise your oral health, alter your appearance, and damage your self-confidence.

Prosthodontic care (or prosthetic dentistry) is a specialized field of dentistry. It focuses on diagnosing and treating oral conditions that require replacing missing or damaged teeth.

Before requesting prosthodontic care, schedule a consultation appointment with your Niles dentist. They can determine if you're an ideal candidate for treatment. With their help, you can develop a customized treatment plan to get the improved smile you deserve.Here are a few ways prosthodontic care can improve your oral health and quality of life.

Functionality

Dental implants, bridges, and other oral reconstruction options are designed to function like your existing teeth. When you lose a tooth, it can become more difficult to chew, speak, and smile. 

You need to thoroughly chew food before swallowing. Otherwise, your digestive system will have to work harder to break down these chunks. You may experience digestive issues if you're struggling to chew hard food.

You may start cutting food from your diet to avoid discomfort. This could lead to a nutritional issue or vitamin deficiency. 

As air travels through the gap between your teeth, you may notice it's more difficult to pronounce certain words. You could develop a lisp.

Oral reconstruction options like dental implants can restore your smile and ability to function. You can speak, chew, and smile as you normally would.

Stability

Take a look at your smile. Have your remaining teeth started shifting toward the gap where your tooth used to be? If your teeth appear crooked, it could become more difficult for you to chew, brush, and floss.

Over time, you may notice a change in your bite and appearance. Prosthodontic care can keep your remaining teeth stable.

Avoid Bone Loss

If you're missing a tooth, the jawbone underneath won't receive stimulation. Without stimulation, jawbone deterioration can occur. The bone area will lose volume, leading to changes in your appearance. 

Your cheeks will begin to sink inward, skin will sag, and wrinkles will become more prominent. Some options like dentures can accelerate your bone loss.

Talk to your Niles dentist about your treatment options.

They may recommend dental implant surgery. The implant, which is surgically placed into your jawbone, will provide the jawbone with stimulation. If you wait too long to seek treatment, you won't have enough natural bone to hold the implant.

Your dentist may recommend a bone grafting procedure first. Otherwise, bone loss can further affect your oral health. 

Better Oral Health

A gap in your smile will give food particles, bacteria, and saliva more places to hide. These compounds can mix together to form plaque. If you fail to brush and floss thoroughly, plaque can harden into tartar.

It can become more difficult to brush and floss if your teeth are crooked. Remember, your remaining teeth can start to shift if you've lost a tooth.

Brushing at home isn't enough to remove tartar from your teeth. You'll need to visit your Niles dentist for a professional teeth cleaning. Otherwise, plaque and tartar can release acid.

Your risk of tooth decay or gum disease could increase if you're neglecting your oral health. Gum disease can cause your teeth to recede away from your gum line. Your teeth could become crooked, increasing the likelihood you'll lose more teeth. 

In fact, periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. Losing more teeth can affect your ability to chew, speak, and enjoy life. Before that happens, consult your Niles dentist and begin treatment. 

An Improved Smile

Prosthodontic care can improve the appearance of your smile. You won't have to feel self-conscious about your missing teeth. Instead, you can choose oral reconstruction surgery to improve your appearance.

An improved smile can boost your self-confidence. Gaining self-confidence can benefit your daily life in social and professional settings. 

Consult your Niles dentist to determine which treatment option best suits your needs. Dental implants are the gold standard for treating missing teeth.

They have a success rate above 97% for 10 years.

You can enjoy the results of your oral reconstruction surgery for years. Improving your smile and oral health can become an investment in your future.

You could avoid spending money on more expensive treatments later.

Prosthodontic care can improve your oral health and, as a result, your quality of life. Choose prosthodontics in Niles, IL before that missing tooth compromises your health. With treatment, you can restore your smile with ease.