Should You Replace a Missing Tooth? Dental Implants in Woodstock

Missing a tooth can feel like a small problem when nothing hurts and you can still eat. People tell Dr. Ray Morgan, "Oh, I've been missing that tooth for 30 years and nothing's happened." He understands why it feels that way. His answer is that replacing a missing tooth helps you chew well, helps keep your other teeth from shifting and takes extra strain off your jaw joint. Here's how he explains it to patients at our Woodstock dental office, and where a dental implant fits in.

Do you need to replace a missing tooth if it doesn't hurt?

Yes, in most cases a missing tooth is worth replacing even when it doesn't hurt. Dr. Morgan's view is simple: "We want you to have them all." A full set of teeth is better for chewing and helps keep your bite straighter.

The gap can change things slowly. When a tooth is lost, the teeth next to the space can shift into it, and that can change how your upper and lower teeth meet. Because the change is gradual, you may not notice it for a long time.

Chewing also matters more with age. "The ability to chew is more important," Dr. Morgan says, because good nutrition becomes even more important as we get older, and people who are missing teeth usually don't chew as easily. Appearance plays a part too. He points out that people are taking better care of themselves these days, and that includes their teeth.

How can a missing tooth affect your jaw joint?

A missing back tooth can put more strain on your jaw joint. Dr. Morgan explains that when you close your mouth, your teeth meeting each other is what stops the motion. Without those back teeth, the jaw muscles keep pulling, and that's harder on your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull.

He calls it a "pretty important joint," and he likes to point out how unusual it is: "You can move one elbow and not the other. Can't move this side without that side." The left and right sides of your jaw work as a pair.

His focus is prevention. In Dr. Morgan's words, "We want to prevent that excess wear," along with the shifting that can follow a lost tooth. If your jaw already aches, mention it at your visit. We also treat TMJ and jaw pain.

Is a dental implant a good way to replace a missing tooth?

For many patients, yes. A dental implant replaces the root of the tooth as well as the part you see, and we talk with every patient who's missing a tooth about an implant. The implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone. Once it heals and bonds with the bone, a crown goes on top, and the new tooth looks and works much like a natural one.

A few things need to be in place first. As Dr. Morgan puts it, "we want to make sure that you have plenty of bone to hold the implant in because that's pretty key." He also makes sure you're healthy enough for the implant to heal and integrate with the bone. When the jawbone isn't thick enough, a bone graft is sometimes needed before the implant can go in.

You have other options too. A dental bridge is another way to fill the space, and Dr. Morgan will talk through which one fits your mouth and your goals. You can read more about dental implants at Towne Lake Family Dentistry on our implant page.

What happens when you come in about a missing tooth?

Your visit starts with a conversation. We go over everything with you before anything starts, including finances, so you leave with a clear plan.

Dr. Morgan lays out each option with its pros and cons. "I call it a good, better, best type thing," he says. Some patients want the longest-lasting result, and some need the simplest fix for right now. He'll tell you which option he'd choose if you were his own family member, and the decision is yours. In his words, "we're not here to judge you."

Why do Woodstock patients choose Towne Lake Family Dentistry for dental implants?

Dr. Morgan gives you his reasons along with his recommendation, so the plan makes sense to you before you decide. As he describes these conversations, "we just want to inform them as to why."

He also thinks about how his work will hold up years from now. "So when I'm working on a patient, I think about the next dentist," he says, meaning any dentist who looks at your teeth in the future. "I want them to see really good work."

Dr. Morgan opened Towne Lake Family Dentistry in 1988 as the very first dentist in the Towne Lake community, after a hospital residency that gave him exposure to complex cases. Many of the families who came to him from day one are still with us.

Missing a tooth, or facing an extraction? Call us at 770-591-7929 or request an appointment at our Woodstock dental office, and Dr. Morgan will walk you through your options.

Published by Towne Lake Family Dentistry.