No one wants to hear they need to have one or more teeth extracted. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so when you are missing teeth, it affects your self-confidence. Also, missing teeth make it difficult to eat your favorite foods. Unfortunately, there is another concern you may not have considered: a collapsing bite. Keep reading to learn some tips to prevent this dental issue.
What Is a Collapsing Bite?
When a tooth is extracted, it affects the way your smile functions. Your remaining teeth can shift into the open space in your mouth, and your jawbone can begin to break down because your tooth’s root is no longer stimulating it.
Without this stimulation, your jawbone will continue to deteriorate, causing your face to look sunken and older. This is known as a collapsing bite.
Tips to Prevent Tooth Extraction Fallout
There are several things you can do to avoid bite collapse after tooth extraction; consider these tips:
Dental implants—At Golden Coast Dental Care, we offer both All-on-4® dental implants and traditional implants to replace your missing teeth. We can place a titanium post into your jaw to mimic your tooth’s root. This will stimulate your jaw and maintain your bone density. With dental implants, you can restore your smile’s beauty and functionality.
Bone grafting—Another option for preventing bite collapse involves filling the empty tooth socket with bone material to slow bone loss. Our dental office offers several types of bone grafting to suit your needs.
Good oral hygiene—Plaque builds up in your mouth, causing your tissue to deteriorate more quickly. Maintaining good oral hygiene can decrease your chances of a collapsing bite.
Good health habits—Smoking and alcohol consumption can cause your jawbone to deteriorate more quickly, and eating a healthy diet can decrease the rate of bone loss. So, practice good health habits to maintain bone density levels after extraction.
Questions about Tooth Extraction in Long Beach, CA?
We will happily assist you if you want to learn more about preventing a collapsing bite! At Golden Coast Dental Care, we want to help you achieve the best oral health possible. You can reach our dental office at (562) 421-8401.