Dr. Basson & Kruger

24/09/2025

18/09/2025

Flossing daily is very important.

13/09/2025

When a tooth is lost and not replaced, the mouth doesn’t stay the same for long. The opposing tooth often begins to over-erupt into the empty space, since teeth naturally seek contact. At the same time, the neighboring teeth drift or tilt toward the gap, gradually collapsing the alignment. This shifting creates irregular spaces that easily trap food, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease between adjacent teeth.

As the space closes unevenly, it also becomes more difficult to place an artificial tooth later—whether an implant, bridge, or denture—because the available room and proper bite support are lost. Functionally, missing teeth reduce the efficiency of chewing, forcing other teeth to take extra load, which can cause wear, fractures, or jaw strain over time.

Beyond function, missing teeth also affect speech clarity and facial aesthetics. The lips and cheeks lose proper support, which can make a face look sunken and older. If multiple teeth are missing, the bite may collapse, altering jaw position and leading to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort.

Replacing missing teeth promptly is therefore not just about restoring a smile—it’s about protecting oral health, function, and long-term stability.

08/09/2025

Teeth are more than tools for chewing. Each tooth acts like a pillar that helps maintain the natural height and structure of the face. When teeth are lost, the support system weakens, and the lower third of the face begins to collapse. This collapse makes the cheeks look sunken, the lips lose fullness, and wrinkles form earlier — creating a prematurely aged appearance.

The effects go far beyond chewing and nutrition. Tooth loss disrupts how the jaws fit together, leading to imbalanced forces during chewing. Over time, this not only reduces the ability to eat certain foods but also places stress on the jaw joints and muscles, contributing to discomfort and further functional problems.

Bone loss is the hidden consequence. The roots of natural teeth stimulate the jawbone, keeping it strong. Once teeth are missing, that stimulation disappears, and the bone starts shrinking. This bone resorption accelerates facial collapse, making a person look older than their actual age. It’s a gradual process, often underestimated, but medically well-documented in dentistry.

In short: losing teeth is not just a dental issue — it’s a health and appearance issue. Protecting natural teeth preserves nutrition, speech, confidence, and the youthful balance of the face.

08/09/2025

FYI😁

03/09/2025

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