Have you recently lost a tooth due to an accident or through natural causes? Well as much as having a missing tooth may seem embarrassing and affect your self-esteem, it can also affect your dental health. Thankfully, there are treatment options with dentistry that can help you to replace your tooth and restore your smile. And what better place to do this than with our dentist in Marylebone, Plowman and Partners, where we offer removable prosthodontics which can have your smile looking its best again. 
Why it’s important to replace a missing tooth
Not replacing a missing tooth as soon as possible can lead to a number of dental issues. For one, a missing tooth can affect your bite, as the surrounding teeth will naturally shift position and move into the gap causing a misaligned bite. Having a missing tooth means that there is an increased risk of you developing tooth decay and/or gum disease. This is because food debris can build up in the gap where your tooth should be, which if not removed early enough can lead to plaque build-up and infection. You may notice that you are unable to consume food properly as a missing tooth can affect how you chew. A failure to chew your food properly can result in digestive problems such as bloating.
As our teeth help to maintain the shape and structure of our face, a missing tooth can cause the shape of your face to change as your jawbone will become weaker, meaning it cannot support your remaining teeth.
You may not realise this, but a missing tooth can also cause speech problems. If you struggle to make certain sounds or find yourself occasionally slurring, it could be because you are missing a tooth.
At Plowman and Partners, we understand the importance of replacing a missing tooth which is why we offer treatments which require restorative dentistry, such as removable prosthodontics.
Removable prosthodontics at our dentist in Marylebone
Prosthodontics is the area of dentistry that focuses on replacing missing teeth by using bridges, crowns and dentures. By booking an appointment with us, our dentist in Marylebone will be able to recommend the best restorative dental treatment option for you. Dentures are a common solution for those who are missing several teeth or for those who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Made of either acrylic, nylon or metal, dentures are removable false teeth which are made to fit snugly over a patient’s gums replacing their teeth; not only restoring an individual’s smile but also their tooth function. There are two types of dentures available; complete dentures that replace all your teeth or partial dentures which replace a few missing teeth. Although they may feel strange to wear at first, dentures are made to be comfortable and look like your natural teeth, so there is no need to worry about anyone noticing you are wearing dentures.
As they are removable, it is important that you regularly clean both your remaining teeth and your dentures. This is to avoid dental problems such as bad breath and gum disease. It is recommended that you brush your dentures first with toothpaste before soaking them in water to remove any food particles which are stuck on them. It is important that you do this twice a day as you would your natural teeth.