When we think about dental implants, we often focus on their ability to replace missing teeth and restore a beautiful smile. However, dental implants do much more than just improve aesthetics—they help maintain your overall alignment and oral health.

Missing teeth can cause a variety of issues over time. One of the most significant is the shifting or misalignment of your remaining teeth. Dental implants offer a permanent solution that helps keep everything in place.

Missing teeth and tooth alignment

When a tooth is lost, it doesn’t just leave an empty space in your smile—it can set off a chain reaction that affects the surrounding teeth. Teeth rely on one another for support. When a tooth is missing, neighboring teeth can start to shift into the gap. This is known as dental drift.

Here’s how missing teeth can disrupt alignment:

• Shifting adjacent teeth: Without the support of a neighboring tooth, adjacent teeth tend to move toward the empty space. This movement can cause gaps or crowding.
• Tooth eruption: The tooth directly opposite the gap (either above or below it) may begin to “super-erupt” or extend further out of the gumline because it no longer has an opposing tooth to keep it in place.
• Bite misalignment: Over time, shifting teeth can lead to changes in your bite. This can cause discomfort or even difficulty in chewing. A misaligned bite can also lead to jaw pain and uneven wear on your teeth.

The sooner a missing tooth is replaced, the less likely these problems will occur.

How dental implants can help

Dental implants act as a natural tooth replacement. They restore the function of the missing tooth and fill the gap, which prevents neighboring teeth from shifting. The implant mimics the root structure of a natural tooth, creating support for the surrounding teeth. This stabilizes your bite and prevents adjacent teeth from drifting into the gap.

A missing tooth can also cause the opposing tooth in your bite to drift or elongate (super-eruption) because there’s no longer contact between the two teeth when you close your mouth. Dental implants restore this important point of contact. They prevent the opposing tooth from moving and keep both upper and lower teeth in alignment.

Implants also help stimulate the jawbone and prevent bone loss. When the bone deteriorates, it can affect the stability of neighboring teeth, leading to more shifting and misalignment. The titanium post of a dental implant acts like a tooth root, stimulating the bone and maintaining its structure.

Finally, implants keep your bite aligned. A properly aligned bite is important for chewing efficiently and evenly distributing pressure across all your teeth. When teeth shift due to missing teeth, your bite can become unbalanced, leading to jaw strain or uneven wear. Dental implants help keep everything in its correct position.

If you’re considering dental implants and want to learn more about how they can benefit your smile, schedule an appointment with the Cleveland Implant Institute today.