For someone who loses a front tooth, the desire to replace it is automatic; when missing teeth create a gap in one’s smile, this is often the case! But the problem of missing teeth goes well beyond the cosmetic; although someone could live without a missing tooth quite comfortably for a number of years, particularly in a spot that isn’t visible to others, this can create a whole host of problems down the road. For this reason, it is always best to replace a missing tooth or teeth.
Each Tooth Plays a Role in Supporting Other Teeth
While each tooth is in fact supported in the jaw by dental roots, and as such it may seem that each tooth is simply existing on its own next to other teeth, the truth is that each tooth plays an important role in supporting and holding other teeth in place. When even one tooth goes missing, the teeth next to that tooth can begin to shift and move over time, thereby allowing the teeth next to them to shift and move. As time goes on, this can lead to significant changes in the position of many or even all of one’s teeth, becoming crooked, crowded, or otherwise out of alignment.
Changes in Tooth Alignment Can Change Bite Pattern
As teeth shift over time to fill a gap created by a missing tooth, larger ramifications can come about than crooked or crowded teeth. As changes occur and evolve, the bite pattern of one’s jaw can also begin to change. This can lead to teeth that come together in problematic ways when biting down, leading to chips and cracks in the enamel of one’s teeth. Over time, it can also contribute to clenching and grinding of one’s teeth, both during the day and in one’s sleep. This can cause vast amounts of damage, leading to fractures, breaks, and even worn down teeth that then must be repaired to protect the delicate insides of affected teeth.
Missing Teeth Lead to More Missing Teeth
Another important thing to remember is that one missing tooth often leads to another. Although missing teeth are not contagious in the same way that a cold or flu is, the changes that occur in the mouth when a tooth goes missing can indeed create the kinds of oral conditions that then in turn lead to more missing teeth as well as other oral problems, including an increased risk for gum disease and even oral cancers.
Missing Teeth Threatens Future Bone Health
Finally, the impacts of missing teeth can reverberate deep into the jawbone, where existing teeth are rooted. When a tooth loses contact with the jawbone via the dental root, the jawbone stops receiving the stimulation needed to maintain existing bone mass. Over time, if that tooth is not replaced, this can result in bone loss that can impact not only the strength of one’s jaw and the health of one’s other teeth, but also in reduced support to facial features, which has a notable impact on appearance.
While replacing a missing tooth can seem difficult, there are numerous options from which to choose; for more information on the solution that’s right for you, call our office today for a no-pressure consultation.