Missing teeth can be more than just an eyesore.  Missing teeth is not just a cosmetic problem.  The gaps left behind when a tooth is lost or extracted can eventually lead to other problems.  This is why it is recommended that you get artificial teeth to fill the gaps of any missing teeth you may have.

The Visual Aspect of Missing Teeth

Many people are self-conscious about how their teeth look and their smile.  When you are missing teeth, you not only have a gap in your smile, but the lack of a tooth in that space can cause your remaining teeth to drift.  Without the tooth or a replacement maintaining that space, the other teeth in your mouth will begin to shift into the open spaces.  The adjacent teeth will have nothing to stop them from entering that space and will begin to lean to fill the gap.  Teeth erupt until they meet another tooth.  If you are missing teeth, then the teeth above or below the gap will not have anything to keep it from over erupting.

If you are missing teeth in the front of your mouth, you may experience changes in the features of your face.  These teeth support muscles in your face and without them you could notice sagging or shifting of your facial features.  Similarly, the back teeth align your jaw and maintain the shape of your jawline.  Without them you could notice a change in your appearance here as well.

Missing teeth can also lead to bone loss.  The jaw bone is stimulated by the roots of your teeth during chewing.  Without that stimulation, you will gradually experience bone loss.  This will further effect how your jaw and remaining teeth function as well as physical appearance.

Other Issues with Missing Teeth

Other problems that you may experience as a result of missing teeth include food accumulation and decay in the hard to reach places between teeth that have shifted.  This could lead to gum disease, tooth decay and additional tooth loss.

If your bite no longer aligns, you could experience discomfort during chewing.  It is also very likely that you could damage your other teeth by overloading them.  Your teeth are not meant to be bitten down on at an angle, so any teeth that have moved out of alignment are at greater risk of breaking as well.

Missing teeth could cause you to develop TMJ or cause your cheek to collapse into the space.  It is also likely you will have increased experiences of biting your cheek and tongue as the teeth are now out of alignment.

Replacing any missing teeth that you may have is very important.

If you have any questions about replacing missing teeth, please call Dr. Levy for a consultation.