What Happens if You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?

Tooth loss can happen to anyone due to trauma, tooth decay or gum disease. It becomes common after middle age. Replacing missing teeth is an essential part of restoring your confidence and smile. It also helps maintain your dental health as well as the fully functioning bite and talking. There are many tooth substitution choices, including; dental implants, fixed bridges and dentures.

However, not everyone wants to replace their missing teeth. The lack of interest can be due to personal reasons or financial reasons. There is a danger in not replacing your missing teeth.

 The teeth surrounding the missing tooth

When a gap is left, the surrounding teeth tend to shift to occupy the gap that is left. You might have noted that the teeth around the gap may have become crooked, or new gaps may have appeared between your teeth.

Another issue with teeth surrounding the gap is that the tooth opposed to the gap may start to grow out as it no longer has the opposing tooth to resist it. This is referred to as super eruption. You may experience reactivity and other problems around the super-erupted tooth.

Chewing and bite

Our teeth operate as a unit. Well-aligned teeth work together harmoniously when chewing and taking a bite. When you eat and have a missing tooth or teeth, more stress may be placed on the remaining teeth, this may lead to inadequate chewing. It eventually affects how your body digests food as chewing is the first step of breaking down food.

 Bite alignment

Occlusion is the connection between the teeth on the upper and lower jaw coming together when you are biting something. If you lose a tooth, the bite balance changes, interfering with the ideal occlusion you previously had.

 Confidence

The way you view your laugh, smile, and confidence is very important. However, if you have missing teeth, you will hold back from smiling, and your confidence will deteriorate.

 Jawbone loss

The presence of tooth roots stimulate the jawbone and enable its growth. When you have missing teeth, there is no stimulation in that area; hence the body could gradually reabsorb parts of the gums and jawbones. This also changes the structure of the face.

If you want to undergo the All-on-4® treatment, Next Smile™ Melbourne is the best place to go. Our dental professionals will assist you every step of the way and answer all of your questions. Visit our website or contact us for more information.