Warren Dental Office Discusses Missing Tooth with Russian Speaking Hygienist

When a tooth is missing, should it be replaced or not?

This depends on the situation, and on the location of the loss.

Front teeth:

1)       Esthetic concerns:  Clearly, teeth lost in the front of the mouth will impact your smile, and it is likely, you will wish to have these teeth replaced for esthetic reasons.

2)      Adjacent teeth will shift creating spaces in other places within your smile zone.

3)      The opposing tooth may begin to “grow” or erupt if it is no longer able to contact another tooth.  Again, the effects are mainly cosmetic.  You will not only be missing a tooth, but the tooth in the opposite jaw may move and look out of place.

Back teeth:

1)       Though esthetics are not as much of an issue with back teeth, other changes will occur which will impact your chewing function and the health of your jaw joints.

2)      Again, if a back tooth is missing, and the opposing tooth is no longer in function, that tooth will begin to grow or erupt searching for a stable contact.  The tooth will usually continue to grow until it is contacting the gums.  At this point, it usually needs to be extracted.

3)      If the missing tooth is between other teeth, not only will the opposing tooth grow into the missing space if given time to do so, but the teeth behind and sometimes in front of the space will tip into the space.  This creates spacing between the teeth.  This spacing opens up areas where food and bacteria will collect, creating discomfort, inflammation, and a potential for future caries and gum disease.

4)      The tipping of the teeth also causes a change in the bite.  As the teeth shift, the jaw must function differently to accommodate the teeth in their new positions.  This often creates pain and problems in the jaw joints (TMJ dysfunction).

5)      This change in the bite can also put stresses on the tipping teeth which can loosen them and cause them to be lost sooner.

6)      Loss of one tooth sets up a domino effect where other teeth are lost more rapidly than they would if the tooth was replaced in a timely manner.

Replacement options:

There are usually three options to replace missing teeth.

1)       Partial denture.  This is a removable appliance which can be made of different materials depending on how long you wish to keep it.

2)      Fixed bridges.

3)      Implants and crowns are a good option to replace missing teeth if there is enough bone structure to accommodate them.

Warren Dental Office Discusses Missing Tooth with Russian Speaking Hygienist

Call the office at 586-573-7700 and we will discuss with you all of your options so that you can decide what will be best for you.

Warren Dental Office Discusses Missing Tooth with Russian Speaking Hygienist