Losing a single tooth will rarely alter your ability to masticate food. However, given enough time this missing tooth usually creates problems. First of all, the adjacent teeth will drift because teeth lean against each other. This drifting is usually accompanied with tilting which alters the forces of mastication.
Furthermore spaces are created between the teeth and food impaction becomes a problems causing cavities and gum inflammation. Eventually more teeth are lost and a domino effect takes place. Remember that one lost tooth renders the opposing biting tooth non-functional, since it takes two opposing teeth to chew food. Imagine the loss of function when four teeth in a row are removed.
It really means that eight teeth are no longer involved in mastication. Add the fact that we have 32 permanent teeth and you have lost 25% of your efficiency from the loss of 4 teeth. What happens next is that the remaining teeth take on a heavier load.
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Remember that one lost
tooth renders the opposing biting tooth non-functional, since it takes two opposing teeth to chew food.
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Surprisingly many individuals adapt remarkably well. However, time usually takes its toll and he remaining dentition starts to break down and more dental work is required to simply maintain
this stressed out dentition. The fillings get larger until crowns are the only option. Many individuals develop headaches since there is a strong relationship between the dentition, the muscles of mastication and the facial muscles.
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Missing teeth can also alter
one’s speech and appearance
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It is very common to see patients with some missing teeth to also have head and neck pains. Missing teeth can also alter one’s speech and appearance.
Therefore missing teeth should be replaced as soon as the area has healed. A dental bridge is a fixed unremovable replacement, and is very similar to real teeth.
A dental implant is even more natural and does not involve the adjacent teeth as seen with bridges.
When many teeth are missing it is often more convenient to fabricate a removable partial denture, since all the spaces are filled with one appliance and further additions can be done if more teeth are lost. Obviously when no teeth are left, full dentures are required.
Only your dentist can provide all of these options and I encourage you to discuss with he or she what best suits your needs.
